Block your number for a single call or all calls

iPhone gives you two ways to hide your phone number from the person you are calling. You can block it for one call at a time, or you can turn on a setting that hides your number on every call you make. The method you choose depends on whether you want to hide your number permanently or just for specific calls.

Both methods work on any iPhone model running iOS 14 or later. The settings are built into the Phone app and do not require any third-party software or carrier approval, though some carriers may override these settings in certain situations.

Key Takeaways

  • You can hide your number for a single call by dialing *67 before the phone number, then pressing the call button.
  • To hide your number on all outgoing calls, go to Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID and toggle it off.
  • Blocking your number does not prevent the recipient from seeing it if they have caller ID blocking detection enabled through their carrier.
  • Emergency calls to 911 will always show your real phone number, even if you have caller ID blocking turned on.
  • Some carriers charge a monthly fee for permanent caller ID blocking, while the per-call method is free.

Hide your number for one call using *67

The quickest way to block your number on a single call is to use the *67 code. Open the Phone app, tap the keypad icon at the bottom, and type *67 followed by the phone number you want to call. When you press the green call button, your number will appear as "Unknown" or "Blocked" on the recipient's phone.

This method works immediately and does not require any setup. The person you call will not see your phone number, though they may still be able to hear you and call you back if you answer. If the call does not go through, your carrier may not support this feature, or the recipient's phone may have a service that blocks calls from hidden numbers.

Turn off caller ID for all your calls

If you want to hide your number on every call you make, use the permanent setting in your iPhone. Go to Settings, then tap Phone, then scroll down and tap Show My Caller ID. Toggle the switch to the off position. From that point forward, your number will be hidden on all outgoing calls.

To turn it back on, follow the same path and toggle the switch to the on position. This setting applies only to calls you make from your iPhone — it does not affect text messages, FaceTime calls, or calls made from other devices on your account.

What happens when you block your number

When your number is blocked, the recipient sees "Unknown," "Blocked," "Private," or "No Caller ID" instead of your phone number. They can still answer the call and hear you speak. If they have a phone that logs incoming calls, the call will appear in their history but without your number attached.

Some carriers and third-party apps offer caller ID detection services that can sometimes reveal blocked numbers, though this is not common on standard phone plans. If the recipient has such a service, they may still see your number despite your blocking attempt. Additionally, if you leave a voicemail, the recipient may be able to identify you from the message content, even if your number was hidden.

Emergency calls always show your number

If you call 911, your phone number will display to the emergency dispatcher regardless of whether you have caller ID blocking turned on. This is a legal requirement in the United States and most other countries. The system overrides any blocking settings to ensure emergency responders can locate you if the call is disconnected.

For non-emergency calls to police, fire, or other emergency services, the same rule applies — your number will be visible. If you need to contact emergency services and have privacy concerns, call anyway; the dispatcher is trained to handle sensitive situations confidentially.

Carrier-specific caller ID blocking options

Some carriers offer their own caller ID blocking services separate from the iPhone settings. AT&T calls theirs Anonymous Call Rejection, Verizon offers Call Filter, and T-Mobile has Scam Shield. These services may provide additional features like blocking spam calls or logging blocked numbers, but they typically cost extra per month.

If you use one of these carrier services, check your carrier's website or call customer service to see what options are available on your plan. The iPhone built-in settings work independently of carrier services, so you do not need to pay for a carrier option to hide your number using *67 or the Show My Caller ID setting.

Troubleshooting when your number still shows

If you have turned off Show My Caller ID but your number still appears on the recipient's phone, your carrier may not support the feature or may have overridden your setting. Contact your carrier's customer service to confirm that caller ID blocking is available on your plan and that it is not being blocked at the network level.

If you are using *67 and the call does not go through, try again with a different number to see if the issue is specific to that recipient or a broader problem. Some recipients' phones or services automatically reject calls from blocked numbers, which will cause the call to fail or go straight to voicemail. In those cases, there is no way to reach them without showing your number.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does blocking my number work on FaceTime calls?

No. FaceTime always shows your name or phone number to the recipient, and there is no built-in way to hide it. If you want to make an anonymous FaceTime call, you would need to use a different Apple ID or phone number that the recipient does not recognize.

Can I block my number when texting?

No. Text messages always show your phone number or contact name to the recipient. The *67 code and caller ID blocking settings apply only to voice calls, not SMS or iMessage.

What if someone calls me back after I blocked my number?

If you blocked your number and the recipient wants to call you back, they cannot reach you because they do not have your number. If you want them to be able to contact you, you will need to call them again without blocking, send them a text message, or use another method to share your contact information.

Does *67 work on international calls?

It depends on the country you are calling. The *67 code works in the United States and Canada, but other countries use different codes or may not support caller ID blocking at all. Check with your carrier before attempting to block your number on an international call.

Will my carrier charge me to use *67?

Most carriers do not charge per use for *67. However, some carriers charge a monthly fee if you want to hide your number on all calls using the Show My Caller ID setting. Check your carrier's pricing page or contact customer service to confirm what applies to your plan.