What you can and cannot change about your caller ID
iPhone does not let you change what appears on someone else's phone when you call them — that information comes from your carrier, not your device. What you can control is what name or number shows up when you receive calls, and whether your own number displays to people you call.
The distinction matters. If you want outgoing calls to show a different number, you need your carrier's permission and a service plan that supports it. If you want to hide your number from people you call, you can do that in Settings right now. If you want incoming calls to display a custom name instead of a number, that happens through your Contacts app.
This guide covers what you can actually control on your device, what requires your carrier, and where the confusion usually starts.
Key Takeaways
- You cannot change the number that appears on someone else's phone when you call — that comes from your carrier's records, not your iPhone.
- You can hide your number from outgoing calls by turning on "Show My Caller ID" toggle in Settings, then turning it off.
- You can assign custom names to incoming callers in your Contacts app, which will display instead of their number when they call.
- To change the number that shows on outgoing calls, you need to contact your carrier — some offer services like call forwarding or business lines that display differently.
- Spoofing your caller ID to impersonate someone else is illegal; changing what shows on your own outgoing calls for legitimate reasons requires carrier support.
Hide your number from outgoing calls
Open Settings and scroll to Phone. Tap Phone, then look for "Show My Caller ID" — the toggle should be on (green). Tap it to turn it off. Now when you call someone, their phone will show "Unknown," "Private," or "Blocked" instead of your number.
This setting applies to all your outgoing calls unless you turn it back on. If you want to hide your number on just one call, you can dial *67 before the number on most carriers — the call will show as blocked on that single call, then your normal setting resumes.
Note that some people have settings that reject calls from blocked numbers, so they may not receive your call at all. Emergency services (911) will always see your real number regardless of this setting.
Assign custom names to incoming callers
When someone calls you, iPhone displays either their name (if they are in your Contacts) or their number. You control what name appears by editing their contact card. Open Contacts, find the person, tap Edit, and change their name to whatever you want to see when they call.
This does not change what they see when you call them — it only changes what appears on your phone. You can use this to label people by relationship, nickname, business, or any other way that helps you recognize them at a glance.
If you want to see a custom name for someone who is not in your Contacts yet, add them first. Tap the + button in Contacts, enter their phone number, give them a name, and save. The next time they call, your custom name will appear.
Change the number on outgoing calls through your carrier
If you want a different number to appear when you call someone — not hidden, but a specific alternate number — you need to contact your carrier directly. This is not an iPhone setting. Your carrier controls what number displays on outgoing calls, and changing it requires their support.
Common reasons carriers allow this: you have a business line and a personal line on the same account, you use call forwarding and want your forwarded number to show instead of your main number, or you have a VoIP service that uses a different number. Some carriers offer services like Google Voice or similar apps that let you choose which number displays, but these are carrier or third-party services, not iPhone features.
Call your carrier's customer service and ask whether they support changing your outgoing caller ID. Have your account number ready. They will tell you whether it is possible on your plan and what the process is.
Why you cannot spoof your caller ID on iPhone
Caller ID spoofing — making your number appear as someone else's number — is illegal in most places under laws like the Truth in Caller ID Act. iPhone does not provide a built-in way to do this, and third-party apps that claim to offer it are either scams or violate your carrier's terms of service.
If an app in the App Store claims to let you change your caller ID to any number you want, it is either lying about what it does or it will get your account suspended when your carrier detects it. Do not use these apps.
The only legal way to have a different number appear on outgoing calls is through your carrier's official services — a second line, call forwarding, or a business service they support. If you need this, contact them directly.
Understand what your carrier controls
Your carrier (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, or another provider) maintains the database that tells other people's phones what number is calling them. When you dial someone, your phone sends the call to your carrier's network, and your carrier decides what caller ID information to send along with it.
This is why changing a setting on your iPhone cannot change what appears on someone else's phone — your phone never had that information to begin with. Your carrier is the middleman between your call and the other person's phone.
The only exception is if you use a third-party calling app like WhatsApp, Telegram, or Google Voice. These apps use the internet instead of your carrier's network, so they can display whatever name or number the app is set up with. But these are app-based calls, not regular phone calls, and the other person must have the same app installed.
Use a third-party calling app if you need flexibility
If you want more control over how your number appears, consider using a calling app instead of your carrier's phone service. Google Voice is free and lets you choose a separate phone number that displays when you call through the app. WhatsApp, Telegram, and similar apps display your name as you set it in the app, not a phone number.
The catch: the other person must be able to receive calls through that app or service. A regular phone call through your carrier will still show your carrier's number. These apps are useful if you are calling other people who also use them, or if you want a business number separate from your personal number.
read the app from the App Store, set it up with a phone number or account, and choose your display name or number in the app's settings. When you call through the app instead of the Phone app, your chosen caller ID will display.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my caller ID to a fake number?
No. Spoofing your caller ID to display a number that is not yours is illegal. Your carrier controls what number displays on outgoing calls, and they will not allow you to impersonate someone else. Third-party apps that claim to offer this are either scams or will result in your account being suspended.
Why does my caller ID show a different number than I expect?
Your carrier may be displaying a different number if you have call forwarding enabled, if you are on a business plan with multiple lines, or if your account settings were changed. Contact your carrier to confirm what number is set as your outgoing caller ID. They can see this in your account and change it if needed.
Does turning off "Show My Caller ID" work on all carriers?
It works on most carriers in the United States, but some carriers or plans may not support it. If you turn it off and your number still appears, contact your carrier — they may need to enable the feature on your account, or your plan may not support it.
Can I use *67 to block my number on every call?
*67 blocks your number on a single call only. To block it on all calls, use the "Show My Caller ID" toggle in Settings instead. Dialing *67 is useful if you normally want your number to show but need to hide it for one specific call.
If I use WhatsApp or Google Voice, what caller ID will show?
WhatsApp displays your name as you set it in the app, not a phone number. Google Voice displays the Google Voice number you were assigned when you set up the service. Both only work when the other person receives the call through that app or service — regular phone calls through your carrier will still show your carrier number.