Blocking your number means the person you call sees "Private," "Blocked," or no number at all instead of your phone number

When you block your number on a call, the recipient's phone does not display your digits. Instead, they see "Private Number," "Blocked," "Unknown," or nothing at all — depending on their phone and carrier. This is different from blocking a contact (which stops them from calling you). You control whether your number shows up on each individual call you make.

Most phones let you block your number in two ways: for a single call, or for all calls going forward. The method depends on whether you have an iPhone, Android phone, or a landline, and whether you want a temporary or permanent block.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone, dial *67 before the number to hide your caller ID for one call, or turn off "Show My Caller ID" in Settings to hide it for all calls.
  • On Android, the steps vary by phone maker and carrier, but usually live in Settings under "Calls" or "Call Settings," where you can toggle "Hide Number" or "Caller ID."
  • Blocking your number does not prevent the call from going through — the person still receives it, they just cannot see who is calling.
  • Some businesses and government offices reject blocked calls automatically, so your call may not ring through at all.
  • Landline users can contact their phone company to block their number by default, or dial *67 before each call.

How to block your number on iPhone for a single call

On iPhone, the quickest way to hide your number for one call is to dial *67 before the phone number. Type *67, then the full number you want to call (including the area code), and press the green call button. The recipient will see a blocked or private number instead of yours.

This works on any iPhone model and any carrier. The block applies only to that one call — your next call will show your number normally unless you dial *67 again.

How to hide your caller ID on iPhone for all calls

To hide your number on every call you make from your iPhone, go to Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID and toggle it off. Now your number will not display on any outgoing calls.

You can turn this setting back on anytime by going to the same menu and toggling it on again. If you want to show your number on just one call while this setting is off, you cannot — iPhone does not have a *82 equivalent to unblock a single call when the default is blocked.

How to block your number on Android

Android phones vary by manufacturer and carrier, so the exact path depends on your phone. On most Android devices, open Settings and look for Call Settings, Calls, or Phone. Inside that menu, search for Caller ID, Hide Number, or Supplementary Services.

Once you find the right setting, you can usually choose to hide your number for all calls. Some phones also let you dial *31# to toggle the setting on or off, or *67 before a single number (like iPhone). If you cannot find the setting in your phone's Settings app, contact your carrier — they can tell you the exact steps for your device.

What happens when you call with a blocked number

When you call with your number blocked, the call still goes through normally. The person answers, hears your voice, and can talk to you just like any other call. The only difference is they cannot see your phone number on their screen.

However, some businesses, government offices, and automated systems reject blocked calls outright. Your call may not ring through at all — instead, you might hear a message saying the number does not accept blocked calls, or the call straightforward fails. If this happens, you will need to unblock your number and call again.

Blocking your number on a landline

If you have a traditional landline (not a cell phone), you can block your number by dialing *67 before the number, just like on a cell phone. This works with most landline carriers.

To block your number on all landline calls permanently, contact your phone company directly. They can set your account to hide your caller ID by default. You can usually still unblock it for individual calls by dialing *82 before the number, though this varies by carrier. Ask your provider what options they offer.

Why someone might not receive your blocked call

Many businesses, hospitals, government agencies, and customer service lines are set up to reject or flag blocked calls. Banks often will not accept them. Police non-emergency lines frequently reject them. Automated systems may hang up when ready when they detect a blocked number.

If you are calling a business or official number and your call does not go through, try unblocking your number and calling again. If you are calling a person and they do not answer, they may have their phone set to reject unknown numbers — again, unblocking and calling again usually solves this.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone trace a blocked call back to me?

Not through normal means. Your number does not appear on their phone. However, if you are calling from a business line, law enforcement can subpoena phone records from your carrier to trace the call. For personal calls, blocking your number prevents the average person from seeing or calling back your number.

Does *67 work on all phone carriers?

*67 works on most carriers in the United States, but not all. It works reliably on AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and most regional carriers. Some smaller carriers or VoIP services may not support it. If *67 does not work for you, check your carrier's website or call their customer service to ask how to block your number.

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

Blocking your number hides your caller ID when you call someone else. Blocking a contact prevents that person from calling or texting you. These are opposite directions — one controls what you send out, the other controls what comes in.

If I block my number, can the person call me back?

No. When you block your number, they cannot see it on their screen, so they have no number to call back. If they want to reach you, you would have to call them again or contact them another way.

Will blocking my number stop spam filters from catching my call?

No. In fact, blocking your number may make spam filters more likely to flag your call as suspicious, since legitimate callers usually show their number. If you are calling a business contact, unblocking your number usually increases the chance they will answer.