Want to make a call, but prefer the recipient not to know your phone number? 🧐 Help is at hand with the option to hide those nine digits important to you. 🤝 We're talking, of course, about caller ID blocking, which is a type of privacy protection that allows you to prevent your number from being disclosed to the call recipient. You can enable this setting yourself on your device or instruct a Help Desk agent to do it. 💪
Key information from the article:
- Caller ID blocking allows you to hide your number from the call recipient – instead of digits, a message 'Private Number' or 'Number Withheld' is displayed, increasing anonymity and protecting privacy.
- The function can be activated permanently (globally) in phone settings (Android, iPhone) or temporarily (for a single call), e.g., using the USSD code #31#.
- Hiding your number is useful when contacting strangers or companies, but may lead to calls being rejected by people who don't answer calls from withheld numbers.
- The number cannot be hidden for emergency calls – in such situations, identification is always required.
- Operators, e.g., Mobile Vikings, offer Help Desk support (phone, email, chat), which can activate the caller ID blocking service on the subscriber's account.
Why should you use caller ID blocking?
Caller ID blocking is a telecommunications feature that hides the caller's number. Instead of a string of nine digits, the call recipient will see the message 'Number Withheld' or 'Private Number'. This means your number will not be displayed on the recipient's screen, increasing the caller's anonymity and providing an effective form of privacy protection.
How does caller ID blocking fit into telephone communication etiquette? Hiding your number is a widely accepted practice, especially when calling unknown individuals or companies, to maintain anonymity. However, it's worth remembering that a withheld number might cause the recipient to reject the call, as they may be reluctant to answer calls from unknown or hidden numbers.
Caller ID blocking can also be used by companies that want to protect their employees' contact details, as well as by individuals who value privacy in daily communication. However, it's worth noting that caller ID blocking does not work for emergency calls, which must always be identifiable.
How to block your phone number using phone settings?
In most modern mobile phones, there's an option to block your number, which allows you to hide it from the call recipient. You can activate this feature globally, meaning for all outgoing calls, or locally, meaning for a single call only.
Blocking your number on Android phones
To block your number permanently on an Android phone, follow these steps:
- Go to Call settings or Phone settings.
- Find Advanced settings or Additional settings.
- Select the option Hide number or Caller ID.
- Enable the hide number feature so your calls always appear as a private number.
If you want to perform one-time number blocking, which applies only to a single call, simply dial the appropriate USSD code before the number or use the hide number option available directly on the dial screen.
How to block your number on iPhone and how does the 'Show My Caller ID' option work?
On iPhone, blocking your number is just as simple. Just:
- Go to Settings → Phone.
- Find the Show My Caller ID option.
- Turn off this option to hide your number when making calls.
The 'Show My Caller ID' option determines whether your number will be visible to the call recipient. Disabling this feature means your number will be withheld and displayed as 'Private Number' or 'Number Withheld'.
How to block your number for a single call and what steps are needed?
One-time number blocking is ideal when you want to call anonymously just once, without changing your global phone settings. On Android phones, you can do this easily:
- Open the dial screen.
- Enter the number of the person you want to call.
- Before the number, add a USSD code, e.g., #31# (the code may vary depending on the operator).
- Tap the green phone icon and make the call.
Alternatively, some phones offer a direct option to hide your number in the call menu, which can be enabled before making the call. Temporary number blocking applies only to that single call and does not change global settings.
How does Help Desk assist with blocking your phone number?
Not everyone wants or knows how to change phone settings themselves. That's why mobile operators, such as Mobile Vikings, offer a caller ID blocking service handled by their Help Desk. Simply contact an agent, who can activate caller ID blocking on your account or assist with phone configuration.
- Phone to #PerfektHelpDesk – fast and direct assistance.
- Email – a convenient form of written contact.
- Chat – a popular and fast form of online communication.
This way, caller ID blocking can be activated globally by the operator, meaning all your outgoing calls will be automatically hidden from recipients. This service complies with personal data protection regulations and the operator's security policy.
How does caller ID blocking work and what are its types?
Caller ID blocking can be temporary or permanent. Temporary blocking applies to a single call and is most often done via a USSD code or the hide number option in call settings. Permanent caller ID blocking is a global setting that affects all outgoing calls from the phone.
It's worth emphasizing that caller ID blocking does not prevent a connection from being established; it only affects how information is displayed to the recipient. Instead of the number, the message 'Number Withheld' or 'Private Number' will appear.
In practice, caller ID blocking is part of the incoming call blocking feature, as it allows you to control who sees your number and who doesn't. In turn, number blocking is a separate feature that prevents you from receiving calls from selected numbers.
Summary – how to block your number and why it's worth it?
Blocking your number is a simple and effective way to protect your privacy during phone calls. You can hide your number both temporarily and permanently – either by yourself in your phone settings or through your mobile network operator. This way, you can avoid unwanted marketing calls, increase anonymity, and maintain control over who sees your number.
At Mobile Vikings, we prioritize transparency and convenience, which is why we'll gladly help you block your number, should you wish. However, remember that a private number might cause the recipient to reject the call if they don't answer calls from private numbers. Now you know how to block your number and what benefits this feature brings. Use our tips and take care of your privacy during every phone call!
