Why and how to hide your number from the person you're calling

When you call someone, your phone number normally appears on their caller ID. You can hide it — either for a single call or for all calls you make — using settings built into your phone or by dialing a code before the number. The method depends on whether you have a landline or mobile phone, and whether you want to block your number permanently or just this once.

Blocking your number is different from blocking unwanted calls. You are controlling what information the person receiving your call sees, rather than preventing calls from reaching you. This is useful when you want privacy for a specific call, or when you prefer not to share your number with certain contacts.

Key Takeaways

  • You can hide your number on a single call by dialing *67 before the phone number on most landlines and mobile phones in the United States.
  • To block your number on all outgoing calls, go to your phone's settings, find the Caller ID option, and select "Hide number" or "Block caller ID".
  • The exact menu location varies by phone type — on iPhones it is under Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID, and on Android it is usually under Settings > Call settings > Additional settings > Caller ID.
  • Some carriers charge a small monthly fee to permanently hide your number, while the *67 method is free and works on most networks.
  • If you block your number, some people may not answer because they screen unknown callers, and some services (like banks or government offices) may refuse to take the call.

Using *67 to block your number on a single call

The fastest way to hide your number for one call is to dial *67 when ready before you dial the person's phone number. This works on most landlines and mobile phones in the United States, whether you use AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, or most other carriers.

Here is the exact sequence: pick up your phone, dial *67, then dial the full phone number you want to reach (including the area code). When the person answers, your number will not appear on their caller ID — they will see "Private Number," "Blocked," or "Unknown" instead. This blocks your number for that call only; your next call will show your number normally unless you dial *67 again.

If you are calling from a landline, dial *67 and wait for a dial tone before entering the number. If the call does not go through, your carrier may not support this feature, or you may need to contact them to enable it — some carriers require you to request this service first.

Blocking your number on all calls through phone settings

If you want your number hidden on every call you make, you can change this in your phone's settings instead of dialing *67 each time. The location of this setting differs between iPhones and Android phones.

On an iPhone: Open Settings, tap Phone, then tap Show My Caller ID. Toggle the switch to off. Your number will now be hidden on all outgoing calls. If you want to show your number again, return to this same menu and toggle it back on.

On an Android phone: Open Settings, tap Apps and notifications (or Applications), then tap Phone. Look for Call settings or Call options, then tap Additional settings. Find Caller ID and select Hide number or Block caller ID. The exact wording and menu path varies by manufacturer — Samsung, Google Pixel, and other brands place this setting in slightly different locations, so if you cannot find it in the path above, search your settings for "Caller ID" or "Show my number."

Once you change this setting, every call you make will show as blocked or private. Keep in mind that some people screen calls from unknown numbers and may not answer, and some services like banks or government offices may refuse to take calls from blocked numbers.

Blocking your number through your carrier

Some carriers offer a service called Caller ID Blocking or Anonymous Call Rejection that you can request directly from them. This is different from the phone settings method — you contact your carrier and ask them to permanently hide your number on your account.

AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile all offer this service, though some charge a monthly fee (usually between $3 and $5) while others include it free with certain plans. To set this up, call your carrier's customer service number (on your bill or on their website), explain that you want to block your caller ID on all outgoing calls, and ask whether there is a fee. They will walk you through enabling it on your account.

The advantage of using your carrier's service is that it works on all phones you use on that account, not just one device. The disadvantage is the potential monthly cost and the fact that you cannot easily turn it on and off for individual calls — if you need to show your number for a specific call, you may have to contact the carrier again or use a different phone.

What happens when you block your number

When your number is blocked, the person you call sees one of several messages on their caller ID: "Private Number," "Blocked," "Unknown," "Restricted," or "Anonymous." They know someone is calling them, but they do not know who.

Many people do not answer calls from blocked numbers because they assume it is a spam call or a telemarketer. If the person you are calling screens unknown callers, they may let it go to voicemail. Some services — banks, government offices, hospitals, and customer service lines — have policies against accepting calls from blocked numbers and will disconnect or ask you to call back from an unblocked line.

If you leave a voicemail, the person will hear your voice but will not see your number in their call history. They can call you back only if you mention your number in the message or if they have your number saved in their contacts from a previous conversation.

Unblocking your number if you change your mind

If you blocked your number using phone settings and want to show it again, return to the same menu where you turned it off and toggle it back on. On iPhone, go to Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID and turn it on. On Android, go to Settings > Phone > Call settings > Additional settings > Caller ID and select Show number.

If you blocked your number through your carrier, call their customer service line and ask them to remove the block. They can usually do this in a few minutes. If you are paying a monthly fee for the service, ask whether you will be charged for the remainder of the month or if the fee will be removed when ready.

If you used *67 for a single call, there is nothing to undo — your number will show normally on your next call.

When blocking your number may not work

Some carriers, particularly outside the United States, do not support the *67 method or may charge a fee for it. If you try *67 and the call does not go through, your carrier may not offer this feature.

Certain types of calls cannot be made with a blocked number. Emergency services (911) will always see your number, even if you have blocking enabled — this is a legal requirement. Calls to toll-free numbers, some government offices, and certain customer service lines may also require you to show your number or will refuse the call if your number is blocked.

If you are calling someone who has set up Anonymous Call Rejection on their phone, they will not receive your call at all if your number is blocked — instead, you will hear a message saying the call cannot be completed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does *67 work on all phones?

*67 works on most landlines and mobile phones in the United States, but not all carriers support it. If you dial *67 and the call does not go through, your carrier may not offer this feature. Try calling your carrier's customer service to ask whether they support caller ID blocking.

Can someone trace my number if I block it?

No, not through normal caller ID. When you block your number, the person cannot see it on their phone. However, if you call a business or government office, they may have advanced systems that can log your number even if it is blocked, or they may ask you to provide it verbally to complete the call.

Will blocking my number prevent spam calls from reaching me?

No. Blocking your own number controls what you show when you call someone else. To stop spam calls from reaching you, you need to block incoming calls instead — that is a different setting on your phone or through your carrier.

What is the difference between *67 and carrier blocking?

*67 is free and blocks your number for one call at a time — you dial it before each call you want to hide. Carrier blocking is a service you request from your phone company that hides your number on all calls, but some carriers charge a monthly fee and you cannot turn it off for individual calls without contacting them again.

If I block my number, can the person call me back?

They can call you back only if you mention your phone number in a voicemail, or if they already have your number saved in their contacts. Otherwise, they have no way to reach you because your number did not appear on their phone.