How to Call Private

If you want to make a phone call but keep your own phone number private, there are several ways to do so. Whether you’re using an iPhone, Android, or a landline, you can make a quick settings change or use a blocking code to keep your phone number hidden.

How to Make a Phone Call While Keeping Your Number Private

This guide will walk you through the steps to make private phone calls from your mobile phone or landline.

Method 1: Using a Blocking Code Before Dialing

1. Open Your Phone App:
   • To hide your phone number from the recipient, you can enter a specific blocking code before dialing the rest of the phone number.
   • If you’re using a landline, simply pick up the phone and prepare to dial.
2. Enter the Blocking Code:
   • In North America, type *67 to block your caller ID. This code works with most North American providers.
   • Other common blocking codes include:
     • *67 – United States (except AT&T), Canada (landline), New Zealand (Vodafone phones)
     • #31# – United States (AT&T phones), Australia (mobile), Albania, Argentina (mobile), Bulgaria (mobile), Denmark, Canada (mobile), France, Germany (some mobile providers), Greece (mobile), India (after network unlock), Israel (mobile), Italy (mobile), Netherlands (KPN phones), South Africa (mobile), Spain (mobile), Sweden, Switzerland (mobile)
     • *31# – Argentina (landline), Germany, Switzerland (landline)
     • 1831 – Australia (landline)
     • 3651 – France (landline)
     • *31* – Greece (landline), Iceland, Netherlands (most carriers), Romania, South Africa (Telkom phones)
     • 133 – Hong Kong
     • *43 – Israel (landline)
     • *67# – Italy (landline)
     • 184 – Japan
     • 0197 – New Zealand (Telecom or Spark phones)
     • 1167 – Rotary phones in North America
     • *9# – Nepal (NTC prepaid/postpaid phones only)
     • *32# – Pakistan (PTCL phones)
     • *23 or *23# – South Korea
     • 067 – Spain (landline)
     • 141 – United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland
   • If your phone is on a GSM network (e.g., most Androids), you can always dial #31# to block your caller ID.
3. Enter the Phone Number:
   • After typing the blocking code, enter the rest of the phone number you wish to call. Typically, this will be 10 digits.
4. Make the Call:
   • Dial the number as usual. The call recipient will not be able to see your phone number, except when calling emergency services (911) or toll-free numbers (800).

Method 2: Figuring Out Your Blocking Code

1. Open a Search Engine:
   • If you can’t get one of the standard blocking codes (e.g., #31#) to work, your country and carrier may have a specific code that isn’t universally used.
2. Search for the Blocking Code:
   • Use search terms like “block code” followed by your phone model, country, and carrier information. For example, to find the blocking code for a Verizon iPhone in the United States, type “united states verizon wireless iphone caller id block code” into the search engine.
   • If you’re using a landline, include “landline” in your search terms.
3. Visit Your Carrier’s Website:
   • Many carriers post information about blocking codes on their websites. Check the websites of common carriers such as Verizon Wireless, Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T, and Vodafone.
4. Call Your Carrier:
   • If you still can’t find the information, contact your carrier’s customer service. They can provide the specific blocking code for your service.
   • You might also request permanent caller ID blocking, though there may be a fee for this service.

Method 3: Using Your Phone’s Settings (iOS)

1. Open Your iPhone’s Settings:
   • This is the grey gear icon on your Home Screen.
2. Scroll Down and Tap Phone:
   • Located in the section of apps alongside Messages and FaceTime.
3. Tap Show My Caller ID:
   • If your carrier supports this feature (some, like Verizon, do not), you will see this option.
4. Slide the Show My Caller ID Switch Left:
   • This will turn the switch white, indicating that your caller ID is hidden for outgoing calls.

Method 4: Using Your Phone’s Settings (Android)

1. Open Your Android’s Phone App:
   • This is the blue phone-shaped icon on your Home Screen or in the App Drawer.
2. Access Phone Settings:
   • Tap the three vertical dots (⋮) in the top-right corner of the screen.
   • Select Settings from the drop-down menu.
3. Navigate to Caller ID Settings:
   • Tap Calls, then Additional Settings.
   • Tap Caller ID.
4. Select Hide Number:
   • This option will hide your caller ID for outgoing calls. After selecting Hide Number, your phone number will no longer display to the people you call.

Q&A for How to Make Private Calls

*Does 67 work on an iPhone?

• Yes, you can use this method on an iPhone. Open the phone app, dial *67, and then the desired phone number.

Can private calls be traced?

• In most cases, yes. In the U.S., you can dial *57 after receiving a private call to trace the number. This is typically used for reporting threatening or harassing calls to law enforcement.

Can I call back a private number?

• Sometimes. On a landline, try dialing *69. On a cell phone, use #69. This may not work with all providers and must be done before another call is received.

*If I use 67, will the number show up on my phone bill?

• Yes. The *67 prefix makes your number private to the recipient, but not to your phone company.

How do I make my number private?

• In the U.S., dial *67 before the desired number.

How do I make my number private on a Samsung phone?

• Go to phone settings, search for Caller ID, and select “hide” or the equivalent option.

How can I hide my caller ID on my mobile phone?

• Enter *67 before dialing the phone number.

How do I call a person who has blocked me?

• Hide your caller ID so your identity is not shown to the recipient.

Conclusion

By following these detailed methods, you can make phone calls while keeping your phone number private, whether you’re using a mobile phone or a landline.