The old phone codes still matter. If you want to keep your number private when you call someone - or you're trying to work out who just rang - you've probably wondered whether 141 and 1471 still do anything in 2026. The short answer is yes, both still work on UK lines, but how you use them (and what they can and can't do) is worth getting right. This guide explains how to turn on No Caller ID with 141, whether 141 still works, how 1471 helps you find a caller's number, and how to deal with withheld calls coming the other way.

Does 141 still work?

Yes. Dialling 141 before the number you're ringing tells the network to withhold your caller ID for that call, so the person you're calling sees "Withheld", "No Caller ID" or "Private" instead of your number. It works from most UK landlines and from mobiles, and it's free. It only applies to that one call - the next call you make shows your number again unless you dial 141 first.

One important limit: 141 does not hide your number from the emergency services (999/112), and it doesn't hide it from certain business and 08/09 lines that are set up to override withholding. So it keeps your number private from ordinary recipients, not from everyone.

How to turn on No Caller ID

You have two choices depending on whether you want it once or always:

  • For a single call: dial 141 then the full number (for example, `141 020 7946 0000`). That call goes out withheld; everything else is unaffected.
  • For every call (permanent):
  • On a mobile: look for a "Show My Caller ID" or "Caller ID" toggle in your phone's call settings and switch it off. On iPhone it's Settings > Apps > Phone > Show My Caller ID; on Android it's usually in the Phone app under Settings > Calling accounts / Supplementary services > Show caller ID.
  • On a landline: ask your phone provider to enable permanent caller-ID withholding on the line. You can then dial 1470 before a number to show your number for a single call when you need to.

If you've turned it on permanently and want to reveal your number for just one call, 1470 is the reverse of 141.

How to find out who called using 1471

On most UK landlines, dialling 1471 reads out (or displays) the number of the last person who called you, along with the time. It still works in 2026 and is the quickest way to catch a number you missed - though there are two catches:

  • If the caller withheld their number (using 141 or permanent withholding), 1471 will tell you the call was received but the number was withheld - there's nothing to reveal.
  • 1471 is a landline service; on a mobile you simply check your recent-calls list instead.

Once you've got the number, you can identify what kind of number it is and check it for reports with our free phone number checker, exactly as in our guide to finding out who called you.

Can you find out who called from a No Caller ID number?

Honestly, no - not yourself. If a caller withheld their number, there's nothing stored on your phone or available to any app or "lookup" service to reveal it. That's the whole point of withholding. Be wary of any website or app that claims it can unmask a No Caller ID call; at best it can't, and at worst it's a scam. Only your phone provider and the police can trace withheld calls, and only in specific circumstances such as malicious or threatening calls. We cover this in full in our guide to withheld and No Caller ID calls.

How to stop and screen No Caller ID calls

If withheld calls are bothering you, you can take back control even though you can't see the number:

  • iPhone: turn on Silence Unknown Callers to send No Caller ID and non-contact numbers straight to voicemail.
  • Android: enable blocking of unidentified or unknown numbers in the Phone app's blocked-numbers settings.
  • Landline: ask your provider about Anonymous Call Rejection, which refuses calls from withheld numbers automatically.

Our full guide to blocking unwanted calls walks through the exact settings on each device.

The bottom line

Both 141 and 1471 still work in the UK in 2026: 141 (or your phone's caller-ID setting) hides your number when you call out, and 1471 tells you the number of the last caller on a landline - unless they withheld it. What you can't do is unmask a number someone deliberately hid. If withheld calls are a nuisance, the answer isn't to trace them but to screen them with your phone's built-in tools.

Frequently asked questions

Does 141 still work in the UK?

Yes. Dialling 141 immediately before a phone number still withholds your caller ID for that single call, so the person you're calling sees "Withheld" or "No Caller ID". It's free and works from most landlines and mobiles, but it doesn't hide your number from 999/112 or from certain business lines set to override withholding.

How do I turn on No Caller ID for every call?

On a mobile, turn off "Show My Caller ID" in your phone's call settings (Settings > Phone on iPhone; the calling/supplementary-services menu on Android). On a landline, ask your provider to set permanent caller-ID withholding - then dial 1470 before a number whenever you want to show your number for one call.

Does 1471 still work, and will it tell me who called?

1471 still works on most UK landlines and gives you the number and time of the last call you received. It can't help if the caller withheld their number, and it's a landline feature - on a mobile you just check your recent calls instead.

Can I find out who called from a withheld or No Caller ID number?

No. A withheld number isn't shown or stored anywhere on your phone, so there's nothing to look up, and no legitimate app or website can reveal it. Only your phone provider or the police can investigate, and only for malicious or threatening calls. The practical step is to block or silence No Caller ID calls instead.