Modern smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi 9 store a huge amount of personal information, and privacy management is becoming a priority for many users.Hiding your number when outgoing calls is an effective way to protect your personal space from unwanted return calls or keep anonymity during business negotiations. Owners of devices based on the MIUI shell often face the need to fine-tune communication settings, since standard menus can be hidden or changed by the manufacturer.
The process of hiding a subscriber ID on Redmi 9 can be implemented in several ways: through built-in system settings, using service codes or using third-party software. Each method has its own features, depending on the firmware version and the mobile operator. Understanding how exactly Caller ID works will allow you to flexibly manage who sees your data and who does not.
In this article, we will take a look at all the options available for hiding numbers, explain the technical details of network operation and help you avoid common setup errors. You will learn why settings may not be available and what to do in such a situation. Deep immersion in the phone menu will allow you to take full control of your digital privacy.
Use of Android’s built-in settings on Redmi 9
The easiest and most reliable way to hide a number is to use the standard Android operating system functionality, which is integrated into the MIUI shell. This method does not require installing additional software and works at the level of network requests of your device.
To start, you need to open the Phone app, which usually has a green tube icon on the home screen or in the bottom dock, and then you need to go to the option menu, which is often hidden behind three dots or a vertical ellipsis in the corner of the screen, and this is where the key call management options are located.
- 📞 Click on the three dots in the top right corner of the call screen.
- ⚙️ Select “Settings” in the drop-down menu list.
- 🔍 Find the "Additional Settings" or "Accounts and Synchronization" section».
- 👤 Go to the "Number Definer" subsection (or "Show Number»).
Once you go to the Number Define menu, the system can request time to download the current settings from the network, and you will be given three options: show the number, hide the number, or use the default settings. Selecting Hide the number ensures that your data will not be broadcast to the interlocutor.
⚠️ Note: If the number detector is missing or inactive, it means that your carrier is blocking the change of this parameter at the network level. USSD-codes or contact support.
Application of service USSD-code-detection
When the GUI doesn’t provide the right options, help comes. USSD-These are special commands that are sent directly to the server of the mobile operator, bypassing the settings of the Redmi 9 smartphone itself. This method is universal and works on almost all devices, regardless of the version. MIUI.
The basic code for temporarily hiding a number on the next call is #31#. You need to dial this code, then immediately enter the phone number of the subscriber you are going to call. For example, if the recipient number is 89001234567, you should dial #31#89001234567. Once you press the call button, your number will be hidden only for that particular call.
To permanently hide the number, you need to dial #31# and press the call button. The system will send a request to activate the service. The reverse operation that returns the display of the number is performed by code #31#. The status of the service can be checked by command *#31#.
It is important to understand the difference between temporary and permanent concealment: Temporary is convenient for one-off actions, whereas constant setting requires making sure that you do not lose important incoming or create identification problems in delivery services and taxis.
List of codes for major operators
Setup through third-party caller apps
If the standard “calling” on your Xiaomi Redmi 9 does not allow you to change the identifier settings, an excellent solution is to install an alternative application from the Google Play store. Third-party developers often provide more flexible access to the phone’s API, allowing you to manage calls more detail.
One popular solution is the Truecaller app, or privacy dialers, which you need to give it all the permissions you want to get, including access to contacts, microphones and call management, once you install it, and without that, it won't work.
In the settings of the selected application, find the section related to privacy or outgoing calls. There should be an option to hide my number or Anonymous Caller ID. Activating this switch will cause the application to mask your number when making calls through it.
- 📲 Download the app for calls with a rating above 4.5 stars.
- 🔐 Provide all necessary permissions in the system window.
- 🛠 Open the application settings and find the section "Calls».
- 🙈 Enable the "Hide Number" switch or similar function.
It is worth noting that using third-party calls can change the usual dialing interface, and some users note a small delay before connecting, as the application processes the call before sending it to the network.
💡
Use Do Not Disturb mode in conjunction with the number concealment for maximum anonymity, but be sure to add important contacts to the whitelist.
The influence of the operator on the display of the number
The fact that the final decision on whether to see a caller's number is not only made by the phone, but also by the carrier cannot be ignored, and some tariff plans or corporate SIM cards have strict restrictions that prohibit the concealment of a subscriber's ID for security or company policy purposes.
In addition, many carriers have paid services that allow subscribers to see the numbers even of those who have hidden them, such services are often called “Anti-AON” or “Number Detector.” If your interlocutor has connected such a service, your attempts to hide through the Redmi 9 settings may be useless.
| Operator. | Hiding service | Cost | Activation command |
|---|---|---|---|
| MTS | Anti-Aon | Paid. | *111*17# |
| Beeline | Hidden number. | Free of charge. | #31# |
| Megaphone | Anti-Aon | Paid. | *105*0051# |
| Tele2 | Hidden number. | Free of charge. | #31# |
It is recommended to specify the terms of your tariff in advance in your personal account or from the operator. Sometimes, to activate the number hiding function, you need to pre-connect the service on the operator's side, even if all the settings are correct on the phone.
☑️ Checking operator settings
Solving problems with access to privacy settings
Xiaomi Redmi 9 users may find themselves in a situation where the call settings menu simply does not respond or gives an error when trying to change the settings, often due to the access rights of the Phone application in the Android system.
To fix this situation, go to the general smartphone settings, find the Apps section, and select All Apps. In the list, find the standard Phone app (or the one you make calls through). Click on it to open the control menu.
Inside the app menu, select Application Permissions. Make sure all critical items are activated, especially those relating to telephony and contacts. If any permissions are turned off, turn them on and try to reset the determinant settings.
⚠️ Warning: Do not give the Phone app access to geolocation or camera unless clearly necessary. These are redundant, which may reduce the security of your data.
If the problem persists, try clearing the Phone app cache. To do this, in the same app management menu, find Memory and click Clear Cache. This won't delete your contacts, but will reset temporary files that may have caused the conflict.
💡
The lack of access rights in the system application “Phone” is the most common reason for the inability to change the settings of Caller ID on Redmi 9.
Frequent questions and technical nuances MIUI
The MIUI shell has many features that can be confusing to users who have previously used pure Android, such as an aggressive power saving system that can block the background processes responsible for transmitting number data if a third-party application is used.
It’s also worth remembering that emergency services (112, 102, 103) always see your number, regardless of the concealment settings, a legal requirement that cannot be circumvented by software on civilian devices, and that hiding the number is solely for communicating with individuals and organizations.
When using messengers (Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram), the phone number hiding settings do not work, since these applications use the Internet channel and their internal privacy settings.