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Have you ever dialled someone who you are sure has your number, and they picked up saying, "Hello, who's this?" because your number showed up as "Private Number" or "Unknown Caller"? That’s exactly what happened to my friend recently. He accidentally turned on a setting on his phone that hid his number during calls. Each time he called anyone, his number wasn’t showing.
He was frustrated, especially because most people were ignoring his calls. So I stepped in, and within minutes, we fixed it.
If you're in the same boat, don’t worry. This guide will show you how to remove a private number on iPhone and Android, specifically for Nigerians using MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile. Let’s dive in.
When your phone is set to hide your caller ID, the person you're calling won’t see your number. Instead, they’ll see something like:
Private Number
Unknown
Hidden Caller
While it might sound cool or mysterious, it can be a problem, especially when people think you're a scammer or simply choose to ignore unknown calls.
Many Android and iPhone devices have a setting to hide your number. It could be activated by:
Mistakenly turned on "Hide Caller ID" in settings.
Dialling a code like #31# before a number.
Using a network USSD code that alters your default caller ID settings.
Let’s fix that.
Here’s how to show your caller ID on most Android phones:
Open your Phone app.
Tap the three-dot menu (top-right corner).
Select Settings or Call Settings.
Tap Caller ID or Additional Settings.
Tap Caller ID.
Choose Show Number or Network Default.
Pro tip: If it’s already set to "Hide Number", that’s your culprit. Switch it to "Show Number".
If you’re using Android and prefer the quick route, just dial:
*31#
Then press call. This tells your network to show your number again.
This works across MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile in Nigeria.
Open Settings.
Scroll to Phone.
Tap Show My Caller ID.
Turn ON the toggle (Green means it’s active).
If it’s greyed out and you can’t tap it, read below.
If your iPhone is managed by a network (or your carrier restricts this setting), try the universal code:
*31#
Or contact your provider’s customer care.
|
Network |
Code to Show Number |
Code to Hide Number |
|
MTN |
*31# |
#31# |
|
Airtel |
*31# |
#31# |
|
Glo |
*31# |
#31# |
|
9mobile |
*31# |
#31# |
Use *31# to always show your number. Just dial it once and you’re good.
If you've done all the steps and your number still shows as private:
Restart your phone.
Remove and reinsert your SIM.
Test with another phone.
Contact your provider:
MTN: 180
Airtel: 111
Glo: 121
9mobile: 200
People are more likely to pick up your call.
You appear more trustworthy.
Some banks, businesses, or services block private numbers.
Still hidden? Contact your provider
You may have activated caller ID blocking via phone settings or dialled #31#.
Dial *31# or change the setting in your phone’s call settings to “Show Number.”
It turns on caller ID so your number is visible to others when calling.
It may be disabled by your carrier. You can fix it by dialling *31# or calling your provider.
No, it’s not illegal. But businesses and individuals may block unknown calls.
You don't have to stay hidden. Whether you're calling friends, family, or customers, letting your number show helps build trust. If your phone is showing "private number" by mistake, just follow the steps above.
And if you're always helping others like I did for my friend, now you know exactly what to do.
For more helpful phone tips, tricks, and utility hacks, keep reading the RapidBills blog!
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