Calling someone without revealing your number can be pretty useful. Maybe you want to keep your phone number private for security or personal reasons.
Whatever the case, learning how to call private is easy and can be done with just a few simple steps.
Plus, there are extra ways to protect your privacy if you want to keep things even more secure.
If you’re serious about privacy, you’ll want an app that can protect more than just your phone calls.
Locker: Photo Vault is an excellent app for hiding photos and personal files, offering a safe and secure way to protect your private images from prying eyes.
It’s like having a lock on the personal stuff on your phone. Now, let’s get into calling private and see what options you have.
Table of Contents
What Does “Calling Private” Mean?
When you call private, your phone number doesn’t show up on the recipient’s caller ID. Instead, they’ll see “Private Number” or “Blocked” instead of your actual number.
It’s a feature available on most mobile and landline phones, letting you reach someone without exposing your phone number.
Why would you want to call private?
- Privacy: You may want to avoid sharing your personal number with everyone you call.
- Safety: Avoiding unwanted phone calls back or keeping your identity hidden for security reasons.
- Professional Use: Sometimes, businesses use private calls to protect employee information.
Methods to Call Private
Here’s a quick breakdown of how to call private, so your number stays hidden. We’ll go over different methods, from one-time tap additional settings to permanent options.
1. Using *67 on Your Phone
One of the quickest ways to make a call private is by dialing *67 before the number you want to call.
It works for individual calls, so you’ll need to dial it each time you want to hide your number.
- Step-by-Step:
- Open your phone’s dialer.
- Enter *67, followed by the person’s Android phone number.
- Hit the call button, and your number will appear as “Private” or “Blocked” on the recipient’s caller ID.
This is a great option if you only need to hide your number occasionally, like calling a new business or someone you’re not sure about.
2. Changing Phone Settings to Hide Your Number
If you want all your outgoing calls to be private, you can change your phone’s settings app. Here’s how:
- For iPhone:
- Go to Settings.
- Scroll down and tap on Phone.
- Select Show My Caller ID and toggle it off.
- For Android:
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap the menu icon (three dots or lines).
- Select Settings > Call Settings > Additional Settings > Caller ID.
- Choose Hide Number.
By doing this, all your outgoing calls will automatically hide your number until you turn this setting back on. It’s convenient if you plan to make several private calls.
3. Using a Secondary Number App
Using a secondary number app is an easy, modern solution for keeping your number private.
Apps like Google Voice, Burner, and TextNow allow you to create a second phone number for calling and texting.
With these apps, you don’t have to go through your phone’s settings each time. You simply make a call through the app, and it hides your personal number.
- Pros of Secondary Number Apps:
- Great for calling and texting without exposing your main number.
- Can switch numbers if needed, especially with apps like Burner.
- Often include extra privacy features.
Tip: Make sure to download these apps from reliable sources and read reviews.
Locker: Photo Vault is another app that focuses on privacy and security, especially for safeguarding personal photos and files. It’s like a trusted vault on your phone.
Is Calling Private Really Private?
It’s good to know that while these methods hide your number, they’re not 100% foolproof.
For example, emergency services can still access your number, and some businesses use software to reveal hidden numbers.
Comparison Table for Private Calling Methods
| Method | Effectiveness | Ease of Use | Frequency |
| *67 Dialing | High | Easy (one-time) | For individual calls |
| Phone Settings Adjustment | Moderate | Easy | For all outgoing calls |
| Secondary Number App | High | Easy, flexible | As needed, extra features |
When Not to Call Private
While calling private is useful, it’s not always the best choice.
- Professional Calls: When calling companies, they may require caller ID for security reasons.
- Friends & Family: If you regularly call someone, they may not appreciate receiving calls from a blocked number.
- Emergency Situations: In emergencies, your caller ID should stay on to provide information quickly.
Common Issues When Calling Private
Sometimes, people run into issues with private calling. Here are a few and how to solve them:
- Number Not Hidden: If the *67 method doesn’t work, try restarting your phone and retrying the steps.
