How do you make your phone untraceable?

Asked by: Myra Schneider V  |  Last update: May 5, 2026
Score: 4.2/5 (59 votes)

Making a phone truly untraceable is nearly impossible, but you can drastically reduce tracking by using a Faraday bag, putting the phone in Airplane Mode, disabling all location services and wireless connections, using a VPN with encrypted apps like Signal for calls/texts, and keeping it updated, though the best method for total privacy is simply turning the phone off and removing the battery when not in use.

How can I disable my phone from being tracked?

To stop phone tracking, disable Location Services, turn off Wi-Fi/Bluetooth when not needed, manage app permissions, reset your Advertising ID, use a VPN, and avoid public Wi-Fi, as tracking occurs through GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, apps, and carrier data, even with location services off. For maximum privacy, enable Airplane Mode or turn the device off, though some tracking persists, and use privacy-focused browsers and apps. 

Is it possible to make your phone untraceable?

To turn off location tracking on an Android:

Select Privacy > Permission Manager > Location. Scroll down and tap each social media app. Choose Don't Allow to prevent each app from accessing your location.

How to make your phone unsearchable?

10 Ways To Make Your Phone Number Unsearchable

  1. Delete Your Profiles on People Search Sites. ...
  2. Remove Your Information From Data Broker Sites. ...
  3. Use a Data Removal Service. ...
  4. Use a Second Phone Number. ...
  5. Hide Your Caller ID. ...
  6. Add Your Number to the National Do Not Call Registry. ...
  7. Check To See If Your Number's Been Leaked.

What does *#21 do to your phone?

Dialing *#21# on your phone checks the status of your unconditional call forwarding, showing if your calls, data, and texts are being automatically redirected to another number, which is useful for seeing if someone (or you) enabled it, but it does not detect if your phone is hacked or tapped. This code is a standard GSM network code (USSD) that requests a status report from your carrier, revealing settings from your phone's perspective, not external spyware.
 

Edward Snowden: How Your Cell Phone Spies on You

33 related questions found

What does *82 mean on a cell phone?

Dialing *82 before a phone number on a cell phone temporarily overrides your caller ID block, allowing your number and name to appear on the recipient's screen for that single call, even if you usually hide it, and it helps get through to lines with Anonymous Call Rejection (*77). It's the opposite of *67 (which hides your number) and is used to reveal your identity when needed, by dialing *82, waiting for a tone, then dialing the number. 

What does *#33 do on iPhone?

The iPhone code *#33# is a USSD code used in the Phone app to check the status of your call barring settings, showing if calls, SMS, or data are blocked; other related codes include *33*PIN# to enable barring and #33*PIN# to disable it, often requiring your SIM PIN, to control outgoing calls.
 

What is a ghost screen phone?

A ghost touch means when your smarphone's touchscreen registers a touch gesture even when you are not directly touching it. Ghost touch is more common on phones with broken or cracked screens. However, it can be specifically confusing to fix when there is no damage to the device.

How do I make my phone private and untraceable?

Android

  1. Open your phone's settings.
  2. Scroll down and click on Location.
  3. Switch the location services slider to Off.

Does changing the IMEI number make a phone untraceable?

If you only change the IMEI, you are simply masking one of the most commonly used identifiers of your device. However, mobile networks can still recognize your device through many other identifiers. Networks use more than just the IMEI to gather information about your device.

What is *77 on your phone?

Dialing *77 activates Anonymous Call Rejection, a feature that blocks incoming calls from numbers that hide their Caller ID (private, blocked, or unknown), sending them a message to hang up and try again with their number showing. To turn it off, dial *87. Be cautious on mobile phones, as *77 might connect to emergency services in some areas (like Massachusetts) and isn't a universal spam blocker for cell phones. 

Which phones cannot be traced?

The Top 5 Untraceable Phones (That Cannot Be Tracked)

  • Light Phone 2 | Best Everyday Burner. ‍ Tap to unmute. ...
  • Purism Librem 5 USA | Open-Source Fortress. ‍ Tap to unmute. ...
  • Bittium Tough Mobile 2C | Military-Grade Android. ‍ ...
  • Iridium 9575 Extreme | True Satellite Phone. ‍ ...
  • Nokia 105 4G | Disposable Feature-Phone Burner. ‍

What is the cost of an untraceable phone?

