What is call barring? How to activate and deactivate on MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9Mobile

What is call barring? It is a mobile network feature that lets you restrict specific incoming or outgoing calls on your line. In Nigeria, MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9Mobile all support the same standard GSM USSD codes, such as *33*PIN# to activate outgoing call barring and #33*PIN# to deactivate it, making the process nearly identical across networks.

Key takeaways

• Call barring blocks specific categories of calls, such as all outgoing calls, all incoming calls, international calls, or calls received while roaming.
• It helps prevent unexpected charges, control roaming costs, and manage who can reach your line.
• MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9Mobile all use the same standard GSM codes, i.e., *33*PIN# activates outgoing call barring, #33*PIN# deactivates it, *35*PIN# activates incoming call barring, and #35*PIN# deactivates it.
• The default barring PIN on all four networks is 0000 unless you've changed it, and you can update it by dialling *03*330*old PIN*new PIN*new PIN#.

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What is call barring?

Call barring is a network-level feature that blocks specific types of calls on your phone, such as outgoing, incoming, international, or roaming calls.

It is useful for controlling costs, avoiding unwanted calls, and managing your line when travelling. Unlike blocking a single contact, call barring works on all categories of calls and is controlled using standard USSD codes rather than a phone's built-in block list.

How to activate and deactivate call barring on MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9Mobile

Activating and deactivating call barring is largely consistent across MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9Mobile because all four use standard GSM codes. That said, some options may behave slightly differently depending on your handset or local network configuration. Below is the process for each provider as of 2026.

How to activate call barring on MTN

The call barring codes for MTN for outgoing calls are explored below

• Block all outgoing calls: *33*0000#
• Check status: *#33#

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Incoming calls:

• Block all incoming calls: *35*0000#
• Check status: *#35#

Outgoing international calls

• Bar international outgoing calls: *331*0000#
• Check status: *#331#

Outgoing international calls (except home country)

• Activate: *332*PIN#
• Check status: *#332#

Note that the availability of the *332# code can vary depending on your phone model and MTN's network configuration in your area.

How to deactivate call barring on MTN

If you have been wondering how to deactivate call barring on this network, use the USSD codes explored below.

• Unblock outgoing calls: #33*0000#
• Unblock incoming calls: #35*0000#
• Cancel international call barring: #331*0000#
• Cancel the home-country exception barring: #332*PIN#

You can also manage call barring through the MyMTN App:

• Open the app and go to Menu
• Select My Profile
• Enter the OTP sent to your line
• Choose Call Barring or Unbar My Number

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How to activate call barring on Airtel

Airtel call barring codes are explored below.

• Block outgoing calls: *33*0000#
• Block incoming calls: *35*0000#
• Bar international outgoing calls: *331*0000#
• Bar incoming calls while roaming: *351*0000#

How to remove call barring for Airtel

The codes to use are explored below.

• Unblock outgoing calls: #33*0000#
• Unblock incoming calls: #35*0000#
• Remove international call barring: #331*0000#
• Remove roaming call barring: #351*0000#

NB: To check any status on Airtel, dial *#33#, *#35#, *#331#, or *#351# depending on the type of barring you set.

How to activate call barring on Glo

The Glo codes you can use to activate this service are explored below.

• Block outgoing calls: *33*0000#
• Block incoming calls: *35*0000#
• Bar international outgoing calls: *331*0000#

How to deactivate call barring on Glo

Turning off call barring on Glo is straightforward. Dial #33*0000# to remove outgoing call restrictions, or #35*0000# to unblock incoming calls.

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• Unblock outgoing calls: #33*0000#
• Unblock incoming calls: #35*0000#

How to activate call barring on 9Mobile

Use the codes below to activate the service:

• Block outgoing calls: *33*0000#
• Block incoming calls: *35*0000#

How to stop call barring on 9Mobile

It's easy to deactivate call barring on 9Mobile. Dial #33*0000# to unblock outgoing calls, or #35*0000# to allow incoming calls again.

• Unblock outgoing calls: #33*0000#
• Unblock incoming calls: #35*0000#

How to deactivate call barring without a password

There is no way to deactivate call barring without entering the correct PIN. The use of a PIN is a security measure built into the GSM standard, not a network-specific restriction.

If you have forgotten your barring PIN and it is not the default 0000, you will not be able to bypass it using another USSD code. Instead, contact your network's customer care with your registered SIM details so an agent can verify your identity and reset the PIN.

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What does *#35# do?

Dialling *#35# checks the current status of incoming call barring on your line. It does not activate or deactivate anything by itself, but it tells you whether incoming call barring is currently switched on or off, and for which call categories.

How do you deactivate call barring on your MTN SIM?

Dial #33*0000# to unblock outgoing calls, or #35*0000# to unblock incoming calls, using your MTN line's barring PIN in place of 0000 if you've changed it from the default.

How do you remove call barring?

In general, you remove call barring by dialling the deactivation code that matches how it was activated: #33*PIN# for outgoing calls, #35*PIN# for incoming calls, #331*PIN# for international calls, or #351*PIN# for roaming calls. This applies the same way across MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9Mobile.

How do you remove call barring for Airtel?

On Airtel, dial #33*0000# to remove outgoing call barring or #35*0000# to remove incoming call barring. For international or roaming barring, use #331*0000# or #351*0000#, respectively.

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What is call barring? It is a service that helps you to control who can call you and prevent unwanted charges, and the process is nearly identical across MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9Mobile. Whether you are activating outgoing call barring with *33*0000#, checking status with *#35#, or removing a restriction with the matching # code, the standard GSM codes covered above continue to work.

DISCLAIMER: This article is not sponsored by any third party. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!

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