Old School Pager and Beeper Codes You Should Know

Before cell phones and texting were a thing, people in the 90s used pagers to send and receive messages. Even though beepers only display numbers, you could still have full conversations using pager codes. Sets of numbers stood in for specific words or phrases, and we’re here to help you translate their hidden meanings! Keep reading, and we’ll cover the most common pager codes for sharing information, spreading the love, and socializing with friends.

Old Pager Codes: Quick Guide

121 = I need to talk to you
143 = I love you
183 = I’m busy
195 = See you tonight
411 = I have a question
99 = Goodnight or Nighty-night
911 = Important emergency, call me now
07734 = Hello

Section 1 of 8:

Common Pager Codes from the 90s

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These codes were some of the most common for easy communication. Pagers were all the rage before cell phones, but they could only receive number codes instead of letters. People started assigning meanings to specific strings of numbers to chat and quickly convey information when they were out and about.^{[1]
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- 17 = No
- 25 = Sorry
- 99 = Goodnight or Nighty-night
- 100 = Available
- 121 = I need to talk to you
- 143 = I love you
- 157 = Keep in touch
- 187 = I hate you
- 220 = Where are you?
- 265 = Check your mail
- 290 = I don’t have my pager today
- 333 = What’s up?
- 345 = Thank you
- 346 = Call back please
- 370 = Congratulations
- 411 = I have a question
- 424 = Call me back
- 435 = Yes
- 46*73 = Good night, sweet dreams
- 480 = Let me know
- 504 = Urgent
- 505 = SOS
- 601 = Happy birthday
- 607 = I miss you
- 911 = Important emergency, call me now

Section 2 of 8:

Pager Code Alphabet

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Each letter has a number code so you can spell words. Even though some pager codes represent a longer phrase, each letter is assigned a number that looks visually similar. If you need to spell out a word that doesn’t already have a code, replace the letters in the word with its number to send your message. Just be careful while you’re decoding—some letters have the same number code!^{[2]
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- A = 6 or 8
- B = 8
- C = 6
- D = 0
- E = 3
- F = 4
- G = 6
- H = 4
- I = 1
- J = 7
- K = 15
- L = 7
- M = 177
- N = 17
- O = 0
- P = 9
- Q = 0
- R = 12
- S = 5
- T = 7
- U = 11
- V = 11
- W = 111
- X = 25
- Y = 4
- Z = 2

Section 3 of 8:

Word Lookalike Pager Codes

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Some pager codes spell out full words. When there’s a short message you need to send, you can replace the letters with numbers using the pager code alphabet. Some codes may look like nonsense at first, but they reveal a hidden message if you flip the numbers upside-down.
- 14 = Hi
- 07734 = Hello
- 04111*553116 = Guess who
- 1*177155*4011 = I miss you
- 11*31107*1 = I love you
- 1114153*119 = Wake up
- 334*334 = Hee hee
- 35006*17715 = Silly goose
- 3838*07734 = Hello baby
- 41*705312 = Hi loser
- 508*508 = Sob sob
- 533*11*787312 = See you later
- 60*401773 = Go home
- 6000*843 = Goodbye
- 6000*171647 = Good night

Section 4 of 8:

Pager Codes for Love

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Send a quick, loving message to a significant other. Besides the 143 pager code, many other quick codes can help you spread the love. When you want to convey a sweet message to someone special, try using any of these codes.
- 10 = You’re perfect
- 15 = Hugs
- 16 = Kisses
- 23 = Te amo
- 56 = Sweet dreams
- 90 = You’re beautiful
- 122 = I want you
- 123 = I miss you
- 124 = I’m dreaming of you
- 1038 = Can’t stop loving you
- 1432 = I love you too
- 1437 = I love you forever
- 1543 = I still love you
- 1925 = Let’s go out
- 1432222222 = I love you so much
- 15243 = Be with me
- 242 = Hey lover
- 243 = We love you
- 280 = My sexy baby
- 305 = I love you back
- 333 = Love
- 385 = Hey cutie
- 341 = I like you
- 404 = I will always love you
- 406 = Hugs and kisses
- 444 = I want love
- 522 = Think of me
- 5280 = Be mine
- 50538 = Besos
- 619 = Wish you were here
- 637 = Always and forever
- 757 = I miss my baby
- 823 = Thinking of you
- 831 = I love you (8 letters, 3 words, 1 meaning)
- 9143 = Do you love me?

