How to hide your number to protect your privacy?

🤫 How to hide 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. 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 maintain a clear separation between your professional 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 calling. Have one call to make without revealing your precious number? No worries, the solution is also very simple.

The magic code: #31#

Imagine: you need to call a somewhat 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 actually work? It's a piece of cake!

• 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 would dial: #31#

• Make the call, and there you go! ✨

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

Fun fact: I’ve lost count of the times I’ve played pranks on my friends or parents by calling from a blocked number, using an app that alters my voice 😂

It's the ideal solution for occasional needs, but be careful, you have to remember each time. One forget, and your number shows up! If you're looking for a more "definitive" solution, keep reading, the next part 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 numbers by default? It's totally possible, and it happens directly in your smartphone settings.

📱 How to call from 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:

1. Open the Phone app.

2. Tap the three little dots in the top right corner to access the Settings.

3. Look for an option like "Phone Accounts", "Call Settings" or "Additional Services".

4. Find the line "Show my Caller ID" or "Caller Identity".

5. 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:

1. Go to the Settings on your iPhone.

2. Scroll down and tap on Phone.

3. Select Show My Caller ID.

4. Simply turn off the switch.

When it’s gray, it means you’re in masked number mode. Easy, right?

Quick comparison of anonymous SMS sending solutions.

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

🛡️ Alternatives: apps and services for tailored privacy.

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 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:

• Separation of work/personal life:

  Use one number for work and keep your personal number for loved ones.

• Online protection:

  Sign up for websites 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 mobile numbers. By purchasing some credit, you can call anywhere in the world, and your temporary number will display instead of your personal number.

A true story: I have a freelance friend who uses a virtual number for all his clients. This allows him to avoid being disturbed on weekends and keep 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 the security and encryption of your communications, which is a real plus in our digital world.

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

Now that you’re a pro at making blocked calls, let’s talk about the opposite situation. What to do when YOU receive a call from a blocked number? It can be intriguing, often very annoying.

Can you call back a blocked number?

In general, 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 carriers offer a service that allows you, within minutes after the call, to call back a blocked number. But this is not a universal solution and its effectiveness may vary.

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

Let’s be clear: it is nearly impossible to unmask blocked numbers reliably. Services that promise to do so are often ineffective. Only competent authorities can, within a specific legal framework, potentially trace the origin of a blocked call.

So, what can you do?

The best strategy is prevention. Most smartphones allow you to automatically block calls from unknown or blocked numbers.

The advantages:

• 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. Royal 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 concrete 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 protecting your digital identity.

• Avoid telemarketing and spam:

  This is the number one 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:

  In the end, 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 significant step to regain 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’ve covered together:

• The ultra-simple technique of #31# for occasional needs

• How to configure your iPhone or Android to call masked permanently

• The apps and services that offer even more flexibility and security

• How to react to masked calls you receive and the impossibility of unmasking masked numbers

• All the benefits you gain from hiding your phone number to protect your privacy

Masking your phone number is no longer a secret to 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 also deserve to be secret agents!

🤔 FAQ: Questions everyone is asking

Q1: Does masking my number work for SMS too?

No, unfortunately. Tips 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 the #31# worked?

The best way is to test it on a friend's phone (with their permission, of course!). You'll see immediately 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 is 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 is greyed out on my iPhone?

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

🔎 Sources

• (1): https://betterweb.qwant.com/2024/01...
• (2): https://www.ariase.com/mobile/telep...
• (3): https://www.edcom.fr/aide-smartphon...
• (4): https://www.frandroid.com/comment-f...
• (5): https://surfshark.com/fr/blog/numer...
• (6): https://blinkvisa.com/fr/blogue/dis...
• (7): https://save.co/blog/astuces/commen...
• (8): https://www.frandroid.com/comment-f...
• (9): https://www.commentcamarche.net/mob...