The simplest way to block your number

On most phones, you can hide your number for a single call by dialing *67 before the phone number you want to call. Type *67, then the full number including area code, then press call. The person who answers will see "Private Number," "Blocked," or no number at all instead of your caller ID.

This works on landlines and most cell phones in the United States and Canada. The person you call cannot see your number, but they can still answer and talk to you normally. If they call you back, they will not be able to reach you unless you give them your number directly.

Some phone systems do not support *67 — a few carriers, older phone systems, or calls to certain numbers may not work this way. If you dial *67 and the call goes through but the recipient still sees your number, your carrier may not support the feature or the recipient's phone system may override it.

Key Takeaways

  • Dialing *67 before a phone number hides your caller ID for that single call on most U.S. and Canadian phones.
  • The person you call will see "Private Number" or "Blocked" instead of your number, but can still answer and speak with you.
  • Some carriers, phone systems, or call recipients may not support number blocking, so the feature does not work in every situation.
  • Blocking your number for one call is different from hiding it permanently in your phone settings, which requires a different process.

How to block your number for all calls from your phone

If you want to hide your number on every call you make, not just one, you can change your phone settings. On an iPhone, go to Settings, then Phone, then Show My Caller ID, and turn it off. On an Android phone, open the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu, go to Settings, then Calls, then Additional Settings, then Caller ID, and select Hide Number.

Once you turn this off, your number will be blocked on all outgoing calls until you turn the setting back on. The person receiving your call will see "Private Number" or no number at all. This setting stays in place across all calls you make, so you do not have to dial *67 each time.

Be aware that some people may not answer calls from blocked numbers, or they may be less likely to trust a call with no caller ID. If you need someone to call you back, they will not be able to reach you unless you provide your number directly or turn the setting back on.

When your number is blocked even if you do not want it to be

Sometimes your number appears blocked to the person you are calling even though you did not intentionally hide it. This can happen if your phone plan includes a feature called "Caller ID blocking" that your carrier turned on by default. Some carriers enable this for all customers in certain regions, or it may be part of your plan.

If you want your number to show up normally, call your phone carrier and ask them to turn off Caller ID blocking on your account. You can also try dialing *82 before the number you want to call — this temporarily overrides the block for that single call and lets your number show through. Not all carriers support *82, so ask your carrier if it is available on your plan.

Calls to 911 and government offices always show your real number

Emergency services and certain government offices can see your real phone number even if you have blocked it. When you call 911, your location and phone number are sent to the dispatcher automatically, regardless of your caller ID settings or whether you dialed *67. This is a legal requirement so emergency responders can find you and call you back if the line drops.

Calls to government agencies, tax offices, and some customer service lines may also bypass your number block. These systems are designed to receive calls from blocked numbers and often have ways to identify callers even without caller ID. If you are calling a government office and your number is blocked, they may ask you to provide it verbally so they can help you.

Why someone might not be able to call you back

If you call someone with your number blocked, they cannot call you back using your phone number — they have nothing to call back. If they try to use the call return feature (usually *69 on landlines), it will not work because there is no number to return to.

This is why blocking your number works best for one-way conversations or when you plan to call again. If you need a callback, you will need to either unblock your number for that call, provide your number verbally during the conversation, or turn off your blocking settings before the call ends.

The difference between blocking your number and blocking calls from others

Blocking your own number (so others cannot see it) is different from blocking calls from other people (so you do not receive them). When you block your number, you are hiding your caller ID. When you block someone else's number, you are preventing their calls from reaching you.

To block calls from someone else, go to your phone's contacts, find the person, and look for a "Block this Caller" or "Block Contact" option. On iPhone, swipe left on a recent call and tap Block. On Android, open the Phone app, find the number in your call history, tap the three dots, and select Block Number. Once blocked, that person's calls will go straight to voicemail and you will not see a notification.

What happens on the other end when your number is blocked

When you call someone with your number blocked, they see one of a few things: "Private Number," "Blocked," "Unknown," or straightforward no number at all. The exact message depends on their phone, their carrier, and their phone settings. Some phones show a generic message; others show nothing in the caller ID field.

The person can still answer your call and hear you normally. They can talk to you just like any other call. The only difference is they cannot see your number on their end, and they cannot use call return to reach you later. Some people may choose not to answer calls from blocked numbers out of caution or preference.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does *67 work on all phone carriers?

*67 works on most major U.S. and Canadian carriers, but not all. Some carriers, older phone systems, or calls to certain numbers may not support it. If you dial *67 and the call still shows your number, your carrier may not support the feature or the recipient's system may override it. Contact your carrier to confirm whether they support number blocking.

Can someone trace my number if I block it?

A regular person cannot trace a blocked number from a phone call. However, law enforcement and emergency services can identify you even if your number is blocked, because they have access to carrier records and your location data. If you are calling 911 or a government office, assume they can identify you regardless of blocking.

Will my blocked number show up in someone's phone bill?

No. If your number is blocked, it will not appear in the recipient's phone bill or call history. Their bill will show a call from a blocked or private number, but not your actual phone number. This is one reason blocking is effective for hiding your identity from the person you call.

What if I block my number but the person still sees it?

This usually means your carrier does not support number blocking, or the recipient's phone system is overriding your block. Some business phone systems and government offices have technology that reveals blocked numbers. Try dialing *82 instead of *67 to see if that works, or contact your carrier to ask whether they support caller ID blocking.

Can I block my number on a video call or text message?

*67 only works for voice calls. Video calls through apps like FaceTime, Zoom, or WhatsApp use your account information, not your phone number, so blocking your number does not hide your identity. Text messages also do not use the *67 feature. Your phone number will appear in those messages unless you use a separate app or service designed for anonymous messaging.