Fix Pixel 6/Pro Private Number Contact Bug [Update: Pixel 7/Pro too]

In this guide, we will show you various methods to fix the Pixel 6/Pro Private Number Contact bug. The latest iteration of the Pixel devices are bugged with a plethora of issues but most of them seem to have been ironed out down the line. Except one that is silently lying in one corner of the room with not much attention.

Since November last year, few users have voiced their concern that whenever they call anyone and the recipient picks up the phone, then once the call is over, the Contacts app shows the last call under the Private Contact name. As a result of which, it becomes quite difficult to ascertain to whom you have called over the due course of time since the call history will tag all the calls as Private Contact.

There are a couple of other intriguing thin that I noticed. First off, if the recipient didn’t pick up the call, then the Recents calls section would correctly show their name. Along the same lines, initially, when placing the call, you would see the name of the person to whom you are calling.

But as soon as he or she picks up the call, their name will be replaced by the Private Number. So in this guide, we will be having a look at the affected carriers and regions and then will make you aware of numerous methods to fix this Private Number Contact bug on your Pixel 6/Pro. Follow along.

Pixel 6/Pro Private Number Contact Bug: Affected Carriers and Regions

Here’s a list of all the affected carriers and their regions that I managed to grab a hold of. if your’s is missing from the list, then do let us know in the comments. We will add it to this list for greater visibility.

• Hungary: Telekom/ eSIM Telekom HU.  
• Serbia (Europe): MTS network.
• Cablenet in Cyprus.
• Italy- Fastweb and Wind SIM.
• Australia-Vodafone network.
• Slovenia: T-2 network.
• Spain: Jazztel provider.

In hindsight, there are three parties on which the blame could be placed- the Pixel 6/Pro device, the Gooogle Contacts/Dialer app, or the service provider. However, at the current stage, there’s no concrete evidence to pinpoint the culprit. This is because if the devices were the culprit, then we would have seen a slew of other Pixel 6/Pro device owners with the same complaint, which isn’t the case.

Likewise, if the blame is to be put on the Google Contacts/Dialer, then there are many non-Pixel devices that are currently using this app as their default dialer/calling app, but none of the non-Pixel devices have raised any complaints to date. On the other hand, if the issue is with the carrier, then there are many users having one of the aforementioned carriers, but we are only witnessing a handful of issues being raised until now.

All in all, the ball is in no one’s court, but on the optimistic end, there do exist a few workarounds that might help you fix the Pixel 6/Pro Private Number Contact bug. So without further ado, let’s check them out.

How to Fix Pixel 6/Pro Private Number Contact Bug

It is recommended that you try out each of the below-mentioned workarounds and then see which one spells out success for you. So with that in mind, let’s get started.

[NEW] FIX 1: Change Default Network to Show Number

1. Launch Google Dialer, tap on the overflow icon, and select Settings.
2. Then go to Calls > Calling Accounts > Settings > select your Network.
3. Now go to Other Settings > Caller ID. It will now connect to the network for a check.
4. Once done, select Show Number instead of Default Network. That’s it.

FIX 1: Try Safe Mode

In some cases, a third-party app or service might conflict with the proper functioning of the device. Therefore, it is recommended to boot your device in Safe Mode and then troubleshoot the issues. This is because, in this mode, all the non-system apps stand disabled. This will make it easier to diagnose and hence rectify the underlying issue. So refer to the below steps and give this fix a try right away.

1. Long press the Power key to bring up the Power menu.
2. Then tap and hold the Restart option for a couple of seconds.
3. This shall bring up the Safe Mode dialog box, tap OK.
4. Your device will now boot to Safe Mode. Now try placing a call.
5. Check if it fixes the Pixel 6/Pro Private Number Contact bug.

If it doesn’t, then restart your device to boot back to normal mode and then proceed with the rest of the fixes listed below.

