What does *57 do?

What Does *57 Do? How to Respond to Hidden Calls

Ever gotten a call from "No Caller ID" that left you uneasy? You're not alone. Many people wonder what they can do when faced with mysterious or potentially malicious calls. One tool that’s been around for decades but often misunderstood is *57.

Dialing *57 immediately after a call from a blocked number activates Call Trace. This feature records key metadata—like the time, date, and origin details of the call—which can be used by law enforcement during investigations. It's important to note: *57 doesn’t reveal the caller’s number in real time for the person on the line. Instead, it logs the information for official use, meaning you'd need to involve police or your phone provider to access it.

This service primarily applies to landlines in North America and may not work consistently with mobile or VoIP services. Some carriers charge a fee for *57, and success depends on cooperation from law enforcement and telecom providers.

As for calling back a blocked number—there's no reliable way to do it directly. Features like *69 (call return) won't work with hidden numbers. Even third-party apps or reverse lookup tools often fail when the caller has truly blocked their ID. Your best bet is to avoid answering unknown numbers and use built-in spam protection built into modern smartphones.

While *57 isn’t a magic fix, it remains a useful tool in specific cases—especially if you're being harassed or threatened. The key is acting fast: dial *57 within 30 minutes of the call to ensure the trace is logged.