Free Guide to Blocking Your Phone Number on Calls

Understanding Phone Number Blocking Basics

Blocking your phone number when making calls is a practical feature that prevents the person receiving your call from seeing your actual phone number on their caller ID. Instead, they may see "Unknown," "Private," "Blocked," or "No Caller ID" displayed on their phone. This feature works differently depending on whether you have a landline or mobile phone, and it varies by your phone service provider and location.

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The technology behind number blocking uses what telephone systems call "caller ID blocking" or "anonymous calling." When you initiate a call with this feature activated, the phone network strips away your phone number before passing the call to the recipient's device. The call itself still goes through the normal telephone infrastructure, but the identifying information is removed at the network level.

Phone number blocking has legitimate uses. Many people block their numbers when calling businesses, when they want privacy during a personal matter, when conducting surveys, or when they prefer not to receive callbacks. Some professionals such as therapists, social workers, or journalists may block their numbers for privacy reasons. Parents might block their numbers when calling to verify information about their children's activities. Government agencies and organizations sometimes block numbers during official calls.

It's important to understand that blocking your number doesn't hide other information about the call. Phone companies, law enforcement, and emergency services can still trace the call to its source if needed. The blocking feature simply prevents casual identification by the call recipient through their caller ID display.

Practical Takeaway: Phone number blocking is a standard telephone feature that hides your number from caller ID displays. Understanding how and why to use it helps you make informed decisions about your privacy during phone calls.

How to Block Your Number on iPhone and iOS Devices

Apple's iPhone offers a straightforward method to block your number for outgoing calls. The process differs slightly depending on your iOS version, but the basic steps remain consistent across most recent versions of the operating system. This feature works on iPhones that use standard cellular service through a carrier such as Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or similar providers.

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To block your number on an individual call using iPhone, open the Phone app and navigate to the Keypad tab. Dial the number you want to call, then look for the information icon (usually a small "i" in a circle) on the screen. Tap this icon to reveal additional options. You should see a setting related to "Show My Caller ID" or "Caller ID." Toggle this setting to the off position before pressing the call button. The call will then proceed with your number blocked.

For a more permanent solution where you want to block your number on all outgoing calls, you can adjust your settings globally. Go to Settings, then Phone (or Cellular on some versions), and look for options labeled "Show My Caller ID," "Caller ID," or "Anonymous Call Rejection." Depending on your carrier and iOS version, you may see an option to toggle off the caller ID display. When this setting is disabled across all calls, your number will be hidden by default unless you specifically choose to show it.

The exact location of these settings can vary between iOS versions. If you cannot find these options in the Phone settings, check with your carrier's app on your iPhone, as some carriers manage caller ID settings through their own applications rather than through Apple's native settings. You can also contact your carrier's customer service line, as they can confirm whether this feature is available on your account and help you locate the correct settings menu.

Practical Takeaway: iPhone users can block their number either for individual calls through the Phone app's information menu or for all calls through Settings. Check your specific iOS version and carrier settings, as the exact location of these options may vary.

Blocking Your Number on Android Phones and Google Devices

Android phones offer number blocking features, though the exact steps vary depending on your specific phone manufacturer, Android version, and which dialing app you use. Unlike iPhone, Android gives manufacturers flexibility in designing their dialer interface, so Samsung phones may have different menus than Google Pixel phones or other brands. However, the underlying principle remains the same across all Android devices.

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For most Android phones, you can block your number by opening your Phone app (also called Dialer or Phone Dialer depending on your device), entering the number you want to call, and then looking for a menu button. This menu button is often represented by three vertical dots (⋮) or three horizontal lines (≡) and is typically located near the top of the screen. Tap this menu and look for options labeled "Settings," "Call Settings," or "Caller ID." From there, you should find an option to hide or block your caller ID. Toggle this option before completing your call.

Some Android devices allow you to set a default behavior for all outgoing calls. To do this, open your Phone app and access Settings through the menu. Look for sections labeled "Call Settings," "Call Options," or "Caller ID Settings." Many phones display an option saying "Show Caller ID," "Hide Caller ID," or "Anonymous Call." Changing this setting to "Hide" or "Anonymous" will block your number on all subsequent calls unless you manually override it.

Google Pixel phones and phones using Google's default dialing app may have these settings in the Phone app's main menu. Samsung phones often place these settings in the Phone app's Call Settings menu. If you're using a third-party dialing app or a carrier-specific app, the settings may be located elsewhere. Your phone's manual or your carrier's customer support can help you locate these specific features on your device.

Practical Takeaway: Android phones block numbers through their dialing app settings, but the exact menu location depends on your device manufacturer. Check your Phone app's settings or menu for caller ID options.

Using Star Codes and Carrier Services to Block Your Number

Beyond built-in phone settings, you can also use special dialing codes provided by phone carriers to block your number on individual calls. These codes, often called "star codes" or "feature codes," work on both landlines and mobile phones and function regardless of your phone type or operating system. The most common code is *67, which blocks your caller ID on a per-call basis.

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To use *67 or similar codes, simply dial the code before entering the phone number you want to reach. For example, if you want to call 555-123-4567 with your number blocked, you would dial *67555123456 (on landlines and some older systems) or *675551234567 (depending on your carrier's format). After dialing, press the call button as normal. The call will connect with your number hidden from the recipient's caller ID display.

Different carriers and regions may use different codes. *67 is the most widely recognized in the United States for blocking caller ID. In some areas or with certain carriers, codes such as 141 (used in some international locations) or 1161 (used by some carriers) may apply. Some carriers also offer codes to do the opposite—to show your caller ID even if you normally have it blocked. Checking with your specific carrier provides the accurate code for your service.

Carriers may also offer paid services related to caller ID management. Some plans include features allowing you to manage how your number appears on different types of calls, set default privacy preferences, or maintain caller ID blocking across your account. These services sometimes require activation through your carrier's website, phone line, or app. Some carriers include these features at no charge as part of standard service, while others may charge a monthly fee. Checking your carrier's website or contacting their customer service reveals what options are available with your specific plan.

Practical Takeaway: Dialing *67 before a phone number blocks your caller ID on that single call. Different carriers may use different codes, so confirm the correct code with your service provider.

Landline and Home Phone Number Blocking Methods

If you use a traditional landline or home phone service, blocking your number works somewhat differently than with mobile phones, but the principle remains the same. Landlines typically do not have the same built-in phone settings as smartphones, so you must rely on carrier-provided services or dialing codes. Most landline carriers support *67 dialing as a way to block caller ID on individual calls.

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For landline users, many telephone service providers offer what they call "Calling Line ID Blocking" or "Anonymous Call" services. These services allow you to set a default behavior where your number is blocked on all outgoing calls, or they provide a way to manage this feature