There are four methods to obtain your Airtel call record: sending a message to 121 (for prepaid users), through the Airtel Thanks app, the Airtel account via airtel.in, and the Airtel customer care service. In addition, postpaid customers can find their Airtel call record in their detailed bill.
When it comes to your call records on your phone, there are times when that would not be enough. It is either because you deleted them, you replaced your phone, or you want confirmation of a call you made a few months back. There is an opportunity to achieve it, and Airtel holds the record. This is a list of everything you need to know about it.
Which method should you use?
|
Method |
Works for |
Time |
History you get |
|
SMS to 121 |
Prepaid |
Up to 6 hours |
Once per month, going back as far as 6 months |
|
Airtel Thanks app |
Prepaid and postpaid (options differ by account) |
Minutes |
Recent calls, or a detailed bill for a chosen period |
|
Airtel website (airtel.in) |
Prepaid and postpaid |
Minutes |
Date range you choose |
|
Customer care (121 / 198) |
Both |
Same day, depends on the agent |
Whatever the agent can verify and send |
|
Postpaid itemized bill |
Postpaid |
On bill date |
Full month, call by call |
Method 1: Get Airtel prepaid call history by SMS
This is the most effective method of obtaining your prepaid number and it is available on Airtel’s support website. The service sends an email with the call detail file.
- Open the Messages app on the phone that has your Airtel SIM.
- Start a new message to 121.
- Type: EPREBILL MONTH youremail@example.com and replace MONTH with the first three letters of the month you want, for example JAN, MAR or OCT.
- Send it. You will get a confirmation SMS.
- Check your inbox. The file usually arrives within six hours.
Things to know before you send it:
- The charges associated with this bill are free according to Airtel. The charges that will be applied are listed below.
- The request can be made for only one month through each SMS. Six SMSes need to be sent for six months.
- The month needs to be from approximately the last 180 days.
- The file comes password-protected. Your date of birth in combination with the last four numbers of your mobile number acts as the password.
- The SMS has to be sent from your Airtel mobile number itself. Any other number will be automatically rejected.
Method 2: Use the Airtel Thanks app
It is the fastest way, if the feature is present in your app. In the case of Airtel, the menu has undergone some changes; hence, the names can vary a little bit in your app.
- Update your Airtel Thanks application from the Play Store or App Store.
- Login using your Airtel phone number along with the OTP.
- Go to the Manage Account menu (account tab) on the homepage and look for Call History/Usage Details.
- Postpaid customers: touch your plan or invoice, open Bill & Plan, then click on Get Detailed Bills, select period.
- Download the file or view it in the app.
However, if there is no option for call history, then this could be due to the type of your account and application version. In such a case, the SMS process should be used.
Method 3: Use the Airtel website
- Go to airtel.in and log in with your number and OTP.
- Open My Account, then Usage Details.
- Choose Call History and select your date range.
- Download the statement.
Ensure that your address bar displays airtel.in before entering the OTP. Such scams do happen.
Method 4: Call Airtel customer care
Use 121 to get information on anything else. The customer service number for Airtel is 198. Choose the option to speak with an executive, request him to provide your call details of your number and then be ready to provide your identification. You may be required to give your name or alternate phone number or email id by the executive and ask him to mail it to you.
Postpaid users: use your itemized bill
The postpaid call details lie within the itemized section of the bill. The billing guidelines of Airtel state that you can ask for an itemized bill for any previous bill via SMS using the following code: EBILL youremail@example.com MONTH to 121. Charges for an itemized bill and a duplicate bill have undergone changes over the years. Therefore, always check the printout at the back of your bill.
What your Airtel call history shows
The report provides the number, date, time, duration, and nature of the service charged. Based on the type of plan being used, the report can contain SMS services, data transactions, and recharges. The free incoming calls are not always included in the billing report; therefore, consider it as billing details and not as calling detail records.
Common problems and quick fixes
- There has been no response after the SMS: Please check EPREBILL, month, and the email. One mistake can make it null and void.
- Email does not get delivered: Wait for the full six hours, then check your spam folder. Resend your request using another email address.
- Rejected month: This month is likely not within the 180 days time frame. Choose a newer one.
- No call history function within the application: This feature is not available for your account type or application version. Please use SMS or the website.
- Could not open the file: Your password is your birth date together with the last four digits of your number. Follow the format indicated by Airtel in the email.
Privacy and legal points
Call details will be provided only to the holder of that number by Airtel. Any person who promises call details from someone else’s number on an online platform is either a fraudster or a culprit, and there is no point in paying them anything or giving them your OTP. If you require call details for the purpose of court cases or for any other legal issue such as police complaint, the process needs to be done via the police or court order or by the legal department of Airtel, not by the regular procedure mentioned above.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get Airtel call history for the last 6 months?
Yes. Prepaid numbers should send one SMS per month to 121. Postpaid users who need their old itemized bills can also do this.
Is Airtel call history free?
Airtel says that this prepaid SMS service does not cost anything. Some postpaid itemized or duplicate bills have had a charge on them, so you should check yours.
Can I see the call history of someone else’s Airtel number?
No. Only the legal owner can make such a request. For some people, court order is necessary.
How long does Airtel keep call records?
There is no single period that Airtel provides for. The reality of the matter is that the self-service periods go as far back as six months ago.
Why is the SMS method not working for my number?
Possible reasons for rejection may include a typo in the format, wrong month, or using the wrong SIM card to send it. Fix the above issues and resend it.
Can I delete my Airtel call history?
While you may erase the log in your phone, Airtel’s billing records will remain within the company.
Final word
The fastest and reliable method will be the SMS to 121 for most individuals, and the application and website are accessible whenever this option is available for your account. Ask for the month that you require immediately, since older data tends to be more difficult to access. Airtel may vary its menu and pricing, so you may check its help page.