If you want to hide your phone number when calling someone on your iPhone, you have a handful of options available to you. In this post, we’ll go over these options and show you how to hide your caller ID and call someone without showing your number.
Hide your caller ID for all calls
Of the three options we are going to look at today, this is probably the most convenient one. By opening the Settings app on your iPhone and going to Phone > Show My Caller ID, you can toggle off a button that will make your phone number private, at least until you turn the toggle back on.
For all new calls you place from your iPhone, your phone number will be hidden, even if you call people that are in your contacts.
If the Show My Caller ID switch in iPhone Settings is grayed out and unusable, that means your carrier doesn’t support hiding caller ID via this method. Try hiding your caller ID by using a special block code or contact your carrier.
Make sure to check the FAQs if this doesn’t work for you.
Use a caller ID block code
If you aren’t looking for a long-term solution but would rather call a specific person without showing your number, you can block your caller ID on a per-call basis using a special code as a prefix to the number you want to call.
In the US, that code is *67. In certain European countries, that code is #31#.
These codes are country (and carrier) specific. So your best bet is to Google something like “caller ID block code in Australia” or whatever your country may be. You can also find the caller ID block codes for several countries on this Wikipedia page.
Once you know your block code, it’s as simple as dialing it, followed by the phone number you want to call. For instance, in the US, what you would dial would look like *67 408-996-1010.
As mentioned, this is a code you should use on a per-call basis. It is particularly handy if you don’t want to hide your caller ID on all outgoing calls but rather on a specific call made to a particular recipient.
Make your number private at the carrier level
Depending on your carrier, you might have the option to disable your caller ID at the account level. To find out, you should either call your carrier, visit its website or app and see if the option is available to you.
However, make sure you inquire about possible fees as some carriers are still charging for this basic feature. For this reason, and because it requires extra work to implement, this is my least favorite method of blocking caller ID, but just know it is an option.
FAQs about hiding your caller ID
Here are some of the important questions and answers related to hiding your caller ID.
Is hiding caller ID available in all countries and with all carriers?
The option to hide caller ID isn’t available everywhere – at least by simpler methods. Plus, not all carriers support this. And even when a carrier supports hiding the caller ID, the process to enable it may be different.
For example, with Verizon and Sprint, you may be able to hide the caller ID only by using their website or contacting them. It may not work when you follow the method of disabling caller ID via the iPhone Settings app.
Is it legal to hide your caller ID?
In the United States, courts have ruled that you’re allowed to hide your caller ID. But it is illegal to hide your caller ID if your motive behind this has malicious intent like causing harm, doing fraud, cheating, etc.
For transparency, telemarketers aren’t allowed to hide caller ID.
Can I call emergency numbers by hiding my caller ID?
Even if you have hidden your caller ID, your phone number will still be visible if you call emergency services like 911 or most customer support.
Why I’m unable to make calls when caller ID is disabled?
Some carriers do not allow you to make calls with your caller ID disabled. For example, a while back, I turned off my caller ID on my iPhone, and calls repeatedly failed – almost instantly. Once I turned on Show Caller ID, everything became normal.
I have hidden my caller ID but my phone number still shows when I call someone!
This is because hiding caller ID isn’t available in your country, state, or with your carrier. It’s also likely that the method you followed to hide caller ID isn’t supported for that carrier. For example, with my country’s largest carrier, even after I turn off Show My Caller ID in iPhone settings, it still shows my number to the recipient. In short, nothing happens.
The surest way to hide your caller ID is by using your carrier’s app or website or contacting them directly. They may ask your purpose for doing so. Make sure you have a good reason.
Is hiding caller ID free?
Yes, you can hide your caller ID for free. However, it would be best to confirm with your carrier.
Any other solution when I can’t hide my caller ID?
If you’re unable to hide your caller ID by any of the methods mentioned here and on other sites, you can:
- Use third-party apps: You can try apps that give you a second phone number or make calls using an anonymous number without revealing your actual personal number. These services are mostly paid. Some examples are Hushed, Burner, and Text Free.
- Port your number: Talk to another carrier and explain that you want to move from your current carrier to theirs to get the option of hiding the caller ID. If they support this, this is one option you may explore.
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