Block your number on a single call using *67

The simplest way to hide your number for one call is to dial *67 before the phone number, then press call. Your number will show as "Unknown" or "Blocked" on the recipient's phone. This works on any call you make through your iPhone's Phone app — you do not need to change any settings first.

Type the full sequence like this: *67-555-0123 (or *67 555-0123, spacing does not matter). Press the green call button. The recipient will see a blocked number instead of your caller ID. This method works whether you have a carrier plan or are using Wi-Fi calling.

One limitation: if the person you are calling has their carrier set to reject blocked calls, your call will not go through. Some businesses and government offices block all unknown callers automatically. You will hear a message saying the call cannot be completed.

Key Takeaways

  • Dial *67 before any phone number to hide your caller ID for that single call only.
  • Your number will show as "Unknown" or "Blocked" to the person receiving the call.
  • Some recipients have their phones set to reject blocked calls, so your call may not go through.
  • To hide your number on all outgoing calls, go to Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID and toggle it off.
  • Hiding your number does not prevent the recipient from seeing your number if they have call recording or a third-party app that captures blocked calls.

Hide your number on every call through iPhone Settings

If you want your number hidden on all calls you make, not just one, use your iPhone's built-in setting. Open Settings, tap Phone, then scroll down and tap Show My Caller ID. Toggle the switch to off (it will turn gray). From that point forward, every call you make will show as blocked or unknown to the recipient.

This setting applies to all calls made through your carrier — calls over Wi-Fi calling, FaceTime calls, and iMessage do not use this setting. If you turn off Show My Caller ID, FaceTime and iMessage will still show your name or number to contacts who have you saved in their phone.

You can turn this setting back on at any time by following the same path and toggling it on again. There is no limit to how many times you can change it. Your carrier does not charge extra for hiding your number.

Understand what "hiding your number" actually does and does not do

When you hide your number using *67 or the Settings toggle, you are telling your carrier not to send your caller ID information to the recipient's phone. The recipient sees "Unknown," "Blocked," "Private," or a similar message instead of your number. This is different from deleting or erasing your number — your carrier still knows who made the call, and that information is stored in your account.

Law enforcement and emergency services can still see your real number even if you hide it. If you call 911, the dispatcher will receive your location and phone number regardless of your caller ID settings. Some third-party apps and services can also capture blocked calls and display the real number, though this is less common on iPhone than on Android.

Hiding your number does not prevent the recipient from calling you back or texting you. If they have your contact saved in their phone, your name will still appear when you call them — the caller ID block only affects people who do not have you saved.

When *67 does not work or is not available

The *67 code works on most carriers in the United States, including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and most regional carriers. However, some carriers do not support it, and some countries use different codes. If you dial *67 and hear a message saying the code is not recognized, contact your carrier to ask whether they support caller ID blocking.

If you are calling internationally, *67 may not work. Different countries have different codes — for example, some European carriers use #31# instead. Check your carrier's website or call their customer service to find the correct code for the country you are calling.

Calls made through apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, or Skype do not use your phone number at all — they use your account username or the app's own calling system. These apps have their own privacy settings, separate from your iPhone's phone number settings. If you want to hide your identity on these apps, check their individual privacy settings rather than using *67.

Know the legal and practical limits of hiding your number

Hiding your caller ID is legal in the United States for personal calls. However, some states have rules about hiding your number when calling a business. For example, some states require that you identify yourself when calling a business line, even if your number is blocked. Check your state's laws if you are calling a business and want to hide your number.

Repeatedly calling someone with a blocked number and hanging up, or using a blocked number to harass or threaten someone, is illegal. Hiding your number does not protect you from legal consequences if the call itself is illegal. Law enforcement can subpoena your carrier to reveal your real number if a call is part of a criminal investigation.

If you are hiding your number to avoid spam callbacks or unwanted contact, blocking the other person's number (rather than hiding yours) is usually more effective. Go to the contact, tap Edit, scroll down, and tap Block This Caller. That person will not be able to reach you at all.

Difference between hiding your number and blocking calls

Hiding your number and blocking calls are two separate features that do different things. When you hide your number, you are preventing the recipient from seeing your caller ID — but they can still call you back if they want to. When you block a number, you are preventing that person from calling or texting you at all, and you will not see their calls or messages.

If someone is harassing you, blocking them is more effective than hiding your number. If you want to call someone without them knowing it is you, hiding your number is the right tool. If you want to prevent a specific person from reaching you, blocking is what you need.

You can also use Do Not Disturb or Focus modes to silence calls from people not in your Favorites, without actually blocking them. This lets calls through if they call twice in a row (which signals an emergency), but silences one-time calls from unknown numbers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does *67 work on FaceTime calls?

No. *67 only works on regular phone calls made through your carrier. FaceTime calls use the internet and do not use your phone number for caller ID — they show your name or the account you are signed into. To hide your identity on FaceTime, you would need to sign out of your Apple ID or create a separate account.

Can I hide my number when texting?

No. Text messages (SMS) do not support caller ID blocking. Your number will always appear in a text message. If you want to text someone anonymously, you would need to use an app like WhatsApp or Signal, which do not rely on your phone number for identity.

What if I hide my number and the person blocks unknown callers?

Your call will not go through. You will hear a message saying the call cannot be completed or the person is not accepting calls from unknown numbers. You can try calling again with your number visible (by turning Show My Caller ID back on), or you can ask the person to add your number to their contacts so they will accept your call.

Does hiding my number hide my location?

No. Hiding your caller ID only hides your phone number from the recipient's screen. Your location is not transmitted through a regular phone call unless you are using a location-sharing app. Emergency services can still see your location even if your number is hidden.

Can I hide my number on a conference call?

It depends on the conference calling service. Some services allow you to hide your number, and some do not. Check the settings in the app or service you are using. If you are using a standard phone conference bridge, dialing *67 before the conference number may work, but results vary by service.