How To Hide Your Phone Number

In today's digital age, privacy is paramount. Whether you're concerned about unwanted calls, protecting your personal information from spam, or simply want to make a private call without revealing your number, knowing how to hide your phone number is an essential skill. This guide will walk you through various methods to mask your caller ID, ensuring your privacy is maintained when making calls from your mobile phone.

Why Hide Your Phone Number?

There are several compelling reasons why someone might want to hide their phone number when making a call. Understanding these motivations can help you choose the best method for your specific needs.

Protecting Personal Information

One of the primary reasons is to prevent your number from being stored or misused by unknown recipients. This is especially relevant when interacting with new contacts or services where you don't want your number permanently logged.

Avoiding Unwanted Solicitations

If you're calling a business or a service provider and are concerned about receiving future marketing calls, hiding your number can offer a temporary shield. It prevents them from easily adding your number to their contact lists.

Ensuring Privacy in Sensitive Situations

In certain situations, such as making a report, contacting a confidential service, or dealing with a sensitive personal matter, maintaining anonymity can be crucial for your safety and peace of mind.

Making Private Inquiries

Sometimes, you might need to make an inquiry about a product or service without committing to revealing your identity. Hiding your number allows for a more discreet interaction.

Methods to Hide Your Phone Number

Fortunately, there are multiple ways to achieve this, ranging from simple dialing codes to app-based solutions. We'll explore the most effective techniques available.

Using Star Codes (Most Common)

Most mobile carriers allow you to temporarily hide your number for a single call by dialing a specific prefix before the recipient's number. This is often referred to as a "star code."

For most U.S. carriers, the code is #31#.

How to use it:

1. Open your phone's dialer.
2. Dial #31#.
3. Immediately after, dial the full phone number you wish to call (including the area code).
4. Press the call button.

Example: To call 555-123-4567 and hide your number, you would dial #31#5551234567.

When the recipient sees the incoming call, it will typically display as "Private Number," "Unknown Caller," or "Restricted." — Wayne Junction, Philadelphia: A Transit Hub Overview

Our experience shows this is the quickest and most reliable method for individual calls. It doesn't require any special apps or account changes.

Carrier-Specific Settings

Some mobile carriers offer settings that allow you to block your caller ID on all outgoing calls by default. This is a more permanent solution than using star codes. — What To Do When A Parent Dies: A Checklist

How to check or enable:

• For iPhone: Go to Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID and toggle it off. (Note: This may not be available for all carriers or plans).
• For Android: The process varies by manufacturer and carrier. Generally, you can find it under Phone app > Settings > Calls > Additional Settings > Caller ID. Look for an option to "Hide number" or "Set number as private."

Important Consideration: Enabling this setting will hide your number for all outgoing calls. If you need to show your number for a specific call, you would typically need to dial "*82" (the code to unblock caller ID for a single call) before the recipient's number. For example, dial *825551234567 to show your number.

Third-Party Apps

Several third-party applications can help you manage your calls and provide features to mask your number. These often offer more advanced privacy controls, such as the ability to use a temporary or disposable number for specific calls. — Stores Open Thanksgiving 2025: Your Holiday Shopping Guide

Popular examples include:

• Google Voice: Offers a free U.S. phone number that can be used to make calls. Your actual phone number is not revealed.
• Burner Apps (e.g., Burner, Hushed): These apps provide temporary phone numbers that you can use for calls and texts. They are often subscription-based.

Pros of using apps:

• More control over which calls are masked.
• Ability to use temporary numbers for specific purposes (e.g., online listings, dating profiles).
• Additional features like call blocking and voicemail.

Cons:

• May require a subscription fee.
• Can add complexity compared to simple dialing codes.

International Calls

When making international calls, the availability and effectiveness of hiding your number can vary significantly by country and carrier. The #31# code is generally standardized for domestic calls in many regions, but international telecommunication rules can differ.

• Check with your carrier: It's always best to confirm with your mobile provider about their international calling policies and whether caller ID blocking is supported for the specific country you are calling.
• Global Standards: While many countries adhere to similar protocols, some may have unique restrictions.

Limitations and Considerations

While hiding your phone number offers a valuable layer of privacy, it's essential to be aware of its limitations.

Not Always Effective

• Recipient Settings: Some individuals or businesses may have services that can still identify or trace masked calls, especially emergency services (like 911 in the U.S.).
• Call Forwarding: If the recipient has call forwarding enabled, your hidden number might be revealed to the intermediate number.
• VoIP Services: Certain Voice over IP (VoIP) services might have different display capabilities.

Emergency Services

Crucially, attempting to hide your number when calling emergency services (911, 112, etc.) is strongly discouraged and often impossible. These services rely on accurate caller information for your safety and to provide assistance. Your location and number are typically transmitted automatically.

Legal and Ethical Use

While hiding your number is a legitimate privacy tool, it should be used responsibly and ethically. Harassment, fraud, or other illegal activities masked by a hidden number are still subject to legal consequences.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can someone trace my number if I hide it using #31#?

Generally, no. For a standard call using #31# or carrier settings, the recipient's phone will display your number as "Private" or "Unknown." However, law enforcement agencies or telecommunication providers might be able to trace the origin of the call internally if legally required. Your carrier always knows your number and the destination of your call.

Does hiding my number work for text messages?

Hiding your phone number using the dialing codes (#31#) or carrier settings is specific to voice calls. It does not affect the caller ID when sending text messages. To send anonymous texts, you typically need to use specific apps or services designed for that purpose.

Will hiding my number affect the recipient's ability to call me back?

Yes. If you hide your number, the recipient will not see it, so they cannot directly call you back using that information. They would need to find another way to contact you if they wished to respond.

Is hiding my phone number legal?

Yes, in most countries, hiding your phone number for legitimate privacy reasons is legal. However, using it for illegal activities such as harassment or fraud is illegal and carries penalties.

What is the difference between #31# and *82?

• #31# is used to hide your caller ID for a single call. The recipient will see "Private" or "Unknown."
• *82 is used to unblock your caller ID for a single call (if you have a general setting to hide your number). The recipient will see your actual phone number.

Can I hide my number for all calls permanently?

Yes, most carriers allow you to set your caller ID to be hidden by default for all outgoing calls through your phone's settings or by contacting your carrier. Remember that you might need to use *82 to unblock it for specific calls.

What does the recipient see when I hide my number?

The recipient typically sees a message like "Private Number," "Unknown Caller," "Restricted," or a similar indication that the caller ID information is not available.

Conclusion

Maintaining your privacy while using your phone is achievable through several effective methods. Whether you opt for the quick and easy #31# code for individual calls, adjust your carrier-specific settings for a blanket approach, or utilize third-party apps for advanced features, you have the power to control who sees your phone number. Remember to use these tools responsibly and be aware of their limitations, especially when it comes to emergency services. By understanding and applying these techniques, you can confidently navigate your digital communications with enhanced privacy and peace of mind.