How to hide your number to protect your privacy?
4 August 2025 | 6 mins read
Between us... You care about your privacy, right? 😎 So let me share with you some tips to keep your number from becoming the star of marketing databases. More specifically, how to keep your phone number to yourself, away from prying eyes. Gone are the days when your number roamed free like a celebrity without bodyguards! 🕵️♂️ Let's dive into the world of hidden numbers!
🤫 How to mask your number to protect your privacy? The ultimate guide!
As you know today, we live in a hyper-connected world… Well, it’s great, but it also has its downsides. Our personal information, especially our phone number, has become a real currency for exchange. According to a recent study, over 53% of web traffic comes from mobiles, showing how much our smartphones are at the center of our lives. Hence, it’s more important than ever to know how to mask your number.
Whether you want to avoid harassments, protect yourself during online sales, or simply keep a clear separation between your professional and personal life, masking your phone number is an essential skill to master. And the good news? It’s super simple!
✨ The art of temporary masked calling: The famous #31#
This is THE basic technique, the foundation of anonymous calling. You have one call to make without revealing your precious number? Don’t panic, the solution is very simple.
The magic code: #31#
Imagine: you need to call a somewhat persistent customer service, or respond to an online ad without wanting to be called back at odd hours. That’s where the prefix #31# will be useful.
How does it work in practice? It’s child's play!
- Grab your phone (it'll be better with 😅)
- Dial #31# followed, without spaces, by the phone number you want to contact
- For example, to call 0612345678, you dial: #31#0612345678
- Make the call, and there you go! ✨
Your correspondent will see "Private Number", "Unknown" or "Masked Call" displayed on their screen. It’s quick, effective, and totally free. It works on all smartphones, whether you’re on team Android or a die-hard iPhone fan, and with any operator.
Anecdote: I've lost count of the number of times I've pulled pranks on my friends or parents by calling from a blocked number, using an app that modifies my voice 😂
It's the ideal solution for a one-off need, but be careful, you have to remember to do it every time. One forget, and your number shows up! If you're looking for a more "permanent" solution, keep reading, the rest should interest you.
🥷 Go into ninja mode: permanently hide your number
Tired of dialing #31# every time? Do you want ALL your calls to be private number by default? It's entirely possible, and it happens directly in your smartphone's settings.
📱 How to call from a hidden number on Android?
The steps may vary slightly depending on the brand of your phone (Samsung, Xiaomi, Google Pixel, etc.), but the principle remains the same. Generally speaking:
- Open the Phone app
- Tap the three little dots in the top right to access the Settings
- Look for an option like "Phone Accounts," "Call Settings," or "Additional Services"
- Find the line "Show my Caller ID" or "Caller Identity"
- Select Hide number. And there you go, you're all set!
From now on, all your outgoing calls will be anonymous. Say goodbye to stress! 😎
📱 How to hide your number on iPhone?
With Apple, it's even simpler, hiding your phone number is even more straightforward:
- Go to the Settings on your iPhone
- Scroll down and tap on Phone.
- Select Show my number.
- Just toggle off the switch.
When it's gray, you're in private number mode. Easy, right?
Quick comparison of solutions
| Method | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| #31# (one-off) | Quick, simple, universal | Must be repeated for each call |
| Settings (permanent) | "Set it and forget it," constant protection | Can be a barrier to being called back |
🛡️ Alternatives: apps and services for tailored privacy
Do you need to go even further? Maybe you have a professional activity that requires juggling multiple numbers, or you just want an extra layer of protection. I have solutions for you!
Virtual number apps
Apps like our site Anonymous SMS, TextNow, or UnCall allow you to obtain a second phone number, often for free or at a low cost. This is surely the best way to mask your main phone number.
The benefits:
- Work/personal life separation: Use one number for work and keep your personal number for your loved ones.
- Online protection: Sign up for sites or services without ever giving your real number.
- Flexibility: Change your virtual number whenever you want.
It’s like having a disguise for your phone! 🦸♂️
VoIP services
Services like Viber Out or TextNow also allow you to make calls to landlines and mobiles. By purchasing a little credit, you can call anywhere in the world, and your temporary number will display instead of your personal number.
