You can hide your caller ID on iPhone in two ways: through your carrier settings or by using *67 before each call

When you call someone on iPhone, they normally see your phone number on their screen. If you want to block that number from showing up, you have two options. The first is a permanent setting you change once in your phone's settings, which hides your number on every call you make. The second is typing *67 before you dial, which hides your number just for that one call. Which one you use depends on whether you want to hide your number all the time or just sometimes.

Both methods work the same way technically: they send your call without the caller ID information attached. The person you call will see "Unknown," "Blocked," or "Private Number" instead of your actual number. This is different from blocking someone — you are still reaching them, they just cannot see who is calling.

Key Takeaways

  • Typing *67 before any phone number hides your caller ID for just that single call and works on any iPhone without changing settings.
  • To hide your number on every call, go to Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID and turn the toggle off, though this requires your carrier to support the feature.
  • Not all carriers allow you to hide your caller ID permanently — some require you to contact them directly to enable it.
  • Emergency calls to 911 will show your real number even if you have caller ID blocking turned on.
  • The person you call will see "Unknown" or "Blocked" instead of your number, but they can still choose not to answer.

Using *67 for a single call

The *67 method is the quickest way to hide your number for one call. Open the Phone app, tap the keypad, and type *67 followed by the phone number you want to call. Then press the call button as normal. Your number will not show up on their end.

This works on every iPhone and every carrier — you do not need to change any settings or contact your carrier first. If you forget to type *67 and already dialed the number, you can hang up, go back to the keypad, and start over. The *67 only applies to that specific call, so your next call will show your number normally unless you type *67 again.

One thing to know: some phone systems, like business phone lines and government offices, can still see your real number even when you use *67. They have equipment that strips away the caller ID block. Most personal phones and regular businesses cannot do this, but it is worth knowing the method is not foolproof.

Turning off caller ID in your iPhone settings

If you want to hide your number on every call without typing *67 each time, go to Settings on your iPhone, then tap Phone, then tap Show My Caller ID. You will see a toggle switch — turn it off. From that point on, your number will be hidden on all outgoing calls.

Before you do this, check with your carrier. Not every carrier supports this feature through the iPhone settings. If you turn the toggle off and it does not work, your carrier may require you to call them directly to enable caller ID blocking on your account. Some carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile all support it, but the process and availability can vary.

If the toggle is grayed out and you cannot turn it off, that means your carrier does not support the feature through iPhone settings. In that case, you will need to contact your carrier's customer service and ask them to block your caller ID on your account. They can usually do it over the phone in a few minutes.

What the person you call will see

When you hide your caller ID, the person on the other end will see one of a few things: "Unknown Number," "Blocked," "Private Number," or "No Caller ID." The exact wording depends on their phone type and carrier, but they will know the call is coming in without your number attached.

Many people do not answer calls from unknown numbers, so hiding your caller ID might mean they let it go to voicemail. If you need them to pick up, you may want to send them a text first or call from a different number so they know it is you. Hiding your number is useful for privacy, but it can also make people less likely to answer.

Emergency calls always show your real number

No matter what settings you have turned on, if you call 911, your real phone number will be sent to the emergency dispatcher. This is a legal requirement — emergency services need to know where you are calling from in case the call drops or you cannot speak. The *67 method does not block 911, and the caller ID blocking setting does not block 911 either.

This is true even if you have caller ID blocking turned on permanently. The moment you dial 911, the system overrides your privacy setting and sends your location and number. This is why you should never test 911 to see if it works — it will send real information to real emergency responders.

Why you might want to hide your number

People hide their caller ID for different reasons. Some do it for privacy when calling businesses or services where they do not want their number recorded. Others use it when calling someone they do not know well and want to keep their number private until they decide to share it. Some people hide their number on every call because they prefer not to be called back by strangers.

Hiding your caller ID is legal in most places when you do it for legitimate reasons. However, repeatedly calling someone and hiding your number to harass or threaten them is illegal. The same goes for using a hidden number to commit fraud or scams. If you are hiding your number for a lawful reason — like privacy or safety — you are fine.

The difference between hiding your number and blocking someone

Hiding your caller ID and blocking someone are two different things. When you hide your caller ID, you are still calling them — they just cannot see your number. When you block someone, they cannot call you at all, and if they try, the call goes straight to voicemail or they get a message that the number is not available.

If you want to block someone from calling you instead of hiding your own number, go to the Phone app, find their contact, tap the info button, and scroll down to Block This Caller. That prevents them from reaching you. Hiding your number is about controlling what information you send out; blocking is about controlling who can reach you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will *67 work if I call someone who has blocked me?

No. If someone has blocked your number, using *67 will not get around it. The block is on your phone number itself, not on the caller ID information. Your call will still go to their voicemail or be rejected, whether they can see your number or not.

Can I hide my number on FaceTime or iMessage?

No. FaceTime and iMessage use your Apple ID or phone number to identify you, and there is no built-in way to hide that. If you want to use FaceTime or iMessage without showing your number, you would need to create a separate Apple ID that the person does not know is you.

What if the toggle for Show My Caller ID is grayed out?

A grayed-out toggle means your carrier does not support caller ID blocking through the iPhone settings. Call your carrier's customer service line and ask them to enable caller ID blocking on your account. They can usually do it when ready, and then the toggle should become active in your settings.

Does hiding my caller ID affect my voicemail?

No. If someone calls you and you do not answer, your voicemail greeting will still play normally. Hiding your caller ID only affects outgoing calls you make, not incoming calls or voicemail.

Can I hide my number on group calls or conference calls?

It depends on the service. On a regular phone conference call, using *67 before dialing the conference number will hide your number. On apps like Zoom or Google Meet, your caller ID setting does not explore — those apps show whatever name or email you signed in with.