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Summary: How to Call and Text Anonymously
Communicating anonymously is of utmost importance in a time when data breaches, security hacks, and government surveillance abound. Luckily, there are multiple ways to text and call anonymously.
- Change the settings on your phone. On phones running Android, go to the Settings of your phone app. Once there, you’ll need to navigate to “Additional Settings” and select “Hide my Number” from the Caller ID drop-down menu. On iOS, you can simply turn off caller ID by navigating to “Phone” in the Settings app and toggling off “Show My Number.”
- Add a region-specific code before the recipient’s number. For example, in the US, you can dial *67 before a number, and the recipient will only see “Private” or “Blocked” on their caller ID.
- Get a burner app. You can also send anonymous text messages using websites such as anonymoustext.com.
If you’re not concerned about anonymity but just want to keep your chats encrypted, you can consider apps like Signal and Linphone, which encrypt your communications end to end.
Read the rest of the article for more detailed steps on how to call and text anonymously!
Most people use their real names when setting up their smartphones. As such, most phone numbers can usually be traced to their owners. Do you want to call someone but don’t you want this person to have your personal phone number? Or do you want to send texts as a private sender?
There are multiple ways to call and text anonymously with just a few simple tricks or third-party apps. You can communicate with someone securely so no one else has access to your communication. Here’s how you do it.
Calling Anonymously
There are plenty of reasons why you wouldn’t want certain people or organizations to have your personal phone number. You may want to avoid telemarketers, scams, robocalls, or even stalkers, for example. However, the default setting for any smartphone is to display your phone number when you call someone.
In order to call anonymously, you have to hide your caller ID in the settings of your phone app. When you do this, the person you call won’t see your actual phone number, but just that they’re being called by a “private number.” Different mobile operating systems have different configurations for hiding your caller ID, but we’ll take you through the basic settings for devices running on Android or iOS.
Hiding caller ID on Android
There are many versions of Android on the market. With new versions coming out, the settings menu is often adjusted over time. If your phone isn’t fully updated or uses a different developer skin (such as Samsung’s or Motorola’s custom designs), there’s a chance your settings menu will look slightly different from the screenshots shown here.
In this case, you can simply look for the right keywords, and you’ll eventually find what you’re looking for. The screenshots for this tutorial have been taken on a OnePlus model running on Android 9.
Want to hide your caller ID on an Android device? Follow the following steps:
- Open the phone app on your device. This is the app you use to call others. The app is usually placed on the home screen in the bottom left corner and looks like a (green) square with a phone in it.
- Tap on the three dots in the top right corner and select “Settings.”
- Open “Call Settings.”
- Select the SIM card you’re currently using. If you only have one SIM card in your smartphone, you can skip this step.
- Go to “additional settings.”
- Tap on “Caller ID.”
- Select “Hide Number.”
From now on, your phone number will no longer be visible to anyone you call. This is great for your privacy but can also have consequences. Don’t be surprised if fewer people suddenly answer their phone when you ring them.
Hiding Caller ID on iOS (iPhone)
Just like with Android, it’s very simple to hide your caller ID in iOS as well. Here’s how you do it:
- Open the settings on your iPhone.
- Select “Phone.”
- Select “Show my Caller ID.”
- Toggle “Show my Caller ID” so the option is turned off.
Making a single anonymous call
It’s also possible to call someone privately by adding a small code in front of the number you’re calling. The advantage of this method is that you don’t have to go through all of your settings and then change it back when you want your number to be visible again.
If it’s just a single private phone call you’re after, all you have to do is figure out what code to add for your particular country.
