What blocking your number means and why you might do it

Blocking your 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 cannot call you back using that number — though they can still answer and talk to you if they pick up.

People block their numbers for different reasons: to keep their personal number private when calling a business, to avoid callbacks to a number they do not want to share, or to reach someone who might not answer if they see the caller ID. Some people block their number when calling customer service lines, medical offices, or other places where they prefer not to leave a traceable number.

There are two ways to block your number: you can do it for a single call, or you can set your phone to block your number on every call you make. The method depends on what type of phone you have and which approach fits your situation.

Key Takeaways

  • On most phones, you can block your number for one call by dialing *67 before the phone number, then pressing call.
  • On iPhones, you can hide your number permanently by going to Settings, Phone, Show My Caller ID, and turning it off.
  • On Android phones, the setting is usually in Settings, Apps, Phone, Additional Settings, Caller ID, and Hide Number.
  • Some carriers charge a small monthly fee to block your number on all calls, while blocking a single call is always free.
  • Blocking your number does not prevent emergency services from seeing your location if you call 911.

How to block your number on a single call

The fastest way to hide your number for just one call is to use a code that works on almost every phone and carrier in North America. Before you dial the person's number, type *67, then the full phone number you want to call, then press the call button. Your number will be blocked for that call only.

For example, if you want to call 555-123-4567 with your number hidden, you would dial *67-555-123-4567 and then press call. The person who answers will see "Unknown" or "Private" instead of your number. After the call ends, your number will show normally on your next call unless you use *67 again.

This method works on landlines, most cell phones, and most carriers including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and others. A few carriers or phone systems may not support it, but it costs nothing to try. If *67 does not work, your carrier may use a different code — calling your carrier's customer service line can tell you what code they use.

How to hide your number on every call from an iPhone

If you want your number blocked on all calls you make from an iPhone, you can turn off caller ID in your phone's settings. Open the Settings app, then tap Phone. Scroll down and tap Show My Caller ID. Toggle the switch to off (it will turn gray). From that point on, every call you make will show as "Unknown" or "Private" to the person receiving it.

To turn your caller ID back on, follow the same steps and toggle Show My Caller ID back to on. You can switch this setting on and off as many times as you want — there is no limit and no charge. If you cannot find the Show My Caller ID option, your carrier may not support this feature, and you would need to contact them to ask about blocking your number.

How to hide your number on every call from an Android phone

On most Android phones, the setting to hide your number is in a different location than on iPhones. Open Settings, then tap Apps or process Manager (the name varies by phone brand). Find and tap Phone. Tap Additional Settings or More Settings. Look for Caller ID or Show Caller ID and tap it. Select Hide Number or the equivalent option.

The exact path depends on your phone's brand — Samsung, Google Pixel, Motorola, and others place this setting in slightly different spots. If you cannot find it in the steps above, search your phone's settings for "caller ID" or "hide number" using the search function at the top of the Settings app. Once you find it, toggling it off will hide your number on all outgoing calls.

What your carrier might charge and what they might not allow

Blocking your number on a single call using *67 is always free. However, some carriers charge a monthly fee — usually between $2 and $5 — if you want to hide your number on all calls. Others include this feature at no extra cost. Call your carrier's customer service line to ask whether they charge for permanent caller ID blocking and what the fee is if they do.

Some carriers allow you to block your number, but others restrict it. Government agencies, hospitals, and some businesses may not allow their employees to block their numbers on outgoing calls. If you work for an organization like this, your work phone may not have the option to hide your number, even if your personal phone does.

Why blocking your number does not work for 911 calls

If you call 911 in an emergency, your number cannot be blocked — emergency services need to know where you are calling from in case the call drops or you cannot speak. Even if you have your caller ID turned off, 911 dispatchers will see your phone number and location. This is true whether you use *67, have your number permanently blocked, or use any other method.

This safety rule exists across all carriers and all phone types. You do not need to worry about unblocking your number before calling 911 — the system overrides any blocking you have set up.

What happens when you call someone with your number blocked

When you call someone with your number blocked, they will see "Unknown," "Private," "Blocked," or "No Caller ID" on their phone screen instead of your number. If they answer, they will hear your voice normally — blocking your number only hides the digits, not the call itself. If they do not answer, they cannot call you back using the number you called from, because they do not know what it is.

Some people use call-blocking apps or services that screen unknown calls, so a call from a blocked number might go to voicemail automatically. This is not something you can control — it depends on what the person receiving the call has set up on their phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone find out my number if I block it?

No, not through the phone call itself. If you block your number, the person cannot see it on their caller ID or call you back at that number. However, if you leave a voicemail, some voicemail systems may record your number in the message details, depending on the carrier and the recipient's phone settings. If you are concerned about this, you can choose not to leave a message.

Does *67 work on all phones and carriers?

*67 works on most phones and carriers in North America, but not all. Landlines, cell phones on major carriers like Verizon and AT&T, and most smaller carriers support it. Some carriers use different codes or do not support caller ID blocking at all. If *67 does not work for you, call your carrier to ask what code they use or whether they offer this feature.

If I block my number, can the person still see my name?

No. When you block your number, the recipient sees only "Unknown," "Private," or "Blocked" — they do not see your name or any identifying information. The only way they would know who called is if you tell them during the conversation.

What is the difference between blocking my number and blocking a contact?

Blocking your number hides your phone number from the person you are calling. Blocking a contact prevents a specific person from calling or texting you — their calls go to voicemail and their messages do not appear. These are two different features that do opposite things.

Will blocking my number affect my voicemail or text messages?

Blocking your number only affects phone calls. If you send a text message, the recipient will see your number normally because text messages work differently than calls. Voicemail will also show your number if you leave a message, depending on the carrier and the recipient's phone settings.