- Blocked Calls: Some phones or service providers block private calls. In this case, you might need to use a secondary number app instead.
Safety Tips for Keeping Your Calls Private
If you’re concerned about privacy beyond calls, consider using apps designed for security, like Locker: Photo Vault, which keeps your personal data and images safe from unwanted access.
Think of it as an extra layer of protection on your phone for anything sensitive.
- Use Trusted Privacy Apps: Reliable apps like Locker: Photo Vault and secure messaging apps can protect personal content beyond calls. You can download the app easily.
- Avoid Suspicious Calls: Avoid calling unknown numbers and sharing personal details on calls.
- Check Your Phone Regularly: Keep an eye on settings, especially if you want to make sure your private calls stay private.
Pros and Cons of Calling Private
While private calling can be helpful, it has its upsides and downsides. Here’s a quick look:
Pros
- Keeps your personal information safe.
- Allows anonymity when necessary.
- Useful for professional and personal situations.
Cons
- Not always accepted by businesses or organizations.
- Some people might avoid answering unknown numbers.
- May not work with every phone or service provider.
How Calling Private Impacts Relationships
Calling someone private can make sense in some situations, but it may cause misunderstandings if you use it too often.
For example, friends or family might wonder why you’re hiding your number, and businesses might be hesitant to respond.
When calling someone who knows you, it’s best to let them see your number, so they know it’s you. In short, using private calling thoughtfully is key to keeping it beneficial.
Conclusion
Knowing how to call private gives you control over when and how you share your number.
Whether you’re calling a new contact or just want some privacy, these methods make it easy to keep your number hidden.
By dialing *67, adjusting your phone settings, or using a secondary number app, you have the flexibility to call privately when needed.
If privacy is a top concern, remember that protecting more than just your calls matters too.
Apps like Locker: Photo Vault offer a safe way to hide your personal photos and files, keeping your sensitive content secure on your phone.
While private calling can be beneficial, using it in balance helps ensure the best results without raising eyebrows or causing unwanted reactions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does *67 Still Work for Private Calls?
Yes, *67 still works for private calls in most cases. When you dial *67 before a number, it hides your caller ID from the person you’re calling.
This method is widely supported by carriers in the U.S. and Canada, but if you’re calling internationally, *67 may not work.
Some carriers or businesses may block calls from hidden numbers, so it’s not guaranteed to work in every situation.
But for most personal calls, *67 is still a quick and reliable way to keep your number private.
What is *67 vs *69?
*67 and *69 are two different services.
Dialing *67 before a phone number hides your caller ID, allowing you to make a private call where your number won’t be visible. On the other hand, *69 is a callback feature.
If you miss a call and want to find out who called you (even if they didn’t leave a message), dialing *69 will automatically call back the last number that tried to reach you. So, in short:
- *67 hides your number when you call someone.
- *69 lets you call back the last number that called you.
Both are handy features, but they serve different purposes!
Does *67 Work on iPhone?
Yes, *67 works on iPhones! You can dial *67 before entering the number you want to call, and it will hide your caller ID on that specific call.
This method works on both iPhone and Android, and it doesn’t require changing any settings on your phone.
Just remember, you need to dial *67 each time you want to make a private call, as this only works on a per-call basis.
If you want all your calls to be private, you can go into your iPhone settings and turn off “Show My Caller ID.”
How to Call a Number Privately?
To call a number privately, you have several options:
- *Dial 67: Simply add *67 before the number, and it will hide your caller ID for that call. This works well for one-time calls.
- Adjust Settings on Your Phone:
- On an iPhone, go to Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID and turn it off.
- On an Android, open the Phone app, go to Settings > Call Settings > Additional Settings > Caller ID, and select Hide Number.
- Use a Secondary Number App: Apps like Google Voice or Burner give you a secondary number, so you don’t have to show your main number at all. You can make and receive calls through the app using the secondary number.
