You cannot block your number on a standard text message the way you can on a call

When you send a text message (SMS), your phone number is always visible to the recipient. There is no built-in feature in iOS, Android, or any carrier's system that hides your number on an outgoing text the way you can hide it on a voice call. The recipient will see your actual phone number in their message thread, and that information is also logged with your carrier.

If you need to contact someone without revealing your number, you have a few actual options — but each one has real limits. Understanding what each method does and does not do will help you pick the right approach for your situation.

Key Takeaways

  • Standard SMS text messages always show your phone number to the recipient; there is no carrier-level setting to hide it.
  • Apps like Google Voice, Burner, or TextNow give you a temporary or secondary number to text from, but the recipient can still see that number.
  • If you are trying to avoid harassment or contact from someone, blocking them in your phone's settings prevents them from reaching you, but does not hide your outgoing messages.
  • Your carrier keeps a record of every text you send, including the number it came from, regardless of what the recipient sees.

Why your number always shows on texts

Your phone number is part of the technical routing information that gets your text to the right person. The carrier needs to know where the message came from to deliver it, bill it correctly, and keep records for legal purposes. This is different from voice calls, where you can use a feature called Caller ID blocking (usually *67 on landlines or a carrier setting on mobile) to hide your number at the network level before the call even reaches the other person.

Text messages do not have an equivalent feature. Even if you could somehow hide your number from the recipient's phone, your carrier would still have the record, and the recipient's phone company would still log the incoming number. There is no technical way to send an SMS that is truly anonymous.

Using a secondary number app to text from a different number

Google Voice is the most widely available option. You can create a free Google Voice number (a real phone number assigned to you) and use it to send and receive texts through the Google Voice app or website. The recipient will see the Google Voice number, not your actual phone number. You can keep this number for as long as you want, or delete it and create a new one.

Burner and TextNow work similarly but are designed for temporary numbers. Burner lets you create a number that lasts for a set time (hours, days, or weeks) before it expires and becomes unavailable. TextNow offers a free number with ads, or a paid version without them. Both show the temporary number to the recipient, not your real number.

The trade-off is that the recipient can still see the number you texted from — it is just not your actual phone number. If they save that number and text back, the conversation continues through that app. If you delete the number or let it expire, they cannot reach you at that number anymore, but they may have already saved it or shared it with others.

When you actually want to block someone from texting you

If your goal is to stop someone from contacting you, blocking is different from hiding your number. On iPhone, open the conversation with that person, tap their name at the top, scroll down, and tap "Block this Caller." On Android, open the conversation, tap the three dots (menu), and select "Block" or "Block number" (the exact wording varies by phone maker and Android version).

When you block someone, they can still send you texts, but you will not see them. Their messages go into a separate folder or disappear entirely depending on your phone. They may not know they are blocked — some phones do not tell them. However, if they call you, they may hear a message saying the call could not go through, which can tip them off.

Blocking is a one-way action. It stops them from reaching you, but it does not hide your number from them if you have already texted them before. If you need to contact them without them knowing it is you, blocking will not help.

What your carrier knows and keeps on record

Every text message you send is logged by your carrier with a timestamp, the number it came from, and the number it went to. This record exists whether you use your real number, a Google Voice number, or a Burner number. If you use Google Voice, Google keeps its own logs. If you use Burner or TextNow, those companies keep logs.

These records can be obtained by law enforcement with a warrant, by your carrier's customer service team if you request your own records, or in some cases by the recipient if they pursue legal action. There is no way to send a text that leaves no record anywhere. If you are trying to hide a text from someone for safety reasons, consider whether texting is the right tool — a phone call, an in-person conversation, or reaching out through a trusted third party might be safer.

Alternatives if texting is not the right option

If you need to communicate without your number showing, but texting is not working, consider other channels. Email shows your email address, not your phone number, and you can create a new email account if you want a fresh identity. Social media direct messages (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) show your account name, which you can make generic or create a new account for. Messaging apps like WhatsApp, Signal, or Telegram show your account name or phone number depending on the app and your settings.

Each of these has its own privacy and security trade-offs. Signal and WhatsApp encrypt messages end-to-end, meaning the company running the app cannot read them. Facebook and Instagram do not. If you are trying to reach someone safely, think about what matters most: whether they know it is you, whether the message is private, whether you want a record of the conversation, and whether you want to be reachable if they reply.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I text someone without them seeing my number if I use *67?

No. The *67 code (or #31# on some carriers) only works for voice calls, not text messages. If you dial *67 before calling, the recipient will not see your number. Texting does not support this feature at all.

If I use a Google Voice number, can the person trace it back to my real number?

Not easily. Google Voice numbers are separate from your real phone number. However, if you use the same Google Voice number repeatedly with the same person, they can contact Google with a court order to find out who owns the account. Google will comply with legal requests.

What happens if I block someone and then text them?

You can still send them texts even after you block them. They will receive your messages, but you will not see their replies. This is not a way to hide your number — they will still see it is you texting them.

Does my carrier charge differently if I text from a Google Voice number?

No. If you send a text through the Google Voice app over Wi-Fi or data, it does not use your carrier's text plan at all. If you send it through SMS, it uses your carrier's text allowance like any other text. Google Voice itself is free to use.

Can I hide my number on group texts?

No. In a group text, every participant can see every other participant's number. There is no way to hide your number from a group conversation, even if you use a secondary number app.