You keep getting telemarketing and sales calls, and you want them to stop. Registering your number with the National Do Not Call Registry is the official, free way to tell legitimate U.S. telemarketers not to make unwanted sales calls.
The process takes a few minutes. You can register online (up to three numbers at once) or by phone (one number per call). Both methods are free, and once your number is listed, registration never expires.
This guide walks you through every method, ordered quickest first, plus exactly what registration does and does not stop so your expectations match reality.
Before You Start: Two Things to Know
Only personal home and cellular (mobile) numbers are intended for the Registry. Registration is always free; any site that asks you to pay is not the official Registry.
The method you choose changes one requirement:
Registering online requires a working email address. The Registry sends a confirmation email from [email protected], and you must click the link inside within 72 hours or the registration does not complete.
Registering by phone requires no email, but you must call from the actual number you want listed.
Register Up to Three Numbers Online (Quickest)
This is the fastest route if you want to list more than one number. Online, you type the numbers in, so you can register them from any computer.
- 1.Go to donotcall.gov, the official National Do Not Call Registry site.
- 2.Open the online registration form (the Register link).
- 3.Enter up to three phone numbers you want registered, whether home or cell.
- 4.Enter your email address. The form requires you to enter your email address twice.
- 5.Check that the information is correct, then submit the form.
- 6.Within a few minutes, you will receive an email from [email protected]. Open it and click the link inside to confirm.
You get a separate confirmation email for each number you entered, and you must click the link in every one within 72 hours. Miss that window for a number and you will have to register it again. Each email also tells you whether that number was already on the Registry or is now newly registered.
Only three numbers can be registered at a time online. To list more, simply repeat the process.
Register a Single Number by Phone
If you prefer no email step, or you are listing just one line, calling is simple. The catch is that you must dial from the exact phone you want registered.
From the phone you want to register, dial 1-888-382-1222, the FTC's free Do Not Call line.
Then follow the automated prompts to register the number you are calling from.
For each additional phone you want to register, repeat the call separately from that phone, one call per number.
There is no email confirmation when you register by phone. If you have a hearing or speech disability, use the 7-1-1 relay service to reach the line.
Verify Your Number Is on the List
A number should appear on the Registry the day after you sign up, so check the following day rather than immediately.
Go to donotcall.gov and open the verify page.
Enter the phone number and submit the form to see whether it is listed.
Alternatively, call 1-888-382-1222 from the number you want to check.
Expect Calls for Up to 31 More Days
Your number should show up on the Registry the next day, but telemarketers are given up to 31 days to update their lists and stop calling. Sales calls can keep coming for roughly that long after you register, so do not assume the registration failed if the phone still rings in week one.
Know What Registration Does Not Stop
The Registry is a list, not a blocker. It does not block calls. It only tells law-abiding companies which numbers to leave alone.
Political calls remain legal even after you register, as long as they do not also include a sales pitch.
Charitable and nonprofit calls remain legal even after you register, as long as they do not also include a sales pitch.
Debt-collection calls remain legal even after you register, as long as they do not also include a sales pitch.
Purely informational calls, such as flight cancellations and appointment reminders, remain legal even after you register, as long as they do not also include a sales pitch.
Survey calls remain legal even after you register, as long as they do not also include a sales pitch.
If any of these adds a sales pitch, it loses the exemption. Two more categories also keep calling legally: companies you have recently done business with, and any company you gave written permission to call. If you ask them not to call you, they have to stop. Write down the date you asked them to stop.
Scammers and illegal robocallers ignore the law entirely, so the Registry will not stop them. For actually blocking calls, use call-blocking apps, the guidance at fcc.gov/call-blocking, and carrier-provided blocking tools. Call-labeling services identify suspicious calls so you can decide whether to answer.
Report a Telemarketer That Keeps Calling
You can file a complaint, but timing matters. Allow up to 31 days for sales calls to stop after you register. You can report illegal robocalls at any time, whether your number is on the Registry or not.
If you received an unwanted sales call and did not lose money, use the streamlined Report Unwanted Calls form at donotcall.gov. Provide the number that got the call, the date and time if known, the calling number from caller ID even if you think it was faked, any number you were told to call back, and the company name if known.
If you lost money or have information about the company or scammer who called you, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you just want to report an illegal robocall and did not lose money, use donotcall.gov.
Companies that illegally call registered numbers or place illegal robocalls can face civil penalties of up to $53,088 per violation.
Remove a Number From the Registry
You cannot remove a number through the standard online registration form. Removal is by phone only.
Call 1-888-382-1222 from the specific phone number you want to remove.
Follow the prompts to remove that number.
The number comes off the Registry the next day. Otherwise, registration never expires; the FTC only removes a number automatically if it is disconnected and reassigned, or if you ask to remove it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to re-register my number every year?
No. Registration never expires. The FTC removes a number only if it is disconnected and reassigned, or if you call and ask to remove it.
Why am I still getting calls right after registering?
Your number should appear on the Registry the next day, but telemarketers have up to 31 days to update their lists. Expect sales calls to continue for up to roughly 31 days, after which legitimate companies should stop unless an exception applies.
Does registering cost anything?
No. Registration is always free at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222. Lookalike sites that charge a fee or ask for personal data beyond your phone number and an email are not the official Registry.
Why didn't my online registration go through?
Online registration is not complete until you open the confirmation email from [email protected] and click the link within 72 hours. You get a separate email for each number, and each link must be clicked. If you missed the window, register again, or register by phone, which has no email step.
Will the Registry stop scam and robocall spam?
No. The Registry is a do-not-call list, not a call blocker, and scammers ignore it. To actually block calls, use a call-blocking app, the guidance at fcc.gov/call-blocking, or your carrier's blocking tools. Call-labeling services identify suspicious calls so you can decide whether to answer.
Can I register my number from a different phone?
Online, yes, because you type the numbers in, so any device works. By phone, no; you must call 1-888-382-1222 from the exact number you want listed.