| Code | Works for |
|---|
| *67 | United States (except AT&T), Canada (landline), New Zealand (Vodafone phones) |
| #31# | United States (AT&T phones), Australia (mobile), Albania, Argentina (mobile), Bulgaria (mobile), Denmark, Canada (mobile), France, Germany (some mobile providers), Greece (mobile), India (only after network unlock), Israel (mobile), Italy (mobile), Netherlands (KPN phones), South Africa (mobile), Spain (mobile), Sweden, Switzerland (mobile) |
| *31# | Argentina (landline), Germany, Switzerland (landline) |
| 1831 | Australia (landline) |
| 3651 | France (landline) |
| *31* | Greece (landline), Iceland, Netherlands (most carriers), Romania, South Africa (Telkom phones) |
| 133 | Hong Kong |
| *43 | Israel (landline) |
| *67# | Italy (landline) |
| 184 | Japan |
| 0197 | New Zealand (Telecom or Spark phones) |
| 1167 | Rotary phones in North America |
| *9# | Nepal (NTC prepaid/postpaid phones only) |
| *32# | Pakistan (PTCL phones) |
| *23 or *23# | South Korea |
| 067 | Spain (landline) |
| 141 | United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland |
If your phone works via a GSM network (like most Androids), you can always dial #31# to block your caller ID. Same goes for if you’re still not sure which code to use. #31# works in most cases.
Using a burner app
If you’d rather not play around with your phone settings or dial a prefix before each call, then a burner app is a good solution. These apps use the internet to make calls and essentially provide you with a second alternate number. Whenever you’re calling someone you don’t know personally, you can use the burner app to keep your primary number safe and secure.
Some of the notable burner apps in the market are Burner (paid) and Google Voice (free).
Texting Anonymously
It’s also possible to send out anonymous texts via special websites.
If you plan on doing this, please be aware that there are many fake websites offering bogus texting services. They promise to send your text messages but instead try to install malware on your device. Meanwhile, your text is never even sent. Should you ever receive a strange text from an unknown source, make sure never to click on any links inside the message. This could seriously compromise your device.
One reliable website that actually sends out your anonymous texts is anonymoustext.com. The procedure on their website is very straightforward and the site is very easy to use. If you want to use this service, you can do so by following these steps:
- Go to the anonymoustext.com website.
- Choose how you want the sender to appear on the recipient’s device. The most obvious choice is to keep this on “Anonymous.” However, you can also choose either a UK or US phone number to be displayed.
- Type in the phone number of the recipient. Don’t forget to add the correct country code!
- Enter the message you wish to send.
- Select whether you want to send it now or at a later date.
- Click continue.
- Pay for your text. You can do so either via PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or by credit card.
Anonymoustext.com offers a reliable service but isn’t exactly cheap. A single text will cost you as much as $1.25. However, there are special options available in case you wish to send more than just one anonymous text:
According to the website, “sending a text costs $1.25 per message. A long text of more than 160 characters costs $0.25 more per extra message. You can pay with PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or a credit card. It’s a single payment, and there’s no subscription attached. The recipient of the text message will not be charged.”
Anonymoustext.com also recommends that you use a VPN when using their service to be double sure of security. In case you don’t already have a VPN subscription, we’d strongly recommend NordVPN. It offers great speeds while being reliable and secure.
Encrypted VoIP and Text Messaging
Perhaps your concern isn’t necessarily that you want to stay anonymous to the person you’re communicating with. If you’d rather stay hidden from any outsiders who might be spying on your conversation, there are a number of third-party apps available to communicate privately. Thankfully, these alternative apps are mostly free and available to all online users.
The default apps that come with your smartphone usually aren’t sufficiently protected against possible surveillance. Therefore, we’ll be suggesting two alternatives that can greatly decrease the likelihood that anyone is listening in on your conversation. These are great tools for whistleblowers, journalists, people living in autocratic countries, or for anyone who simply wants to communicate privately.
There are more private messaging apps available, but the two suggested here, Signal and Linphone, have a steady record of providing safe communication for any online user. A good source for checking private communication software is privacytools.io.
Signal: Encrypted calling and texting
Signal was designed specifically for safe, encrypted communication. All of its texts and phone calls are secured through end-to-end encryption. Apart from this, Signal boasts a number of useful features, such as a timer for messages to self-destruct. Signal is completely free and available for Android, iPhone, and Windows.
Linphone: encrypted VoIP
If you want to video call someone in a safe and secure manner, Linphone is a very decent option. The software is completely open-source and available for free. It’s available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, and Android. All of the messages sent through Linphone are secured with end-to-end encryption.
