You can block your caller ID on individual calls or for all calls, depending on your phone type and carrier

Blocking your caller ID means the person you call sees "Private," "Blocked," or "Unknown" instead of your phone number. Most carriers let you do this for free, either one call at a time or permanently. The method depends on whether you have a landline, mobile phone, or VoIP service — and some carriers charge a small monthly fee if you want to block ID on every call you make.

The simplest approach is to dial a code before the number on any call. If you want to hide your number for all outgoing calls, you can usually change a setting in your phone's settings menu or contact your carrier to request permanent blocking.

Key Takeaways

  • Dialing *67 before a phone number blocks your caller ID on that single call for most US carriers, and it works on both landlines and mobile phones.
  • To block your caller ID on every call you make, you can usually toggle a setting in your phone's settings menu under "Caller ID" or contact your carrier to request it permanently.
  • Some carriers charge $2 to $5 per month to block your caller ID on all outgoing calls, while per-call blocking is free.
  • Blocking your caller ID does not prevent emergency services from seeing your number — 911 calls always transmit your location and phone number regardless of your settings.

Block caller ID on a single call using *67

The fastest way to hide your number on one call is to dial *67 immediately before the phone number. This works on most carriers in the United States, including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and most regional carriers. You dial it the same way on a mobile phone or landline: *67, then the area code and number.

When you do this, the person you call will see "Private," "Blocked," or "Unknown" instead of your number. Some carriers may show a different label, but the result is the same — your number stays hidden. This method is free and works for one call at a time. If the call does not go through, your carrier may not support *67, or the recipient's phone may have a setting that rejects calls from blocked numbers.

The person you call can still answer and talk to you normally. Blocking your caller ID does not affect call quality or whether the call connects — it only hides the number that appears on their phone.

Hide your caller ID on all outgoing calls through your phone settings

If you want to block your caller ID on every call without dialing *67 each time, you can usually change a setting in your phone's settings menu. The exact location varies by phone type.

On an iPhone: Go to Settings, then Phone, then Show My Caller ID. Toggle this off. Your number will be hidden on all outgoing calls. If you do not see this option, your carrier may not support it, or you may need to contact them to enable it first.

On an Android phone: Go to Settings, then Phone or Call Settings (the exact name varies by manufacturer), then Additional Settings or Caller ID. Look for an option to hide your number or block caller ID, and toggle it off. Some Android phones label this "Show Caller ID" — turning it off hides your number.

On a landline: You typically cannot change this in a menu. Instead, contact your phone carrier directly and ask them to enable "Caller ID Blocking" or "Anonymous Call Rejection" on your account. They may charge a monthly fee, usually $2 to $5.

Request permanent caller ID blocking from your carrier

If your phone does not have a settings menu option, or if you want to make sure the setting is enforced at the carrier level, you can call your phone company and ask them to block your caller ID on all outgoing calls. This is sometimes called "Caller ID Blocking," "Anonymous Call Rejection," or "Per-Line Blocking," depending on the carrier.

Most carriers offer this service, but some charge a monthly fee — typically $2 to $5. A few carriers include it free with certain plans. When you call to request it, have your account number ready. The carrier will confirm the change, and it usually takes effect within one to two business days.

Once enabled at the carrier level, your number will be blocked on every call you make, even if you dial *67. You can usually toggle this on and off by calling your carrier again, or in some cases through your carrier's online account portal.

Understand what blocking your caller ID does and does not do

Blocking your caller ID hides your phone number from the person you call, but it does not make you anonymous in other ways. If you leave a voicemail, the recipient may be able to identify you from your voice or the content of your message. If you call a business with caller ID logs, they may be able to trace the call through other means, though this is uncommon for regular phone calls.

Blocking your caller ID also does not prevent the call from being traced by law enforcement if there is a legal reason to do so. Phone companies keep records of all calls, including who made them and when, even if the caller ID was blocked. If you are calling to harass, threaten, or commit fraud, blocking your number does not protect you from legal consequences.

Emergency calls to 911 always transmit your phone number and location to the dispatcher, regardless of your caller ID settings. This is a legal requirement and cannot be overridden by blocking your caller ID.

Troubleshoot if *67 is not working

If you dial *67 and the call still shows your number to the recipient, a few things may be happening. First, check that you dialed *67 before the area code — dialing it after the number will not work. Second, the recipient's phone may have a setting that rejects or ignores blocked calls, which can cause their phone to display your number anyway.

Third, your carrier may not support *67. This is rare in the United States, but some carriers or phone plans do not offer this feature. Call your carrier's customer service line and ask whether they support per-call caller ID blocking. If they do not, you can ask about permanent blocking instead.

Fourth, if you are calling a business or government office, they may have equipment that forces caller ID to display even when you block it. This is legal for certain types of calls, such as calls to banks or government agencies, and you cannot override it.

Know the difference between blocking caller ID and call blocking

Blocking your caller ID means hiding your number from the person you call. Call blocking means preventing incoming calls from reaching you — for example, blocking spam calls or calls from a specific number. These are two different things, and the methods are different.

If you want to block incoming calls instead of hiding your outgoing number, you would use your phone's built-in call blocking feature or a third-party app. Most modern phones have a native call blocking option in the Phone app or Settings. This does not involve *67 or carrier settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does *67 work on all carriers?

*67 works on most major US carriers including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and many regional carriers. Some smaller carriers or VoIP services may not support it. If *67 does not work for you, contact your carrier to confirm they offer per-call blocking, or ask about permanent blocking instead.

Can I block my caller ID on text messages?

No. Caller ID blocking only works on voice calls. Text messages always show your phone number to the recipient — there is no way to hide it. Some messaging apps like Signal or WhatsApp do not display your phone number by default, but standard SMS texts will always show your number.

Will the person I call know I blocked my number?

Yes, they will see "Private," "Blocked," or "Unknown" on their phone instead of your number. They will know the call is from a blocked number, but they will not know who you are unless you tell them. Some people may choose not to answer calls from blocked numbers.

Does blocking my caller ID cost money?

Per-call blocking with *67 is free. Permanent blocking through your carrier may cost $2 to $5 per month, depending on your carrier and plan. Some carriers include it free with certain plans. Contact your carrier to ask about pricing.

Can I block my caller ID on international calls?

*67 typically works only on calls within the United States. For international calls, the method varies by country and carrier. Contact your carrier before making an international call if you want to block your caller ID — they can tell you whether it is possible and how to do it.