Block your number on a single call or all calls

You can hide your phone number from the person you're calling in two ways: block it for just one call, or block it for all outgoing calls. On most phones, blocking a single call takes one or two steps before you dial. Blocking all calls requires a trip to your phone settings or a call to your carrier.

The method you choose depends on whether you want to hide your number occasionally or as your default. Some carriers charge a small monthly fee for the all-calls option, while the single-call method is always free.

Key Takeaways

  • Dial *67 before the phone number to block your number on a single call from any phone, including landlines and most cell phones.
  • On iPhones, turn on "Show My Caller ID" toggle in Settings > Phone to hide your number from all outgoing calls, or turn it off to show it.
  • On Android, go to Settings > Call Settings > Additional Settings > Caller ID and select "Hide Number" to block your number on all calls.
  • Your carrier may charge $3 to $5 per month to hide your number on all calls, and some carriers require you to call customer service to enable it.
  • The person you call may still see your number if they use certain apps or if you call a business with advanced phone systems.

Block your number on one call with *67

The fastest way to hide your number on a single call is to dial *67 before the phone number. This works on most cell phones and landlines in the United States and Canada. Dial *67, then the area code and phone number, then press call. The recipient will see "Private Number," "Blocked," or "Unknown" instead of your number.

This method is free and works every time, even if you don't have a plan with your carrier that blocks numbers. If the call doesn't go through, try again — some phone systems reject *67 calls, particularly to government offices or emergency services.

On older phones or some carriers, you may need to dial 1-67 or #67 instead. If *67 doesn't work, check your carrier's website or call their customer service line to ask what code works for your account.

Hide your number on all calls from an iPhone

On an iPhone, your caller ID setting controls whether your number shows on every call you make. Open Settings, tap Phone, then look for "Show My Caller ID." If the toggle is on (green), your number shows. Turn it off to hide your number on all outgoing calls.

This setting applies to calls made through your phone's native calling app, not to calls made through third-party apps like WhatsApp or Skype. If you use those apps, you'll need to check their individual privacy settings.

If you don't see the "Show My Caller ID" option, your carrier may not support this feature or may require you to call them to enable it. Contact your carrier's customer service to ask whether they offer caller ID blocking and whether there's a monthly fee.

Hide your number on all calls from an Android phone

On Android, the path to hide your number varies by manufacturer and carrier, but the general route is Settings > Call Settings > Additional Settings > Caller ID. Select "Hide Number" or "Private Number." Some Android phones label this setting differently — look for "Caller ID," "Show Caller ID," or "Outgoing Caller ID."

If you can't find the setting in your phone's settings app, open the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu, and look for Settings. From there, navigate to Call Settings and search for Caller ID or Caller Identification.

Like iPhones, this setting only affects calls made through your phone's native calling app. Calls through WhatsApp, Telegram, or other apps use their own privacy settings. If you still can't locate the option, your carrier may require you to call them to enable caller ID blocking.

What your carrier charges and how to set it up

Carriers in the United States typically charge between $3 and $5 per month to hide your number on all outgoing calls. Some carriers include it free with certain plans, while others may not offer it at all. Verizon calls this feature "Caller ID Blocking," AT&T calls it "Caller ID Block," and T-Mobile calls it "Caller ID Protection."

To enable it, log into your carrier's online account, call their customer service number, or visit a physical store. Some carriers let you turn it on through their app. Ask whether there's a monthly fee and whether you can cancel it anytime.

If you're on a prepaid plan, your carrier may not offer this feature at all. In that case, using *67 for individual calls is your only option.

When your blocked number might still show up

Blocking your number doesn't may provide the recipient won't see it. Businesses with advanced phone systems — hospitals, banks, government offices, and large companies — often have technology that can reveal blocked numbers. If you call a business and your number is blocked, they may still see it on their end.

Some people use third-party apps or services that can unmask blocked numbers, though these are less common. If you're calling someone with technical knowledge or calling a business, assume they may be able to see your number even if you've blocked it.

Emergency services (911) can always see your number, even if it's blocked. If you call 911, your location and phone number are transmitted to the dispatcher regardless of your caller ID settings.

Why you might want to hide your number

People hide their numbers for many reasons: to avoid harassment from someone who has your number, to keep your personal number private when calling a business, or to maintain privacy when reaching out to someone you don't know well. Hiding your number is legal in most situations.

However, repeatedly calling someone with a blocked number and hanging up, or using a blocked number to harass or threaten someone, is illegal. If you're hiding your number to avoid detection while contacting someone repeatedly, you may be breaking the law.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does *67 work on all phones?

*67 works on most cell phones and landlines in the United States and Canada, but some phone systems reject it — particularly government offices, emergency services, and some businesses. If it doesn't work, try calling your carrier to ask what code they use, or enable caller ID blocking through your account settings instead.

Can I block my number on text messages?

No. *67 and caller ID blocking only hide your number on voice calls. Text messages always show your phone number to the recipient. If you want to send anonymous texts, you'll need to use a third-party app like Google Voice or a temporary phone number service.

What if I block my number but the person calls me back?

If you call someone with a blocked number and they call you back, they're calling your actual number — the block only hides your number from outgoing calls. They'll see your real number when they call you back unless you've also enabled caller ID blocking on your account.

Does blocking my number cost money?

Using *67 for individual calls is free. Enabling caller ID blocking on all calls through your carrier usually costs $3 to $5 per month, though some carriers include it free with certain plans. Check your carrier's website or call them to ask about pricing.

Can I block my number on calls to other countries?

*67 typically works only for calls within the United States and Canada. For international calls, check whether your carrier supports caller ID blocking on those routes, or use a VoIP service like Google Voice that lets you choose what number appears to the recipient.