Star 77 is a feature available on most mobile phones that allows you to block or unblock your phone number when making outgoing calls. When you dial *77 before making a call, your number will show up as “private,” “anonymous,” or “blocked” on the recipient’s caller ID display. This can be useful if you want to make an anonymous call or keep your number private. Here is a more in-depth look at what Star 77 does and how to use it.
How Star 77 Works
When you make a normal call on your mobile phone, your phone number is transmitted through the network and shows up on the recipient’s caller ID display so they can see who is calling. Using Star 77 blocks the transmission of your phone number so it appears as “private,” “anonymous,” or “blocked” instead.
Technically, Star 77 activates a feature called Caller ID blocking. All major mobile carriers in the US and Canada support this feature, although it may go by different names – such as *67 or *82. Regardless of the specific name, dialing the designated code before making a call will block your number from appearing on the recipient’s caller ID.
Caller ID blocking only works on a per-call basis. That means you need to dial the code each time you want to block your number when making an outgoing call. It does not permanently block your number from being displayed.
Why Use Star 77?
There are a few common reasons you may want to use Star 77 to block your number:
- Privacy – You want to keep your mobile number private when calling someone.
- Avoiding unwanted calls – You call someone but don’t want them to call you back or have your number saved in their phone.
- Prevent harassment – You need to call someone who has harassed you in the past and don’t want them to know it’s you or have your new number.
- Work calls – You need to make a work-related call but don’t want the recipient to have your personal mobile number.
In most cases, blocking your number is harmless. However, some people use it with ill intent to prank or harass others while keeping their identity hidden. For this reason, many people frown upon blocked calls and won’t answer numbers marked “private.” Keep this in mind when deciding whether to block your number – you may want to unblock it if you are trying to reach someone professionally or personally.
How to Use Star 77
The process for using Star 77 is quick and easy on both iPhone and Android phones:
iPhone
- Open the Phone app and key in the phone number you want to call.
- Tap the screen to bring up the keypad if needed.
- Dial *77 – do not tap Call yet.
- The phone number will change to show “Private” or “No Caller ID.”
- Now tap the Call button to make your call with number blocked.
Android
- Open the Phone app and key in the phone number.
- Tap the Menu button or icon.
- Select “Additional settings” > “Caller ID.”
- Toggle “Hide number” on.
- Tap Call to make your anonymous call.
Once you’ve completed your call, your caller ID will unblock. You need to dial *77 each time you want to block your number when making a new call.
Does Star 77 Work on Landlines?
Star 77 does not work on traditional landline phones. Caller ID blocking is only available on cellular networks. If you have a landline phone and want to block your number, you would need to contact your phone provider and inquire about anonymous call rejection services.
Some home VoIP (Voice over IP) phone services do support blocking your number by dialing *67 or *82 before each call. However, this depends entirely on the VoIP provider – not all allow call blocking.
Does Blocking My Number *77 Work on All Cell Phones?
The Star 77 feature works on most GSM mobile networks which includes all major carriers in the US and Canada like AT&T, T-Mobile, Rogers, etc. It may not work on smaller regional carriers that utilize CDMA networks. Sprint also previously used CDMA although they now support call blocking after switching to GSM for newer devices.
In general, you can check if your phone supports blocking your number by dialing *77 and making a test call to someone else with caller ID. Have them confirm if your number shows up or appears blocked. As long as you see “Private” or “Anonymous” on your end after dialing *77, it should work.
Can I Block My Number for All Calls?
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely block your number for all outgoing calls. As mentioned earlier, using *77 only blocks your number on a per-call basis. There are a few options to partially mask your number more permanently though:
- Get a second phone number – Add a second phone line to your account or use a calling app to generate a virtual number.
- Use *67 call forwarding – Forward your calls through a number that supports permanent blocking like Google Voice.
- Ask carrier for anonymous blocking – Some carriers can permanently block your number but this is rare.
In most cases, you will need to continue dialing *77 each time you make a call where you want your number blocked. There is no setting to enable this automatically for all calls.
Can I Block My Number from Specific Contacts Only?
Unfortunately, there is no way to block your number from showing for some contacts but not others. Using *77 will block your caller ID for all recipients of your outbound calls until you call again with the code unset.
The only option is to block your number each time you specifically call someone that you don’t want to see it. Or speak with your carrier to see if they offer selective caller ID blocking services for numbers you pre-select.
Does Blocking Caller ID *77 Use Minutes?
