What blocking your number means and why you might do it

Blocking your cell phone number means hiding your phone number from the person you are calling so their phone displays "Unknown," "Private," or "Blocked" instead of your digits. When you block your number, the recipient cannot see who called them, and they cannot call you back using that information.

People block their numbers for different reasons: to keep their personal number private when calling a business, to avoid unwanted callbacks, or to contact someone without revealing their identity. Some people block their number for every call they make. Others block it only for specific calls.

Blocking is different from blocking a contact. When you block a contact in your phone's settings, you prevent that person from calling or texting you. When you block your outgoing number, you prevent the person you are calling from seeing your number on their end.

Key Takeaways

  • You can block your number for a single call by dialing *67 before the phone number on most carriers in the United States.
  • To block your number on every call, go to your phone's settings, find the Caller ID option, and turn it off or set it to "Hide Number."
  • Some carriers charge a monthly fee for permanent blocking, while the *67 method is free and works on most networks.
  • Blocking your number does not work when calling emergency services, toll-free numbers, or some government agencies.
  • The person you call may still see your number if they have special services enabled, such as call tracing or a service that reveals blocked numbers.

Blocking your number for a single call using *67

The fastest way to block your number for one call is to dial *67 before you enter the phone number. On most carriers in the United States — including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and smaller regional carriers — this works on both cell phones and landlines.

Here is how to do it: Open your phone's dialer, type *67, then type the full phone number you want to call (including the area code), and press call. The recipient will see a blocked or private number on their phone. If they call you back, the call will not go through because they do not have your actual number.

This method is free and does not require you to change any settings. It works only for that single call. The next call you make will show your number normally unless you dial *67 again.

Blocking your number on every call through phone settings

If you want to hide your number on all outgoing calls, you can change your phone's settings instead of dialing *67 each time. The steps differ depending on whether you have an iPhone or an Android phone.

On an iPhone: Open Settings, tap Phone, scroll down to "Show My Caller ID," and toggle it off. Your number will now be hidden on every call you make. To turn it back on, return to the same setting and toggle it on.

On an Android phone: Open Settings, tap Apps or Applications, find Phone or Dialer, tap Permissions, and look for a Caller ID option. Some Android phones instead have this setting under Settings > Call Settings > Additional Settings > Caller ID. The exact path depends on your phone model and carrier. Once you find it, select "Hide Number" or toggle off the option to show your number.

If you cannot find this setting on your Android phone, contact your carrier directly — some carriers do not allow this setting to be changed through the phone itself and require you to call customer service or use their online account portal.

Blocking your number through your carrier

Your cell phone carrier may offer a permanent blocking service that you can turn on through your account or by calling customer service. Some carriers include this feature for free, while others charge a small monthly fee, usually between $2 and $5.

To set this up, log into your carrier's online account portal or call their customer service number. Ask about "Caller ID blocking," "Anonymous Calling," or "Per-Call Blocking." The representative can tell you whether the service is available in your area, whether it costs money, and how to set up it. Once activated, your number will be hidden on every call unless you dial *82 to unblock it for a single call.

Using your carrier's service can be more reliable than the phone settings method because it works at the network level rather than just on your device. However, it is not necessary — the *67 method and the phone settings method work for most people without any additional cost.

When blocking your number does not work

Blocking your number has limits. When you call 911 or other emergency services, your number will always be transmitted to the dispatcher, even if you have blocking turned on. This is a legal requirement so emergency responders can locate you.

Toll-free numbers (numbers that start with 800, 888, 877, or 866) often receive your number regardless of blocking because the business paying for the toll-free line has a legitimate need to see who is calling. Some government agencies and banks also have systems that override caller ID blocking for security or regulatory reasons.

Additionally, if the person you are calling has a service that reveals blocked numbers — sometimes called "Call Trace" or offered through premium call-blocking apps — they may still see your number or at least know that you are calling from a blocked number. These services are not common, but they do exist.

Blocking your number versus blocking a contact

It is important not to confuse blocking your outgoing number with blocking an incoming contact. When you block a contact in your phone, that person cannot call or text you, and their calls go straight to voicemail. You are preventing them from reaching you.

When you block your outgoing number, you are preventing the person you call from seeing your number. They can still answer, and they can still call you back if they have another way to reach you. The two features serve opposite purposes and are found in different places in your phone's settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person I call know I blocked my number?

They will see that the call came from a blocked or private number, so they will know you did not want to show your number. However, they will not know who you are unless you tell them. If they have call-tracing services, they may be able to see your actual number, but this is uncommon.

Can I unblock my number after I have set it to hide on all calls?

Yes. If you turned off Caller ID in your phone settings, you can turn it back on the same way. If you used *67 for a single call, your number will show normally on the next call. If your carrier is blocking your number, you can dial *82 before a phone number to unblock it for that one call, or contact your carrier to turn off the service entirely.

Does blocking my number work on text messages?

No. Blocking your number with *67 or phone settings only hides your number on voice calls. Text messages always show your phone number to the recipient. If you want to send a text without revealing your number, you would need to use a separate texting app or service, which is outside the scope of standard carrier blocking.

What happens if I block my number and the person tries to call me back?

The call will not go through because they do not have your actual number to dial. If they try to call back the blocked number, they will get an error message or the call will not connect. This is why blocking your number is useful if you do not want the person to be able to reach you.

Is it illegal to block my phone number?

No, blocking your outgoing number is legal in the United States for personal calls. However, some businesses and organizations have restrictions on blocking when calling them for official purposes. Additionally, blocking your number when calling 911 or attempting to defraud someone is illegal. For personal use, blocking your number is a standard feature offered by all major carriers.