How to Stop Your Number from Showing as Private Number when You Call

Published on

Have you ever dialled someone’s number only for them to see “Private,” “Unknown,” or “No Caller ID” on their screen? It’s frustrating—many people ignore or reject those calls for safety reasons.

The good news is that this is almost always easy to fix. Whether the problem started after a phone update, a SIM change, or an accidental setting tweak, you can make your number visible again in just a few minutes. Here’s a clear, up-to-date guide that works across all major Nigerian networks.

Also Read: How to Check your MTN, Airtel, GLO, and 9mobile Number in seconds

Why Your Number Appears as Private

A few common causes:

  • Caller ID is turned off in your phone’s settings
  • A previous USSD command hid your number at the network level
  • Carrier-side restriction
  • Occasional software or firmware glitches after updates

Once you know the cause, the fix is straightforward.

Method 1: Quick USSD Code (Works on All Networks)

This is the fastest way and works on both smartphones and basic phones.

Open your phone’s dialer.

  • Dial #31# and press the call button.
  • You should receive a confirmation that Caller ID is now active.

Your number will now show on future outgoing calls.

Note: To temporarily hide your number for a single call, many users dial #31# followed by the recipient’s number. The permanent “show number” command is usually #31#.

Test the change by calling a friend or a second phone you own and asking what appears on their screen.

Method 2: Change Settings on Android

  • Open the Phone (Dialer) app.
  • Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) or the gear icon, then choose Settings or Call settings.
  • Look for Calling accounts, Supplementary services, or Additional settings.
  • Select the SIM you want to fix (if you have dual SIMs).
  • Tap Caller ID.
  • Choose Show number or Network default.

Exit the settings. The change takes effect immediately on most devices. Restart the phone if the option doesn’t stick.

(The exact menu names can vary slightly by brand—Samsung, Tecno, Infinix, Xiaomi, etc.—but the path is similar.)

Method 3: Fix It on iPhone

  • Open the Settings app.
  • Scroll down and tap Phone.
  • Tap Show My Caller ID.
  • Toggle the switch On (it should turn green).

If the option is greyed out, the restriction is likely on the network side—use the USSD code above or contact your provider.

Method 4: Contact Your Network Provider

If the USSD code and phone settings don’t solve it:

Dial the customer care number (commonly 300 on most networks, or the network-specific short code such as 180 for MTN).

Explain that your outgoing Caller ID is restricted and request that they enable it.

Have your NIN and other verification details ready if asked.

This step resolves cases where the setting is locked at the carrier level.

Extra Tips for Reliable Results

After making changes, restart your phone and test with a real call.

On dual-SIM phones, check the setting for each SIM separately.

Avoid third-party dialer apps that might override system Caller ID settings.

If you recently ported your number or inserted the SIM into a new device, re-check both the phone settings and the USSD method.

Making your phone number visible builds trust and greatly increases the chance that people will answer your calls. The steps above cover Android, iPhone, and all major Nigerian networks, so you should be sorted in minutes.

Try the USSD code first—it’s usually all you need.

Popular posts from this blog

Peller’s Wedding and the Quiet Revolution Happening on Nigerian TikTok

Published on
If you have spent any real time on Nigerian TikTok in the past two years, the name Peller already sits in your head. Habeeb Hamzat  popularly known as Peller is not a polished celebrity who arrived fully formed. He is the young man who built his name by staying on live for hours, talking, arguing, laughing, and letting the camera catch whatever the day threw at him. That same young man just gave the country one of its clearest pictures of where youth culture is heading right now. In the first days of August 2026, Peller married Elizabeth Aminata  also know as Jarvis . The celebration stretched across traditional rites, a civil ceremony, and a full white wedding in Lagos. More than fifty thousand people watched parts of it online. Money was sprayed in dollars. A real-estate player publicly gifted him a mansion valued at ₦400 million in Abuja. Fuji singer Malaika performed. Fellow creators and a few bigger names showed up. The hashtags stayed loud for days. It was not just ...
Read more

OPay has firmly dismissed a viral social media claim that it planned to shut down or go on a prolonged break starting September 1, 2026.

Published on
 A fabricated post circulating widely on Sunday warned OPay customers to withdraw or move their funds, claiming the fintech would suspend operations for an extended period.  The rumour spread quickly across platforms, sparking concern among users of one of Nigeria’s major digital payment and financial services providers. OPay responded swiftly through its verified channels. In a statement titled “This is FALSE,” the company declared: “OPay is not going on break by September. We’re here, and we’re going nowhere!”  It urged customers to scrutinise the viral post for red flags and to rely only on official OPay pages for authentic updates, closing with the hashtag #OPayIsOkay. Opay is Not Shutting Down — The Vice President  Dr. Maxwell Loko, Vice-President of Public and Government Affairs at OPay Digital Services, described the publication as “false, malicious and misleading.” He stressed that OPay is not shutting down and advised customers against withdrawing funds base...
Read more