Hey everyone, let's talk about something a lot of people want but don't always know how to do right

—hiding your caller ID so your number shows as "Private,"

"Unknown," "Blocked," or "No Caller ID" when you call someone.

Whether you're protecting your privacy from unwanted tracking,

avoiding spam callbacks, making surprise calls, or just valuing anonymity in everyday life, blocking caller ID is a useful tool.

In 2026, with rising concerns about data privacy, robocalls, and international scams, more folks are turning to these methods.

This guide covers everything: how it works on iPhone and Android,

the universal dial codes that work in most countries, country-specific variations

(US, UK, Nigeria, India, Europe, Asia, Africa, and more), permanent settings, apps and VoIP alternatives, legal considerations,

limitations, and troubleshooting. We'll keep it practical and up-to-date for 2026 networks.

Why Hide Caller ID? Real Reasons in 2026

Locked and loaded: Enable 'Hide Number' in settings – one toggle for anonymous calls everywhere

Hiding caller ID (also called "CLIR" – Calling Line Identification Restriction) prevents your phone number from appearing on the recipient's screen. Reasons include:

- Privacy protection: Avoid marketers or scammers saving your number.
- Safety: When calling unknown services, dating apps meetups, or reporting issues anonymously.
- Surprise calls: Birthdays, proposals, or pranks (harmless ones!).
- Business: Sales reps or journalists sometimes need anonymity.
- Avoiding harassment: If someone is bothering you via reverse lookup.

But note: it doesn't hide your number from emergency services (911/112), toll-free lines (800 numbers), or some apps that detect hidden calls. Also, some recipients see "Private" but can still report or block you.

How Caller ID Hiding Works Technically

Global privacy at your fingertips: #31# works in most countries – simple steps for total caller ID control.

When you make a call, your carrier sends signaling data including your number (CLI – Calling Line Identification).

Your number stays hidden: Dial *67 (or local code) and keep calls truly private – no trace left behind

Hiding it tells the network to suppress that info. Methods:

1. Per-call codes (dial prefix like *67)

2. Device settings (permanent hide for all calls)

3. Carrier-level request (some operators offer it via account)

4. VoIP apps (WhatsApp, Signal, Google Voice, TextNow – often hide by default or option)

5. Third-party apps (limited in 2026 due to OS restrictions)

Method 1: Per-Call Dial Codes – Quick & Universal

The fastest way for one-off private calls is dialing a prefix before the number.

- North America (US, Canada, some Caribbean): *67 + number

Example: *675551234567 → Shows "Private" or "Unknown." Works on most carriers (Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T partial). To unhide once: *82 + number.

- United Kingdom & Ireland: 141 + number

Shows "Withheld." To unhide: 1470 + number.

- Most of Europe & many GSM countries (France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Greece, etc.): #31# + number

Common on Vodafone, Orange, etc. Some use *31# or *31* (test both). Germany often accepts both #31# and *31#.

- Australia: #31# (mobile) or 1831 (some landline). Vodafone uses #31#.

- India: *31# + number (after network unlock on some carriers like Airtel, Jio). Not always reliable; carrier may override.

- Nigeria & many African countries (South Africa, Kenya, Ghana): #31# or *31# (MTN, Airtel, Glo often support GSM standard #31#). Test with a friend first—some networks ignore it or require carrier activation.

- Asia – Japan: 184 + number

Hong Kong: 133

South Korea: *23 or *23#

Singapore/China: Often #31# or carrier-specific; China Mobile may not support fully.

- Other regions:

Argentina (mobile): *31*

Israel (mobile): #31#

New Zealand: 0197 (Spark) or *67 (Vodafone)

South Africa (mobile): #31#

Pro tip: Always test the code by calling a friend or your own voicemail. If it fails, your carrier may not support it or blocks it for privacy reasons.

To make it permanent (all calls hidden), use device settings below.

Method 2: Permanent Hide on iPhone (iOS 19/26 in 2026)

On iPhone, it's simple but carrier-dependent.

1. Open Settings > Phone.

2. Tap Show My Caller ID.

3. Toggle off.

If grayed out or missing: Your carrier disables it. Contact them (e.g., MTN Nigeria, Verizon US) to enable. Some add a monthly fee or require account verification.

Once off, every call shows as "No Caller ID" or "Private." To show number once: Dial *82 (US/Canada) or local unhide code before number.

Method 3: Permanent Hide on Android (Stock/Pixel/Samsung in 2026)

Varies by brand/skin, but similar.

Stock Android / Pixel (like Pixel 10a):

1. Open Phone app.

2. Tap three dots > Settings > Calling accounts > Select SIM > Additional settings or Supplementary services.

3. Tap Caller ID > Choose Hide number or Never.

Samsung One UI:

1. Phone app > three dots > Settings > Supplementary services > Show your caller ID > Never.

Other brands (Xiaomi, Oppo, etc.): Look for "Calls" > "Additional" > "Caller ID" > Hide.

If option missing: Carrier lock. Call support or dial *#*#4636#*#* (testing menu) to check phone info.

Unhide once: Dial local code like *82 or #31# (reverse of hide code).

Method 4: VoIP & App-Based Hiding – Often Free & Global

For full anonymity (especially international), use apps that mask your real number.

- Google Voice (US/Canada): Free US number; calls show Google number or hidden. International calls cheap.
- TextNow / TextPlus: Free US/Canada number; hide option in settings.
- Signal / WhatsApp / Telegram: Voice calls show username, not phone number (end-to-end encrypted).
- Burner / Hushed: Paid virtual numbers; hide real one completely.
- MySudo / Silent Phone: Privacy-focused; multiple masked numbers.

These bypass carrier restrictions and work worldwide over data/Wi-Fi. In Nigeria/India/Africa, apps like WhatsApp are popular for private calls.

Country-by-Country Deep Dive (2026 Status)

Stay unknown, stay safe: From US *67 to Nigeria #31# – master caller ID hiding in 2026.

United States & Canada: *67 per call, settings permanent. Legal for personal use; illegal for fraud/harassment.

United Kingdom: 141 per call. Ofcom allows; permanent via carrier.

Nigeria: #31# or *31# often works on MTN/Glo/Airtel. Permanent settings if carrier supports. NCC allows privacy but monitors abuse.

India: *31# on many networks. TRAI permits; some carriers restrict for KYC reasons.

Germany/France/Spain/Italy: #31# standard. EU privacy laws protect use; illegal for crime.

Australia: #31# mobile. ACMA allows personal privacy.

Japan: 184. Strict privacy laws.

South Africa: #31# mobile. ICASA regulates.

Hong Kong/China: 133 or limited. China heavily monitors.

Other Africa (Kenya, Ghana, Egypt): GSM codes #31# usually. Varies by operator.

Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia): #31# or carrier-specific.

In 2026, most GSM/LTE/5G networks support #31# as fallback due to global standards.

Legal & Ethical Considerations in 2026

Hiding caller ID is legal for personal privacy in most countries (EU GDPR, US TCPA, Nigeria NDPR protect anonymity). But illegal if used for:

- Harassment, threats, fraud.
- Emergency calls (911/112 always sees number).
- Debt collection or regulated sales calls in some places.

FCC/EU/others crack down on spoofing/hidden scam calls from abroad. In US, STIR/SHAKEN marks hidden calls suspiciously. Nigeria/India trace abusive hidden calls via SIM registration.

Use responsibly—privacy yes, crime no.

Limitations & Troubleshooting