Final Thoughts
There are multiple ways to text and call safely and anonymously. You can hide your caller ID, use an external website to send out your messages, or use a third-party app that provides end-to-end encryption for any messages you send.
A final remark we want to make is that these tips and tools exist to provide users with security and anonymity. They are not intended to abuse or harass others. Multiple people have gotten into trouble after bothering others over the phone using anonymous phone numbers. Your privacy is important, but it should not come at the expense of others.
If you’re interested in also finding out how to send emails anonymously, we have a handy guide for that here.
How to Call and Text Anonymously: Frequently Asked Questions
The FAQ section below provides short answers to some of the most commonly asked questions on how to call and text anonymously. Let us know in the comments section if there are any other questions that you’d like addressed.
How do I hide my number when calling?
There are various ways to hide your number when calling, such as:
- Changing your phone settings so that your number is hidden. This article provides a detailed explanation of how this can be done on iOS and Android.
- Using a burner app that provides you a second or alternative number to make calls so that your primary number remains hidden.
- Adding a prefix, like *67, before dialing the recipient’s number. Doing this will lead to your number being shown as “Private/Blocked” on the recipient’s phone.
Can I use *67 to block my number?
Yes, dialing *67 before the recipient’s number will make your number appear as “Private” or “Blocked” on their caller ID. However, this code works only in the US, Canada, and New Zealand.
A list of the codes you can use in different regions is provided in this article.
Does *69 block your number?
No, *69 does not block your number from appearing on the recipient’s phone. Instead, it dials the last number that called you.
David Janssen Author
Cybersecurity analyst
David is a cybersecurity analyst and one of the founders of VPNoverview.com. Since 2014 he has been gaining international experience working with governments, NGOs, and the private sector as a cybersecurity and VPN expert and advisor.
FAQs
Any number you call while using *67 or the local version will not be able to redial your number. But keep in mind that this only works for phone calls, not text messages.
Can you anonymously text someone? ›
Android phones
Select Settings, then Call Settings. Tap Additional Settings, then Caller ID. Open the Caller ID drop-down menu and select Hide My Number.
Can you text someone anonymously with * 67? ›
In most jurisdictions, you can hide your caller ID if you preface your call with *67. This does not work with SMS, but there are ways to take advantage of anonymous texting. However, you should not use the technologies to send anonymous text messages for illegal purposes.
How do you call or text anonymously? ›
For example, in the US, you can dial *67 before a number, and the recipient will only see “Private” or “Blocked” on their caller ID. Get a burner app. You can also send anonymous text messages using websites such as anonymoustext.com.
What does * 82 do? ›
How do I unblock Caller ID to a certain number? To deactivate Caller ID Blocking for a specific number: Enter *82.
What happens when you dial * 57? ›
Call trace allows you to dial the code *57 to trace the phone number of a call that was received. This service is used to trace harassing calls which warrant law enforcement or legal action. If you do not intend to take legal action, then an alternative is to use Call Return with *69.
How can I send a text without showing my number? ›
You can hide your phone number when sending a text on an Android with a few easy steps.
...
How to Hide Your Phone Number When Sending a Text on Android
- On the home screen, tap “Settings.”
- Scroll down and tap “Phone.”
- From the “Caller ID” drop-down menu, select “Hide My Number.”
Text Vault is the best texting app for protecting your real phone number during texting by keeping your personal phone number private and secret. Text to strangers with a disposable temporary anonymous phone number.
How do you text someone who blocked you? ›
6 Best Apps to Text Someone Who Blocked You (Android & iPhone)
- Google Voice. Using Google Voice is the best way to interact with someone who has blocked you on your iPhone or Android phone. ...
- TextFree App. ...
- TextMe. ...
- CoverMe. ...
- Smiley Private Texting.
Under Lock Screen Appearance, click Show Previews and select Never. With the preview setting turned off, you'll still get a notification that you have a new message, but the sender's name and the message itself will be hidden until you unlock your phone and open the Messages app.
Hide your caller ID for all calls
- Open the Google Voice app .
- At the top left, tap Menu. Settings.
- Under “Calls,” turn on Anonymous caller ID . If you want to show your phone number to people you call, turn off Anonymous caller ID .
