You may hear someone say they need to dial “star six seven” before making an important call. You might also see terms like star 67, *67, or even the star-symbol version ☆67 typed out online when discussing phone privacy.
Understanding telephone feature codes gives you complete control over your personal information. In North American telecommunications, dialing this short three-character sequence before a phone number alters how your outgoing call displays on the recipient’s phone.
People frequently ask what does *67 mean or search for the star 67 meaning when they need to make a private call without revealing their personal cell number. Whether returning a business inquiry, calling a buyer from an online marketplace, or protecting personal privacy, star 67 serves as an instant caller ID blocker.
This guide explains everything you need to know about *67, including its plain meaning, symbolic variations, step-by-step dialing instructions, and key operational limits.
Quick Answer
The phrase *67 (also written as star 67 or ☆67) is a free telephone feature code that blocks your outgoing caller ID. Dialing *67 right before a phone number forces the recipient’s phone screen to display your call as “Private,” “Anonymous,” or “Blocked.”
TL;DR
• Primary Function: Hides your phone number and name on outgoing voice calls.
• Screen Display: Displays your incoming call as “Private” or “Anonymous.”
• Alternative Terms: Star 67, star six seven, ☆67, and *67 caller ID block.
• Compatibility: Works on cell phones (iPhone & Android) and traditional landlines.
• Key Limitation: Does not work for text messages (SMS) or toll-free/911 calls.
What Is *67?
The code *67 is a North American vertical service code. Telecommunications providers created these short keypad shortcuts so callers could enable specific network-level functions on demand.
When asking what is *67, the technical answer is that it sends an immediate suppression signal to your network carrier. The carrier strips your phone number and caller name from the signaling data before routing the connection.
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| HOW *67 ROUTES YOUR CALL |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| [Your Phone] ──► Dial *67 + Number ──► [Phone Carrier Network] |
| │ |
| Strips Caller ID Data |
| │ |
| ▼ |
| [Recipient Phone] ◄── Displays "Private / Anonymous" ◄────────────────┤
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
Plain English Definition and Keyword Variations
In plain English, star 67 acts like an invisible digital mask for your phone number. It lets you speak to someone without giving them your permanent contact details.
People write and search for this privacy feature in several common ways:
• *67 / Star 67: The standard written and numeric forms of the dialing code.
• Star Six Seven: The phonetic, fully spelled-out spoken version.
• ☆67: A popular shorthand used on web forums and messaging apps where users type a star symbol (☆) instead of an asterisk (*).
• What does *67 mean / Star 67 meaning: Everyday query phrases used when searching for an explanation of caller ID blocking.
Regardless of how it is written, all these terms refer to the exact same telephone privacy tool.
How *67 Works on Mobile and Landlines
The functionality of star 67 is embedded directly into telephone networks across the United States and Canada.
How It Functions on Mobile Phones
On smartphones (both iOS and Android), you enter *67 into your phone keypad immediately before typing the destination number. Your mobile carrier reads the prefix and suppresses your phone identity before connecting through cell towers.
How It Functions on Landlines
On traditional landline phones, pick up the receiver, listen for the dial tone, and press * followed by 6 and 7. You will hear a short confirmation tone or brief pause. After the pause, dial the ten-digit telephone number as usual.
How to Use *67 Step by Step
Follow these simple steps to hide your number on any standard phone.
On iPhone and Android Devices
- Open your device’s native Phone app.
- Navigate to the Keypad tab.
- Type *67 (do not add spaces or special characters).
- Type the full 10-digit telephone number (including the area code).
- Tap the green Call button.
Example string: *675551234567
On Landline Phones
- Lift the telephone handset and confirm you hear a clear dial tone.
- Dial *, 6, 7.
- Pause for one second to let the line register the code.
- Dial the complete area code and main phone number.
- Wait for the call to ring normally.
When to Use *67
Using star 67 is ideal for situations where you need to communicate without sharing your phone number for future callbacks.
• Working Remotely: Doctors, teachers, and business professionals placing calls from personal mobile devices.
• Online Purchases: Calling private sellers from classified ads or digital marketplaces.
• Service Inquiries: Reaching out to contractors or businesses without opting into automated call lists.
• Personal Boundaries: Protecting your personal number when reaching out to unfamiliar contacts.
When *67 Does Not Work
Star 67 provides strong casual privacy, but key network rules and security exceptions override it.
1. Text Messages (SMS and MMS)
Typing *67 or ☆67 before a text message will not hide your number. Texting protocols do not recognize vertical service codes. The message will either fail or display your real phone number.
2. Toll-Free Numbers (800, 888, 877, 866, 855)
Toll-free service owners pay for incoming calls and use Automatic Number Identification (ANI) systems. ANI bypasses caller ID suppression, meaning 800-number systems always see your dialing number.