You can get a burner phone with cash, and it should cost between $10 and $50, although it may cost more if you get more minutes and data. If you're getting a burner phone specifically to avoid having the phone traced back to you, it makes sense to pay with cash instead of a credit card.

Can police track your phone if location is off?

Yes, your phone can be tracked in airplane mode. While it does turn off Wi-Fi and cellular services, airplane mode doesn't turn off GPS. You'll have to disable GPS on your device and turn on airplane mode to prevent your phone from being tracked.

Can a destroyed SIM card be traced?

The short answer is yes! All phones, whether iPhone or Android, can be tracked down without a SIM card. However, it may not be as simple as it seems, because in some cases, you have to take pre-measures, rely on your phone to be active or connected to the internet.

How to make your phone not trackable?

How to stop someone from tracking your phone. You can stop someone from tracking your phone by turning on airplane mode, configuring settings like location services, clearing cookies, using a private browser, and using a VPN.

What does *82 do on a cell phone?

Dialing *82 before a phone number on a cell phone temporarily overrides your caller ID block, allowing your number and name to appear on the recipient's screen for that single call, even if you usually hide it, and it helps get through to lines with Anonymous Call Rejection (*77). It's the opposite of *67 (which hides your number) and is used to reveal your identity when needed, by dialing *82, waiting for a tone, then dialing the number. 

What features make a phone untraceable?

12 Tips for Making Your Phone Untraceable

  • Turn your phone off. ...
  • Limit ad tracking. ...
  • Opt-out of carrier tracking. ...
  • Turn off Bluetooth. ...
  • Turn airplane mode on. ...
  • Disable GPS location data. ...
  • Avoid public Wi-Fi. ...
  • Use a GPS spoofing app.

What happens if you dial *#31?

Dialing *31# (or sometimes just *31) on your phone activates or confirms the setting to block your caller ID (hide your number) for all future calls, making you appear as "Private" or "Unknown Caller" to the recipient; however, if you only dial *31# and press call, it might set the network default to block caller ID, requiring you to prefix *31# (or #31#) before a number to show your ID for that single call, or to unblock it. 

Can you tell if your phone is being monitored?

You can tell if your phone is being monitored by looking for signs like unusual battery drain, fast data usage, strange sounds (clicks, echoes) on calls, unexplained pop-ups, or unexpected app behavior, alongside alerts for camera/mic use (green/orange dots on iOS/Android). Persistent issues like overheating, apps you didn't install, weird text messages with random characters, or rapid slowdowns suggest monitoring, but these signs can also stem from normal app issues, so look for multiple indicators together. 

How to fix a possessed phone?

Safe Mode (Android) / diagnostics (iOS): Boot into Safe Mode to rule out apps; on iPhone, test in the touchscreen field of Apple diagnostics where available. Update your OS and apps; then restart. Free up storage (below 10% can cause odd behaviour). Check cases and magnetic mounts; remove and retest.

What is * 3370 code on iPhone?

Hidden Battery Power / Boost Signal Strength

By pressing *3370# or #3370#, you'll activate your phone's “reserve battery power”. Battery life will increase by 50%.

What is the 3 finger trick on iPhone?

iPhone 3-finger gestures are powerful accessibility and productivity tools, primarily for Zoom (double-tap to zoom, drag to move) and VoiceOver (swiping to navigate, triple-tap to toggle features) but also for quick actions like Copy/Paste (pinch in to copy, spread out to paste text/photos) and Undo/Redo (swipe left/right with three fingers). You can enable them in Settings > Accessibility > Zoom or explore more options in AssistiveTouch for custom gestures.
 

What is the iPhone trick *#21?

The *#21# code on an iPhone is a USSD code that checks the status of your unconditional call forwarding, showing if calls, texts, or data are being diverted to another number; it's a standard network query, not a secret "spy" code, that provides information from your cellular provider about these settings, often appearing as "Setting Interrogation Failed" or a list of services (voice, SMS, data) with "Disabled" or an unknown number, says Forbes. Dialing ##21# typically turns off call forwarding, but check your phone settings or carrier for changes, notes Ambs Call Center.