Using *77 to block your number before making a call does not normally use any additional minutes on your plan. The only time it will use extra minutes is if you call someone that has an anonymous call rejection feature enabled.
Anonymous call rejection automatically sends blocked calls to a recording that requires you to announce your name. If you do record your name, this uses airtime minutes like a normal call would. If you hang up instead, the call ends without using minutes.
So in summary, simply blocking your number with *77 does not use any extra plan minutes. But if the recipient’s phone forces you to record your name before connecting, that pre-recording will deduct minutes.
Is Using Star 77 Legal?
In most countries, blocking your caller ID when making phone calls is perfectly legal. However, certain places like the UAE have made it illegal to make anonymous calls from cell phones or landlines.
Some U.S. states require all parties in a call to consent to call recording, so you may want to avoid using *67 if you are recording calls. But in general, federal and state wiretapping laws in the U.S. do not prohibit use of caller ID blocking.
That said, repeatedly calling someone with your number blocked could constitute telephone harassment. And law enforcement can obtain court orders to reveal identities of callers blocking their numbers for illegal purposes.
Can Blocked Numbers Leave Voicemails?
Yes, you can leave a voicemail when calling with your number blocked using *67 or *77. The recipient’s phone will indicate an incoming blocked voicemail from a private or anonymous number.
However, keep in mind that your voice and any background sounds may give away your identity. If you want to leave an anonymous voicemail, take precautions not to include any identifiable information.
Also be aware that some carriers like AT&T offer optional paid services that will unmask blocked caller IDs in voicemails so the recipient can still see your real phone number.
Pros of Using Star 77
Here are some of the advantages to using *77 caller ID blocking on a per-call basis:
- Lets you easily keep your number private when needed
- No extra fees or long-term commitment required
- Works on all major mobile carriers for both Android and iPhone
- Can prevent unwanted callbacks from previous recipients
- Option to leave anonymous voicemails
- Useful for one-off calls where you want privacy
Cons of Using Star 77
Some drawbacks to consider when blocking caller ID using *77 include:
- Have to enable it manually each call
- Can seem suspicious if overused
- Call recipients may ignore blocked numbers
- Doesn’t prevent number from showing up in phone logs
- Can’t selectively block only certain people
- Voicemails may still reveal identity
Summary
Star 77 (*77) is a handy code you can dial on mobile phones to block your number from appearing on the recipient’s caller ID temporarily. It works on a per-call basis and prevents your phone number from being shown, displaying “private” or “anonymous” instead.
Blocking caller ID can be useful for privacy, avoiding unwanted calls, anonymity, or keeping your personal number hidden at work. However, repeatedly blocking your number when calling someone can come across as suspicious behavior.
While convenient and free to use, Star 77 does have limitations. Make sure to weigh the pros and cons before deciding if and when to hide your caller ID.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easily keep number private when needed | Must enable manually each call |
| No extra fees | Can seem suspicious if overused |
| Works on all major mobile carriers | Call recipients may ignore blocked numbers |
| Prevents unwanted callbacks | Doesn’t prevent number from showing in call logs |
| Can leave anonymous voicemails | Can’t block only specific people |
| Useful for one-off private calls | Voicemails may reveal identity |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does blocking my number cost extra?
No, using *77 to block your caller ID does not cost anything extra. It is included free as part of standard call features.
Can I undo blocking after a call?
You don’t need to undo blocking as it automatically deactivates after each call. Your caller ID will show normally again on your next call without *77 enabled.
Does *77 work on business phone systems?
Typically no, *77 only works on direct mobile and cellular calls. Some office VoIP systems may allow call blocking, but you would need to check with your specific provider.
What happens if I block my number and call 911?
For emergency calls, your carrier will override the block and provide 911 dispatchers with your callback number. However, it is not recommended to block your number when calling 911.
Can I get in trouble legally for using *77?
In most cases, no. Blocking caller ID is legal in the U.S. and Canada. Exceptions may include recording calls in two-party consent states or telephone harassment.
Does blocking a call prevent it from showing on my bill?
No, your carrier can still record the blocked call in your call logs and monthly bill. The recipient is the only one that will not see your caller ID displayed.
Conclusion
Star 77 provides a quick and easy way to keep your caller ID hidden on specific outgoing calls. While blocking your number can be useful in certain situations, be careful not to overuse it or call recipients may ignore anonymous callers altogether.
Always follow applicable laws in your area and avoid excessive blocked calling to prevent harassment allegations. Weigh the pros and cons carefully to decide when it makes sense to use *77 call blocking versus dialing normally with your ID displayed.