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There are endless tools at your disposal if you want to find someone’s phone number. But too many options can be overwhelming. The easier it is to find people online, the harder it can be to find who you’re looking for. You know what we're talking about if you’ve been in the online dating market lately.
Whether you’re trying to get in touch with an old friend, make a new business contact, or work out whose calls you’ve been missing all week, it’s hard to know where to start. By improving your understanding of the tools you can use to find someone’s phone number, you can boost your search results and save yourself time and stress.
So let’s make it easy and talk through how to find someone’s phone number without stress and without being too creepy.
1. Search Engines
Start with the basics. Know who you’re looking for? Enter the person’s name in the search bar of your go-to search engine and see what comes up.
If the person you’re looking up has a unique name, you’re more likely to do well with this method. If the name is a little more common, try supplementing your search with any personal details you know — things like location, profession, or even hobby affiliations. This narrows down potential results and can make finding the person’s phone number much easier.
A caveat: looking up phone numbers this way was a lot more reliable in the days of the landline. Phone numbers were more static then and more likely to be linked to a single individual. Because you’re most likely to reach people with cell phone numbers now, websites like Bing and Google aren’t what they used to be when it comes to contact information.
2. Public Records
If simply entering someone’s name on Google or Bing isn’t doing it for you, you can get a little more targeted in your search. Rather than searching the whole internet for who you’re looking for, go to phone number-specific resources for the information you need.
If you’re old enough to remember phone books, then you’re probably familiar with the idea of the White Pages and Yellow Pages. The white pages are for personal information — so, if you’re looking for an individual, this is where you’ll go. The Yellow Pages are for businesses. So, if you’re looking for someone for professional reasons and know their business, this is the answer.
This information is public record, so it should be easy to find. Much like using a basic search engine, these public records can be less helpful if you’re looking for a mobile phone number. Which — let’s be real — you probably are.
3. Online Directories
If you’re looking for someone named John Smith or you’re searching for someone after the year 1990, Google and the Yellow Pages might let you down. So, it’s time to move onto online directories. There are hundreds of websites out there dedicated to helping you find phone numbers.
About half of these directories are targeted toward people looking for a quick background check on someone. The other half are basically just records of where someone has lived, who they’re connected to, and what phone numbers they’ve used in the past. Any of these sources are useful if you’re just trying to find a phone number.
That said, they often require you to buy a subscription to access details. While they might show you the area code for the person you’re looking for, you’ll likely have to pay something to get the whole number. Make sure you check the reviews and reputation of an online directory like this before paying.
Nothing will make you want to throw your laptop out the window more than putting in your credit card info and thinking you’ve reached the end of your long search only to get a disconnected landline number that probably belonged to the person’s grandparents 30 years ago.
4. Social Media
Two strikes in your phone number search already? Then, it’s time to check out social media platforms. Almost all social media can be leveraged to help you find contact information, whether you’re looking for professional information or personal.
After all, most people don’t think twice about sharing their information when registering for a new website. If you look up the full name of the person you’re looking for on Instagram, Facebook, or even Twitter, it’s possible you’ll find their number on their profile.
This can also be a useful supplementary search if public directories are giving you too many options. If you’re not sure which Jane Doe is your Jane Doe, take it to social media. You’ll be able to find the exact person you’re looking for.
Then, take some useful personal information from their profiles and use it to improve the specificity of your broader search. Things like university affiliations, maiden names, family member’s names, and even geographical information can help you find the right number.
For instance, let’s say you have two results that could be the person you’re after in the White Pages — same name but different area codes for the number. A quick Facebook people search can help you determine which area code is correct.
5. Business Contacts
If you’re not having any luck with the first few methods, it’s time to get professional. This is easy if you already know where the person you’re after works. All you have to do is search for their business, and you’ll likely find a phone number or email address to reach them.
You could also try cold calling their company to get in touch, but this should only be done in the right circumstances. If you’re reaching out to an old, close friend that you’re positive will be happy to hear from you, and they don’t work in a formal, corporate environment, this might be fine.
Reaching out to that girl you met at the bar because you chickened out before asking for her number? Maybe rethink this one.
If you’re not sure where they work, looking up business contact information can still be really helpful. Rather than browsing traditional social media, turn to things like LinkedIn profiles. Even if you don’t immediately find a phone number, you’ll at least have a way to reach out to the person to get in touch.
Do you know the person’s industry or field but not their company? That can be useful, too. Look for summits, conventions, speaking engagements, or other professional events that might link back to this person.
If they’re engaged in their field, this can be a way to find contact information. Much like social media searches, this can also help give you the additional info you need to make a search engine work for you.
6. Browser Extensions
There are a number of browser extensions that can scrape data from social media pages and other platforms to help you with your phone number lookup. These lookup tools can find information that might not be immediately obvious to you but are available on the webpage.
A Safari or Chrome extension that can scrape phone numbers from social media accounts like this will only be able to pull public information, so it shouldn’t be any more unethical or weird than any other method. Just make sure you’re not downloading your app from a sketchy source.
Nothing wrong with using all the search tools available to you to get in touch with someone, but there is such a thing as too far. So, pay attention to that line, especially if you’ve been searching all day and are frustrated enough with the process to try anything.
7. Common Connections
If all the traditional people search engines like Zabasearch and social media platforms get you nowhere, there’s one very simple way left to go. It’s not a digital tool — it’s the most analog tool you’ll ever have in your kit. Talk to people.
Do you know someone in common with the person whose number you’re looking for? Reach out and ask if they can pass along the number. Direct outreach is often the most effective way to get what you’re looking for. And especially when it comes to texting, it can get you real-time results. Who doesn’t love a bit of instant gratification?
