Hide your number when making calls - this is often a necessary measure to protect personal information or business etiquette. Owners of smartphones based Android can use several methods to achieve this goal, ranging from system settings to the services of a telecom operator. Understanding how to disable number displaywill allow you to control your digital privacy in any situation.
The operating system provides flexible tools for managing Caller ID, but their operation may vary depending on the device model. For example, Samsung or Xiaomi paths to settings may differ from pure Android (Pixel, Motorola). It is important to consider that not all telecom operators support this function on the subscriber side without connecting additional options.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the available ways to hide caller ID. We will look at software methods, the use of USSD codes and account settings Google. We will also pay attention to possible problems and reasons why the number may be displayed contrary to your settings.
Using the phone's system settings
The most direct way to hide your number is to change the parameters in the call menu. To do this, you need to open the standard application Phone and go to its settings. Typically the path looks like this: Settings → Calls → Additional settings → Subscriber ID.
In the menu that opens, you will be offered several display options. Select the option Hide number or "Do not show ID". After this, all outgoing calls will be marked “Hidden number” or “Unknown number” on the receiving party’s screen.
It is worth noting that on some devices this item may be called “Number display” or “Caller ID”. If you can't find this option, your carrier may have blocked the ability to change this setting through the phone menu.
- 📱 Open the Phone app and tap the three dots in the corner.
- ⚙️ Go to Settings or Calls.
- 👁️ Find the option "Subscriber ID" or "Display number".
- 🚫 Select the value "Hide number".
⚠️ Attention: If the "Subscriber ID" menu item is missing or inactive, this means that the setting is controlled by the operator. In this case, you need to use USSD codes or contact support.
On devices with shells like One UI or MIUI the location of the settings may be deeper in the menu. Sometimes a device reboot is required for the changes to take effect at the network level.
Hide a number using USSD codes
A universal method that works on almost all smartphone models and most operators is the use of special commands. To hide a number one-time, before dialing the subscriber's number, enter the code #31#. For example, to call the number 89001234567, dial #31#89001234567.
To permanently hide the number, you can use the command #31# without adding a number, but this method does not work for all providers. A more reliable way is to activate the service through your personal account or by requesting an activation code, which depends on your operator (for example, MTS, Beeline, Megafon, Tele2).
List of codes for one-time activation of hiding a number
MTS: #111*44# (Anti-AON service)|Beeline: #119*1# (service "Anti-AON")|Megafon: #105# ("Anti-AON" service)|Tele2: #155*1# ("Anti-AON" service)
Check your tariff plan before activating permanent services to hide Caller ID.
If you want to temporarily disable number identification for one call, use a prefix #31# is the most convenient solution that does not require changing the global settings of the phone.
Settings via Google account and the Phone application
Modern smartphones based on pure Android often use the application Google Phone. In it, privacy settings can be integrated with your account Google. Open the application, click on the profile avatar and select “Phone Settings”.
The option “Hide number” or “Show number and name” may be available here. Changing these settings is synchronized with the cloud, but the SIM card and carrier settings always take precedence. If the application is set to “Show” and the SIM card is “Hide”, the caller will see the hidden number.
Sometimes after updating the application Google Phone the settings may be reset to standard. Check this section regularly after major updates to the system or the application itself.
- 📞 Launch the Google Phone application.
- 👤 Click on your account icon or three dots.
- 🛡️ Select "Settings" → "Accounts" or "Privacy".
- 🔄 Check the number display status for each SIM card.
Specific settings for different manufacturers
Various manufacturers Android smartphones implement the settings interface differently. Owners Samsung should look for settings in the section Additional inside the call menu. U Xiaomi and Redmi the path can lead through System applications → Phone.
On devices Huawei and Honor with the EMUI or MagicOS shell, the settings are in the More → Call network → Subscriber IDsection. If you have changed the brand of your phone, do not be surprised that the usual path to the settings has changed.
The table below shows approximate paths to the settings for popular brands:
| Brand | Path to settings | Option name |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung | Phone → Settings → Advanced | Subscriber ID |
| Xiaomi | Phone → Settings → Accounts | Number display |
| Google Pixel | Phone → Settings → Calls | Additional. settings → Subscriber ID |
| OnePlus | Phone → Settings → Advanced | Number display |
If you are using custom firmware, the menu may look different. In such cases, it is better to use the search in the settings by entering the request "number" or "ID".
Use the search in the phone settings (magnifying glass at the top of the list of settings) by entering the word "number" or "caller" to quickly find the desired item on any Android model.
Why the number is still displayed
Even after following all the instructions your number may remain visible. This is often due to the fact that telecom operator forcefully transmits subscriber data. Some tariff plans or corporate SIM cards have a ban on hiding the number at the network level.
Another reason is calls to emergency services or special short numbers. In such cases, the system always displays the caller's number for security. Also, the number may “shine” if you are calling a subscriber who has the Anti-AON service or caller ID activated, which ignores standard requests to hide.
⚠️ Attention: It is impossible to hide the number when calling emergency services (112, 102, 103). The telecom operator forcibly transmits the coordinates and phone number for a prompt response.
Check whether you have activated the SuperAON service or an analogue, which may conflict with the outgoing Caller ID settings. Sometimes it helps to remove the SIM card, clean the contacts of the metal part and reinstall it.
Using third-party applications
There are many applications in Google Playthat allow you to manage Caller ID. However, you should be careful: most of them simply duplicate system functions or require root access. Applications like Truecaller first of all identify callers, and do not hide your number.
To actually hide a number, third-party applications often use technology Callback or forwarding through their servers. This means that the call is not made directly, but through an intermediary, which can deteriorate the quality of communication and require a paid subscription.
The use of such solutions is advisable only if standard methods do not work, and it is necessary to hide the number. Remember about data security: by transferring calls through a third-party server, you trust information about your contacts to unknown persons.
- ⚠️ Many applications require access to contacts and call history.
- 💸 Often only paid versions of apps hide the number.
- 📉 The quality of communication may decrease due to routing.
- 🔒 Risk of data leakage about your calls to third parties.
☑️ Check before installing the application
Questions and answers (FAQ)
Is it possible to hide a number forever without paying the operator?
You can hide a number forever for free only through the phone settings, if the operator does not block this function. If the operator requires you to connect a paid service (for example, "AntiAON"), then you won't be able to do it for free - the network will forcibly transmit your number.
Will the subscriber see my number if I call him back?
If you have hidden the number in the phone settings, then during an outgoing call (including when calling back), the number will not be displayed. However, if you missed an incoming call and pressed the call back button in the log, the phone can use the standard SIM card settings, which can be changed by the operator.
Does hiding a number work in instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram)?
No, the settings for hiding a number in Android apply only to regular cellular communications (GSM/VoLTE). In instant messengers, your number is displayed according to the privacy settings inside the application itself, not the phone.
What will a person see if I hide the number?
Instead of your number, the text “Hidden number”, “Unknown number”, “Private Number” or “Anonymous” will be displayed on the subscriber’s phone screen, depending on the model of his phone and operator.
Hiding a number on Android is a complex setting that depends on three factors: phone settings, SIM card capabilities and operator tariffs.