People would want to call or text someone anonymously for multiple reasons. For some, it is to protect their privacy; for others, it is for their safety. Finally, some do not want their caller ID displayed.
There are ways to call or text anonymously, and this guide will help you learn how to do so.
Calling Anonymously
I think seeking measures to help you call anonymously is a valid enough reason. Why? Calls are always live. It cannot be pre-recorded, unlike texts that might take time to send due to network issues. With calls, anyone can get your live location as they speak with you.
So, to protect you and your data from scammers, hackers, kidnappers, stalkers, or any other third party, it is best to keep your caller ID private. This way, when you call someone, they’ll see a call from a private number. Now, let us show you how to block your caller ID on an iOS or Android.
How to Hide Your Caller Identity on an Android Device
Typically, Androids do not follow a singular pattern. This is why you would see that the overall display of a Samsung phone is different from that of a Motorola or a Google Pixel device. What we are driving at is that the screenshot we provide below may not look exactly like the one on your Android device.
However, you can search your settings app for keywords that resemble the highlighted words in the screenshot below. Here’s a step-by-step guide on hiding your caller ID on your Android device:
- On your Android device, find the app you use to make and receive calls and open it. This is typically the phone app.
- Select the three horizontal dots in the far right corner, and from the options displayed, tap on Settings.
- Choose the “Call Setting” option.
- If you use dual SIM cards, select the one you want to make private. If you have only one SIM card, skip this part.
- Proceed to “Additional settings.”
- Select the “Caller ID” option.
- Then, tap on “Hide Number.”
Following these steps will make your number immediately private. But there is a setback. Not too many people like to receive calls from private numbers. They fear they might be scammers, hackers, or fraudulent organizations. So, ensure you can handle that before hiding your caller ID.
How to Hide Your Caller Identity on iOS Devices
To hide caller ID on your iPhone, follow the steps below:
- Go to the “Settings” app.
- Scroll down to locate the “Phone” option, or use the navigation bar to search for it.
- Tap on it.
- Select “Show Caller ID”.
- Now, toggle the green button off, and you have successfully hidden your caller ID.
Unlike Android devices, where you turn off the caller ID through the SIM, you would notice that the iPhone does it directly through the phone’s settings.
Making a Single Call Anonymously
If turning off your caller ID for all calls is unsettling, do not worry. You can add codes to the number you want to call, which will make it private. This way, your caller ID is visible to contacts you trust and hidden from contacts you do not trust completely.
These codes vary from country to country, and we share them in the table below.
| Code | Functional in |
|---|---|
| #31# | Mobile phones in Australia, the United States (AT&T phones), Greece, Albania, Argentina, Bulgaria, Denmark, Canada, France, Germany (specific mobile providers), Bulgaria, India (only after unlocking your network), Israel, Italy, South Africa, Netherlands (KPN phones), Spain, Sweden, Turkey, and Switzerland |
| 133 | Hong Kong |
| *23# or *23 | South Korea |
| 1167 | North America (only rotary phones) |
| 067 | Spain (landline) |
| *31# | Argentina & Switzerland (both only in landlines) and Germany |
| 3651 | France |
| *43 | Israel |
| 184 | Japan |
| 1831 | Australia |
| *67 | Canada (landline), United States (except AT&T phones, and New Zealand (Vodafone) |
| 0197 | New Zealand (Spark or Telecom phones) |
| *32# | Pakistan (PTCL phones) |
| 141 | Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom |
| *9# | Nepal (NTC prepaid and postpaid phones only) |
| *31* | South Africa (Telkom phones), Romania, Iceland, Greece (landline), Netherlands (most phone companies) |
| *67# | Italy |
Using a Burner Application
You can use a burner app if you would rather not use the codes, or they do not apply to you because you reside in a country other than those listed. These apps assist you in making calls using just the internet. With a burner app like Google Voice and Burner, you can securely call a number without divulging yours.
