Block your number on a per-call basis using *67

The fastest way to hide your number on an iPhone is to dial *67 before the phone number you're calling. This works on any iPhone model and any carrier — you don't need to change settings or install anything. When you dial *67 first, the person you're calling will see "Private Number" or "Blocked" on their end instead of your phone number.

Here's how it works: Open the Phone app, tap the keypad, then type *67 followed by the number you want to call. For example, if you're calling 555-123-4567, you would dial *67555-123-4567. Press the green call button. The call goes through normally, but your number stays hidden.

This method blocks your number for that single call only. The next time you call someone without using *67, your number will show up normally. Some people use this when calling businesses they don't want to hear from again, or when they want privacy for a one-time call.

Key Takeaways

  • Dialing *67 before any phone number hides your caller ID for that call only, and works on every iPhone and carrier.
  • Your number will show normally on all future calls unless you use *67 again.
  • Some businesses and government offices may not accept calls from blocked numbers, so the call might not go through.
  • To hide your number on all outgoing calls, you need to change your carrier settings through your phone's Settings app, not through iPhone's built-in features.
  • Hiding your number does not prevent the person from calling you back — they just won't see your number to dial.

Hide your number on every call through carrier settings

If you want your number blocked on all outgoing calls instead of just one, you'll need to contact your carrier. iPhone doesn't have a built-in setting to block your number permanently — you have to change it at the carrier level. The steps differ depending on whether you use AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, or another carrier.

For AT&T, open Settings, tap Phone, then tap Show My Caller ID. Toggle it off. If you don't see this option, call AT&T customer service at 611 from your iPhone and ask them to enable "Anonymous Call Rejection" or block your number on your account.

For Verizon, open Settings, tap Phone, then look for "Show My Caller ID." If it's not there, call 611 from your iPhone and ask Verizon to block your number on your account. Some Verizon plans don't offer this through Settings and require a phone call to activate.

For T-Mobile, open Settings, tap Phone, then tap Show My Caller ID and toggle it off. If the option doesn't appear, call 611 and ask T-Mobile to hide your number on your account.

Once you turn off "Show My Caller ID" through your carrier, your number will be blocked on every call you make. You can turn it back on the same way whenever you want to show your number again.

What happens when you block your number

When your number is blocked, the person receiving your call sees "Private Number," "Blocked," "Unknown," or no number at all — it depends on their phone and carrier. They can still answer the call and talk to you normally. The blocking only hides the digits; it doesn't change how the call works.

Some people won't answer calls from blocked numbers because they assume it's spam or a telemarketer. Businesses, government offices, and customer service lines sometimes reject blocked calls outright — the call won't go through at all. If you're calling to schedule an appointment or handle something important, the person on the other end may ask you to call back with your number showing so they can verify who you are.

If the person you called wants to reach you back, they can't dial your number because they never saw it. They would have to wait for you to call them again, or reach you through another method like email or text message.

When *67 doesn't work

The *67 method fails in a few situations. Some carriers don't support it, though most major ones do. If you dial *67 and the call still shows your number, your carrier may not offer this feature — call them to confirm.

Businesses and government offices often reject calls from blocked numbers automatically. If you're calling a bank, a doctor's office, or a government agency, they may not accept the call at all. In those cases, you'll need to call with your number showing or find another way to reach them.

If you're calling someone who has set their phone to reject private numbers, your call won't go through. They'll never know you tried to reach them. This is less common than it used to be, but some people still use this setting.

The difference between blocking your number and blocking a contact

Blocking your own number (hiding your caller ID) is different from blocking someone else's number (preventing them from calling you). When you block your number, you're hiding it from people you call. When you block a contact, you're preventing that person from reaching you.

To block a contact on iPhone, open the Phone app or Contacts, find the person's name, tap the info button (the circle with an "i"), scroll down, and tap "Block this Caller." That person can still call you, but the call goes straight to voicemail and you won't see a notification. You also won't see their texts or FaceTime calls.

These are separate features. You can hide your number while still receiving calls from someone, or you can block someone while showing your number to everyone else.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will *67 work if I'm calling from my iPhone to another iPhone?

Yes. *67 works on any call from any iPhone to any phone number, whether it's another iPhone, an Android, a landline, or a business. The person on the other end will see a blocked number regardless of what type of phone they have.

Can someone trace my number if I block it with *67?

Law enforcement and emergency services can trace blocked numbers if needed, but regular people cannot. If you call 911, your location and number are sent to emergency dispatch even if you dial *67. For non-emergency situations, your number stays hidden from the person you're calling.

If I turn off "Show My Caller ID" in Settings, can I turn it back on for one call?

No. Once you disable "Show My Caller ID" through your carrier settings, every call you make will be blocked. You can't override it for a single call. You would have to go back into Settings and turn it back on, then make the call. If you want to block only some calls, use *67 instead.

What if my carrier doesn't have a "Show My Caller ID" option in Settings?

Call your carrier's customer service line (usually 611 from your iPhone) and ask them to block your number on your account. They can do it over the phone even if the option isn't in your Settings. Ask them to confirm it's active before you hang up.

Does blocking my number prevent someone from texting me back?

Blocking your number only hides your caller ID on phone calls. It doesn't affect text messages or iMessage. If you send a text, the person will see your number normally. If you want to hide your number on texts as well, you would need to use a different phone number or a messaging app that doesn't show your real number.