3. Emergency Services (911)
Federal regulation mandates that emergency dispatch centers receive full caller identity and location coordinates. Dialing *67 before 911 will not hide your information.
4. Lines with Anonymous Call Rejection
If the person you are calling has turned on Anonymous Call Rejection, their phone network automatically blocks private calls. You will hear an automated recording asking you to unblock your number before trying again.
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| WHERE *67 WORKS VS WHERE IT FAILS |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Works As Expected | Fails / Overridden By System |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Standard Mobile Phone Calls | Toll-Free Numbers (800/888/877) |
| Standard Landline Calls | Emergency Services (911 Calls) |
| Local Business & Private Lines | Outgoing SMS / MMS Text Messages |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
Part of Speech, Grammar, and Pronunciation
Depending on context, the term *67 moves fluidly between different parts of speech in everyday US English.
Grammatical Functions
• Noun: “Use *67 to protect your privacy.”
• Adjective: “He made a *67 call to the vendor.”
• Verb (Informal Slang): “I will *67 them so they don’t get my main number.”
Pronunciation Guide
Always pronounce the phrase aloud as “star six seven” or “star sixty-seven.” Avoid saying “asterisk six seven.”
When writing informal messages online, users sometimes substitute symbols—such as typing ☆67—but the spoken form remains “star six seven.”
Comparing *67 with *69 and *82
Vertical service codes use similar star formats, which can lead to confusion.
| Feature Code | Primary Function | What It Accomplishes |
| *67 | Caller ID Block | Hides your phone identity for one outgoing call. |
| *69 | Call Return | Redials the phone number of the last incoming call. |
| *82 | Caller ID Unblock | Temporarily displays your identity if permanent blocking is enabled. |
Star 67 vs Star 69
Remember that *67 is for outgoing caller ID privacy, whereas *69 is for returning incoming calls.
*67 vs Permanent Phone Settings
You can use star 67 for temporary per-call privacy, or adjust your device settings for permanent caller ID suppression.
| Method | Duration | Ideal Use Case |
| *67 Dialing Prefix | Single Call Only | Occasional private calls to unfamiliar contacts. |
| iOS / Android Settings | All Outgoing Calls | Continuous privacy across every outgoing call. |
| Carrier Account Block | Permanent Network Line | Total line-level privacy managed by your carrier. |
Permanent Blocking Steps on iPhone
- Open Settings.
- Tap Phone.
- Tap Show My Caller ID.
- Toggle the switch to Off.
Permanent Blocking Steps on Android
- Open the native Phone app.
- Tap the three dots menu in the top corner.
- Select Settings > Supplementary Services (or Calling Accounts).
- Tap Show Your Caller ID and set it to Never.
Common Misconceptions
• Myth 1: Star 67 makes you untraceable to law enforcement.
Fact: Phone carriers log all connections. Authorities with valid legal warrants can trace caller identities regardless of star 67 usage.
• *Myth 2: ☆67 or 67 charges extra fees on phone bills.
Fact: Star 67 is a standard, free feature included across all major North American carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile).
• Myth 3: Star 67 works for text messaging.
Fact: Star 67 applies strictly to voice calls and does not function on SMS or MMS mess
Mini Quiz
Test your knowledge of the star 67 meaning with this short quiz.
- What phrase appears on the receiver’s screen when you dial *67 before a call?a) Your full account nameb) “Private” or “Anonymous”c) A randomly generated toll-free number
- How do you pronounce “☆67” or “*67” when speaking?a) Asterisk sixty-sevenb) Star six sevenc) Multiply sixty-seven
- What happens if you add *67 to an SMS text message?a) The text becomes anonymousb) The text fails or reveals your normal numberc) The text converts into a voice message
Answer Key
- b — The recipient’s screen displays “Private” or “Anonymous.”
- b — Spoken naturally as “star six seven” (or “star sixty-seven”).
- b — Star 67 does not function for text messaging and will fail or send normally.
FAQs
Everyday phone recipients cannot reveal your hidden number. However, toll-free lines (800 numbers) and emergency operators (911) can see your details due to system-level rules.
Star 67 means caller ID suppression. It hides your name and phone number on the outgoing call you are currently making.
The meaning of star 67 is “Caller ID Block.” It is a network code that causes your call to appear as “Private” or “Anonymous.”
The symbol sequence ☆67 is an informal online variation of 67, using a decorative star character (☆) in place of the standard telephone asterisk ().
Yes, using star 67 is completely free on mobile devices and landlines across North America.
No, star 67 does not work for text messages. It only works for voice calls.
Conclusion
Understanding the *67 meaning—along with its written variations like star 67, star six seven, and ☆67—helps you protect your personal information with ease. Dialing star 67 before any phone number is a free, instant way to ensure your privacy on single voice calls.
Keep its limitations in mind when texting or dialing emergency services, and use this simple code whenever you want total control over your telephone identity.
