The short answer to “Does *67 Still Work?” is yes for many standard U.S. voice calls. Major phone services still support per-call caller ID blocking. It can hide your number from the person you call, but it does not make the call untraceable or work with every destination.
Federal caller ID rules still recognize the code, and current Verizon, AT&T, and Google Fi support pages document its use. The main exceptions involve emergency numbers, toll-free calls, carrier settings, and calls made through internet-based apps.
| Question | Short Answer |
| Does the code still work? | Yes, on many U.S. mobile and landline voice calls |
| What does it do? | Blocks your caller ID for one outgoing call |
| What may the recipient see? | Private, Anonymous, Restricted, or a similar label |
| Is the setting permanent? | No, you normally use *67 again for each call |
| Does it work for texts? | No, it is a voice-call caller ID feature |
| Does it work with 911? | No, emergency services are an exception |
| Does it always hide you from toll-free numbers? | No, toll-free services may receive identifying information |
| Is the call untraceable? | No, your carrier still handles and records the call |
Quick answer: Dial *67 immediately before the full phone number, then place the call normally. On a supported line, the receiving phone should show a private or anonymous caller instead of your number. The block applies only to that call and does not erase your identity from your carrier’s network records.
Does *67 Still Work in 2026?
Yes. The strongest evidence comes from phone carriers and federal rules rather than old phone tips circulating online. Verizon currently tells customers to enter the code, enter the phone number including its area code, and place the call. Verizon says the recipient may see “Private,” “Anonymous,” or another indicator instead of the caller’s mobile number.
AT&T also documents per-call blocking on its current wireless device support pages. Its instructions state that customers can dial *67 before the 10-digit number. Some AT&T devices and markets also support #31# as an alternative. Google Fi provides similar instructions. It states that the caller ID block applies to one call at a time, so you must repeat the process for every additional private call.
There is also a regulatory reason the feature has survived. U.S. caller ID privacy rules require covered carriers using the relevant network signaling to recognize *67 as a request to withhold the calling party’s number on applicable interstate calls. That makes the feature more than an obsolete trick left over from the landline era.
How to Use *67 on a Cell Phone or Landline
The process is simple on a supported U.S. phone service:
- Open your phone’s dial pad or pick up the landline.
- Enter *67.
- Enter the full destination number, including the area code.
- Press Call or finish dialing.
- End the call normally.
The caller ID block usually ends when that call ends. Your next outgoing call should display your normal caller information unless another privacy setting is active. You do not need a special iPhone or Android app to use this method. Your phone service processes the caller ID request.
If you want to hide your number on every call, a device or carrier setting may be more convenient. Apple, for example, lets users with supported iPhones open Settings > Apps > Phone > Show My Caller ID and switch the option off. Apple notes that availability can depend on the carrier.
What the Person You Call Sees and What *67 Does Not Hide
When *67 works, your normal phone number should not appear on the recipient’s standard caller ID display. The exact wording varies by carrier and device.
The screen may show:
- Private
- Anonymous
- Restricted
- Unknown
- No Caller ID
This is caller ID privacy, not complete anonymity. Your phone provider still routes the call. Blocking your number from the recipient’s normal display does not erase carrier records or make the call impossible to investigate.
Federal regulations also contain exceptions that allow blocked caller information to be disclosed in specific circumstances. These include certain threatening calls handled through law enforcement and qualifying emergency-assistance situations.
Think of it as hiding one visible piece of information rather than removing your identity from the telephone network. That distinction is similar to the limits of private browsing. Techixia’s guide to Incognito Mode and privacy limits explains why hiding information from one viewer does not necessarily hide it from the services processing the activity.
When Caller ID Blocking May Not Work
The feature has several important exceptions.
Emergency Calls
Do not expect caller ID privacy when dialing 911. Verizon specifically states that caller ID blocking does not apply to 911 calls. Google Fi provides the same warning. Emergency systems need information that can help locate or identify callers.