If you’re not sure who you might know in common, you can revisit the first few tools on this list. Look for professional connections that might intersect. Maybe you’ve done business with one of their colleagues. See if you have any mutual friends on social media.
There are two keys to asking for someone’s phone number through common connections without looking like a creep. The first is giving them space to say no. If you’re asking a mutual friend to pass on someone’s number, make sure you have your mutual friend okay it with your intended target first.
The second important part is context. Much like looking up someone’s phone number through their company information, take a second to think about the overall situation and how you’re coming across. You don’t want to make anyone feel uncomfortable, including the common connection.
Which Tool Is Best for Your Situation?
There are so many user-friendly tools out there to help you get in touch with anyone and everyone. But with great power comes great responsibility. We’ve touched on this a few times throughout, but it’s important to pay attention to context.
Before you use any tool to find someone’s phone number, be honest with yourself about why you want it. Is it for personal reasons? Professional reasons? A bit of both? Whatever the case, make sure the tool you use makes sense for this situation.
Do use professional contact information if you’re reaching out to a business connection for mutually beneficial reasons. Do not — no matter what the nice lady says on Instagram — use social media to get someone’s mobile number so you can do lead generation for your MLM scheme. (Also, do not be friends with people that do this. For your own sanity. Those essential oils are never going to make you a millionaire. Trust us.)
Whether or not the tool you’re using is appropriate should be intuitive. When in doubt, err on the conservative side. Finding someone’s phone number is only half of the battle. It’s an exercise in futility if what you plan to do with that phone number is, well, weird.
What if You Have a Phone Number but Not a Name?
Sometimes, you might be given a business contact, only to lose track of the person’s name. Or maybe you had a great call with a recruiter, but you couldn’t hear how they introduced themself, and now it’s awkward to ask. Or maybe you’ve been missing calls from a number you don’t recognize and aren’t sure whether it’s spam or something important.
Just like there are tools to look up someone’s number if you know their name, there are options for a reverse lookup. And honestly, the tools are exactly the same.
Search engines like Spokeo will let you look up people by their phone number, in addition to doing the opposite. If you search a social media website with someone’s phone number, it’s likely linked to their profile, so it will help you find them. Even if you simply add the number to your contacts on your phone, you’ll likely get recommendations to add the person on Instagram and Facebook the next time you log on.
While traditional methods of tracking someone down, like the White Pages or Yellow Pages, might be less effective if you’re searching by number, everything else should work just as well.
What if You Don’t Want People To Find Your Number?
Reading this might fill you with a dread we know all too well. If it really is this easy to look up anyone’s phone number with their name, that means they can do the same to you.
There are endless reasons why this can be a problem. The first is that all-important work-life balance. Trying to set professional boundaries can be a challenge at the best of times. Between needy colleagues, pushy bosses, and your own desire to do well, it’s hard to cut the cord.
The last thing you want is for a coworker to be able to google your name and find your mobile number. Imagine getting an unexpected call from your least favorite colleague while you’re trying to relax on the weekend. Yeah — grim. To say the very least.
Sometimes, though, putting yourself in a situation where your number is available can be unavoidable. Let’s say you need to call your boss on the go to give them an urgent update — but you’re off the clock, and you don’t want them to be able to reach you on your personal line going forward.
There are a few simple steps you can take to ensure your privacy.
Use Ye Olde Star Sixty-Seven
We’re about to impart some old wisdom. Ancient knowledge, lost to time. It’s called star 67. If you’re too young to remember using *67 to make prank calls, you’ve probably heard it referenced on old-school sitcoms a time or two.
It’s really easy to use. If you’re making a call and you don’t want the other person to have your number, simply type *67 ahead of the phone number when you dial. For that specific call, your number will register as private on the other person’s caller ID.
Report Yourself in Online Directories
The other common way people can track down your number is by using online directories. A lot of these websites get their information from other sources. It can be unreliable — but it can also be a little too personal. It’s not great if someone can google your name and find out your parents’ names, addresses, and phone numbers.
Because — understandably — most people would prefer to keep this info private, there are things you can do to hide it. While you’re not likely to get the website to take it down altogether, you can report inappropriate or personal information to the search engine. Websites like Google have a form you can fill out. Once they review your request, they’ll remove it as a searchable result.
So, the info may still be there, but when someone Googles your name going forward, the website won’t come up as a result. It’s not foolproof, but it can make it harder for people to get your number.
Create a Burner Line
Often, making your number available to people is necessary. If you’re speaking to a business contact, they’re going to have to be able to reach you, for instance. But we all know that not everyone understands boundaries — or business hours.
Likewise, if you need to give a customer service rep your number to deal with an issue, you probably don’t want your number to stay in their database. Everyone promises privacy, but you never know who’s going to end up with access to your phone number.
One of the best ways to keep your number private but accessible is with a phone number app like Burner. Our app will let you create additional phone numbers you can track, monitor, and limit exactly how you want. You’ll be able to have access to everything on the same phone. And you’ll be able to draw the lines you need to draw.
Want to ensure you’re not getting business calls on the weekend but don’t want to carry around five phones like some kind of spy or rich international student in college? That’s where we come in. With Burner, you can share your contact information freely without worrying it’s going to fall into the wrong — or the most annoying — hands.
Getting Dialed In
Having access to all kinds of personal details online can be incredibly useful. But the more readily available this info is, the more important privacy becomes.
If you’ve spent time trying to track down the contact number for someone, you know how simple it can be. And while that’s great for you, you probably don’t want your information so easy to access.
Whether it’s about privacy in general or you’re all about that work-life balance, make sure you’re only sharing the information you want to share. Don’t put your personal phone number on your company website or social media profiles.
Create different numbers to make sure the only people who have your contact info are the people you want to have it. Try Burner today.
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