What does *57 do on a phone?

What Does *57 Do on a Phone?

Ever gotten a threatening or harassing call and wished you could track down who was behind it? That’s where *57 comes in. This little-known code activates what’s called "call trace," a feature designed to log the phone number of your last incoming caller—especially useful if you’ve received a disturbing or suspicious call.

Here’s how it works: if you receive a harassing call, don’t respond or engage. Instead, hang up and immediately dial *57 on your landline or mobile phone. If the feature is supported by your carrier, you’ll typically hear a confirmation tone or message indicating the call has been traced. But here’s the catch: the information isn’t given directly to you. It’s encrypted and stored for law enforcement use only. That means you’ll need to involve the police or file a formal complaint before the traced data can be accessed and used as evidence.

It’s important to note that *57 only works for calls received within the last 30 minutes or so and is most effective when reported quickly. Also, if the caller used a blocked or spoofed number, tracing might not yield results.

On the flip side, if you just missed a call and want to return it—regardless of whether it was harassing—*69 (Call Return) is more appropriate. It simply gives you the number of the last caller, whether it was blocked or not (though effectiveness varies by carrier).

While *57 isn’t a magic fix, it’s a valuable tool when dealing with serious threats. Just remember: it’s not meant for casual curiosity. Use it responsibly, and always involve authorities when safety is at risk.