To block your number, dial *67 or #31# before a call or turn off Show My Caller ID in phone settings.
Here’s a clear, tested playbook to hide your caller ID when you want privacy. You’ll get fast prefixes that work in many regions, step-by-step iPhone and Android paths, and carrier tools for line-wide changes. You’ll also see limits that no setting can bypass and fixes when the menu toggle is missing. The goal: make the call you need without handing out your number.
How To Block Your Number: Quick Methods
One-off block — Add a short prefix before the phone number. In the U.S. and Canada, dial *67. On many GSM networks outside North America, use #31#. Both hide your caller ID for that single call. Calls to toll-free lines and emergency services still show your number by design.
- Use *67 (North America) — Example: *67 212-555-0199. The receiver sees Private/Unknown instead of your number.
- Use #31# (Many GSM Regions) — Example: #31# + number. Common outside North America; works when the network honors the GSM code.
- Show your number once — If your line hides by default, send caller ID for a single call with *82 in the U.S. so the call rings through lines that reject anonymous calls.
Why prefixes work — Networks treat these as “vertical service codes” that flip caller-ID flags for the call in progress. Codes vary by country and carrier; the UK often uses 141 to withhold and 1470 to release when a line hides by default.
How To Block Your Number On iPhone (Permanent Or One-Off)
Turn it off for all calls — On iPhone, open Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID and switch it off. Your number stays hidden unless the number dialed overrides it. Some carriers remove this toggle; if it isn’t there, use a prefix or ask the carrier to apply line-wide hiding.
- Hide once with a prefix — Dial *67 (U.S./Canada) or #31# (many GSM regions) before the number. It’s quick and doesn’t change your default.
- Calls that ignore hiding — Toll-free numbers and emergency services always receive your caller ID, even with the toggle off or a prefix added.
- Dual SIM tip — Toggle Show My Caller ID per line, then place the call with the intended line selected. That keeps work and personal rules separate.
Quick Validation
Quick check: Place a test call to another phone you control and confirm what shows on screen. If your iPhone still broadcasts the line name even with hiding on, your carrier is branding the call; use a prefix or ask for line-level settings.
How To Block Your Number On Android Phones
Hide for all calls — On many phones running the Google Phone app, open Phone, tap the three dots, then Settings > Caller ID & spam. Look for Caller ID and pick Hide number. Menus vary by brand and carrier; if you don’t see it, a prefix still works on any dialer.
- Hide once with a prefix — Add *67 (U.S./Canada) or #31# (many GSM regions) before the number, then call.
- Google Voice calls — In the Voice app, turn on Anonymous caller ID in Settings > Calls. You can still use a prefix for a one-off hidden call.
- Pixel or Galaxy tools — Enable caller ID & spam protection, Call Screen, or similar features. These manage inbound noise; they don’t change your outbound ID.
When The Toggle Is Missing
Deeper fix: Some carriers lock the caller-ID menu. If the option is greyed out or gone on Android 14 or newer, use prefixes for immediate calls and ask the carrier for line-wide hiding if needed.
Carrier Tools And Short Codes You Can Use
Line-wide block — Many carriers let you hide your number on all outgoing calls from the account side. You can still send caller ID for a single call with *82 when a number rejects anonymous calls. Review your plan page or app to enable it.
| Code | Where It Works | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| *67 | U.S./Canada (most carriers) | Hide caller ID for one call. |
| #31# | GSM networks outside North America | Hide caller ID for one call. |
| *82 | U.S./Canada (most carriers) | Send caller ID once when your line hides by default. |
| 141 | UK & some EU networks | Hide caller ID for one call. |
Sources: Verizon Caller ID Block; AT&T device guides listing *67, #31#, and *82; BT guidance for 141/1470 on UK lines.
Verizon, AT&T, And T-Mobile: What To Expect
- Verizon — Use *67 for one-off hiding, or turn on Caller ID Blocking in the account/app for line-wide hiding. You can still send caller ID once with *82.
- AT&T — AT&T confirms *67 and #31# for one-off hiding, and *82 to show your number when a line hides by default. Device pages also show where the Caller ID menu sits.
- T-Mobile — Caller ID changes may be tied to short codes or account features; device tutorials explain where the toggle is if available.
Regions And Special Prefixes
UK and many EU networks — Dial 141 before the number to hide for one call. If your line hides by default, 1470 releases the ID for that call. These are long-standing codes on many fixed and mobile lines.
Global GSM notes — #31# usually hides for one call, and *31# can show when a line hides by default. Not every carrier implements both directions, so a quick test is wise. AT&T’s device pages document #31# as a valid one-off prefix.
Privacy Limits, Legal Notes, And Fail-Safes
What blocking can’t change — Emergency services and toll-free numbers receive the calling line even when you use a prefix or toggle. These routes are built to bypass hiding for safety and billing.
Anonymous call rejection — Many households and businesses reject hidden calls automatically. If you use line-wide hiding and hit a message that asks you to reveal your number, send caller ID for that call with *82 to complete the call.
Spam and robocalls — Hiding your own number is separate from blocking spam. Carriers and phones ship screening tools; enable them for quieter days. Google’s Pixel phones can Call Screen; Samsung and other Android phones add spam flags; iPhone offers Silence Unknown Callers and Live Voicemail.
Policy baseline — U.S. regulators encourage carriers to filter junk calls and label suspicious traffic. That’s unrelated to your own caller-ID hiding, but it helps your inbox stay sane while you keep your number private.
Troubleshooting When Your Number Still Shows
Check the path again: On iPhone, open Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID and switch it off. If the toggle isn’t present, your carrier manages the setting at the network level. Use a prefix now and ask for line-wide hiding if you want a permanent change.
- Test with two numbers — Call a second phone you control and check for Private/Unknown/Withheld. That verifies what the other side sees.
- Try the other prefix — If *67 doesn’t hide the call, try #31# (common on GSM). In the UK, 141 is widely used to withhold.
- Unblock once with *82 — When a line with hiding enabled can’t reach numbers that reject anonymous calls, send caller ID for that call with *82.
- Android menu varies — The toggle can live under Caller ID & spam or under Additional settings > Caller ID. If it’s missing, prefixes still work.
- Account-level route — Many carriers let you set a line-wide rule inside your account app. Verizon and AT&T document both one-off prefixes and permanent settings.
Smart Calling Habits That Pair Well With Hiding
Silence unknowns — On iPhone you can send unknown callers to voicemail, and on Android you can enable spam detection, Call Screen, or similar features. These tools don’t hide your number; they just cut noise so you control who reaches you.
- Use a second line — Services like Google Voice let you present a separate number and toggle Anonymous caller ID in the app. That keeps work and personal calls distinct.
- Know your Wi-Fi calling flow — Caller ID rules carry over to Wi-Fi calls since the network still tags the line. A quick test call confirms the display.
- Mind call etiquette — Some folks ignore hidden calls. When you must call back, reveal your number once with *82 or send a brief heads-up text from a non-hidden line if appropriate for the situation.
This guide showed how to block your number on any modern phone using carrier-documented methods. When you need it again, remember the two anchors: prefixes like *67, #31#, or 141, and the Show My Caller ID toggle on the device. With both in your pocket, how to block your number takes a few taps and a quick test call.