You probably often have to make a private call as a business owner. However, with caller ID used on landlines, VoIP, cable phones, and cell phones so widespread these days, this is not as easy as in the past.

If you contact your service provider and ask them to make your number private, they may be reluctant to do so because they want customers to have your contact information.

Many people will not answer calls from an unknown number.

One way to make a private call is to dial *67 from your phone or device before dialing the phone number. Second, If you are on a cell phone go to your settings, then hit “show my caller ID” to off.

This article will explain how to make private calls and block your caller ID.

How to Block Caller ID?

From Your Phone System at the Office

When you call someone from your office, that person will see the extension number from which you called on their caller ID. If you need to make a private call, there are several ways.

If you have a touch-tone or digital phone, you can dial *67 (or press star 67) before entering the number to dial.

This will block your number and show only the blocked number of the extension used to make the call.

Use *67 if you’re on a rotary phone. Dial 1-1-6-7 after pressing “0” to get an outside line, then enter the number to dial.

You can also use *63 instead of *67 if you want the call recipient to see your name instead of your number.

When you’re in a hurry to reach someone or need to reach someone who doesn’t want to hear from you, private numbers are a great solution.

Private numbers allow busy business owners, professionals, and C-level executives to reach clients and customers quickly when they are on the go, or their contact information is not readily available.

Private numbers can also be used when you want to reach someone who may not want to take your call.

For example, you could use a private number if you were trying to get in touch with a customer behind their invoices or a person who has blocked your number.

From Your Cell Phone

When you dial *67 on a cell phone, you’re asking your carrier to block your caller ID.

But if you need to make private calls all the time or hide your caller ID for other reasons, it is possible to disable caller ID from your phone settings.

If you have questions about making your number private all the time, call 6-1-1 on your cell phone to reach your carrier’s customer service department.

On an Android phone, blocking caller ID is possible by selecting:

Menu> Settings> Call Settings> Additional Settings, then “Hide Number.”

On an iPhone, blocking caller ID is possible by navigating to:

Settings> Phone, then toggling “Show my caller ID” to off.

When you need to make a call but want to keep your number private, you can dial *82, wait for the beep(s) and then the dial tone, and make your call. This unblocks caller ID for that call only.

Does *67 Still Work in 2022?

Yes, it works. When placing a call, dial the number you want to call without the area code or country code (e.g., 555-555-5555).

Then press the hash-key (#) and enter the 10-digit number of the person you are calling. To unblock the number, press the hash symbol again and enter the 10-digit number of the blocked person.

Does 141 Hide Your Caller ID?

Yes, 141 will hide your caller ID when calling a regular landline or mobile number. That’s a guarantee. We have tested this extensively to ensure we’re giving you exactly what you expect.

However, you should be aware that some businesses and government agencies are now using call forwarding to avoid being called by telemarketing companies and robocalls.

If you try to call one of these phone numbers, the party who answers may see your actual number even though your caller ID is blocked for outgoing calls.

How Does Block Call Work?

• Open your Phone app on Android or iOS
• Tap the More tab in the upper right corner
• Tap Settings, then tap Call Blocking & Identification
• Tap Add new services (Android) or Block Contact (iOS)
• Type the number you want to block

The type of phone you have determines what happens next.

If you’re using an iPhone:

Tap Block Contact**or Block This Caller**(Android) to confirm your decision.

If you’re using Android:

Tap Block Contact** to confirm your decision.

A blocking call feature works because, when you have it enabled, your phone will automatically block all incoming calls from numbers or contacts in your blacklist.

When you’re ready to answer a call, you can click the green “Accept” button on the screen to pick up, or you can ignore the call and allow it to go to voicemail.

The dialer will only let you answer calls from numbers on your blacklist.

Can Block Calls Be Traced?

The answer is yes, but the process will require a certain degree of finesse. It is possible to trace a blocked phone call, but you will have to research and involve local law enforcement.

If you are receiving harassing calls from an individual or receiving threatening calls from a business that is not following up on its threats, then contacting the police may be a good option for you.

To trace it, you will need the following information:

• The number of the blocked caller
• The time and date that the call was made
• A police report stating that you believe your safety is in danger because of this call (even if you don’t feel your safety is in danger)

Final Thoughts

The benefit of blocking unwanted calls is that you can save time and effort from not answering unwanted calls.

A sign that you need to block an unwanted call is when you have caller ID, and the name and number are blocked; you don’t recognize the number or name, or the number is from a different area code than where you live.

When you block a number, it goes directly to your voicemail, which means your phone does not ring and the person calling does not reach you.