How to Hide Your Cell Number

Hide your phone number to prevent unwanted phone calls.

Your phone number is typically displayed whenever you place a call, but there are times when you don't want the party at the other end of the line to know your phone number. Keeping your phone number a secret may be advantageous especially if you want to maintain your privacy and you can block your number temporarily or permanently in order to do so. Learn how to hide your phone number to prevent unwanted phone calls.

Instructions

1. Get another cell phone and jot down its telephone number. Get your cell phone and call the number you wrote, but type the prefix *67 before the number (i.e. *67 123-456-7890). Typing the prefix *67 ahead of the phone number before dialing it will prevent the number from appearing in the receiver's cell phone, but it is necessary to test this feature to make sure that it works.

2. Call your phone service provider and request a permanent "line block." A permanent line block will stop your phone number from appearing to anyone. Dial *82 and then dial the telephone number you wish to call in order to temporarily reveal your phone number in the cell phone you are calling.

3. Go to your cell phone's main menu, choose "Phone Settings," and look for the option "Show/Hide My Number." Choose "Hide My Number" to activate this feature. Test your phone's settings by calling another cellphone.

Tips & Warnings

• Your cell phone number will not be blocked from any toll free numbers (i.e. 800 numbers), or from emergency services like 911.

References

• Switched: How to Hide Your Cell Phone's Identity
• Free Download Blog: How To Block or Hide Your Cell Phone Number from Caller ID