How to Call Anonymously

This wikiHow teaches you how to call someone without showing your real phone number. The easiest way is to dial the blocking code (such as *67 ) before the phone number to call. ^{[1] X Research Source} If you use a smartphone, the Settings app will have the option to set all outgoing calls to anonymous. Otherwise, you can use the free Google Voice app to call with another number, your real number will be safe even if the recipient uses a caller ID retrieval program.

Table of Contents

Use blocking code

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/8/86/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-1-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Make-an- Anonymous-Call-Step-1-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/8/86/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-1- Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-1-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Define blocking code. To make a hidden call with a block code, you need to enter the code before 10 phone numbers (or 11 if you use a country code) and press the call button. Here are some common blocking codes: ^{[2] X Research Source}

*67 – For most mobile and landlines in North America, as well as landlines in Canada.
#31# – For some North American mobile phones (such as AT&T) and Canada.
141 – For most mobile and landline phones in the UK.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/2/26/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-2-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Make-an- Anonymous-Call-Step-2-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/26/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-2- Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-2-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Open the Phone app. This application usually has a phone receiver on a colored background and is located on the home screen of the smartphone.

If you have a landline or feature phone just pick up and dial.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/d/dd/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-3-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Make-an- Anonymous-Call-Step-3-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/d/dd/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-3- Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-3-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Tap the dial pad icon. If the Phone app doesn’t open the numeric keypad, find and tap the dialpad icon or the “Dialpad” tab. This icon usually looks like a numeric keypad.

Skip this step for landlines and feature phones.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/2/2b/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-4-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Make-an- Anonymous-Call-Step-4-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/2b/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-4- Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-4-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Enter the blocking code. Enter the blocking code for your country. For example, if you are calling from North America, dial *67 .

Don’t hit the call now button.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/5/5d/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-5-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Make-an- Anonymous-Call-Step-5-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/5d/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-5- Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-5-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Enter your phone number. Enter the phone number you want to call anonymously. Once done, the whole number will look like this: *678085031234

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/6/6c/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-6.jpg/v4-460px-Make-an-Anonymous-Call- Step-6.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/6c/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-6.jpg/v4-728px-Make- an-Anonymous-Call-Step-6.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Press the call button. The call will be made and your number will be hidden. The recipient will see the ID as “BLOCKED” (blocked), “RESTRICTED” (restricted) or “CALLER ID UNAVAILABLE” (caller name not available) displayed on the LCD or touch screen of the phone.

Note: if the recipient’s phone has an application that displays call information, they will see your number even if you use a blocking code. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Using the Settings app on iPhone

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/9/9b/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-7.jpg/v4-460px-Make-an-Anonymous-Call- Step-7.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/9b/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-7.jpg/v4-728px-Make- an-Anonymous-Call-Step-7.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Open the Settings app

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/7/7e/Iphonesettingsappicon.png”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/7e/ Iphonesettingsappicon.png/30px-Iphonesettingsappicon.png”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:460,”bigWidth”:30,”bigHeight”:30,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output” “></div>”}

(Settings) of iPhone. Click the Settings app icon with a gray frame with a gear inside. This application is usually located on the Home screen of the iPhone. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/f/f9/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-8.jpg/v4-460px-Make-an-Anonymous-Call- Step-8.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/f/f9/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-8.jpg/v4-728px-Make- an-Anonymous-Call-Step-8.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Scroll down and tap Phone . This option is located about the bottom 1/3 of the page, to the right of the blue and white phone receiver icon. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/e/ef/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-9.jpg/v4-460px-Make-an-Anonymous-Call- Step-9.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/e/ef/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-9.jpg/v4-728px-Make- an-Anonymous-Call-Step-9.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Tap Show My Caller ID . This option is in the center of the screen. If you don’t see this option or something similar (such as Caller ID ), you won’t be able to hide Caller ID from within your iPhone’s Settings app. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

