In today’s digital world, privacy is more important than ever. Whether you’re making a business call, contacting a customer service representative, or simply prefer to keep your number private, hiding your phone number can help protect your personal information.
This guide will explain several ways to make a call private by hiding your phone number, whether you’re using an Android phone, iPhone, or even third-party apps.
Why Hide Your Phone Number?
There are various reasons why you might want to keep your phone number private when making calls:
- Protecting Your Privacy: Hiding your number helps to avoid unwanted calls, identity theft, and harassment.
- Anonymous Calls: If you want to contact someone without revealing your identity, hiding your phone number allows you to do so.
- Business Purposes: Professionals often use private numbers to protect their personal details while contacting clients or colleagues.
Methods to Make a Call Private by Hiding Your Phone Number
There are several effective methods to hide your number during calls. These methods can vary depending on your location, phone carrier, and device. Let’s go through the most common options:
Using 67 to Hide Your Number (For US & Canada)
In the US and Canada, one of the easiest ways to hide your phone number is by using the star code *67. This code blocks your number on a per-call basis, meaning you don’t have to change any settings permanently.
How to Use 67 to Hide Your Number:
- Dial *67 before the phone number you wish to call (e.g., *67 +1234567890).
- Your number will be hidden, and the recipient will see “Unknown” or “Blocked” on their caller ID.
Note: This method works on both mobile phones and landlines. However, it will only work if the person you’re calling is in the US or Canada.
Using Caller ID Blocking Services (For Other Countries)
If you’re outside the US or Canada, most phone carriers offer caller ID blocking services that allow you to block your phone number. These services can be permanent or temporary.
How to Enable Caller ID Blocking:
- Contact Your Telecom Provider: Call your carrier and ask them to enable caller ID blocking for your number.
- Use the Code: In some cases, you can use a code (like *31#) to temporarily block your number for outgoing calls.
This method works internationally and can help you hide your number for all outgoing calls or on a per-call basis.
Hiding Your Number on Android Phones
For Android users, hiding your phone number is simple and can be done through the phone’s settings.
Steps to Hide Your Number on Android:
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap the three dots (menu) in the top right corner.
- Select Settings > Calls > Additional Settings.
- Tap Caller ID.
- Choose Hide Number.
This method will prevent your number from appearing on the recipient’s caller ID for all outgoing calls made from that device.
Hiding Your Number on iPhones
On iPhones, you can also hide your number easily using the built-in Settings app.
Steps to Hide Your Number on iPhone:
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap Phone.
- Tap Show My Caller ID.
- Toggle the switch to off to hide your number.
Once this option is turned off, your phone number will not be displayed to recipients, and they will see “No Caller ID” when you call them.
Using Third-Party Apps to Hide Your Number
There are also third-party apps that allow you to hide your phone number or even give you a temporary phone number for anonymous calls.
Popular Apps for Hiding Your Number:
- Google Voice: Provides a secondary number that you can use to make calls while keeping your personal number private.
- Burner: Lets you create temporary phone numbers that you can discard when no longer needed.
- Hushed: Offers a private calling service with disposable phone numbers.
These apps are particularly useful if you need an anonymous number for a short time or want additional control over your privacy.
Limitations of Hiding Your Number
While hiding your phone number can enhance privacy, there are some limitations to consider:
- Blocked Calls: Some recipients may block unknown or private numbers, so you might not be able to reach them.
- Legal Restrictions: In certain regions, it may be illegal to hide your number when making certain calls (e.g., emergency services).
- Not Always Effective: Some businesses or government agencies may have the means to unmask private numbers for security reasons.
Is Hiding Your Phone Number Legal?
In most cases, hiding your phone number is perfectly legal, and it is a common practice for privacy-conscious individuals. However, there are specific scenarios where hiding your number is not allowed:
- Emergency Services: If you need to contact emergency services, hiding your number can sometimes interfere with their ability to reach you.
- Scam Prevention: Some regions have laws against anonymous calling if the intention is to deceive or commit fraud.
Always check your local regulations if you’re unsure about the legal implications of hiding your number.
How to Unhide Your Number (If You’ve Previously Hidden It)
If you’ve previously hidden your number and wish to unhide it, the process is just as easy as turning it off.
For Android:
- Open Settings.
- Go to Phone > Additional Settings > Caller ID.
- Select Show Number.
For iPhone:
- Open Settings.
- Go to Phone > Show My Caller ID.
- Toggle the switch to on.
You can also temporarily unhide your number by dialing the appropriate code (such as *82 in the US).
Conclusion: Should You Always Hide Your Phone Number?
While hiding your phone number can be useful for protecting your privacy, it’s important to consider when and why you’re doing so. If you’re making a call that requires your number to be visible, such as contacting a business or emergency service, it’s best not to hide it.
However, for situations where you want extra privacy or need to maintain anonymity, the methods discussed here will help ensure your phone number stays hidden. Ultimately, the choice of whether or not to hide your number depends on your privacy needs and the context of your call.
Would you prefer to keep your phone number private when calling? Share your thoughts or experiences in the comments below!