Anonymous Call Rejection (*77) stops calls from people that use a blocking feature to keep their name or number from being displayed. When Anonymous Call Rejection is turned on, callers will hear a message telling them to hang up, turn off the blocking feature, and call again.
What happens if you dial *# 31? ›
Hide Caller ID: *31#
The caller might have hidden the ID intentionally or sometimes it can be accidental. If you want to hide the caller ID dial *31# and press call button.
What is * 21 * used for? ›
Security of Android Smartphone codes : Code ## 002 # ~ Deactivates all forwarding. Code * # 21 # ~ To know whether message or call has been diverted or not. Code * # * # 4636 # * # * ~ To know Wifi connection test, Phone battery.
What happens when you dial * 89? ›
*60 Activate Call Blocking. *72 Activate Call Forwarding.
...
| Feature | Activate | Deactivate |
|---|
| *69 Call Return | *69 | *89 |
| Anonymous Call Rejection Anonymous Call Block | *77 | *87 |
| Busy Redial | *66 | *86 |
| Call Block | *60 | *80 |
15 more rowsCall return (*69) automatically dials your last incoming call, whether the call was answered, unanswered or busy. Call within 30 minutes, during which you can still make and receive calls. To deactivate while waiting for the party you are trying to reach to become available, dial *89.
What happens when you dial * 87? ›
To deactivate, dial *87. Block your name and number from appearing on caller ID. Outgoing calls will be displayed as Private, Anonymous or Unavailable.
How do you send a unknown text message? ›
You can send and receive text messages with friends and contacts on Messages.
...
Start a conversation
- Open the Messages app .
- Tap Compose .
- In "To," enter the names, phone numbers, or email addresses that you'd like to message. You can also pick from your top contacts or your whole contact list.
Yes, without a doubt. The textnow number can be traced by the police. TextNow will collect certain basic information on the account user whenever a new account is created, regardless of whether the account is being created to “Get Free Wireless Service” or to “Get a Free Phone Number.”
What is the 31 private number? ›
Stop your number showing
To block caller ID for an individual call, dial 1831 (or #31# from a mobile) then the number you are calling.
According to our privacy experts, Signal is probably the most secure messaging app. Its open-source encryption protocol has become the industry standard for end-to-end message and voice encryption. And Signal is funded by donations and grants, so it isn't incentivized to monetize data.
Is there a secret texting app that makes messages disappear? ›
Speak freely with Confide. With our encrypted messenger app, your mobile communications will be completely confidential and have the same level of privacy as the spoken word. You'll leave zero trace online with end-to-end encrypted messaging, vanishing messages, screenshot-proof technology, and Incognito Mode.
What texting apps Cannot be traced? ›
Can Text Free numbers be traced? Anonymous texting apps such as TextFree, and TextNow, give users a certain degree of anonymity.
Can I still text someone who blocked me? ›
If an Android user has blocked you, Lavelle says, “your text messages will go through as usual; they just won't be delivered to the Android user.” It's the same as an iPhone, but without the “delivered” notification (or lack thereof) to clue you in.
Can you tell if someone blocked your texts? ›
If you send a message as a regular SMS in the green text bubble and you do not get a “Delivered” notification but instead get a notification similar to “Message not Delivered” or no message at all, that means you were probably blocked.
Can you hide text messages on iPhone without deleting them? ›
The answer is Yes. Messages can be locked or hidden, and message previews can be turned off to keep your personal information safe. Let's focus on how to hide iMessage conversations without deleting them from your iPhone. Note: iMessage is a unique function that works between iPhone to iPhone.
Can you recover deleted text messages on an iPhone? ›
You can restore messages you deleted for up to 30 days. In the Messages conversation list, do one of the following: Tap Edit in the top-left corner, then tap Show Recently Deleted. Tap Filters in the top-left corner, then tap Recently Deleted.
Can you hide calls and texts on iPhone? ›
Step 1: Head to Settings. Step 2: Go to Notifications. Step 3: Tap Show Previews. Step 4: Select Never.