Real-life anecdote: I have a freelance friend who uses a virtual number for all his clients. It allows him to avoid being disturbed on the weekends and keeps his personal number private. Smart, right?
An important point to note: Using a private number is an excellent way to protect yourself. Many apps focus on securing and encrypting your communications, which is a real plus in our digital world.
🔎 The other side of the coin: managing hidden calls we receive
Now that you’re a pro at making anonymous calls, let’s talk about the opposite situation. What to do when YOU receive a call from a hidden number? It’s sometimes intriguing, often very annoying.
Can you call back a hidden number?
Generally, the answer is no. If someone has taken the trouble to hide their number, it is very difficult, if not impossible for an individual to call it back directly.
However, some operators offer a service that allows, in the minutes following the call, to call back a hidden number. But it’s not a universal solution and its effectiveness can vary.
How to uncover hidden numbers? Mission (almost) impossible!
Let's be clear: it is almost impossible to uncover masked numbers reliably. Services that promise to do so are often not very effective. Only the competent authorities can, within a specific legal framework, potentially trace the origin of a masked call.
So, what to do?
The best strategy is prevention. Most smartphones allow automatic blocking of calls from unknown or masked numbers.
- On iPhone: Go to Settings > Phone > and enable Silence Unknown Callers.
- On Android: Open the Phone app > Settings > Blocked numbers and enable the option to block unknown callers.
These calls will be sent directly to your voicemail without even ringing your phone. Ultimate peace! 🧘♀️️
💪 Why hiding your number is very important for your privacy
Beyond the technical aspects of how to mask your number, it’s essential to understand the tangible benefits for your peace of mind.
The advantages of phone anonymity:
- Protect your personal data: Your number is the key to many of your online accounts. Protecting it means safeguarding your digital identity.
- Avoid telemarketing and spam: This is the primary reason for many of us. By not giving out your number indiscriminately, you drastically reduce the number of unsolicited calls.
- Secure your online transactions: When selling an item on a classifieds site, using a private or temporary number prevents you from being contacted months later.
- Maintain professional distance: Ideal for professionals who contact clients from their personal mobile.
- Keep control: Ultimately, you decide who can reach you and when. That’s true luxury!
Privacy protection is not a luxury; it’s a fundamental right in the digital age. By learning how to mask your phone number, you take a significant step towards regaining control of your data.
🕵️♀️ Conclusion: It's your turn, secret agent!
And there you go! You now have all the tools to master the art of masked calling. We covered together:
- The ultra-simple technique of #31# for occasional needs.
- How to set up your iPhone or Android to call masked permanently.
- The apps and services that offer even more flexibility and security.
- How to react to the masked calls you receive and the inability to uncover hidden numbers.
- All the benefits you gain from hiding your phone number to protect your privacy.
Hiding your phone number is no longer a secret to you. It’s a powerful and easy-to-use tool to navigate our connected world more peacefully.
So, the next time you're hesitating to make a call, remember these tips. Take back control of your privacy, one call at a time! Don’t hesitate to share this guide with your friends, they too have the right to be secret agents! 😉
🤔 FAQ: The questions everyone is asking
Q1: Does hiding my number also work for SMS?
No, unfortunately. Tricks like #31# or phone settings only work for voice calls. Your SMS will always display your number. For anonymous SMS, you need to use dedicated applications, and that's exactly what our Anonymous SMS service offers.
Q2: If I call anonymously, can the person still leave me a voicemail?
Absolutely! If you reach their voicemail, you can definitely leave a message. The only difference is that the person won’t see your number displayed.
Q3: How can I tell if #31# worked?
The best way is to test it on a friend's phone (with their permission, of course!). You’ll immediately see if the call shows up as "Private Number."
Q4: Is there a difference between "masked number" and "private number"?
For the user receiving the call, there’s no practical difference. Both terms mean that the caller's identity is not displayed.
Q5: Is it possible to unblock the "Show my number" feature if it's greyed out on my iPhone?
Sometimes, some carriers may block this option. If that’s the case for you, a quick call to your customer service could resolve the issue.