Section 5 of 8:

Social Pager Codes

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Send these codes to friends when you want to connect. When you’re chatting with friends, pager codes are great for having simple conversations or making plans. Whether you’re asking about a hangout or just want to make your friends feel warm and fuzzy, try out any of these quick codes.
- 074 = I need a favor
- 108 = Come over
- 195 = See you tonight
- 237 = Are you alone?
- 301 = Is this a bad time to call?
- 3293 = Can’t wait!
- 340 = I owe you one
- 342 = See you later
- 390 = Best of luck to you
- 414141 = Sorry to bother you
- 420 = You’re in trouble, buddy
- 477 = Best friends forever
- 5*0 = Are you booked?
- 525 = Going to the party
- 533 = Where are you?
- 603 = Hope you’re feeling better
- 614 = Calling to say hi
- 666 = Can’t go out
- 6771 = Good friend
- 789 = Going to the mall
- 7179 = Best friend
- 7942 = From your friend
- 8558 = Waiting for your call
- 9339 = Some other time
- 9500 = Friends

Section 6 of 8:

Funny Pager Codes

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Use these humorous beeper codes when you need a laugh. Even though pager codes are short and sweet, they can still have a really funny meaning behind them. Whether you’re making a joke or just want to make your message more light-hearted, these codes are perfect for setting the tone.
- 0*0 = Ruh roh!
- 30 = This is getting old
- 125 = I’m bored
- 1423 = I want to die
- 2*2 = Let’s dance!
- 222 = Busted
- 303 = Stop playing
- 400 = Want to hear something stupid?
- 405 = I’ve got a secret
- 415 = Adjust your attitude
- 460 = Mind your own business
- 440 = Hey clown, cheer up
- 490 = You’re in loony land
- 66 = Let’s hit the road
- 707 = Laugh out loud
- 1701 = Live long and prosper
- 1776 = You’re sickening
- 7007 = You’re a joke
- 7735 = Sell out
- 8255 = Get your butt over here now
- 54321 = I’m ready to explode
- 90210 = What a snob
- 07700 = Hahaha!
- 01*01*01 = Don’t have a cow!
- 11111111 = Congratulations!
- 10000 = Let’s go for a swim

Section 7 of 8:

Informative Pager Codes

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Relay plans and important info quickly with these codes. If you’re trying to quickly plan a hangout or need to let someone know what’s happening, pager codes can also represent different times or requests you have for other people.
- 011 = Monday
- 020 = Plans changed
- 022 = Tuesday
- 033 = Wednesday
- 044 = Thursday
- 055 = Friday
- 066 = Saturday
- 077 = Sunday
- 099 = Too late to call
- 178 = Call you back later
- 180 = Yesterday
- 183 = I’m busy
- 177117 = Minutes
- 205 = On my way home
- 207 = Meet me
- 209 = On my way
- 214 = Received your message
- 215 = Running late
- 240 = Tomorrow
- 245 = I am okay or Everything is okay
- 270 = Cancel previous page
- 288 = Today
- 321 = Please reply
- 372 = What are you doing?
- 506 = Quickly

Section 8 of 8:

Pager Codes FAQs

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Pager codes made it quick to send longer messages before texting was even a thing. Pagers became the most popular in the 90s before everyone had cell phones and could text each other. If you needed to communicate something quickly but someone was out and about, a pager code could relay the message with just a few numbers.
Each pager has its own number that you can call from a regular phone. Once you dial the number, you’ll be prompted to enter the numerical code that you want to send. Enter the numbers on the keypad for the pager code you want to send. Then, you typically hit the pound sign (#) to send your message.^{[3]
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How do you know who sent a pager code? Many people set up personal pager codes to ID themselves at the start of a message. Typically, a personal pager code is someone’s name or initials replaced with numbers, but people can choose whichever string of letters they want. Before the actual message, people would send their personal code to let you know who it’s from.
- Example: Someone named Tim might use the personal code 71111 to spell out their name.
  - If Tim were sending the pager code for “I love you” to someone, the full message would be 71111*143.
4
Do pagers still work? Pagers still work in some areas, but coverage may be spotty. Some larger cities still have working pager networks so you can receive messages, but more rural areas may not get good pager service.^{[4]
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- Pagers may also be set up on local networks to send quick updates to staff members.
5
Who still uses pagers? While pagers were popular with teenagers and adults in the 90s, hospitals and medical staff are the primary users of pagers today. Pagers are a lot easier to reach a large number of people in case of an emergency, so they send out codes instead of making an announcement or calling on the phone.^{[5]
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- Some criminals may also use pagers because they are harder to track than cell phones, but it’s not as common.

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Even if you don’t have pagers, share the codes with your friends so they can understand any quick text messages you send them.

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