You can hide your number on most phones using *67 before dialing, or through your phone's settings

The simplest way to block your number on a single call is to dial *67 before the phone number you're calling. This works on most landlines and mobile phones in the United States and Canada. When you use *67, the person you're calling sees "Private," "Blocked," or "Unknown" instead of your number. The call still goes through normally — they can answer and talk to you, but they won't know who called unless you tell them.

If you want to hide your number on every call you make, you can change the setting in your phone's system rather than typing *67 each time. The steps differ depending on whether you have an iPhone, Android phone, or a landline, and the option may not be available on all phone plans.

Key Takeaways

  • Dialing *67 before a phone number hides your caller ID for that single call on most U.S. and Canadian phones.
  • You can set your phone to block your number on all outgoing calls through Settings on iPhone or Android, though some carriers don't allow this.
  • Blocking your number does not prevent emergency services from seeing your location if you call 911.
  • Some businesses and government offices may refuse to take calls from blocked numbers, so you may need to unblock for those calls.

How to block your number on iPhone

On iPhone, go to Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID. Toggle the switch to off. This hides your number on all calls you make going forward. If you change your mind, toggle it back on.

If you don't see the "Show My Caller ID" option, your carrier may not support this feature. AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile all allow it, but some smaller carriers or prepaid plans don't. You can contact your carrier to ask whether they support caller ID blocking on your plan.

How to block your number on Android

On Android, the steps depend on which phone manufacturer you have and which version of Android runs on it. On most phones, go to Phone or Dialer > Settings > Calls > Additional Settings > Caller ID. Look for an option that says "Hide Number," "Block Caller ID," or "Show Caller ID" and toggle it off.

If you can't find this setting, try Settings > Apps > Phone > Permissions and make sure the Phone app has permission to access your identity. If the setting still doesn't appear, your carrier may not offer it on your plan. Samsung, Google Pixel, and OnePlus phones typically support this feature if your carrier does.

How to block your number on a landline

If you have a traditional landline through a company like Verizon, AT&T, or a local provider, you can usually block your number through your account online or by calling customer service. Log into your account on the provider's website and look for a "Caller ID" or "Privacy" section. Some providers call this feature "Anonymous Call Rejection" or "Caller ID Blocking."

You can also call your provider's customer service line and ask them to enable caller ID blocking on your account. They may charge a small monthly fee — typically $1 to $3 — or include it free depending on your plan. Once it's enabled, your number will be blocked on all calls you make from that line.

When blocking your number might not work

Some businesses, government offices, and customer service lines refuse to take calls from blocked numbers. Banks, hospitals, and government agencies sometimes require you to show your number before they'll connect you to a representative. If a call doesn't go through, you may see a message saying the call was rejected or you may hear a recording asking you to unblock your number.

If you need to reach one of these places, you have two options: turn off caller ID blocking for that specific call (dial *82 before the number on most phones), or call from a different phone. Some people keep caller ID blocking on for personal calls but turn it off when calling businesses or services that require it.

What happens when you call 911 with a blocked number

Emergency services can see your location and phone number even if you have caller ID blocking turned on. This is a legal requirement — 911 systems must be able to reach you back if the call drops. Your caller ID blocking setting does not affect 911 calls in any way.

If you're in a situation where you need to call 911, do not worry about whether your number is blocked. The emergency dispatcher will have access to your information regardless of your caller ID settings, and they will be able to send help to your location.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does *67 work on all phones?

*67 works on most landlines and mobile phones in the U.S. and Canada. Some carriers, particularly smaller regional providers or certain prepaid plans, may not support it. If you dial *67 and the call still shows your number, contact your carrier to ask whether they support this feature on your plan.

Can someone trace a call if I block my number?

A regular person cannot trace a blocked call. However, law enforcement can obtain your number from your carrier with a warrant, and some businesses have systems that log the actual number even when caller ID is blocked. Blocking your number prevents casual identification, not forensic tracing.

Will blocking my number prevent spam calls from reaching me?

No. Blocking your own outgoing number does not affect incoming calls. To reduce spam calls you receive, use your phone's built-in spam filter (available on most iPhones and Android phones) or download a spam-blocking app. You can also register with the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov.

What's the difference between *67 and turning off "Show My Caller ID"?

*67 blocks your number for a single call only. Turning off "Show My Caller ID" in your phone's settings blocks your number on every call you make until you turn it back on. Use *67 if you want to hide your number occasionally; use the settings option if you want it hidden all the time.

Does blocking my number cost money?

Using *67 is free. Enabling caller ID blocking through your phone's settings is free on most carriers. Some landline providers charge $1 to $3 per month for this feature, but many include it at no extra cost. Check with your carrier to see whether they charge for it on your specific plan.