Elsie UdohGone are the days when everybody who calls you with an unknown number or hidden ID is trying to scam you.
Now we probably just want to avoid any unnecessary personal contact that could be damaging to our mental health. This is not to say that you shouldn’t be cautious about unsolicited calls from unknown numbers. But then, with the right reasons, you can hide your number to protect your peace of mind.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelRegardless of the network you use, here is a step-by-step guide to hiding your number on Glo, Airtel MTN, and 9Mobile.
How NOT To Hide Your Number On Glo, Airtel, MTN and 9Mobile
Wait what? The headline boldly says ‘step-by-step guide to hiding your number on Glo, Airtel, MTN, and 9Mobile’, but here we are changing that narrative to say otherwise.
There’s a logical explanation for that. But before that, how about you run a quick test for us first?
Now, what we want you to do is pretty straightforward. Copy the headline of this post, paste it into your browser, and run a quick search. You can check this out quickly and return here, as we have a big reveal that you definitely will not expect.
To make the process easier for you, here’s one of the pages that will pop up.
Now, if you’ve done that, you’ll find that the top pages have something in common: Dial #31# followed by the number you intend to call.
Why are we pointing this out? Well, you might want to do a quick self-experiment again. This time we want you to randomly dial any number in your contact list (you’ll need somebody that you’re on talking terms with for this one; not to worry, you’ll better understand why later). Now what do you notice?
We’ll tell you what happened when we tried this method:
- First, the dialled number was replaced with the person’s actual contact, with the #31# automatically taken out.
- The result? Well, the call went through seamlessly with your caller ID rearing its ‘ugly head!’
Now you see why we suggested that you be on talking terms with the person you were trying out this experiment with? Well, obviously, because the only thing you successfully did was place a call without your caller ID hidden. Very far from the intended plan, you’d agree?
This simply proves one thing: You cannot hide your number, whether Glo, Airtel, MTN, or 9Mobile, using #31#.
That’s not all. We noticed something else that was recommended by the top-ranking pages. This time, it is to hide your caller ID using your network’s mobile app.
Again, we tried this out, and guess what we did not find? Of course, the option to hide your caller ID.
We did this using the Airtel and MTN mobile apps and got the result we got above. You can further check this out on your 9Mobile and Glo mobile apps and let us know if you found the hide caller ID option.
Now that you know that you cannot hide your number using the recommended #31# USSD code or through your MTN or Airtel mobile app, how then do you hide your number on Glo, Airtel, MTN, and 9Mobile?
Well, that’s why we’re here. To show you how to hide your number.
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Step-by-Step Guide To Hiding Your Number On Glo, Airtel, MTN and 9Mobile
Now, there’s actually a way that you can hide your number on Glo, Airtel, MTN, and 9Mobile.
One doesn’t involve using the #31# USSD code (that doesn’t work) or the mobile app, which also doesn’t work either, at least for MTN and Airtel users.
The method we found out that works is using the ‘call settings app’ on your phone.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to do that:
Step One: Open the phone/call app.
Step Two: Navigate to the settings option. You will find this by clicking on the three dots at the top right corner.
Step Three: Click on additional settings from the list that pops up.
Step Four: Select the ‘show your caller ID.’ After doing this, you should see the following options: ‘Network default’, ‘Never’ and ‘Always’.
Step Five: Click on the ‘Never’ option, and there you have it. You have successfully hidden your caller ID.
Note: These settings might vary slightly based on your phone’s model and software version.
What You Need To Know Before Hiding Your Number
So there you have it! A method to hide your number on Glo, Airtel, MTN, and 9Mobile that actually works.
But then there are a few things to know before hiding your number.
- When you hide your number using the settings app, your caller ID will reflect as an ‘unknown caller’ for every call you make.
- Most phone systems have advanced spam filters that reject calls from hidden numbers. So if you have to urgently speak to the person, your call might automatically be marked as spam and not go through.
FAQs On Hiding Your Number On Glo, Airtel, MTN and 9Mobile
Can I Unhide My Number After Hiding It Permanently?
Yes, you can.
Simply go back the same way you did to hide your number and click on ‘Network default’ or ‘Never.’
Can I Hide My Number for Text Messages?
No, hiding your number only applies to voice calls. Your number will always show when sending an SMS.
What Next?
Well, you can proceed to hide your number on Glo, Airtel, MTN, and 9Mobile.
Doing that will put you in control of your privacy and help you make discreet calls undercover.
Just take note of the considerations that come with it and check if it’s what you can handle before going through with it.
An alternative route to take is to hide your number by contacting your network’s customer care line and requesting the service be done for you via their end.
The general customer care line is 300. So place that call when you’re ready and get your caller ID hidden for you.
Elsie Udoh is an SEO content writer who specialises in writing engaging stories that resonates with diverse audiences. She studied mass communication at the Lagos State University.
