In this article we will discuss how to remove private number on Android & iPhone in Nigeria.
Someone called my friend this morning and the call was showing private number.
My friend was a bit skeptical to pick the call but I told him the person might have mistakenly turned on the private number setting by mistake.
Most people intentionally put it on so as to not reveal their real Identity when calling someone.
But also sometimes your phone’s default settings are messing with your caller ID settings.
Whatever the reason people don’t trust “Unknown Caller” these days.
This article have got you covered whether you’re on MTN, Airtel, Glo, or 9mobile.
Common Reasons Why Your Number Is Showing Private Number.
these are the common reasons your phone is showing NO Caller ID:
Phone Settings (Caller ID Disabled): Sone phones are set to default to hide caller id, so you have to check your phone setting to be sure it’s not set to it.
Network Provider Default Settings: Sometimes your network provider (MTN, Airtel, Glo, or 9mobile) may activate caller ID restriction by default.
Using USSD Code #31# Before Dialing: Dialing #31# before you make a call hides your number for that specific call. If you also saved the number with #31# it will keep showing also.
Third-Party Apps: Apps Like Truecaller, Call Recording or Blocking Apps can alter the way your call appears on the receiver’s phone
Dual SIM Configuration Issues: If you are using a dual SIM phone, one SIM may have caller ID blocked, while the other is fine.
Your Number Is Not Registered Properly: If you registered your sim card recently and it was not registered properly. It can make your number show NO Caller ID when calling someone.
Call Forwarding: Using call forwarding, Google Voice, WhatsApp Call, or VoIP platforms can make your number to show Private Number.
Now we have known the common reasons why your number is showing private number.
lets now move on to how to unhide your number on any phone.
How to Turn Off Private Number on Android
Open your Phone App,
Locate the “Phone” or “Dialer” icon on your home screen.
Access Settings: Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner or the gear icon to enter the Phone app settings.
Go to Call Settings: Look for “Settings” or “Call Settings” (may vary by brand like Samsung, Infinix, or Xiaomi). If you see “Calling Accounts,” tap it to proceed.
Find Additional Settings: Scroll and select “Additional Settings” or “More Settings.”
Tap Caller ID: Choose “Caller ID” or “Show My Caller ID” from the available options.
Select Show Number: Pick “Show Number” or “Network Default” to unhide your number.
Test Your Settings: Call a friend to check if your number now displays properly.
- Note that if you are using a dual sim phone, you have to update it for the individual sims because they have different call settings.
How to Turn Off Private Number on Brand-Specific Android
Different Android phone brands have slightly different settings menus.
If you’re trying to deactivate Private Number for Samsung, Infinix, Tecno, itel, and Xiaomi devices here’s how to do it.
Samsung Devices
Open the Phone app > Tap the three dots (⋮) in the top-right corner > Go to “Settings” > Tap “Supplementary Services” > Select “Caller ID” > Choose “Show Number”.
Infinix / Tecno Devices
Open the Phone app > Tap the three-dot menu > Go to “Settings” > Tap “Carrier Features” > Choose your “SIM” > Tap “Caller ID” > Select “Show Number”.
Itel Devices
Launch the Phone app > Tap the three dots > Go to “Settings” > Select your “SIM card” > Tap “Additional Settings” > Choose “Caller ID” > Select “Show Number”.
Xiaomi Devices (MIUI)
Open the Phone app > Tap the three lines (≡) or three dots (⋮) in the bottom-left or top-right corner > Tap “Settings” > Scroll to “Calling Accounts” or “Advanced Settings” > Choose the SIM card you’re using > Tap Caller ID > Select “Show Number”
How to Remove Private Number on iPhone
- Open Settings: Tap the “Settings app”.
- Go to Phone: Scroll down in the settings menu and tap “Phone”.
Find “Show My Caller ID”: In the Phone settings, locate the option called Show My Caller ID.
Toggle It On: If the switch is off, tap it to turn it on. This action allows your number to be displayed when you call someone.
Test the Change: Call a friend or another phone to see if your number will show.
- If “Show My Caller ID” is already on but your number is still showing private, your network provider might be the issue. Lets head over to
How To Remove Private Number on (MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9mobile)
MTN Nigeria
Dial a Code: Enter
*31#on your phone and press call. This enables your caller ID by default.Check Phone Settings:
Android: Open Phone App → Tap Settings → Go to Additional Settings → Select Caller ID → Choose Show Number.
iPhone: Go to Settings → Phone → Show My Caller ID → Turn it on.
Still Hidden? Call MTN customer service at 180 for further assistance.
Airtel Nigeria
Quick Code: Dial
*31#to make your number visible on all calls.Phone Settings: Follow the same steps as above to adjust caller ID visibility on your phone.
Need Support? Contact Airtel by dialing 111 if your number remains hidden.
Glo Nigeria
Unhide via Code: Dial
*31#to disable private number settings.Verify in Settings: Confirm that Caller ID is set to Show Number in your phone settings.
Contact Support: If the issue persists, call Glo customer care on 121.
9mobile (Etisalat)
Use the Code: Enter
*31#to activate number visibility.Check Your Device: Ensure your phone’s caller ID settings aren’t overriding the network setup.
Customer Care: Call 200 to speak with 9mobile support.
Please Always restart your phone immediately after applying these changes to ensure they take effect.
- Personally I don’t pick NO Caller ID numbers no matter how urgent it is because of security reasons and I know so many Nigerians too do the same because of the security challenges in the country.
- Lastly, remove the private number setting to ensure your calls are picked up on time, returned, and trusted. Whether for personal or professional reasons, showing your caller ID in Nigeria is the best move because it shows you are genuine and trustworthy.
- Also Read:
- How to Cancel Auto Renewal on MTN
- How to Retrieve Your NIN with USSD (MTN, Glo, Airtel & 9mobile)
