How do I make my number private?

How to make my number private: Security vs 76% ignore rate

how to make my number private is essential for maintaining security when contacting unknown entities or returning work calls. However, using this feature comes with significant trade-offs regarding call answer rates. Potential smartphone risks also exist that unintentionally reveal your identity despite your precautions.

How to Make Your Number Private: The Quick Answer

To make number private for one call, simply dial 67 before the phone number. For a permanent solution on an iPhone, navigate to Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID and toggle it off. On Android, open the Phone app, go to Settings > Supplementary Services > Caller ID, and select Hide Number. These methods ensure your identity remains hidden from the recipients screen.

Private calling provides a necessary layer of security when dealing with unknown businesses, online marketplaces, or even returning work calls from a personal device. Around 76% of people admit they rarely answer calls from blocked or private numbers^[1] - a fact that might explain why your calls go ignored. But there is a hidden trap involving modern smartphones that can expose your number even after you think you have hidden it. I will explain exactly how to avoid this later in the section about digital footprints.

Using the 67 Code for One-Time Privacy

The most famous method for hiding your identity is the vertical service code. In North America, how to use 67 to block number is the standard way to mask your caller ID for a specific call. It is free, requires no setup, and works on both landlines and smartphones. Simple as that.

However, 67 is not a global standard. If you are calling from outside the United States or Canada, you likely need a different prefix to achieve the same result.

For instance, callers in the United Kingdom and Ireland typically use 141, while those in Australia use #31#. While these codes have varying success on modern VoIP and WiFi calling systems, they are generally reliable on traditional cellular networks.^[2] I remember the first time I tried using one of these codes - I was incredibly nervous that it would fail and reveal my number to a random stranger, but the system held up perfectly.

International Privacy Codes

Depending on your location, try these prefixes before dialing the full number: United States and Canada: 67 United Kingdom and Ireland: 141 Australia: #31 South Africa: 31(on most networks) Germany and most of the EU: #31#

Changing Privacy Settings on iPhone (iOS)

If you want to how to hide your phone number for every call you make, your iPhone has a built-in toggle. This is much more convenient than typing a prefix every single time. It just works. You can find this setting tucked away in the phone app configuration.

Go to the Settings app, scroll down to Phone, and tap on hide caller ID on iPhone. From there, you can toggle the switch to the off position. Note that some carriers - particularly in certain regions - do not allow users to control this setting directly. If the switch is greyed out, you will have to call your service provider to request a permanent block. I spent twenty minutes digging through my menus once, only to realize my carrier had locked the feature. It was frustrating, but a quick five-minute call to customer service sorted it out.

Hiding Caller ID on Android Devices

Android devices offer a similar permanent solution, but the menu names vary depending on whether you use a Samsung, Google Pixel, or OnePlus. The process generally lives within the Android private number settings rather than the main system settings. Give it a shot.

Open your Phone app, tap the three dots in the corner, and select Settings. From there, look for Supplementary Services or More Settings. You should see an option labeled Caller ID or Show My Caller ID. Tap it and select Hide Number. Rarely do carriers make this easy for you to find on the first try. In my experience, Samsung hides this deep in the Supplementary menu, while Pixel phones keep it a bit closer to the surface. If you change your mind later, you can always go back and select Network Default.

Using VoIP and Burner Apps for Better Privacy

Sometimes hiding your number is not enough. If you are calling back someone who might have blocked private numbers, your call simply will not connect. This is where anonymous calling apps for Android come in. The market for VoIP and burner apps grew by approximately 11% in 2025^[3] as users sought better ways to manage their digital identities without exposing their primary SIM data.

Apps like Google Voice or Hushed give you a real, secondary phone number that you can use for outgoing calls and texts. This approach is superior because it avoids the Private Number label that triggers automatic call rejection. Lets be honest, seeing Private on a screen is a bit sketchy to many people. By using a burner number, you appear as a standard caller while keeping your real personal life completely separate. It is a smart move if you find yourself receiving more than the average 8 spam calls per month that most users currently deal with. ^[4]

The Hidden Catch: Why Your Private Call Fails

Remember the hidden trap I mentioned earlier? Here is the deal. While 67 masks your number for most standard calls, it does not work for everything. Specifically, you cannot hide your number from carrier caller ID blocking for toll-free (800 or 888) numbers or emergency services (911). When you call a toll-free number, the party you are calling is paying for the call, and they have a legal right to know who is on the other end. This is known as Automatic Number Identification (ANI) - and it bypasses your Caller ID block entirely.

Furthermore, hiding your number does not hide your text messages. There is currently no widely supported prefix like 67 for SMS. If you want to know can you make your number private for texting, the answer is usually no. If you send a text, your number will be visible unless you are using a specialized app or a web-based texting service. Many people make the mistake of thinking their settings menu hides their presence everywhere. It doesnt. You have to be intentional about which channel you use.

Choosing Your Privacy Method

67 Prefix

- Nearly 100% on cellular networks

- Single use per call

- Completely free

Device Settings Toggle

- Dependent on carrier permission

- Permanent until switched off

- Free

Burner Apps (VoIP) ⭐

- Highest; avoids 'Private' labels

- Acts as a separate phone line

- Usually requires a subscription

Alex's Marketplace Dilemma in Chicago

Alex, a graphic designer in Chicago, wanted to sell his old mountain bike on a popular online marketplace. He was worried about random buyers having his personal cell number and potentially harassing him with low-ball offers or spam texts later.

He initially tried using 67 for every call, but it was tedious to type every time, and half the buyers didn't pick up because they thought it was a telemarketer. He felt stuck between privacy and making the sale.

He realized that while he wanted privacy, he also needed to look legitimate. He decided to download a secondary number app to create a temporary 'work' line specifically for the sale.

The result was immediate success. He sold the bike in 3 days, received 12 calls that all showed up on his secondary line, and simply deleted the number once the transaction was finished.

Minh's Remote Work Privacy in Hanoi

Minh, an IT consultant in Hanoi, often had to call clients from his personal phone while working remotely. He valued his off-work hours and didn't want clients calling his private number at 9 PM on a Sunday.

He tried to find the 'Hide Number' setting on his Samsung Galaxy, but got lost in the complex 'Supplementary Services' menu. He almost gave up, thinking his carrier didn't support the feature.

After a quick search, he found the specific menu path and toggled off his Caller ID. He also set up a professional voicemail for his private number to handle any missed calls professionally.

Minh reported that his work-life balance improved significantly. He no longer receives work-related calls on his personal line during weekends, effectively separating his professional and private identities.