You can hide your phone number on individual calls or all calls, depending on your phone type and carrier

Blocking your caller ID means the person you call sees "Unknown," "Private," or "Blocked" instead of your phone number. The method depends on whether you want to hide your number on every call or just specific ones, and whether you use a landline, mobile phone, or internet-based calling service.

On most phones, you can block your number for a single call by dialing a code before the number. You can also set your phone to hide your number on all outgoing calls through your phone's settings or by contacting your carrier. Some carriers charge a small monthly fee for this service, while others include it free or allow you to toggle it per call at no cost.

Key Takeaways

  • On most phones, dial *67 before the phone number to block your caller ID for that single call only.
  • To hide your number on all calls, go to your phone's settings (usually under "Calling" or "Phone") and toggle caller ID off, or contact your carrier to request the service.
  • Some carriers charge $3 to $5 per month for permanent caller ID blocking, while others offer it free or allow free per-call blocking.
  • Caller ID blocking does not prevent emergency services from seeing your number — 911 calls always transmit your location and phone number regardless of your settings.
  • Some businesses and government offices refuse calls from blocked numbers, so you may need to unblock your ID when calling them.

How to block your number on a single call

The simplest method is to dial *67 immediately before the phone number you are calling. This works on most landlines and mobile phones in the United States and Canada. For example, if you are calling 555-123-4567, you would dial *67-555-123-4567 or *67 555-123-4567 (the format varies slightly by carrier, but both usually work).

When the person answers, they will see "Unknown," "Private," or "Blocked" on their caller ID display instead of your number. The call itself goes through normally — they can hear you and you can hear them. The blocking applies only to that single call; your next call will show your number unless you dial *67 again.

If *67 does not work on your phone, try #31# before the number instead. This is less common in North America but works on some carriers and international networks. If neither code works, contact your carrier to ask which code they support.

How to hide your number on all outgoing calls

To block your caller ID on every call without dialing a code each time, you need to change your phone's settings or contact your carrier. The method depends on your phone type.

On an iPhone: Go to Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID and toggle it off. Your number will be hidden on all calls until you toggle it back on. This works immediately and costs nothing.

On an Android phone: Go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Permissions, or Settings > Call Settings > Additional Settings > Caller ID, depending on your phone model and Android version. Look for an option labeled "Show Caller ID," "Display My Number," or "Caller ID" and toggle it off. If you cannot find this setting, your carrier may require you to contact them directly.

On a landline: Call your phone company and ask them to enable "Caller ID Blocking" or "Anonymous Call Rejection" on your account. Most carriers offer this for free or a small monthly fee (typically $3 to $5). Some carriers allow you to request it online through your account portal instead of calling.

What your carrier charges and what they offer

Pricing and availability vary by carrier. Major carriers in the United States handle caller ID blocking differently:

Verizon offers free per-call blocking with *67 on both mobile and landline. Permanent blocking on mobile is free through the phone's settings. Landline customers can request it free or for a small fee depending on their plan.

AT&T offers free per-call blocking with *67. Permanent blocking on mobile is free through settings. Landline customers should contact AT&T directly, as pricing varies by region and plan.

T-Mobile offers free per-call blocking with *67 and free permanent blocking through the phone's settings on most Android and iPhone models.

Regional carriers and VoIP services (like Google Voice, Vonage, or Ooma) have different policies. Some allow free per-call blocking, others charge monthly, and some do not support it at all. Check your carrier's website or call their customer service to confirm what they offer.

When caller ID blocking does not work or is not allowed

Some businesses, government offices, and customer service lines refuse to accept calls from blocked numbers. Banks, hospitals, government agencies, and utility companies often reject anonymous calls as a security measure. If you call one of these places with your number blocked, you may hear a message saying the call cannot be completed and asking you to unblock your ID.

In these cases, you have two options: call back without blocking your number, or contact the organization ahead of time to ask if they accept blocked calls. Some will make an exception if you explain why you want to block your number.

Additionally, caller ID blocking does not hide your number from emergency services. If you dial 911, your phone number and location are transmitted to the emergency dispatcher regardless of your caller ID settings. This is a legal requirement so that emergency responders can reach you if the call is disconnected.

Why people block their caller ID and privacy considerations

People block their caller ID for many reasons: to maintain privacy when calling businesses, to avoid unsolicited callbacks, to protect personal safety in certain situations, or simply to reduce telemarketing callbacks. Blocking your number is legal in most places and does not prevent the call from going through.

However, be aware that some people may not answer calls from blocked numbers out of caution. If you are calling someone who does not know you, they may assume it is a scam or spam call and decline to pick up. If you need them to answer, you may need to unblock your ID or call from a different number.

Also note that while your caller ID is hidden, your carrier and the phone company of the person you are calling still have a record of the call. Your number is not truly anonymous to the phone system — it is only hidden from the person receiving the call.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does *67 work on all phones and carriers?

*67 works on most North American landlines and mobile phones, but not all. Some carriers use different codes or do not support per-call blocking at all. If *67 does not work, try #31# or contact your carrier to ask which code they support. Your carrier's customer service website usually lists the correct code.

Can I block my caller ID on text messages?

No. Caller ID blocking only applies to voice calls. Text messages always show your phone number to the recipient, and there is no standard way to hide it. Some messaging apps like Signal or WhatsApp hide your number by design, but standard SMS texts cannot be sent anonymously.

If I block my caller ID, can the person I call trace my number?

The person receiving the call cannot see your number on their phone, but your carrier has a record of the call. If the person reports the call to law enforcement or their carrier, authorities can subpoena the phone company to obtain your number. Caller ID blocking hides your number from the recipient, not from the phone system or law enforcement.

Will blocking my caller ID stop telemarketers from calling me back?

Blocking your outgoing caller ID does not prevent telemarketers from calling you. To reduce telemarketing calls, register your number with the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov, or contact your carrier about call-filtering services. Blocking your own outgoing number is separate from blocking incoming calls.

What happens if I block my caller ID when calling 911?

Your caller ID blocking is automatically overridden for 911 calls. Emergency dispatchers always receive your phone number and location, even if you have caller ID blocking enabled on your account or dial *67 before calling. This is required by law so emergency responders can locate you.