Sending Anonymous Texts
You can send a text anonymously just as you can call anonymously. However, there are also consequences, as finding the right website or software to use can be challenging. You might search on Google for multiple options, but nine out of ten malicious sites aim to steal your data.
The only website we trust to deliver your text messages anonymously is anonymoustext.com. They can securely deliver messages anonymously, and you can start texting by following the simple steps below:
- Using a working browser, visit the anonymoustext.com website.
- Keep the “Sender” option anonymous.
- Input the recipient’s phone number, adding their country code.
- Type your message in the box provided.
- Choose between sending the message and scheduling it for a future date.
- Select “Continue”.
- Using Google Pay, PayPal, Apple Pay, or with your card, pay for the text.
The anonymoustext.com website makes it easier to send messages anonymously, but it isn’t cheap. The website says you can pay for texts using Google Pay, Apple Pay, and credit cards.
Since a single text costs $1.25, the website adds that any text longer than 160 characters will attract an additional fee of $0.25. Also, when making a payment on your end, the recipient doesn’t get an additional charge.
If you are considering using the anonymoustext.com website, you should also know that it recommends using a VPN like NordVPN to ensure double security. If you do not have this service, here are our recommendations.
Text Messaging and VoIP with Encryption
You may intend to send a text or call anonymously to protect yourself from third parties, but you do not like the idea of blocking your number. Well, there are alternative options that require you to download apps that can send texts and calls with specific encryption.
These encryption apps are typically free and ensure that no one is listening to your conversations via calls or reading your text messages. Unlike the in-built apps on your devices, they provide a more secure route for your data to pass through.
Two of our best text messaging and VoIP encryption apps are Linphone and Signal. These two apps have a track record of protecting user privacy and not leaking information.
1. Linphone: VoIP Encryption
Linphone is free software that you can utilize to securely video chat with anyone and not be scared of dubious activities. Although a free app, it does not expose your internet communications to third parties. You can download the app on iOS, Android, Linux, Windows, and macOS devices.
2. Signal: Texts and Calls Encryption
With Signal, you can securely text and call (audio or video) anyone from anywhere. The app’s design specifically creates end-to-end encryption that ensures your data, while connected, is safe.
Signal also offers irresistible features, like the option to delete messages after a scheduled period. However, the app can only be downloaded on iOS, Android, and Windows devices.
Conclusion
Deciding to call or text anyone anonymously can be stressful because genuine people might not want to answer calls from private numbers. In addition, the option of turning the caller ID on and off can be frustrating.
However, we understand you are trying to protect your privacy as multiple sites, scammers, hackers, and third parties want to eavesdrop. So, you resort to hiding your caller ID. We hope that this guide helped you make better decisions.
FAQs
When you anonymously text or choose to ghost, you don’t reveal your identity to the recipient. You can send text messages using special apps or websites without revealing your personal information. Your name or phone number, for example. While communicating with someone, you can keep your identity anonymous. Anonymous texting has different objectives depending on who uses it. People use Facebook to communicate personal feelings, reconnect with ex-partners, or prank friends or their ex-partners.
There are a few simple steps to anonymous texting. You can create a message, pick a random number, and send it by downloading an app.
The following is a step-by-step guide:
1. Use an anonymous texting app.
2. Pick a random number or ID.
3. Send a message.
No, the code *69 does not block numbers. It is simply a code that dials previously contacted numbers on your device.
To hide your caller ID before contacting someone, use the methods below:
1. Go to your phone settings and change your caller ID settings to private.
2. Find a country code that allows you to call people anonymously when you add it as a prefix. In Nepal, for example, if you input *9# before the number you want to speak with, it automatically blocks your caller ID.
3. You can use a reputable burner app that helps you make calls anonymously.
Yes, you can block your number using the *67 code. However, this code only applies to American, New Zealand, and Canadian residents. Other codes are available for other countries.