A private-number call hides your number from the recipient’s normal caller-ID display. Whether it works depends on your phone service and network provider. There is no single prefix code that we can promise will work on every mobile network and landline worldwide.
Quick Overview
| Purpose | Withhold your number from the normal caller-ID display |
| iPhone | Check Show My Caller ID and carrier support |
| Samsung Galaxy | Check Supplementary services in the Phone app |
| Other phones and landlines | Use your own device and provider instructions |
| Main limit | No guaranteed worldwide code or complete anonymity |
Reader Recommendation
Start with the built-in setting and your network provider. If your goal is to keep a personal number off a one-time outgoing call, supported number withholding may help. If people need to call you back regularly, a separate authorised work number may be more practical.
Think about the recipient before changing the setting for every call. A private-number call may be ignored because the person cannot recognise you. For an appointment, delivery or ongoing work conversation, agree a contact method that lets both sides identify each other.
Hide caller ID on iPhone
- Open Settings → Apps → Phone.
- Choose Show My Caller ID.
- Turn it off if your network allows this option.
Apple’s current instructions say to contact your network provider if the option is missing or greyed out. Changing another setting or installing an unrelated app will not establish that your carrier supports number withholding.
Hide caller ID on a Samsung Galaxy phone
- Open the Samsung Phone app and its three-dot menu.
- Go to Settings → Supplementary services.
- Open Show my caller ID and choose Hide number, if available.
Samsung notes that availability varies by carrier and model. Other Android brands may use different menus. Check the instructions for your phone and the SIM you use for outgoing calls.
What about one-call codes and landlines?
Use only a code documented by your own phone provider. For example, Verizon in the United States documents *67 before the number for an individual call. That is a provider-specific example, not an instruction for every country.
For a landline, ask the provider whether withholding is available per call or for the whole line. For India, confirm the current service with your operator rather than assuming that #31# works on Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL. A code shown in an online video may belong to another network.
Check the result before relying on it
- Tell a trusted contact you are making a test call and ask what their screen shows.
- If your number still appears, check that you changed the correct SIM or calling account.
- If the call is rejected, the recipient may not accept withheld calls. Respect their preference and agree another contact method.
- Return to Show number or the network default when you want recipients to recognise your calls again.
Private caller ID has limits
Hiding a number is different from selecting another person’s number as your caller ID. It also does not make a call anonymous to every part of the telephone network. Verizon, for example, says caller-ID blocking does not apply to its calls to 911 or certain toll-free numbers.
In an emergency in India, call 112. Do not postpone an urgent call because of a caller-ID setting. The official 112 service handles police, fire and health emergencies. Do not place a test emergency call to check whether your number is hidden.
Do you need a separate app?
For ordinary caller-ID withholding, start with the phone and carrier settings above. A second-number app is a different service and may require registration, payment and country support. Do not assume that a contacts-identification app can reveal every withheld caller or hide your outgoing number.
If the goal is to keep work separate from personal calls, ask your employer or provider about an authorised business number. Choose the contact arrangement you need before paying for an app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the caller-ID option missing?
Availability depends on the phone and network service. Apple directs users to the network provider when its option is unavailable. Before installing another dialler, ask whether your line supports outgoing caller-ID withholding and how to enable it.
Can I use the same code when travelling?
Do not assume a code from your home network applies elsewhere. Check with the provider serving the line you are actually using. This guide does not establish a universal roaming or international prefix.
Does hiding my number change it to someone else’s?
No. Withholding the normal display is different from impersonating another number. Use the feature for your own communication needs and respect the recipient’s choice not to accept private calls.
Do I need to uninstall anything to undo this?
The built-in methods in this guide do not require installing a new app. Restore the caller-ID setting or ask the provider to remove line-level withholding. If you separately installed a calling app, check its account and subscription options before removing it; uninstalling an app is not the same as changing your carrier settings.
Before You Finish
Note which SIM or line you changed, check the result with a willing contact, and restore the previous setting if it does not suit your needs. Avoid repeatedly trying random service codes: use the instructions for your own network. These steps describe a verification process, not a claim that this site tested every phone or operator.
