You can hide your number on individual calls or set it as your default

Most phone carriers let you block your number from appearing on someone's caller ID, either for a single call or for all calls you make. The method depends on whether you have a landline or mobile phone, and which carrier you use. On a mobile phone, you typically use a code before dialing. On a landline, you usually change a setting in your account or through your phone's menu. Some carriers charge a small monthly fee for the feature; others include it free.

The most common reason people use this feature is to keep their personal number private when calling businesses, customer service lines, or people they don't know well. It's also useful if you're calling from a work phone but don't want the recipient to have your work number. The person you call will see "Unknown," "Private," or "Blocked" instead of your number — though they can still choose not to answer.

Key Takeaways

  • On most mobile phones, dial *67 before the number to block your number for that single call.
  • On landlines, contact your carrier to enable Caller ID Blocking in your account, or check your phone's settings menu for a privacy option.
  • Some carriers offer this feature free; others charge $1 to $5 per month depending on whether you want it for all calls or just some.
  • Blocking your number does not prevent the recipient from calling you back — they just won't see your number unless you unblock it on a future call.
  • Emergency calls (911 in the US) will always show your number to dispatchers, even if you have blocking enabled.

How to block your number on a single mobile call

On most US mobile carriers — including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and most prepaid services — you can hide your number for one call by dialing *67 before the phone number. For example, to call 555-123-4567 with your number blocked, you would dial *67-555-123-4567. The recipient will see "Unknown," "Private," or "Blocked" on their caller ID instead of your number.

This method works on both iPhone and Android phones. You don't need to enable any settings beforehand — just dial the code each time you want to block your number. If you forget to dial *67 before the number, you can hang up and try again; the call won't go through until you dial it correctly.

Outside the US, the code varies by country. In Canada, the UK, and Australia, *67 also works on most carriers. In other countries, check with your carrier or search for the specific code for your location.

How to set your number as blocked for all calls

If you want your number hidden by default on every call you make, you'll need to contact your mobile carrier or access your phone's settings. The process differs by carrier and phone type.

On AT&T: Call 611 from your AT&T phone or 1-800-331-0500, and ask to enable Caller ID Blocking. You may be charged a monthly fee (typically $1 to $3, depending on your plan). Once enabled, your number will be blocked on all outgoing calls unless you dial *82 before a number to unblock it for that specific call.

On Verizon: Call 611 from your Verizon phone or 1-908-559-4899, and ask to enable Anonymous Call Rejection or Caller ID Blocking. Verizon includes some privacy features free with certain plans; others may have a small monthly charge. You can also manage this through the My Verizon app under Settings.

On T-Mobile: Call 611 from your T-Mobile phone or 1-844-839-4644, and ask about Caller ID Blocking. T-Mobile's pricing and availability vary by plan. You can also check your account online or in the T-Mobile app.

On prepaid or smaller carriers: Contact your carrier directly — the process and cost vary widely. Some prepaid services include it free; others charge per month or don't offer it at all.

How to block your number on a landline

Landline carriers typically offer Caller ID Blocking as an add-on feature. To set it up, call your carrier's customer service number (usually on your bill) and ask to enable Caller ID Blocking or Anonymous Call Rejection. Some carriers charge $1 to $5 per month; others include it free with certain plans.

Once enabled, your number will be blocked on all calls. If you want to unblock your number for a specific call, dial *82 before the number. This works on most US landline carriers, though some regional carriers may use different codes.

If your landline phone has a menu system (usually accessed by pressing a button labeled "Menu" or "Settings"), you may also be able to enable Caller ID Blocking directly through the phone itself. Check your phone's manual or your carrier's website for instructions specific to your model.

What the person you call will see

When you block your number, the recipient's caller ID will display one of the following: "Unknown," "Private," "Blocked," "Restricted," or "Anonymous." The exact wording depends on their phone type and carrier. Some phones may show a generic number like 000-000-0000.

Blocking your number does not prevent the person from calling you back. If they call back, they will reach your phone normally — they just won't see your number on their caller ID. If you want to receive calls from them, you'll need to answer or call them back from an unblocked number so they can save your contact information.

Some businesses and government offices have systems that automatically reject calls from blocked numbers. If your call doesn't go through, try unblocking your number for that particular call by dialing *82 (on landlines) or by calling without the *67 code (on mobile phones).

Important limits and exceptions

Emergency calls to 911 will always display your real phone number to the dispatcher, even if you have Caller ID Blocking enabled. This is a legal requirement so emergency services can locate you if the call is disconnected.

Some carriers and phone plans do not support Caller ID Blocking, particularly older landline plans or certain prepaid services. If you're unsure whether your plan includes it, contact your carrier directly.

Caller ID Blocking is different from blocking a specific contact. If you want to prevent someone from calling you, you'll need to use your phone's built-in blocking feature (usually found in Settings or in your Contacts app) or contact your carrier about call-blocking services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone trace my number if I block it?

No, blocking your number prevents it from appearing on caller ID. However, if you're calling a business or government agency, they may have other ways to identify you — such as through your account information or the phone line you're calling from. Blocking your number only hides it from the recipient's caller ID display.

Will blocking my number prevent someone from calling me back?

Blocking your number does not prevent callbacks. The person you call can still dial back to your phone number if they have it from another source (like your email signature or a previous conversation). Blocking only hides your number from their caller ID during the call you make.

What's the difference between *67 and *82?

*67 blocks your number for a single call. *82 unblocks your number for a single call if you have Caller ID Blocking enabled as your default setting. If you don't have blocking enabled, *82 won't do anything.

Do I have to pay to block my number?

Using *67 on a mobile phone is free and requires no setup. Setting Caller ID Blocking as your default may cost $1 to $5 per month depending on your carrier and plan, though some carriers include it free. Contact your carrier to find out whether it's included in your plan.

Why did my blocked call go to voicemail?

Some people and businesses set their phones to reject calls from blocked numbers automatically. If this happens, try calling again without blocking your number, or ask the person directly whether they accept blocked calls.