Can you hide your phone number on iMessage? ›
Part 1: How to Remove Phone Number from iMessage on iPhone
Follow the below steps to remove phone number from iMessage. Open Settings on your iPhone and go to Messages. Tap Send & Receive button. Tap Use your Apple ID for iMessage and enter Apple ID passcode, then uncheck your phone number from iMessage.
How do you tell if a number is from a texting app? ›
Find the App Used to Send You These Messages
You can do this by going to Carrier Lookup. Here, you can see what carrier hosts the number. It will tell you if the number belongs to Google Voice or other apps that can generate a phone number. Once you have the source of the number, you should contact the company.
On your iPhone or Android, you can use star 67 by changing your caller ID settings in the phone app. You can also get a second burner number to keep your number a secret during both incoming and outgoing calls.
Does * 69 work on iPhone? ›
Traditionally you could do this on any phone using *69, but when I type that in my iphone it says "this call cannot be completed as dialed." Is there something else I should try instead? *69 doesn't work on blocked calls...a blocked call is just that, blocked. Go a head and dial *67,your home number from your cell.
How do I change my caller ID name? ›
From the app, tap the Account tab. Tap Manage device for your mobile number. Tap Share Name ID. Edit the name.
How do I block a number from texting my number? ›
Blocking texts with Google's Messages app can be done from the conversation by going to the “Details” screen. First, open the app and select a conversation of the number you'd like to block. Next, tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right and select “Details.” Now select “Block & Report Spam.”
How do you block a number sending texts? ›
Here's how to block unwanted spam text messages on your Android phone. Open your messaging app and find the text you want to block. Long-press the message and tap the Block icon. (In some apps, you may need to tap Options (three dots) > Block.)
How do you stop someone from texting you without blocking them? ›
25 effective ways to get someone to stop texting you
- Ask them to stop. If telling them doesn't work, you should ask them to stop. ...
- Send only one-word replies. ...
- Tell them how you feel. ...
- Let them know you're busy. ...
- Offer an alternative. ...
- Pretend you don't know them. ...
- Don't interact. ...
- Don't read their texts.
*67 - Caller ID Block: Hides your phone number on Caller ID systems. *69 - Call Return: Redials the last number that called you. *70 - Call Waiting: Places your call on hold so you can answer another. *72 - Call Forwarding: Forward your call to another phone number.
What happens when you block a number and they text you? ›
Android phones move all blocked messages into a folder on the phone called “Spam and Blocked.” That means that the phone is still collecting messages from the blocked people; they just aren't notifying you.
Does blocking a number block texts? ›
Most Android phones have a native number blocking feature. This means that you can block numbers from calling and texting you through the settings of your Android phone. Calls from blocked numbers will go straight to voicemail and text messages from blocked numbers will go undelivered.
How do I block a number from calling and texting my iPhone? ›
Block voice calls, FaceTime calls, and messages from certain people. In the Phone app , do any of the following. next to the number or contact you want to block, scroll down, then tap Block this Caller. Tap Contacts, tap the contact you want to block, scroll down, then tap Block this Caller.
You can use tools to silence spam callers and block unwanted text messages. Beginning with iOS 13, you can now silence unknown callers. By turning on this setting you can silence unknown callers so your iPhone doesn't ring when someone calls from a number that is not in your contacts.
How do I block text messages from unknown numbers on my Samsung? ›
Menu icon > Settings > Block numbers > Block unknown/private numbers switch.
Does TextNow show your name on caller ID? ›
Calls from your Contacts
If you have added a number to your phone's contacts, incoming calls from that number will show the name you've entered for that contact. If your contacts' names do not show up when you receive a call from them, you might need to give the TextNow app permission to access your Contacts.
What app hides your phone number? ›
Burner is a subscription-based app, offering you two simple ways to enjoy our anonymous phone numbers & all of the privacy, organizational, and spam-blocking features. All new users are able to enjoy a 7-day free trial.
It’s also possible to send out anonymous texts via special websites.
Perhaps your concern isn’t necessarily that you want to stay anonymous to the person you’re communicating with. If you’d rather stay hidden from any outsiders who might be spying on your conversation, there are a number of third-party apps available to communicate privately. Thankfully, these alternative apps are mostly free and available to all online users.