You can hide your number on most phones by dialing *67 before the number, or by changing your phone settings

The simplest way to make a call without showing your number is to dial *67 before the phone number you're calling. This works on most landlines and mobile phones in the United States and Canada. When you use *67, the person receiving the call sees "Private," "Blocked," or "Unknown" instead of your phone number. The call goes through normally — they can still answer and talk to you — but they won't know who called unless you tell them.

If you want to block your number on every call you make, you can change the setting in your phone's system rather than dialing *67 each time. The steps differ depending on whether you have an iPhone, Android phone, or a landline, but the option exists in all three.

Key Takeaways

  • Dialing *67 before a phone number hides your caller ID on that single call only.
  • You can set your phone to block your number on all outgoing calls through your phone's settings or by contacting your phone provider.
  • Some people and organizations — like emergency services, banks, and government offices — may not accept calls from blocked numbers.
  • Blocking your number is legal for personal calls, but using it to harass or threaten someone is illegal regardless of whether your number is hidden.

How to use *67 on your phone

To block your number on a single call, pick up your phone and dial *67, then the full phone number including the area code. For example, if you're calling 555-123-4567, you would dial *67-555-123-4567. Press call or send as you normally would. The recipient will see a blocked or private number instead of yours.

This method works on most phone systems, but a few things to know: if the person you're calling has a service that blocks all unknown callers, your call may not go through. Some businesses and government offices automatically reject blocked calls. If the call doesn't connect, you may need to call back without blocking your number or try a different time.

Blocking your number in iPhone settings

On an iPhone, go to Settings, then tap Phone. Scroll down and tap Show My Caller ID. Toggle the switch to turn it off. Once you do this, your number will be blocked on all calls you make from that phone.

If you change your mind and want to show your number again, go back to the same setting and toggle it back on. You can also turn this setting on and off as needed — there's no penalty for switching it.

Blocking your number in Android settings

On Android, the exact steps depend on your phone's manufacturer and which version of Android you're running. In most cases, open the Phone app, tap the three dots or menu icon, go to Settings, then look for Calling Accounts or Call Settings. Find the option for Show Caller ID or Caller ID and turn it off.

If you can't find this setting, contact your phone provider — they can block your number on their end, and it will explore to all calls you make from that phone number. This is especially useful if your phone's settings don't have the option built in.

Blocking your number on a landline

If you have a landline, call your phone provider and ask them to enable Caller ID Blocking or Anonymous Call Rejection on your account. They can usually do this over the phone in a few minutes. Once it's set up, your number will be blocked on all outgoing calls.

Some landline providers also let you manage this through your online account. Log in to your provider's website, look for phone settings or privacy options, and you may be able to toggle caller ID blocking yourself without calling customer service.

When blocked calls don't go through

Some people and organizations use services that reject all calls from blocked numbers. Banks, hospitals, government offices, and many businesses fall into this category — they need to know who's calling for security and record-keeping reasons. If you're calling one of these places, you may need to show your number for the call to connect.

If a call doesn't go through when your number is blocked, try calling back without the block. You can do this by dialing *82 before the number (which temporarily unblocks your caller ID for that call), or by turning off your block setting in your phone's system, making the call, and then turning it back on.

Legal and safety considerations

Blocking your phone number is legal for personal calls. You have the right to privacy, and phone companies support this through *67 and caller ID blocking settings. However, using a blocked number to harass, threaten, or defraud someone is illegal — the block doesn't protect you from consequences if you're breaking the law.

If someone is harassing you and you want to block their calls instead of blocking your own number when you call them, that's a different process. You can block incoming calls from specific numbers directly in your phone's settings or through your phone provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person I'm calling know I blocked my number?

They'll see that the call came from a blocked or private number, but they won't know it's you specifically unless you tell them. If they don't answer, they'll see a missed call from "Unknown" or "Private" rather than your name or number.

Can someone trace a blocked call back to me?

Law enforcement and phone companies can trace blocked calls if needed for legal reasons like harassment or threats. For ordinary personal calls, the person receiving the call cannot trace it back to you on their own.

What's the difference between *67 and turning off my caller ID in settings?

*67 blocks your number on a single call only — you dial it each time. Turning off caller ID in your settings blocks your number on every call you make until you turn it back on. Use *67 for occasional blocked calls; use settings if you want your number hidden all the time.

Why would I want to block my number?

People block their numbers for privacy when calling businesses, to avoid callbacks from numbers they don't recognize, or when they want to reach someone without revealing their contact information. It's a personal choice based on your comfort level.

Does blocking my number cost extra?

No. Using *67 is free. Turning on caller ID blocking through your phone's settings or your provider is also free — it's a standard feature included with your phone service.