How to Block Your Number When Calling Someone

To block your number for one outgoing call in the United States, many carriers let you enter *67 immediately before the number you want to call. The person you call may see Private, Blocked, Unknown, or No Caller ID instead of your number, but caller ID blocking does not guarantee anonymity.

How do I block my number for one call?

Caller ID blocking prevents your name and number from appearing on the recipient’s normal caller ID display. Major United States carriers officially document *67 for at least some wireless or home phone services, but availability can depend on the carrier, line, and location.

1. Open the Phone app or pick up the handset.
2. Enter *67.
3. Immediately enter the full number you want to call, including the area code.
4. Tap the call button or complete the call normally.

The prefix applies only to that call. After you hang up, later calls should show your caller ID normally unless you have also enabled an account-level or device-level blocking setting.

If you are asking, “How do I block my number when I call someone?” this is usually the quickest method. Confirm the prefix on your carrier’s official support page before relying on it, especially when using a business line, internet-based phone service, or a carrier outside the United States.

How can I hide my number on every call?

Some carriers and phones provide a Show My Caller ID or Caller ID setting for all outgoing calls. The setting may be absent, locked, or controlled by the carrier, so its location and availability are not the same on every device.

On a supported iPhone:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Apps, then Phone. On some earlier software versions, Phone appears directly in Settings.
3. Select Show My Caller ID.
4. Turn the switch off.

If Show My Caller ID is missing or cannot be changed, contact the carrier. The carrier may not support device-level control for that line.

On a supported Android phone:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Open its menu and select Settings.
3. Look for Calling accounts, Calls, Supplementary services, or a similarly named calling section.
4. Select the active line if the phone uses more than one SIM.
5. Look for Caller ID or Show your caller ID, then choose the option that hides the number.

Android menu names vary by phone maker, software version, and carrier. Do not assume the feature is active until you test it with a person who has agreed to help.

How do I turn caller ID back on?

A temporary *67 block ends automatically when that call ends. For the next call, dial the number normally without entering the prefix.

To reverse device-level blocking on an iPhone, return to Settings, open the Phone settings, select Show My Caller ID, and turn the switch on. On Android, return to the Phone app’s calling settings, open Caller ID, and choose the option that shows the number or uses the network default.

If a carrier placed caller ID blocking on the line itself, changing the phone may not restore it. Sign in through the carrier’s official app or site and look for outgoing caller ID controls, or ask carrier support to confirm whether blocking is enabled on the account.

Some carriers support a separate prefix that reveals caller ID for one call when permanent blocking is active. Because that code and its availability can vary, use only the instructions published by your carrier rather than trying an unverified code.

Why does number blocking sometimes not work?

Caller ID blocking can fail or be unavailable for several reasons:

• The carrier does not support the prefix or device setting on that type of line.
• A business, managed, internet-based, or other specialized phone system controls outgoing caller ID separately.
• The phone has more than one SIM, and the setting was changed for a different line.
• The recipient rejects calls without visible caller ID, so the call may not connect.
• The receiving network or device handles caller ID labels differently.
• Caller ID blocking may not apply to calls placed to emergency services, toll-free services, or other services that must receive identifying information.

Hiding caller ID changes what appears on an ordinary recipient display. It does not make a call untraceable, remove carrier records, or prevent authorized services from receiving information required to handle the call.

What will the person I call see?

When caller ID blocking works, the recipient usually sees a status label rather than your number. The exact wording depends on the recipient’s carrier, network, phone, and calling app.

• Private
• Blocked
• Unknown
• No Caller ID
• Anonymous

The recipient may let the call ring, send it to voicemail, silence it, or reject it automatically. Blocking the displayed number does not force the recipient’s phone to accept the call, and it does not control how voicemail or a business phone system handles unidentified callers.

How do I get help from my carrier?

If the dialing prefix or phone setting does not work, use a search engine to enter your carrier’s name followed by “official caller ID blocking support.” Open only a result clearly operated by the carrier, then confirm that the instructions apply to your wireless, home phone, business, or internet-based line.

On the official support page, look for Caller ID, outgoing caller ID, per-call blocking, or Show My Caller ID. Avoid copying codes from forums or unrelated sites because carriers may support different controls.

If the official instructions still do not work, contact support through the carrier’s verified app or official site. Tell the representative whether you want blocking for one call or every call, which type of line you use, whether the caller ID setting appears on the phone, and what happened when you tried the documented prefix.