How to call from a private number

The quickest method is a dialling prefix. In the United States and Canada, dial *67 and then the full number you want to call, for example *67 followed by the number. In the United Kingdom, dial 141 before the number. In many other countries a similar short code exists, so check your carrier's help page. The person you call will usually see Private, Blocked or No Caller ID instead of your number.

This works one call at a time, so you need to add the prefix every time you want to stay hidden. It also does not work for every kind of call, which is covered below.

To hide your number on every call, change the caller ID setting. On an iPhone, open Settings, then Phone, then Show My Caller ID and switch it off. On many Android phones, open the Phone app, then Settings, then Supplementary services or Calling accounts, then Caller ID, and choose Hide number. Menu names vary by manufacturer and carrier, and some carriers do not allow this setting to be changed on the handset, in which case you need to ask them to enable it on your account.

Remember to turn it back on if you need people to recognise your calls, since many people do not answer calls that show as private.

Emergency services can generally still see your number, and so can many toll-free and premium-rate lines, which receive it for billing. Your carrier also always knows which number placed the call, and a phone company can share records with authorities when legally required. Some people set their phone to reject private calls, so they may never pick up.

Hiding your caller ID protects your privacy from the person you are calling. It does not make you anonymous to networks.

If your goal is to keep your real number off websites, apps and data-broker lists, the useful tool is a separate number for sign-ups rather than a caller-ID trick. A VNumbr virtual number is a permanent line on a real mobile network that receives SMS in your dashboard, so verification codes and text notifications go there instead of to your personal phone.

To be clear, VNumbr numbers are built for receiving text messages. They do not place calls, so they are not a way to call from a private number. They complement caller ID hiding by keeping your personal number out of the places that only need a number to text a code to.