If your iPhone doesn’t support the option to hide caller ID, you can call your carrier or visit their website to see if this paid feature is available.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/9/92/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-10.jpg/v4-460px-Make-an-Anonymous-Call- Step-10.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/92/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-10.jpg/v4-728px-Make- an-Anonymous-Call-Step-10.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Click the blue “Show My Caller ID” button

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/1/15/Iphoneswitchonicon1.png”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/15/ Iphoneswitchonicon1.png/46px-Iphoneswitchonicon1.png”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:300,”bigWidth”:46,”bigHeight”:30,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output” “></div>”}

. This switch will turn white

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/2/25/Iphoneswitchofficon.png”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/25/ Iphoneswitchofficon.png/47px-Iphoneswitchofficon.png”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:294,”bigWidth”:47,”bigHeight”:30,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output” “></div>”}

. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

You may be prompted to confirm the action again.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/5/52/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-11.jpg/v4-460px-Make-an-Anonymous-Call- Step-11.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/52/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-11.jpg/v4-728px-Make- an-Anonymous-Call-Step-11.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Exit the Settings app. So all outgoing calls you make from the Phone app built into your iPhone will hide the number instead of showing it on the recipient’s phone. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

If the recipient’s phone has an application that displays call information, they will see your number.

Using the Settings app on Android

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/9/92/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-12.jpg/v4-460px-Make-an-Anonymous-Call- Step-12.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/92/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-12.jpg/v4-728px-Make- an-Anonymous-Call-Step-12.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Open the Phone app on Android. Tap the Phone app with the handset icon on a colored background. ^{[9] X Research Source}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/3/34/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-13.jpg/v4-460px-Make-an-Anonymous-Call- Step-13.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/34/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-13.jpg/v4-728px-Make- an-Anonymous-Call-Step-13.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Tap the ⋮ icon in the upper right corner of the screen. A menu will drop down.

On some phones, this option will show as MORE .

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/b/b5/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-14.jpg/v4-460px-Make-an-Anonymous-Call- Step-14.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/b/b5/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-14.jpg/v4-728px-Make- an-Anonymous-Call-Step-14.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Click the Settings option located in the drop-down menu. The Phone settings page will open.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/a/a5/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-15.jpg/v4-460px-Make-an-Anonymous-Call- Step-15.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/a/a5/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-15.jpg/v4-728px-Make- an-Anonymous-Call-Step-15.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Tap Calls or similar. Find and tap the Calls , Outgoing or Call settings option located in this menu.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/c/cc/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-16.jpg/v4-460px-Make-an-Anonymous-Call- Step-16.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/c/cc/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-16.jpg/v4-728px-Make- an-Anonymous-Call-Step-16.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Tap the Caller ID option from within the Calls menu.

You may need to tap Additional settings or another option to see this setting.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/76/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-17-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Make-an- Anonymous-Call-Step-17-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/76/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-17- Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-17-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Tap the Hide number option located in the Caller ID settings menu. If you don’t see this option, you can’t hide outgoing calls in Android’s settings. ^{[10] X Research Source}

This option may have a different name (such as HIDE – Hide).
If hiding call numbers isn’t built into Android settings, you can still purchase this option to block outgoing call IDs. Call your carrier or visit their website to see if this paid feature is available.

Using Google Voice

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/5/5c/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-18.jpg/v4-460px-Make-an-Anonymous-Call- Step-18.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/5c/Make-an-Anonymous-Call-Step-18.jpg/v4-728px-Make- an-Anonymous-Call-Step-18.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Open Google Voice. Tap the Google Voice app icon, which looks like a white phone receiver inside the green dialogue bubble. ^{[11] X Google Voice Research Source} will show a chat page if not already open.

If you don’t have Google Voice installed, you’ll need to download the app for iPhone or Android (it’s free).
If you don’t have a Google Voice account, you’ll be asked to set up your account the first time you open the app (you can also tap SIGN UP – Sign Up). Follow the on-screen instructions to continue.
If you’re not signed in to Google Voice, you’ll need to choose an email account or enter your email address and password when prompted.