Make an Anonymous Call | Call Without Revealing Your Number

Anonymous calling is a handy way to protect your privacy. Whether you're making a one-time call where you want to hide your identity or you want to make all your calls anonymously by default, calling in private mode is easy to set up. In this article, we explain how to call anonymously on both Android phones and iPhones.

What is anonymous calling?

Anonymous calling means that the person receiving your call won’t see your phone number. Instead, they’ll see “Unknown” or “Private Number.” This can be useful to protect your privacy during business calls or when contacting people you don’t know. As an anonymous caller, you ensure your personal information isn't shared.

Why would you call anonymously?

There are several reasons why people choose to make anonymous calls:

• Privacy protection: Prevent your number from being saved or shared.

• Business purposes: Keep personal and work-related matters separate.

• Prevent misuse: Avoid having your number stored or used without your consent, for instance for spam or unwanted calls.

Setting up anonymous calling by default

Want all your calls to be made without caller ID? You can easily configure this on your phone.

For Android smartphones (e.g., Samsung):

• Open the Phone app: Go to the app you use to make calls.

• Tap the three dots in the top right corner: Open the menu.

• Choose Settings: Go to “Settings” or “Call Settings.”

• Select Caller ID: Tap on “Caller ID.”

• Choose ‘Hide number’: Move the slider to the left or select this option.

• Calls will now be anonymous: From now on, all your calls will appear as “Private.” The person you call won’t be able to see or trace your number.

For iPhone:

• Go to Settings: Open the Settings app.

• Select ‘Phone’: Then tap on “Show My Caller ID.”

• Turn off caller ID: Slide the toggle to the left.

Making a one-time anonymous call (U.S. and Canada)

Want to call anonymously just once? Follow these steps:

1. Dial a code before the number: Use 67 before entering the phone number you want to call. For example: 67 123-456-7890.

2. Call as usual: The recipient will see “Private,” “Blocked,” or “Unknown” instead of your number.

This method works on most landlines and mobile phones in North America, including U.S. and Canadian mobile phones.

Making a one-time anonymous call (UK)

Want to call anonymously just once? Follow these steps:

1. Dial a code before the number: Use 141 before entering the phone number you want to call. For example: 141 07123 456789.

2. Call as usual: The recipient will see “Private,” “Withheld,” or “Unknown” instead of your number.

This method works on most UK mobile phones and landlines, and it's supported by all major UK networks.

Always call a specific number anonymously

To always call one person anonymously:

1. Open the Contacts app: Go to your saved contacts.

2. Select the contact: Choose the person you want to call anonymously.

3. If you're in the U.S. or Canada, add 67 to the beginning of the phone number.
   Example: 67 123-456-7890

4. If you're in the UK, add 141 before the phone number.
   Example: 141 07123 456789

This way, you don’t need to enter the code each time.

I'm getting calls from a private or unknown number

Receiving a call from a private or unknown number? Be cautious and avoid answering if you don’t recognize the number. It could be spam, spoofing, or even a scam attempt to steal personal information. Block the number if it seems suspicious. If possible, use a spam filter app to prevent unwanted calls. If you receive such calls regularly, report them to your provider or an organization such as USA gov.

Services like Belfabriek also allow businesses to trace and manage anonymous inbound calls through their virtual number platform, helping filter out nuisance or fraudulent callers. You can also easily retrieve calls.