How do you block someone from seeing your phone number

Whether you’re trying to hide your phone number to avoid being called back or to prevent someone from knowing it’s you that’s calling, there are quite a few ways you can block your number from being shown on someone else’s caller ID.

And, while it’s free and easy to block your number from showing up on caller ID, what about when you want to learn how to keep your phone number private while texting, too? There are numerous reasons for not wanting to give out your phone number or for wanting to hide it from others. Here’s how to hide your phone number safely.

How to Hide Your Phone Number For One Phone Call

If you’re at work and need to quickly hide your phone number to make an important call or don’t have time to download the Burner phone app, most carriers allow you to hide your number for calls and from your contacts.

The FCC has actually mandated that all carriers in the United States make it possible for users to be able to block their number from appearing on caller IDs (along with mandates protecting you from robocalls). So, to hide your number and sometimes even your name for one simple phone call you can:

• Enter *67 before the entire number, then press the call button.
• If you can, make a test call (to a trusted friend or coworker) before calling your contact to make sure this works.
• If it doesn’t work, try entering #31# before typing in the phone number.
• If it works, your number should appear as “private,” “unknown,” or “restricted.”

How to Hide Your Phone Number From Contacts

Planning on making lots of outgoing phone calls and don’t want anybody to be able to see your phone number? On iPhones and Androids, you can block your number permanently from appearing on caller ID.

For Android phones, you’ll have to perform some variation of the following steps:

• Open the Phone app
• Open the menu to select “Settings”
• Click on “Calls”
• Click on “Additional Settings”
• Click on “Caller ID”
• Select “Hide Number”

For iPhones, you’ll have to:

• Open the Settings app
• Click on “Phone”
• Click on “Show My Caller ID”
• Turn the option off

It’s important to note that Verizon doesn’t currently allow you to hide your phone number on an iPhone. You can, however, hide it by accessing your Verizon account via their website or the My Verizon app.

And, while the above actions are pretty easy to follow (and great for a quick fix or a quick phone call), they’re not meant to act as long-term solutions. For starters, it’s pretty clear to whoever you’re calling that you’re trying to hide your number when it pops up as “restricted” or “anonymous.” Secondly, these techniques don’t allow you to hide your phone number when texting.

Use a Burner Phone Number for Calling & Texting

Instead of simply blocking your phone number from appearing on caller ID or using the *67 technique, why not use a Burner phone number instead? Using an app like Burner, you’re able to easily sign up for a second phone number that, when called or texted, will send those calls and messages straight through to your phone like normal.

This way, your personal number stays private and nobody who is trying to contact you or vice versa knows that you’re intentionally trying to hide your number. It’s a practical, long-term solution that allows anybody, from salespeople and business owners to casual daters and freelancers to protect their privacy.

You can choose to create a Burner phone number for a one-off situation and then get a new number or you can choose the more suggested option which is to set up a Subscription Burner phone number that allows you to keep the same number to use for any situation in which you want to keep your normal number private.

Whether you’re making outgoing calls for work and want to keep your work life separate from your home life or simply don’t feel comfortable giving out your real number to that cutie you swiped on Tinder, Burner phone apps just make sense.

Get started with a new second number today.

You don’t always want people to know your phone number. It’s become a private piece of information we don’t usually share with everyone. Many of us keep another number to give to those we don’t entirely trust or to give to businesses. Thankfully, it’s possible to block your number from showing up in the caller ID when you call someone.

The process is pretty simple, but you have to know how to do it. There is no straightforward way to do this, and options in the settings are usually very well hidden (or non-existent). Let’s show you how to hide your number to ensure no one will be bugging you afterward.

Read more: The ten best privacy apps for Android

Hide your number using a dial code

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

The simplest and most universal way to hide your number when calling someone is to use the *67 code. This will work with almost any smartphone, and nearly all carriers support it. It even works with landlines.

You have to dial *67 before the number you want to call. For example, you would dial *67-123-456-7890.

Also: The best dialer apps

Block your number in the settings

Hadlee Simons / Android Authority

The problem with using the dial code to hide your number is that you have to remember to do it every time you want to hide your number. Those who want a set-it-and-forget-it approach can also play with the settings. Using this method has its downsides, though. Not all smartphones and dialers give you the option to block your number. Additionally, the carrier has to allow it.

How to block your number from the iOS settings

• Open the Settings app.
• Go into Phone.
• Tap Show My Caller ID.
• Toggle off Show My Caller ID.

How to block your number from the Android settings

• Open the Phone app.
• Tap the three-dot menu button.
• Hit Settings.
• Go into Calls.
• Select Additional settings.
• If your service provider allows it, you’ll be able to tap the Caller ID option.
• Select Hide number.

Talk to your service provider

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

Some carriers and phone service providers offer the option to block your number from caller IDs at a network level. This means that your phone number would be hidden for every call, regardless of your phone, as long as you keep the feature enabled. Of course, you’ll have to reach out to your carrier or service provider to see if it offers this service. Additionally, it might be a feature that requires an added fee.

Can I send texts from a hidden number?

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

There is no official way to send texts from a hidden number using only your native SMS service. That said, it’s possible to hide your number while texting, given you don’t mind using a third-party service.

FAQs

Not usually, but it can, depending on the method you use. For example, sometimes carriers charge a fee to hide your number at the network level. Some third-party services and apps also charge for premium features. Using a dial code or the settings should incur no extra charges.

Not really, but you can use other services that assign you random numbers, effectively masking your phone number.

Sometimes, yes. You can dial *69 to call the last phone number that called you, even if it’s private. That said, the person won’t know the number. Additionally, carriers may put limitations on this, such as time limits. Some also block this feature altogether. Sometimes service providers can list private numbers in call logs, so you might have some luck checking those.

We’ve got a short guide on blocking numbers here, but the process for blocking someone else’s number is usually a straightforward one. All you have to do is find that number in your contacts or recent calls/texts, and search for the “block” option.

Does * 67 still work?

How do I stop someone seeing my phone number?

Does * 69 block your number?