Toll-Free Numbers
Calls to toll-free numbers can also work differently. Verizon says its blocking feature does not apply to 800 numbers, while Google Fi warns that toll-free destinations may still receive your information. Federal caller ID rules also contain an exception involving certain ANI or charge-number services when the called party pays for the call.
Calls Placed Inside Apps
A star code is part of the traditional telephone calling system. It does not change the account identity used by messaging or internet-calling apps. If an app places the call through its own account or network, use that app’s privacy settings instead.
Anonymous-Call Filtering
Hiding your number can also make your call easier to ignore. Modern phones and carrier services can silence, filter, or reject unfamiliar callers.
Techixia’s Scam Likely guide explains how current carrier filtering and phone settings handle suspicious or unknown incoming calls. Its Potential Spam guide also covers how caller reputation systems affect what appears on a recipient’s screen. A private call can therefore work technically yet still go unanswered.
A Simple Way to Check Whether It Works on Your Service
You do not need to guess whether your carrier supports the feature. Use a second phone you control or ask someone you trust to help you test it. First, call that phone normally and confirm that your number appears. Then end the call.
Next, place the same call with the privacy code before the number. If the second phone displays “Private,” “Anonymous,” “Restricted,” or a similar label, the feature is active on that call route.
If your number still appears, check your carrier’s current caller ID instructions. Carrier support matters more than whether you use an iPhone or Android device. This simple two-call test is safer than assuming a decades-old code behaves identically on every plan, in every country, or across every internet-calling service.
Better Options If You Hide Your Number Often
Typing a prefix makes sense for an occasional private call. It becomes inconvenient if privacy is your normal preference. For repeated calls, consider your phone’s caller ID settings first. Apple provides a built-in switch on supported iPhones. Android menu names vary because carriers and manufacturers can control the option.
Your carrier may also offer account-level caller ID blocking. Verizon, for example, supports persistent blocking through its account tools. If permanent blocking is active and you need to reveal your number for a single call, *82 typically performs the opposite function. Verizon and AT&T both document *82 as a per-call way to restore or display caller ID.
A separate phone number or calling service is another option when you need to maintain a clear separation between your personal and public contact details. This gives the recipient a reachable number instead of an anonymous label.
Can a Private Call Still Be Traced?
Yes. Caller ID blocking does not delete the network’s knowledge of the originating line. Its purpose is to stop ordinary caller ID information from being displayed to the person receiving the call. It is not designed to conceal the call from the carrier itself.
Federal rules illustrate that difference. They protect blocked caller information in ordinary situations but include procedures for disclosure during certain emergency or threatening-call investigations. This is one reason the feature should be treated as a privacy convenience rather than an anonymity tool.
Your Next Step
If you only need privacy for one ordinary call, run the two-phone test before relying on the feature. For frequent private calling, check your carrier’s or phone’s permanent caller ID settings instead.
Use caller ID blocking for legitimate privacy, not as a promise of anonymity. It hides what a normal recipient sees, while the telephone network still knows where the call originated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Many U.S. cellular services still support it. Current Verizon, AT&T, and Google Fi documentation confirms per-call caller ID blocking. Support can still vary by service, call type, and location.
No. The star code controls caller information on applicable voice calls. It does not make an SMS or another type of message anonymous. If you need separation for messaging, use a legitimate secondary number or a service designed for that purpose.
The ordinary recipient should not see it in the standard caller ID field when blocking works. Your carrier still processes the originating number. Special services and legally defined exceptions may also receive or obtain information that a normal caller ID screen does not display.
Do not treat caller ID privacy as a way to bypass another person’s decision to block contact. The feature is designed to control caller ID display, not to guarantee access to a recipient. Private and unknown calls can also be filtered automatically.
Federal rules prohibit covered carriers from imposing a charge associated with per-call caller-number blocking. AT&T also states that its traditional home-phone per-call blocking feature is free.
It generally performs the opposite function. If your number is blocked by default, dialing *82 before a phone number can reveal your caller ID for that one call on supported services. Verizon and AT&T both document this use.
