What Star 67 does and doesn't do

Star 67 (*67) blocks your phone number from appearing on the recipient's caller ID for a single call. When you dial *67 before a phone number on a landline or mobile phone, the call goes through but shows as "blocked," "private," or "unknown" instead of your actual number. It works on most carriers in North America, though some carriers charge a small per-call fee or require you to enable it in your account settings first.

The key limitation: Star 67 only hides your number from the person receiving the call. It does not hide your number from your phone company, law enforcement, or the phone system itself. If someone calls 911 or files a police report, your actual number can be retrieved. Star 67 also does not work on all types of calls — toll-free numbers, 411 directory assistance, and some business lines can override the block and see your real number anyway.

On mobile phones, Star 67 works the same way as on landlines, but the experience varies slightly by carrier and phone type. Some carriers let you set a default to block your number on every call through your account settings, which is more convenient than dialing *67 each time.

Key Takeaways

  • Dialing *67 before a number blocks your caller ID for that single call, showing "blocked" or "private" to the person you are calling.
  • Star 67 does not prevent your phone company or law enforcement from seeing your real number if they have a legal reason to request it.
  • Toll-free numbers, directory assistance, and some business lines can override Star 67 and display your actual number anyway.
  • Most carriers support Star 67 at no extra cost, but a few charge per call or require you to turn it on in your account settings first.

How to use Star 67 on your phone

The process is straightforward on both landlines and mobile phones. Pick up your phone, dial *67, then dial the phone number you want to call. Wait for the call to connect — you should hear the normal ringing tone. The person on the other end will see "blocked," "private," or "unknown" on their caller ID instead of your number.

If you want to block your number on every outgoing call instead of just one, you can usually set this in your phone's settings or your carrier's account. On most Android phones, open the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu, go to Settings, then Call Settings, and look for "Caller ID" or "Show My Number" — toggle it off. On iPhone, go to Settings, Phone, and toggle off "Show My Number." For landlines, contact your phone company to ask about permanent blocking options.

Some carriers charge a monthly fee (usually $3 to $5) to block your number on all calls, while others offer it free. A few carriers charge per call if you use Star 67 frequently. Check your carrier's website or call their customer service to confirm whether there is a cost and whether the feature is already turned on for your account.

When Star 67 does not work

Toll-free numbers (800, 888, 877, 866) can be set up to override caller ID blocking, which means your number may show up even if you dialed *67. This is because businesses often want to see who is calling them, and the phone system allows them to request unblocked numbers. Government agencies and some customer service lines use this feature routinely.

Directory assistance (411) and operator-assisted calls also typically bypass Star 67. If you call 411 to look up a number, the service can see your real number regardless of whether you used Star 67. The same applies to calls to emergency services — 911 always receives your actual number and location, even if you dialed *67 first.

Some business phone systems and private phone networks do not recognize Star 67 at all. If you call a company with an older or custom phone system, the block may not work, and your number could still appear on their end. There is no way to know in advance whether a particular business will honor Star 67, so if privacy is critical for a specific call, assume the block might not work.

The difference between Star 67 and other privacy options

Star 67 is a temporary, per-call solution. If you need ongoing privacy, other options exist depending on your situation. A Google Voice number or Skype number lets you make calls from a different number entirely — the recipient sees the Google Voice or Skype number, not your real phone number. These services are free or low-cost and work on any phone or computer, but they require you to set up an account and give out a different number to contacts.

A prepaid phone or burner phone is another option if you need a completely separate phone line. You buy a cheap phone and a prepaid plan, use it for private calls, and can discard it later. This is more expensive than Star 67 but offers stronger privacy because the number is not tied to your identity in any public records.

If you are trying to block a specific person from calling you rather than hide your number when you call them, that is a different problem. Most phones have a built-in block or do-not-disturb feature that prevents certain numbers from reaching you. This does not hide your number — it just stops their calls from coming through.

Legal and ethical considerations

Using Star 67 is legal in the United States and Canada. There is nothing wrong with blocking your caller ID for a legitimate reason — calling a doctor's office, a therapist, a domestic violence hotline, or any situation where you want privacy. Many people use it routinely without any issue.

However, using Star 67 to harass, threaten, or defraud someone is illegal, even though your number is hidden. Law enforcement can subpoena phone records from your carrier to identify you if a crime has been committed. The block only hides your number from the recipient; it does not make you anonymous to the phone system or the law.

Some businesses and services refuse to accept blocked calls as a policy. A bank, for example, might not process a transaction if you call with Star 67 active because they want to verify your identity through caller ID. If a call is rejected because of blocking, you can always call back without using *67.

Troubleshooting Star 67 if it is not working

If you dialed *67 and your number still appeared on the recipient's caller ID, a few things could have gone wrong. First, check whether your carrier supports Star 67 — most do, but some regional or prepaid carriers do not. Call your carrier's customer service to confirm the feature is available on your plan.

Second, make sure you dialed *67 before the phone number, not after. The order matters: *67 must come first, then the full phone number including the area code. If you dialed it in the wrong order, the block would not activate.

Third, the recipient's phone system may override blocking — this is especially common with toll-free numbers and business lines. If you called a business and your number showed up despite using Star 67, their system is set to unblock caller ID, and there is nothing you can do on your end to prevent it.

If Star 67 is not working on your mobile phone, check your phone's settings to see whether "Show My Number" is turned on. If it is, turn it off and try again. On some phones, the setting is in a different location depending on your carrier, so you may need to contact your carrier's support line for specific instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone trace my number if I use Star 67?

Not through caller ID — that is what Star 67 blocks. However, your phone company has a record of every call you make, and law enforcement can obtain that record with a warrant or subpoena. Star 67 hides your number from the person you are calling, not from the phone system or the authorities.

Does Star 67 work on text messages?

No. Star 67 only works on voice calls. Text messages do not use the same system as caller ID, so there is no equivalent feature for SMS. If you need to send a private text, use a service like Google Voice or Signal instead.

Will Star 67 work if I call a cell phone?

Yes, Star 67 works on cell phones the same way it works on landlines. The recipient will see "blocked" or "private" on their caller ID instead of your number. However, if their phone is set to reject blocked calls, your call may not go through.

What if someone calls me with Star 67 — can I see their number?

No. When someone calls you with Star 67 active, you will see "blocked," "private," or "unknown" on your caller ID, just as they see it when you use Star 67. You cannot override it or retrieve their number through your phone. If you need to know who is calling, you can ask them to call back without blocking, or you can contact your carrier to see if they offer a service that reveals blocked numbers (some do, for a fee).

Is there a monthly fee for Star 67?

Most carriers include Star 67 at no cost — you just dial it before each call. Some carriers charge a small monthly fee (usually $3 to $5) if you want to block your number on all outgoing calls by default. A few prepaid carriers charge per use. Check your carrier's website or call customer service to find out what applies to your account.