In today’s digital age, privacy has become a growing concern for many mobile phone users. Whether you are calling a business, checking in with a friend, or contacting someone you don’t want to know your phone number, there are times when hiding your caller ID is essential. If you’re looking for ways to make a call private by hiding your phone number, this article will guide you through the steps you can take.

Why Hide Your Phone Number?

There are a few reasons why you might want to hide your phone number when making a call:

  1. Privacy Protection: You may not want the person you are calling to have your number stored.
  2. Business Calls: When calling customers or clients, you might prefer to keep your personal number confidential.
  3. Avoid Unwanted Calls: Hiding your number can prevent future calls from the recipient, as they won’t have access to your phone number.
  4. Security Concerns: In some cases, especially if you’re calling unknown numbers, it may be a security precaution to keep your number anonymous.

Ways to Hide Your Phone Number When Making Calls

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There are different methods to hide your phone number, depending on the device and the country you are in. Here are the main ways to keep your number private:

1. Use a Temporary or Burner Number

A temporary number or burner phone number is an effective option for those who wish to keep their main phone number private. These services are available through apps that provide a temporary number for calls and texts. Some of the most popular apps include:

  • Google Voice: Provides a free phone number that you can use to make calls and send texts.
  • Burner: A paid service offering disposable phone numbers.
  • Hushed: Similar to Burner, it provides anonymous numbers that you can use and dispose of.

Using a burner number helps ensure that your personal phone number remains private without needing to hide it manually.

2. *Dialing 67 on Your Phone

In many regions, *dialing 67 before the phone number will automatically hide your caller ID for that specific call. It works on most landlines and mobile phones.

For example, if you want to call the number 555-1234, you would dial:

*67 555-1234

After doing this, your number will not appear on the recipient’s phone, and instead, they will see “Blocked” or “Private Number” on their caller ID.

Limitations:
  • This method only works for individual calls, meaning you will need to dial *67 every time you want to block your number.
  • It may not work with all carriers or in all regions.

3. Adjust Your Phone’s Settings to Block Caller ID

Many modern smartphones allow you to set the default behavior of your caller ID to “hidden” or “private.” Here’s how to do it for both iPhones and Android devices:

For iPhones:
  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Scroll down and tap on Phone.
  3. Tap on Show My Caller ID.
  4. Toggle the switch off to hide your number when making calls.
For Android Phones:
  1. Open the Phone app.
  2. Tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner and go to Settings.
  3. Select Calls or Calling accounts.
  4. Look for Additional settings or Caller ID.
  5. Choose Hide number or Block my number.

Once you change these settings, your phone will automatically block your number on every outgoing call, and you won’t need to dial *67 manually.

4. Contact Your Carrier to Block Your Number Permanently

Some mobile carriers allow users to block their caller ID on a permanent or semi-permanent basis. This is especially useful if you need to hide your number frequently or for an extended period.

You can contact your carrier’s customer service team to inquire about their caller ID blocking options. This method may involve a specific code that you enter to hide your number or a subscription to a service that automatically blocks your number.

Popular carriers, such as AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint, usually offer caller ID blocking services for free or for a small fee.

5. Use Third-Party Apps

Several third-party apps can help hide your number during calls. Some of these apps also offer additional privacy and security features. Here are a few options:

  • TrueCaller: This app helps identify unknown callers and also allows you to hide your number when making outgoing calls.
  • Caller ID Faker: Another app that can disguise your number by providing a fake caller ID.

These apps can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play, and after installation, you can choose whether to hide your number on individual calls or for all outgoing calls.

Limitations and Considerations

While hiding your phone number can be useful, it’s essential to be aware of some limitations and considerations:

  • Emergency Calls: Your caller ID may still be visible when making emergency calls (e.g., 911 in the U.S.).
  • Call Blockers: Some people use services or apps that automatically block calls from unknown or private numbers. In such cases, your call may not go through.
  • Legal Considerations: Some regions have laws regulating the hiding of phone numbers. Always ensure you are compliant with the local regulations.

Conclusion

Making a call private by hiding your phone number is a simple and effective way to protect your privacy, whether for security reasons or personal preference. By using *67, adjusting your settings, or contacting your carrier, you can easily keep your number confidential. Additionally, apps and temporary phone numbers provide a more robust solution for those needing more anonymity. Always choose the method that best suits your needs and privacy concerns.