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How to block or hide your own phone number
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, blocking your number from showing up in the caller ID when you call someone is possible.
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.
QUICK ANSWER
Block your number from appearing on caller ID by adding *67 before the phone number you're trying to call. For example: *67-123-456-7890.
You can often also hide your own number from the settings, depending on your device or phone app. There's also a possibility your carrier allows you to hide your number at a network level. Keep reading to learn more about other options.
JUMP TO KEY SECTIONS
Editor’s note: These steps were assembled using an Apple iPhone 12 Mini running iOS 17.0 and a Google Pixel 7 running Android 13. Some actions may be different, depending on your device and software version.
Hide your number using a dial code
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 using pretty much any dialer, 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.
Block your number in the settings
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 Calling accounts.
- Select the SIM card for which you want to hide your number.
- 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
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?
There is no official way to send texts from a hidden number using only your native SMS service. That said, hiding your number while texting is possible, given you don’t mind using a third-party service.
A couple of the most popular services are Anonymous Text and Open Texting Online. These websites require no account. They will assign you a number upon use, and you can use them to message people without them seeing your actual number. You can also get apps like Burner, Google Voice, Text Me, and others.
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 find the “block” option.
Gone are the days when you had to keep a list of phone numbers in your head, memorized for quick dialing. If you can’t remember your own number, the first thing you should do is check your device’s settings. On Android, go to Settings > About phone > Phone number. On iOS, go to Settings > Phone > My number.