If you’ve ever asked how to hide your phone number, you’re not alone. Many people want to stay private when calling or signing up for online services. The good news is that it’s feasible and easy. In this guide, you’ll learn quick ways to hide your phone number, when to hide, and other useful tips to secure online safety.
Why Hide Your Phone Number?
There are many situations where displaying your phone number may expose your private information. For example:
- You are calling someone you do not fully trust.
- You are making business calls but want to keep your personal number private.
- You are signing up for a service that does not really need your number.
- You want to avoid telemarketers or stop spam texts or calls.
Hiding your number prevents strangers or companies from easily contacting you again.
How to Hide Your Phone Number?
Finding out how to conceal your phone number is a simple yet effective way. Now check the following methods.
Method 1: Use Built-in Phone Settings
Most smartphones today allow you to block your caller ID directly. This means the person receiving your call will only see “Private” or “Unknown Number.”
On iPhone:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Phone.
- Select Show My Caller ID.
- Toggle the switch off.
On Android:
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap the Menu (three dots).
- Choose Settings > Caller ID.
- Select Hide number.
This option is free, quick, and effective. Whenever you call, your number will remain hidden.
Method 2: Use a Blocking Code Before Dialing
If you want to hide your number only for specific calls, you can use a blocking code. In most regions, you can dial a short code before the actual number.
For example:
- In the U.S. and Canada, dial *67 before the phone number.
- In the U.K., dial 141 before the number.
- In Australia, dial 1831 before the number.
This trick is useful when you don’t want your number displayed only once or twice. It saves you from changing your global phone settings. This is one of the easiest answers if you are looking for how to hide your phone number when calling.
Also Read: 15 Best Free Virtual Phone Number Providers
Method 3: Contact Your Carrier
Some mobile carriers allow you to block your caller ID permanently. You can just contact customer support and ask for your number to be hidden by default.
Pros:
- You don’t have to change settings every time.
- Works across all devices linked to your number.
Cons:
- The carrier may charge a small fee.
- You might still need to display your number in certain cases (like emergency services).
Method 4: Use a Secondary Number or VoIP Service
Another way to hide your phone number is by using an alternate phone number. Services like Google Voice, Skype, or VoIP apps let you call without revealing your real number.
Advantages:
- You can use the secondary number only for specific tasks.
- If you get spam calls, you can simply abandon that number.
This is also great for separating business and personal communication.
Method 5: Use a Burner Phone
A burner phone is a prepaid device you can use without linking it to your personal number. It gives you a clean, temporary identity for calls and texts.
Typical benefits include:
- Separate number for privacy. Keep personal and business or online contacts apart.
- Disposable option. If the number gets spammed, you can simply stop using it.
- Affordable setup. Basic prepaid phones and SIM cards are usually inexpensive.
- Minimal personal data. Activation often requires little to no personal information.
A burner phone is a good choice if you want stronger privacy than just hiding your caller ID. It works especially well for short-term projects, online sales, or situations where you don’t want your real number exposed.
Things to Remember When Hiding Your Number
- Some people may not answer calls from unknown numbers.
- Emergency services may still see your number, even if blocked.
- Certain apps and websites require real phone numbers for verification.
Therefore, use number-hiding methods wisely. Always balance privacy with practicality.
Further Reading: How to Tell If Someone Blocked Your Number: 5 Ways
Use a VPN for Extra Privacy Protection
While hiding your phone number keeps you private during calls, your online activities are still exposed to tracking and data collection. This is where a VPN becomes valuable. A VPN hides your IP address, encrypts your internet traffic, and prevents websites, apps, and even your internet provider from knowing your real location.
LightningX VPN is a top choice when dealing with digital privacy. It employs advanced encrypted protocols, including Shadowsocks, VLESS, WireGuard, combining with strict algorithms such as AES-256-GCM、ChaCha20-Poly1305, which ensure your data stays safe in transmission. For example, if you often use VoIP apps like Skype or WhatsApp to call, pairing them with it ensures that both your number and your online identity remain hidden.
In addition to providing strong data protection, LightningX VPN’s more than 2000 servers spread across more than 70 locations worldwide allow you to switch to any node. This is the exact reason you may get beyond geographical limitations to access content that could be forbidden in your area, allowing you to safely and unrestrictedly use a variety of social media sites like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok, as well as streaming services like Netflix and Disney+.
FAQ – How to Hide Your Phone Number
Q1: Can I hide my number on every call?
Yes. You can either turn off caller ID in your phone settings or ask your carrier to block your number permanently.
Q2: Will hiding my number work internationally?
Not always. Blocking codes like *67 or 141 may vary by country, so check local options.
Q3: Can hidden numbers still be traced?
Emergency services and carriers can still see your number. Ordinary people, however, cannot.
Q4: Do messaging apps hide my number, too?
No. Apps like WhatsApp require your real number. To keep it private, use a secondary number or a VoIP service.
Q5: What if I only want to hide my number for one call?
Simply use the blocking code (e.g., *67 in the U.S.) before dialing.
Q6: How often should I hide my number?
It depends on your situation. If you make frequent sensitive calls, hiding your number permanently is a smart choice. If you only need privacy occasionally, a blocking code before specific calls is usually enough. The key is flexibility—choose the method that fits your needs best.
Final Words
Protecting your privacy is more important than ever. A simple first step is learning how to hide your phone number. Whether you change your phone settings, use blocking codes, contact your carrier, or try apps, now you have plenty of options.
