Block Your Number Before the Call Goes Through

You can hide your phone number from the person you're calling by turning on Hide My Caller ID in your iPhone settings. This setting prevents your number from appearing on the recipient's phone or caller ID display — they'll see "Unknown," "Private," or nothing at all instead. The setting applies to all outgoing calls unless you turn it off again.

The steps are the same whether you have a carrier plan with a phone number or use an internet-based service like WhatsApp or FaceTime. Once enabled, every call you make will hide your number until you disable the feature.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID and toggle it off to hide your number on all outgoing calls.
  • Your carrier must support this feature — most do, but some prepaid plans or international carriers may not offer it.
  • You can hide your number for all calls or use *67 before each individual number to hide it for just that call.
  • The person you call will still see your number if they have your contact saved in their phone, depending on their carrier and device.
  • FaceTime and iMessage show your Apple ID or phone number separately and have their own privacy settings in the same menu.

Turn Off Caller ID in iPhone Settings

Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap Phone. Scroll down and find Show My Caller ID. Tap the toggle next to it to turn it off — the toggle will turn gray when disabled. This change takes effect immediately on your next outgoing call.

If you don't see this option, your carrier may not support caller ID blocking, or you may be using a service that doesn't have this feature. Contact your carrier to confirm whether they offer it.

Hide Your Number for One Call at a Time

If you want to keep your caller ID visible for most calls but hide it for specific ones, use *67 before dialing. Type *67, then the phone number you want to call, and press the call button. Your number will be hidden for that call only, and your caller ID will show normally on your next call.

This method works on any iPhone and doesn't require changing your settings. Some carriers may not support *67, so if it doesn't work, try contacting your carrier to see what code they use instead.

Check Your Carrier's Support and Limitations

Most major carriers — AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and others — support caller ID blocking, but the feature may not be available on all plan types. Prepaid plans, some business accounts, and certain international carriers sometimes restrict this feature. Your carrier may also charge a small monthly fee, though most include it at no extra cost.

If you're not sure whether your carrier supports it, call their customer service line or check your account online. They can confirm whether the feature is available on your plan and help you enable it if it's not showing up in your settings.

What the Person You Call Will See

When you hide your caller ID, the recipient typically sees "Unknown," "Private," "Blocked," or no number at all — the exact display depends on their phone type and carrier. However, if they have your number saved in their contacts, some phones and carriers will still show your name even when your number is hidden.

Hiding your caller ID does not prevent the call from being logged on their phone bill or in their carrier's records. It only hides the number from appearing on their device's display.

Hide Your Number on FaceTime and iMessage

FaceTime and iMessage use your Apple ID or phone number, and they have separate privacy settings from regular phone calls. Open Settings, tap FaceTime or Messages, and look for options to change how you appear to others. You can choose to show your Apple ID, phone number, or both.

These settings don't hide your identity the way caller ID blocking does — the person will still know it's you if you're in their contacts. Instead, they control which contact method (Apple ID or phone number) appears when you reach out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know I blocked my number?

They'll see that the call came from a hidden or unknown number, so they'll know you didn't want your number displayed. They won't know it's you unless you tell them or they recognize your voice. Some people may not answer calls from unknown numbers.

Can I hide my number on international calls?

It depends on the country you're calling and your carrier. Some countries don't support caller ID blocking, and international carriers have different rules. Try using *67 first, or contact your carrier to ask whether they support it for the specific country you're calling.

What if Hide My Caller ID is grayed out?

Your carrier doesn't support the feature on your plan, or you're using a service that doesn't have this option. Contact your carrier to ask whether it's available, whether it costs extra, or whether you need to switch to a different plan to use it.

Does hiding my number work on Do Not Disturb or blocked contacts?

Hiding your number is separate from Do Not Disturb and contact blocking. If someone has blocked your number, hiding your caller ID won't let the call through. Do Not Disturb settings work independently of whether your number is hidden.

Can I hide my number on emergency calls?

No. Emergency calls (911 in the US) always transmit your number to the dispatcher, even if you have caller ID blocking turned on. This is required by law so emergency services can locate you.