You can opt out of Sharing Your Phone Number on the Truecaller App following the below procedures.
If you want to keep your phone number private, knowing that this widely-used app may be sharing it with others is important. However, there is a way for you to opt-out and prevent this from happening.
Were you aware that Truecaller, the app that purportedly safeguards against unsolicited calls, poses a risk to your privacy?
It may appear counterintuitive, but you must be cautious when disclosing your phone number on this platform and familiarize yourself with methods for safeguarding its confidentiality.
Why Truecaller raises privacy concerns
Truecaller presents itself as an app that allows you to identify callers and block spam, simplifying the process of determining who is calling and whether or not it should be ignored.
Nevertheless, certain elements of Truecaller’s data accumulation are causing substantial apprehensions over privacy issues.
If you register to use Truecaller, your phone number will not be the only information collected. The app also uploads all contacts saved on your device to its database.
As a result, even those who have opted out of using Truecaller may find their digits listed in the searchable public directory and risk compromising their privacy inadvertently.
Truecaller’s reach goes beyond your contact list as it seeks authorization to tap into your call history and messages upon installation.
Refusal of permission would render the software unusable, given its inclination towards phone tracking services. Unquestionably legitimate data requirements aside, such extensive information acquisition begs questions regarding the necessity for core functions.
Additionally, perusing through an individual’s chat logs could reveal personal communication trends that Truecaller may unwittingly persist in monitoring henceforth.
Truecaller faced criticism in September 2022 when Viceroy Research, a US-based company, released a comprehensive report denouncing the app for its excessive user data collection practices and disregard of privacy regulations.
Although Truecaller doesn’t sell data directly, there’s still an inherent risk of unauthorized parties gaining access to your phone number, communication logs, and messages through breaches or leaks.
Truecaller: Steps to Remove Your Phone Number From the Directory
Fortunately, Truecaller provides a hassle-free option for deleting your phone number from its database.
If you have previously utilized or are presently utilizing Truecaller on your device, it is necessary to deactivate your account first to remove the listing of your phone number.
However, if you’ve never used Truecaller before, skipping the deactivation stage and directly proceeding with unlisting is permissible.
Follow these steps to disable your Truecaller account on Android devices, iPhones or iPads:
- To access your profile on Truecaller, launch the app on your phone and tap the icon located in the top left corner.
- Click on the gear icon located in the upper section and choose the Privacy Center option from the subsequent menu.
- Choose the option of deactivating my account.
- Mark all the boxes and then tap on the affirmative, Proceed button.
- Please choose to proceed by clicking on “Continue”.
- Please state the reason for your account deactivation and click on Continue again.
- Press the Deactivate button to verify the operation.
To prevent your contact information from appearing in the Truecaller database, you can remove your phone number after deactivating your account. Here are the steps to follow:
- Access Truecaller’s phone number unlisting page by opening a web browser on your computer or phone.
- Please scroll down and choose the “No, I want to unlist” option.
- Type your phone number in the designated area, indicate why you want to unsubscribe, and press the Unlist option.
- To remove your phone number from Truecaller’s listing, simply retrieve the SMS code and forward it to them. Alternatively, scan the QR code that appears on the screen.
- Once you’ve sent the message, go back to your browser and a confirmation message should be visible.
Conclusion
If a phone number is classified as spam in Truecaller’s database, it cannot be removed from the list of numbers available.
Please be aware that it can take a maximum of 24 hours for Truecaller to fully delete your phone number from its database if you want opt out of Sharing Your Phone Number on the Truecaller App by following the below procedures, you can hide your identity.
Although Truecaller provides useful features such as caller identification and spam blocking, its privacy trade-off cannot be ignored.
If you are concerned about the amount of personal information that Truecaller collects from your device, it is better to withdraw from the service.
Alternatively, there exist alternative methods for identifying unidentified callers and obstructing unwanted messages on your mobile phone if required.
