How to hide your number to protect your privacy?

4 August 2025 | 6 mins read

A person wearing a white mask holding a smartphone with the lock screen on.

Between us… You care about your privacy, right? 😎 So let me share with you a few tips to make sure your number doesn't become 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 06 was wandering around like a celebrity without bodyguards! 🕵️‍♂️ Alright, let's dive into the world of masked numbers!

🤫 How to hide your number to protect your privacy? The ultimate guide!

As you know today, we live in a hyperconnected world… Well, that's great, but it also has its downsides. Our personal information, especially our phone number, has become a real commodity. According to a recent study, over 53% of web traffic comes from mobile devices, showing just how central our smartphones are to our lives. It’s more important than ever to know how to hide your number.

Whether you want to avoid harassment, protect yourself during online sales, or simply keep a clear separation between your work and personal life, hiding 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 calls. Do you have a single call to make without revealing your precious number? No worries, the solution is also very simple.

A young animated-style man wearing a white mask and a grey hoodie, looking at his phone in an outdoor market.

The magic code: #31#

Imagine: you need to call a slightly pushy customer service, or respond to an online ad without wanting to be called back at odd hours. That’s where the prefix #31# will come in handy.

How does it work in practice? It's a piece of cake!

Grab your phone (it's better that way 😅)
Dial #31# followed, without spaces, by the phone number you wish to contact.
For example, to call 0612345678, you would dial:#31#
Initiate the call, and there you go! ✨

Your contact will see "Private Number", "Unknown" or "Blocked Call" displayed on their screen. It's quick, effective and completely free. It works on all smartphones, whether you're an Android fan or a die-hard iPhone lover, and with any operator.

Fun Fact: I’ve lost count of how many times I've pranked my friends or parents by calling from a blocked number, using an app that alters my voice 😂

It's the perfect solution for a one-off need, but be careful, you have to remember each time. One slip, and your number is revealed! If you're looking for a more "permanent" solution, keep reading; the next part should interest you.

🥷 Go into ninja mode: permanently hide your number.

Tired of dialling #31# every time? Want ALL your calls to be private by default? It’s absolutely possible, and it’s done directly in your smartphone settings.

A young man in animated style wearing a white mask and a grey hoodie, looks at the camera while holding a smartphone in a crowded street.

📱 How to call with a blocked number on Android?

The steps may vary slightly depending on your phone brand (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 corner 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 have it!

From now on, all your outgoing calls will be anonymous. No more stress! 😎

📱 How to hide your number on iPhone?

With Apple, it’s even simpler, hiding your phone number is even more straightforward:

Go to your Settings on your iPhone
Scroll down and tap on Phone.
Select Show My Caller ID.
Simply toggle the switch off.

When it's grey, you're in masked number mode. Easy, right?

Quick comparison of anonymous SMS sending solutions

Method	Advantages	Disadvantages
#31# (one-time)	Fast, simple, universal	Must be repeated for each call
Settings (permanent)	"Set it and forget it", constant protection	May be a barrier to being called back

A little friend tip: If you permanently mask your number, remember to temporarily reactivate it if you’re expecting an important call and want the person to identify you. This will help you avoid ending up in blocked numbers!

🛡️ Alternatives: apps and services for tailored privacy

Need to go even further? Perhaps you have a professional activity that requires juggling multiple numbers, or you just want an extra layer of protection. I have solutions for you!

A man wearing a white mask, a dark jacket, and a blue t-shirt, speaking into the receiver of an old-fashioned black phone, with a city street in the background.

Virtual number apps

Apps like our site Anonymous SMS, TextNow, or UnCall allow you to get a second phone number, often for free or at a low cost. It’s definitely the best way to mask your main phone number.

The advantages:

Work/life separation:
Use one number for work and keep your personal number for loved ones.
Online protection:
Sign up for sites or services without ever giving your real number
Flexibility:
Change your virtual number whenever you wish

It's like having a disguise for your phone! 🦸‍♂️

VoIP services (Voice over IP)

Services like Viber Out or TextNow also allow you to make calls to landlines and mobiles. By purchasing a bit of credit, you can call anywhere in the world, and your temporary number will show instead of your personal number.

A true story: I have a freelance friend who uses a virtual number for all his clients. It allows him to avoid being disturbed on weekends and keep his personal number secret. Clever, isn’t it?

An important point to note: Using a private number is an excellent way to protect yourself. Many applications focus on securing and encrypting your communications, which is a real advantage in our digital world.

🔎 The other side of the coin: managing masked calls that you receive

Now that you are a pro at masking calls, let’s talk about the reverse situation. What to do when YOU receive a call from a masked number? It’s sometimes intriguing, often very annoying.

Can you call back a masked number?

Generally, the answer is no. If someone has gone to the trouble of hiding their number, it is very difficult, if not impossible for an individual, to call them back directly.

However, some operators offer a service that allows, within minutes after the call, to call back a masked number. But this is not a universal solution and its effectiveness can vary.

How to unmask masked numbers? Mission (almost) impossible!

Let’s be clear: it is virtually impossible to unmask masked numbers reliably. Services promising to do so are often ineffective. Only the relevant 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 you to automatically block calls from unknown or masked numbers.

The benefits:

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. Pure peace! 🧘‍♀️️

A man wearing a white mask and a hoodie looks at his mobile phone in a city street. The image is created in a cartoon or comic style.

💪 Why hiding your number is very important for your privacy

Beyond the technical aspects of how to mask your number, it’s important to understand the concrete benefits for your peace of mind.

The advantages of phone anonymity:

Protecting your personal data:
Your number is the key to many of your online accounts. Protecting it means safeguarding your digital identity.
Avoiding marketing calls and spam:
This is the number one reason for many of us. By not giving out your number everywhere, you drastically reduce the number of unsolicited calls.
Securing your online transactions:
When you sell an item on a classifieds site, using a private or temporary number prevents you from being contacted months later.
Maintaining professional distance:
Ideal for professionals contacting clients from their personal mobile.
Keeping control:
Ultimately, it’s you who decides who can reach you and when. That’s true luxury!

Protecting your privacy is not a luxury, it’s a fundamental right in the digital age. By learning how to mask your phone number, you’re taking a big step towards regaining control of your data.

🕵️‍♀️ Conclusion: Your turn to play, secret agent!

And there you have it! You now have all the tools to master the art of masked calling. We’ve covered together:

The ultra-simple technique of #31# for occasional needs.
How to set up your iPhone or Android to always call anonymously.
The apps and services that offer even more flexibility and security.
How to react to the masked calls you receive and the impossibility of unmasking hidden numbers.
All the benefits you gain from hiding your phone number to protect your privacy.

Masking your phone number is no longer a secret for you. It’s a powerful and easy-to-use tool to navigate more smoothly in our connected world.

So, the next time you hesitate 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 masking my number work for SMS as well?

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 apps, and luckily, that’s exactly what our service Anonymous SMS 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 as "Private Number."

Q4: Is there a difference between "masked number" and "private number"?

For the user receiving the call, there is no practical difference. Both terms mean that the caller's identity is not displayed.

Q5: Is it possible to unlock the "Show my number" feature if it's greyed out on my iPhone?

Sometimes, certain providers may block this option. If that's the case for you, a quick call to your customer service could resolve the issue.