FIX 2: Delete App Data

If the app’s data gets corrupted, then it could spell out trouble for the associated functionality. Therefore, you should consider deleting these data and then let it re-populate with a fresh instance from scratch. Here’s how it could be done:

1. To begin with, head over to Settings > Apps > See All Apps.
2. Then tap on the overflow icon situated at the top right and select Show system.
3. After that, select the Phone app and go to its Storage & Cache section.
4. Now tap on Clear Storage > Delete in the confirmation dialog box.
5. Likewise, do the same for Phone Calls, Phone Services, and the Contacts app.
6. Then delete the cache for Phone and Messaging Storage.
7. Now check if it fixes the Pixel 6/Pro Private Number Contact bug.

FIX 3: Set Label to “Mobile” or “Work”

As strange as it may sound, adding the Mobile or Work label to the contact seems to have worked out for a few users. So lets out this tweak to the test and check out the results.

1. Launch the Contacts app and go to the Edit option of the concerned contact.
2. Then scroll to Label section, assign it either Mobile or Work, and save it.
3. Now check if it fixes the Pixel 6/Pro Private Number Contact bug.

FIX 4: Enroll as a Beta Tester

The beta builds of an app receive patches at a much faster rate and the bugs are also quashed considerably quicker than its counterparts. On paper though, it is tagged as being slightly unstable [as is the case with every beta app], but in my usage experience, I haven’t come across any stability issues to date. So if you are willing to jump into this domain, then here’s what you need to do.

1. Head over to the Phone by Google Beta page
2. Then sign in with the same Google account that is currently logged into your device.
3. After that, click on Become a Tester and wait for a minute.
4. Then go to the Play Store on your device. A beta update will be lined up for the Phone app.
5. Download and install it right away and check if it fixes the Pixel 6/Pro Private Number Contact bug.

FIX 5: Disable and Re-Enable Phone App

If the app’s configuration settings have got corrupted, then it could have an adverse impact on the app. Therefore, you should consider disabling and then re-enabling the app, using ADB Commands. You cannot do so the normal way [from the Settings menu] because the Disable option will be greyed out for the Phone App. So ADB commands are the only way out.

1. To begin with, download and extract Android SDK Platform Tools on your PC.
2. Then enable USB Debugging on your device and connect it to the PC via USB cable.
3. Then head over to the platform-tools folder, type in CMD in the address bar, and hit Enter.
4. This will launch the Command Prompt. Now execute the below command to open the Shell environment.

   adb shell

   

5. After that, execute the below command to disable the Dialer app

   pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.dialer

6. Now wait for a few seconds and then re-enable it via the below command

   pm enable -–user 0 com.google.android.dialer

7. Check if it fixes the Pixel 6/Pro Private Number Contact bug.

FIX 6: Use Third-Party Dialer

If none of the aforementioned methods managed to spell out success, then your last course of action should be to try an alternate phone app. In this regard, the ACR Phone app seems to be working for some. So do give it a try and then check out the results. [It is always advised to exercise caution before trying out a third-party dialer].

That’s it. These were the six different methods to fix the Pixel 6/Pro Private Number Contact bug. As far as the official stance on this matter is concerned, the developers have yet to acknowledge this issue, let alone give out any ETA for the rollout of a fix. As and when any of these two things happen, we will update this guide accordingly. In the meantime, the aforementioned workaround is your best bet.

UPDATE 1: Pixel 7/Pro users also facing Private Number Contact Bug

It seems the bug has crept into the latest Pixel flagship as well. A few Pixel 7/Pro users have reported that all their outgoing calls are being shown as Private Numbers in the Contact App’s Recent section. If you are also in the same boat, then the above-listed steps should help you rectify this issue. For many, the new fix that we have listed above have helped them rectify this issue.

• Enable 1080p Display Resolution [FHD+] in Pixel 6 Pro
• How to Bypass Anti Rollback Mechanism in Pixel 6A/6/6 Pro
• How to Pass SafetyNet in Rooted Google Pixel 6A
• Pixel 6 screen flickering when auto switching from 60Hz to 90Hz [Fixed]