You can hide your number on iPhone by turning on "Hide My Caller ID" in Settings

When you call someone from an iPhone, your phone number normally shows up on their screen. If you want to hide it, go to Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID and turn the toggle off. After that, your number will appear as "Unknown" or "Private" on the recipient's phone. This setting applies to all calls you make going forward until you turn it back on.

The feature works the same way whether you have an iPhone 15 or an older model running iOS 16 or later. Your carrier may also offer the same option through their own app or website, but the Settings method is the fastest way to do it on your device.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, tap Phone, then toggle off Show My Caller ID to hide your number on all outgoing calls.
  • Your number will show as "Unknown" or "Private" to the person you call, but they can still see that a call came in.
  • This setting stays on until you manually turn it back on in the same menu.
  • Some carriers charge a small fee for this feature, though most include it free with standard service plans.
  • You can also hide your number for a single call by dialing *67 before the phone number (in the US and Canada).

How to turn off caller ID for all calls

Open the Settings app on your home screen. Scroll down and tap Phone. Look for the option labeled Show My Caller ID — it will have a toggle switch next to it. Tap the toggle to turn it off. The switch will turn gray, which means your caller ID is now hidden.

Once you've done this, every call you make will hide your number. The person receiving your call won't see your phone number on their screen. If you change your mind later, you can turn the toggle back on by following the same steps.

Hiding your number for just one call using *67

If you only want to hide your number for a single call, you don't need to change your settings. In the US and Canada, dial *67 before the phone number you're calling. For example, if you're calling 555-123-4567, dial *67-555-123-4567 instead. Your number will be hidden for that call only.

After the call ends, your caller ID setting returns to whatever it was before. This method works whether you normally show your caller ID or not. If you're outside the US or Canada, the code may be different — check with your carrier for the correct prefix.

What the person receiving your call will see

When you call with your caller ID hidden, the recipient's phone will display "Unknown," "Private," "Blocked," or "No Caller ID" instead of your number. On some older phones or landlines, it may show as all zeros or dashes. The call will still ring through normally — hiding your number doesn't prevent them from answering.

If the person has call filtering turned on, hidden calls may be routed to voicemail automatically. Some people set their phones to reject unknown callers entirely, so there's no may provide they'll answer. If you need them to pick up, you may want to send a text or email first to let them know you're calling.

Why your carrier might block this feature

Most carriers in the US allow you to hide your caller ID for free, but a few charge a monthly fee — usually between $2 and $5. Some business plans or older account types may not include the feature at all. If you turn off Show My Caller ID and your number still appears on calls, contact your carrier to check whether they support it on your plan.

Certain situations may prevent caller ID blocking from working. If you're calling a business, government office, or emergency service, some systems override the setting and display your number anyway. This is a security measure to help those organizations identify callers. Prisons, hospitals, and banks often have systems that bypass caller ID blocking.

Turning caller ID back on when you need it

To show your number again, go back to Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID and toggle it back on. The toggle will turn green, and your number will display normally on your next call. You can switch this setting on and off as many times as you want.

If you used *67 for a single call, you don't need to do anything — your caller ID will return to normal automatically after that call ends. There's no setting to undo or reset.

Blocking calls versus hiding your number

Hiding your caller ID is different from blocking a caller. When you hide your number, you're controlling what shows up when you call someone else. When you block a caller, you're preventing them from reaching you. To block someone on iPhone, go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts, or open the Phone app, find the contact, tap the info icon, and select Block This Caller.

You can also hide your number and block incoming calls at the same time. These are separate features that work independently of each other.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person I call know I'm hiding my number?

Yes, they'll see "Unknown" or "Private" instead of your number, so they'll know the call is coming from someone who has hidden their caller ID. They won't know it's you specifically unless you tell them or they recognize your voice.

Can I hide my number when texting?

No, text messages always show your phone number or contact name to the recipient. The Hide My Caller ID setting only affects phone calls. If you want to text anonymously, you would need to use a third-party messaging app or a temporary phone number service.

What if I hide my number but the person still sees it?

Your carrier may not support the feature on your plan, or the recipient's phone may have settings that force all calls to display numbers. Contact your carrier to confirm they offer caller ID blocking. If they do, restart your iPhone and try again.

Does hiding my number work on FaceTime calls?

No, FaceTime calls always show your contact name or phone number to the recipient. The Hide My Caller ID setting only applies to regular phone calls made through your carrier's network, not internet-based calls like FaceTime or WhatsApp.

Can I set different caller ID settings for different contacts?

No, the Show My Caller ID setting applies to all calls you make. You can't hide your number for some contacts and show it for others. If you need that level of control, you would need to use *67 for individual calls to specific people.