Block Your Number on a Single Call

You can hide your phone number from the person you are calling by adding a code before the number. On your iPhone, open the Phone app, tap the keypad, and type *67 before entering the full phone number you want to call. When you press call, your number will show as "Private" or "Blocked" on their end instead of displaying your digits.

This method works for one call at a time. After you hang up, the next call you make will show your number normally unless you use *67 again. The person you are calling will still be able to reach you if they have call return features on their phone, but your number will not appear in their recent calls list.

Some carriers charge a small fee per blocked call, though most do not. If you plan to block your number frequently, setting it as your default is more practical than typing the code each time.

Key Takeaways

  • Type *67 before any phone number in the iPhone keypad to hide your number on that single call only.
  • You can set your number to block by default through Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID, then toggle it off.
  • Blocking your number does not prevent the person from calling you back, but your digits will not appear in their phone.
  • Emergency calls to 911 will always display your real number regardless of your blocking settings.
  • Some carriers charge per blocked call when using *67, so check with your provider if you block frequently.

Set Your Number to Block on All Calls

If you want your number hidden on every call you make, you can turn off caller ID in your iPhone settings. Go to Settings, then tap Phone. Scroll down and find "Show My Caller ID" — toggle this switch to off. Now your number will appear as blocked or private on every outgoing call unless you turn the setting back on.

This setting stays in place until you change it. You do not have to type anything before each call. If you later want to show your number again, return to the same menu and toggle "Show My Caller ID" back on.

Be aware that some people may not answer calls from blocked numbers, so this approach works best if you are calling people who know you or expect your call. If you need your number to show for a specific call, you can use *82 before that number to override your blocked setting for just that one call.

When Your Number Blocks Automatically

Your carrier may block your number by default depending on your plan or region. If you notice your number never shows when you call, check your phone settings first using the steps above. If "Show My Caller ID" is already on but your number still does not appear, contact your carrier — they may have blocking enabled on your account.

Some carriers in certain countries block all caller ID by default for privacy reasons. You can usually request that your carrier turn this off if you want your number to display. Ask your carrier's customer service whether blocking is set at the account level or the phone level.

Emergency Calls Always Show Your Number

No matter what blocking settings you have in place, calling 911 will always transmit your real phone number and location to emergency dispatch. This is a legal requirement — emergency services need to know exactly where you are and how to reach you back if the call drops.

The same rule applies to other emergency numbers in your country. Your blocking settings do not override this, and there is no way to hide your number from emergency services.

Blocking Your Number vs. Blocking Incoming Calls

Hiding your outgoing number (what this article covers) is different from blocking incoming calls. If you want to prevent someone from calling you, you block their number instead. Open the Phone app, find the contact or recent call from the person you want to block, swipe left on their name, and tap "Block this Caller." They will not be able to reach you, and their calls will go straight to voicemail.

You can also block a number by opening the contact, tapping "Block this Caller" at the bottom of their card. To see all your blocked numbers, go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts. You can unblock anyone from that list by tapping "Edit" and then the minus sign next to their name.

Troubleshooting When *67 Does Not Work

If you type *67 and your number still shows on the recipient's phone, your carrier may not support this feature. Some carriers, especially on older plans or in certain regions, do not allow caller ID blocking. Contact your carrier to ask whether they support *67 blocking and whether there is a fee.

Another reason *67 might not work is if you are calling a business or government number that has special equipment to unmask blocked calls. These systems are designed to see the real number even when you try to hide it. In those cases, blocking will not prevent your number from appearing.

If your "Show My Caller ID" toggle is grayed out or will not turn off, your carrier may have locked this setting on your account. Call your carrier's customer service to ask them to unlock it so you can change it yourself.

What Happens When You Block Your Number

When your number is blocked, the person you call sees "Private," "Blocked," "Unknown," or a similar message instead of your digits. They will not know who is calling unless you tell them. If they have call return features, they may be able to dial a code to try to reach you back, but this does not always work and depends on their phone and carrier.

Blocking your number does not prevent the call from going through — it just hides your identity. The person can still answer, hear your voice, and call you back if they have your number saved in their phone or if you give it to them during the call.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does blocking my number cost money?

Most carriers do not charge for using *67 on individual calls or for turning off "Show My Caller ID" in settings. However, some carriers charge a small fee per blocked call or require a paid plan to block your number. Contact your carrier to ask whether blocking is included in your plan.

Can I block my number on text messages?

No. Text messages do not have a blocking feature like phone calls do. Your phone number will always appear as the sender of any text you send. If you want to text someone without showing your number, you would need to use a third-party messaging app that does not display your phone number.

Will the person know I blocked my number?

They will see that the call came from a blocked or private number, so they will know you hid your identity. They will not receive a notification saying you blocked it — they will just see "Private" or "Blocked" instead of your name or number on their screen.

What if someone calls me from a blocked number?

You will see "Unknown," "Private," or "Blocked" instead of their number. You can still answer the call and talk to them. If you want to block all calls from unknown numbers, go to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers to send them straight to voicemail.

Does *67 work on international calls?

*67 works on calls within the United States and Canada. For international calls, the blocking feature depends on the country you are calling. Some countries support caller ID blocking, and others do not. Your carrier can tell you whether blocking works for the specific country you want to call.