What Does "Private Number" Mean on a Call?

"Private number" means the caller hid their caller ID. The call is real, but your phone cannot show who it is. Here is how hiding works and how to block them.

How callers hide their number

• Dialling a prefix before the number, such as *67 in the US or 141 in the UK.
• A phone setting to hide caller ID on all calls.
• Some businesses and services withhold numbers by default.

Should you answer?

Doctors and some services call from hidden numbers. Scammers do too. If you answer, never give codes, passwords or payment details to someone you cannot verify. Call the organisation back on its official number.

Block private calls

• iPhone: Settings › Apps › Phone › Silence Unknown Callers.
• Android: in the Phone app settings, look for Blocked numbers › Unknown or private.
• Your carrier may offer anonymous call rejection.

Can texts be private?

Texts always show a sender, but it can be a short code, name or spoofed number. See caller ID spoofing.

Hiding your own number

To hide your caller ID on one call, use the code for your country before the number. To hide it on every call, look in your phone settings under caller ID. Some people will not answer hidden numbers, so use it sparingly.

FAQ

What does "private number" mean?

The caller hid their caller ID.

Can I find out who a private caller is?

Not from the phone. Your carrier may help with harassment reports.

How do I block private numbers?

Use your phone's silence or block unknown callers setting.

Related: caller ID spoofing · block spam texts · phone extensions.