Using mobile phones and making calls are effective ways to communicate and stay connected with your loved ones and families worldwide.

Suddenly, strange calls are sometimes received with no number or caller information. You may be shocked to learn what this is. You don’t know who the caller is or what their intention is. It may be a scammer or someone with evil intent.😱

According to research, Americans lost more than $25.4 billion to phone scams in 2023. Good news! You can now stop those restricted calls by taking action to protect your privacy.

Before we explore how to block restricted calls, it’s critical to understand the concept of restricted calls and numbers and the various reasons individuals may use them.

What is a restricted phone call? Why is it used?

Restricted phone calls occur when someone wants to make a restricted call and hides their phone number to maintain their privacy from not being tracked down or accessing their contact information. 

Some scammers or telemarketers also make calls through apps that help them to change phone numbers.

Now that you have learned the concept of restricted calls. let’s explore why individuals pick to use them. For several reasons, someone may want to hide their caller ID for unwanted telemarketing calls and scam activities. Let’s go into this topic in detail:

A. Restricted calls maintain privacy

Many of us want our personal details, such as phone numbers, to be secure. Restricted calls allow people to make phone calls without revealing their number, ensuring their privacy and preventing unauthorized sharing of their contact details.

B. Telemarketing 

Telemarketers might use restricted calls when attempting to promote goods or services. The person making the call might seem like they are from your area, but they are usually telemarketers calling from a different state or country.

C. Scams and fraud

Many scammers use restricted calls to scam us, called ‘phishing.’ They use restricted numbers to hide their identity and locations. It becomes more challenging for authorities to track them.

How To Block Restricted Calls?

Blocking unwanted nuisance­ calls can prevent them from bothering us again later. This simple­ action helps prevent the­se unwanted calls from annoying us in the future. Here, we will guide you on how to stop restricted calls on Android and iPhone.

1. Block restricted calls on Android:

The Android device offers more straightforward functions compared to the iPhone. It provides a more user-friendly experience with simpler features that are easier to navigate. 

Step 1: Open the Phone app on your Android device.

Step 2: Tap the three-dot menu icon or the settings gear icon.

Step 3: Tap on“Settings.”

Step 4: Look for an option like “Block numbers” or “Call blocking.”

Step 5: Choose “block unknown callers.”.

Step 6: Save the settings.

2. Block restricted calls on iPhone:

Everyone has the same problem with how to block numbers on iPhones. To stop receiving unwanted calls on your iPhone, follow the steps outlined below.

Step 1: Open your mobile call history.

Step 2: click the blue i icon next to a restricted call.

Step 3: press block this caller to block a specific restricted call.

How to make Restricted Calls on Android and iOS?

Everyone has their own privacy. So, to maintain privacy or anonymity while making calls from your smartphone, you can make restricted calls. This feature helps you hide your caller ID information from your recipient. Here’s a proper guide on how you can make restricted calls from both Android and iPhone:

1. Making restricted calls on Android:

You can hide your caller identity while making calls using Android devices in a few steps:

Step 1: go to your phone settings.

Step 2: you can find the ‘Caller ID’ option.

Step 3: tap on the ‘Hide my number’ option.

(Note: you can also block restricted calls using ‘*67’code.)

2. Making restricted calls on iPhone:

Maintain your privacy while making calls from your iPhone by following these steps:

Step 1: Open the settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Tap on the phone button.

Step 3: Tap call blocking & identification.

Step 4: on the Silence junk callers switch option.

(Note: For additional ways to block calls, you can get help from the Apple Support Page.)

How do you call back a restricted number? What are the ways to do it?

Calling back to a restricted number can be a bit challenging or risky since they can see your number. However, here we provide some ways to try:

Call back a restricted number using *69.

Certain phone companies provide a call return feature that enables you to dial *69 (in the US) to instantly return the call of the most recent incoming number, even if it was blocked.

Use third-party applications.

There are some third-party apps like True Caller and Hiya that allow you to call back on restricted numbers, which are readily available on the Google Play Store. They show the specified phone number and the name under which the phone is registered.

Call your phone carrier.

You should reach out to your phone carrier’s customer service to discuss the issue. Sometimes, they can help you uncover the caller’s restricted number or provide additional details, particularly in situations involving harassment or emergencies.

Should You Answer Restricted Calls?

People often place restrictions on their calls for different reasons. Some prefer to safeguard their privacy from individuals with malicious intent, making a restricted call a wise option when unsure of the recipient’s identity. Others wish to avoid unwanted interruptions from irrelevant parties and save time.

There won’t always be a scammer or bill collector on the other end of a restricted call, but the chances are pretty likely that it will be. Answering a phone call from someone trying to hide their true identity is a bit like opening your front door to someone wearing a face mask. It’s not guaranteed to end negatively, but it’s not very likely to be beneficial, either. 

So, in essence, there is no exact answer “yes” or “no.” to this question.

How to Unblock Restricted Calls?

Blocking unknown callers can help minimize spam and potential scams, but there may be occasions when you need to temporarily permit those calls. Whether you are anticipating a significant call from someone who prefers to keep their number private or desires to filter all incoming calls, unblocking restricted calls is simple. Here, we provide some tips on how you can unblock restricted calls:

Unblock restricted calls on Android and iPhone:

If you want to unblock restricted calls for your phone number, you can ask your phone carrier to do so.

If you blocked a number using your mobile settings, you can unblock it by following the same steps you used to block it. Whether you have an Android phone or an iPhone, you can locate the call block list in your phone settings, where you will see a list of blocked numbers.

 You can just select the number you want to unblock and use the menu to unblock it.

Conclusion

Have you ever been bothered by restricted calls or searching for how to block restricted calls? This article provides valuable tips to rid ourselves of disturbances caused by scammers, telemarketers, criminals, or unknown individuals. Various methods for protecting our children, family members, and personal devices from these unwanted calls are outlined in the article.

In this article, you can learn how to turn call blocking on or off for specific numbers according to your preference and tips and tricks to know if a phone number is fake. It’s a good idea to be careful with call blocking and only unblock restricted calls when needed, like when you’re waiting for an important call from someone who wants to keep their number private.

FAQs:

Does calling restrictions mean blocked?

Restricted calls simply indicate that the caller has chosen not to display their number. However, the call is not blocked automatically. Blocked calls, on the other hand, are completely prevented from coming through and ringing.

What kinds of calls are restricted?

All confidential calls are restricted for security and privacy reasons in order to prevent serious consequences.

Can restricted contacts call you?

Yes, pe­ople with blocked or private calle­r IDs can still call you. On your end, their number will show up as “re­stricted,” “private,” or “blocked calle­r.”

How to make your phone number restricted?

*67 can be diale­d before a phone numbe­r on most phones to temporarily hide your calle­r ID for that call. You can also get a virtual phone number from Dialaxy to conce­al your caller ID.

How can you block a restricted number from calling you?

Open the­ Phone app and locate the calle­r you want to block in your call history, contacts list, or voicemail. Tap on the circular “i” icon next to the­ phone number you want to block. Then, se­lect the option to Block this Caller.

How do you call back a restricted number on Android?

To call back the most re­cent restricted phone­ number that just reached you, simply dial “*69” on your landline­ or mobile phone.