What blocking your cell number means

Blocking your cell number means hiding your phone number from the person you are calling so their phone displays "Unknown," "Private," or "Blocked" instead of your digits. The call still goes through — they can answer it — but they cannot see who is calling them.

This is different from blocking a caller (which stops their calls from reaching you). You are controlling what information leaves your phone when you make an outgoing call.

Most carriers let you block your number on every call you make, or on individual calls. The method depends on whether you have an iPhone, Android phone, or a landline, and whether your carrier supports the feature.

Key Takeaways

  • You can block your number on all calls through your phone's settings, or on a single call by dialing *67 before the number (on most carriers).
  • iPhone users go to Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID and toggle it off; Android users go to Settings > Call Settings > Additional Settings > Caller ID.
  • Some carriers charge a monthly fee for permanent blocking, while *67 is free but only works on one call at a time.
  • Blocking your number does not prevent emergency services from seeing it — 911 always receives your real number regardless of your settings.
  • Some recipients may not see a blocked number at all; others see "Unknown" or "Private" depending on their phone and carrier.

Block your number on a single call using *67

The fastest way to hide your number on one call is to dial *67 before the phone number, then press call. This works on most carriers in the United States and Canada at no cost.

For example, if you want to call 555-123-4567, you would dial *67-555-123-4567 and press the call button. The recipient will see a blocked or unknown number instead of yours.

This method works on both iPhone and Android phones, and on most landlines. However, it does not work on all carriers — some regional or smaller carriers may not support it. If you dial *67 and the call fails or goes through with your number visible, contact your carrier to ask if they support per-call blocking.

Block your number on all calls through iPhone settings

If you want your number hidden on every call you make, iPhone lets you turn this on permanently in your phone settings.

Open Settings, then tap Phone. Scroll down and tap Show My Caller ID. Toggle the switch to off (it will turn gray). From that point on, your number will be blocked on all outgoing calls unless you turn the setting back on.

If you do not see the "Show My Caller ID" option, your carrier may not support this feature. Contact your carrier's customer service to ask whether they offer permanent caller ID blocking.

Block your number on all calls through Android settings

Android phones store this setting in a different location than iPhones, and the exact path varies slightly by manufacturer and Android version.

Open Settings, then tap Apps or Applications. Find and tap Phone. Tap Permissions or look for a menu icon (three dots) and select Settings. Tap Call Settings, then Additional Settings, then Caller ID. Select Hide Number or Off depending on what your phone offers.

If you cannot find these options, search your phone's Settings app for "Caller ID" — most Android phones have a search box at the top of Settings. If the search returns no results, your carrier may not support permanent blocking on your device.

Blocking your number on a landline

If you have a traditional landline (not a cell phone), you can block your number using *67 the same way you would on a mobile phone — dial it before the number you are calling.

For permanent blocking on a landline, contact your phone company directly. Most carriers offer a service called Caller ID Blocking or Anonymous Call Rejection that you can add to your account. There is usually a monthly fee, typically between $2 and $5, though some carriers include it free with certain plans. Ask your carrier what they charge and whether the service is available in your area.

What the recipient sees when your number is blocked

When you block your number, the person you call will see one of several things depending on their phone and carrier: "Unknown," "Private," "Blocked," "No Caller ID," or straightforward no number at all. Some phones display nothing in the caller ID field.

The exact display varies widely. An iPhone user might see "Unknown," while an Android user on the same call might see "Private." Older landline phones may show nothing at all. There is no way to control what text appears on their end — that depends on their device and carrier, not yours.

Important limits and exceptions

Blocking your number does not prevent emergency services from seeing it. If you call 911, the dispatcher will receive your real phone number and location information regardless of whether you have blocking turned on. This is a legal requirement so emergency responders can reach you if the call is disconnected.

Some businesses and government offices refuse to accept calls from blocked numbers. If you call a bank, hospital, or government agency and your number is blocked, they may not answer or may ask you to unblock your number before they can help you. If a call fails because of blocking, turn the setting off and try again.

Blocking your number does not prevent the recipient from calling you back. If they have caller return features on their phone, they may be able to dial back to your number even though they could not see it when you called.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does *67 work on all phones and carriers?

*67 works on most major carriers in the United States and Canada, including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Rogers. Some smaller regional carriers do not support it. If you dial *67 and the call fails or your number still shows, contact your carrier to confirm whether they offer per-call blocking.

Will blocking my number prevent someone from calling me back?

No. Blocking your number hides it from their caller ID, but it does not prevent them from using call return features to dial back to you. If you want to prevent callbacks, you need to block them from calling you, which is a different setting on your phone.

Can I block my number on text messages?

No. Blocking only works on voice calls. Text messages always show your number to the recipient. If you want to send a text without revealing your number, you would need to use a third-party app or service that masks your identity, though many of these are not free.

What if I block my number and the call does not go through?

If *67 causes the call to fail, your carrier may not support per-call blocking. If blocking is turned on in your phone settings and calls are not going through, turn it off temporarily and contact your carrier to ask whether they support permanent caller ID blocking on your account.

Does blocking my number hide my location?

No. Blocking your number hides only the digits. Your location information is separate and is still sent to the recipient's carrier. Emergency services can always see your location when you call 911, and some businesses can request location data from your carrier through legal channels.