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. companies they may not call you.
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 verified 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 verify@donotcall.gov, 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 verify@donotcall.gov. 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.
- 1.From the phone you want to register, dial 1-888-382-1222, the FTC's free Do Not Call line.
- 2.Follow the automated prompts to register the number you are calling from.
- 3.Repeat the call separately from each additional phone you want to register (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 appears on the Registry the day after you sign up, so check the following day rather than immediately.
- 1.Go to donotcall.gov and open the verify page.
- 2.Enter the phone number and submit the form to see whether it is listed.
- 3.Alternatively, call 1-888-382-1222 from the number you want to check.
Expect Calls for Up to 31 More Days
Your number shows 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. The FTC states it "does not and cannot block calls." It only tells law-abiding companies which numbers to leave alone.
These calls remain legal even after you register, as long as they do not also include a sales pitch:
- Political calls
- Charitable and nonprofit calls
- Debt-collection calls
- Purely informational calls, such as flight cancellations and appointment reminders
- Survey calls
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.
Scammers and illegal robocallers ignore the law entirely, so the Registry will not stop them. For actually blocking calls, the FTC and state consumer offices point people to call-blocking and call-labeling apps, the guidance at fcc.gov/call-blocking, and carrier-provided blocking tools.
Report a Telemarketer That Keeps Calling
You can file a complaint, but timing matters. Calls placed within the first 31 days after you register are not yet violations, so report a company only after 31 days have passed and unwanted sales calls continue.
- 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, the calling number from caller ID if available, and the company name if known.
- If you lost money or it was a scam, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For an illegal robocall, choose the "Just An Annoying Call" category.
Companies that illegally call registered numbers or place illegal robocalls can be fined up to $50,120 per call, though that penalty does not technically stop the calls from reaching you.
Remove a Number From the Registry
You cannot remove a number through the standard online registration form. Removal is by phone only.
- 1.Call 1-888-382-1222 from the specific phone number you want to remove.
- 2.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 appears 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.
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 verify@donotcall.gov 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 or call-labeling app, the guidance at fcc.gov/call-blocking, or your carrier's blocking tools.
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.
