Need to make a call without showing your number? Here is how to hide caller ID on iPhone: open Settings > Apps > Phone > Show My Caller ID and turn the switch off. On some iPhones, the path is Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID.

That setting hides your number on outgoing phone calls. It does not block incoming No Caller ID calls. Different problem. Different setting. Apple loves keeping these things in separate drawers.

If the Show My Caller ID switch is missing, dimmed, or refuses to change, your carrier controls the feature. You can still try a one-call prefix code, but even that depends on your country and carrier.

Quick answer: how to hide caller ID on iPhone

The fastest method is the iPhone caller ID switch:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Apps.
3. Tap Phone.
4. Tap Show My Caller ID.
5. Turn Show My Caller ID off.

If your iPhone uses an older layout, go to Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID instead.

When this works, people you call will usually see No Caller ID, Private, Unknown, or Private Number instead of your phone number. The exact label depends on their device, carrier, and region.

How to turn off Show My Caller ID for all outgoing calls

Use this method when you want to hide your number on every normal phone call from your iPhone.

1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
2. Scroll to Apps and tap Phone.
3. Tap Show My Caller ID.
4. Turn off Show My Caller ID.
5. Make a quick test call to a second phone if you can.

The setting stays off until you turn it back on. You do not need to repeat these steps before every call.

This is the cleanest way to hide caller ID on iPhone because it uses Apple’s native Phone settings. It also keeps the behavior easy to undo. If you need your number visible again, return to the same screen and turn Show My Caller ID on.

Apple’s own support page for blocking Caller ID on iPhone gives the same core path and notes that carrier support matters. The iPhone User Guide for Phone settings is also worth checking if Apple moves the menu again in a later iOS update.

How to hide your number on iPhone for one call

Use a per-call prefix when you want caller ID hidden for one call, not every call.

In the US and Canada, many carriers use *67. In many GSM carrier setups and countries, #31# is common. Neither code is universal.

Try one of these formats:

• *67 555-123-4567
• #31# 555-123-4567

Dial the prefix first, then the phone number. The recipient should see a private or unknown caller label if the carrier accepts the code.

Test the code before an important call. Some carriers block prefix-based caller ID hiding. Some countries use different codes. Some businesses reject private calls before the phone even rings.

What people see when your caller ID is hidden

When caller ID hiding works, the person you call usually sees one of these labels:

• No Caller ID
• Private
• Unknown
• Private Number
• A carrier-specific anonymous caller label

Hiding caller ID affects the normal caller ID display. It does not make a phone call untraceable. Carriers may still process routing, billing, emergency, fraud, and legal records behind the scenes.

Some recipients also block anonymous calls. Businesses, schools, medical offices, and support lines may reject calls with hidden caller ID because they need a callback number.

Use caller ID hiding for normal privacy, not for calls where trust matters. If you need someone to call you back, show your number or use a second number instead.

Why Show My Caller ID is missing, dimmed, or not working

If you cannot find Show My Caller ID on iPhone, your iPhone is probably not broken. The carrier usually decides whether this option appears.

Common reasons:

• Your carrier does not support account-level caller ID hiding.
• Your plan does not include caller ID blocking.
• A business, school, or managed-device profile restricts Phone settings.
• Your carrier requires you to enable the feature through customer support.
• The one-call prefix code does not work in your country or on your carrier.
• Wi-Fi Calling, VoIP, or app-based calls use a separate caller ID system.

Try these checks:

1. Restart your iPhone.
2. Install any pending iOS carrier settings update if iPhone prompts you.
3. Check Settings > Apps > Phone > Show My Caller ID again.
4. Test *67 or #31# with a safe number.
5. Contact your carrier and ask whether outgoing caller ID blocking is allowed on your line.

Do not waste an hour toggling random privacy settings. If Show My Caller ID is unavailable, the answer usually lives with the carrier.

Hide caller ID vs block No Caller ID calls

This is where many guides get messy. Hiding caller ID controls what other people see when you call them. Blocking No Caller ID calls controls what happens when unknown or private callers call you.

If your actual problem is spam from hidden callers, read Softorino’s guide to block No Caller ID calls on iPhone. If you want to stop a specific contact or spammer, use the guide to block a phone number on iPhone.

How to silence unknown callers on iPhone

Silence Unknown Callers does not hide your number. It helps with the opposite problem: incoming calls from people who are not in your contacts.

To turn it on:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Apps.
3. Tap Phone.
4. Tap Silence Unknown Callers.
5. Turn the switch on.

Calls from unsaved numbers go to voicemail and still appear in Recents. Calls from contacts, recent outgoing calls, and Siri Suggestions can still ring through.

This setting can help with nuisance calls, but it can also silence useful calls from delivery drivers, doctors, banks, schools, or a new work contact. Use it only if that tradeoff works for you.

For broader incoming-call cleanup, see Softorino’s guide to block unwanted calls on iPhone.

Can you hide caller ID for texts, FaceTime, WhatsApp, or Google Voice?

The iPhone Phone caller ID switch is for normal outgoing phone calls. It does not work the same way for every communication app.

Text messages and iMessage: caller ID hiding does not apply like it does for phone calls. Messages show the phone number or Apple account reachable address tied to your setup.

FaceTime: FaceTime uses your selected FaceTime caller ID, such as your phone number or Apple ID email. You can change reachable addresses in FaceTime settings, but that is not the same as hiding caller ID.

WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, and other apps: each app uses its own account identity. Your phone carrier’s Show My Caller ID switch does not control these apps.

Google Voice, Burner-style apps, and second-number services: these can show a different number. That is useful, but it is not native iPhone caller ID hiding. You are calling through a different service or account.

Safer alternatives when you do not want to share your real number

Sometimes hiding caller ID is the wrong tool. Private calls can look suspicious, and many people ignore them.

Use a second number when you need a callback path but do not want to share your personal number. This works better for marketplaces, business callbacks, dating apps, temporary forms, and short-term projects.

Use carrier-level caller ID blocking when you need every outgoing call on that line to hide your number. Your carrier can tell you whether your plan supports it and whether there is a fee.

Use your normal visible number when the call needs trust. A hidden number may protect privacy, but it can also make the person less likely to answer.

FAQ

Yes, if your carrier allows it. Go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Show My Caller ID and turn it off. On some iPhones, use Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID.

Your carrier probably controls the feature. Some carriers hide the setting, grey it out, or require account-level caller ID blocking through customer support.

Yes, *67 works for one-call caller ID blocking on many US and Canadian carriers. It does not work everywhere, so test it or ask your carrier.

Not always. #31# works on many GSM carrier setups and in many countries, while *67 is common in the US and Canada. The right code depends on your carrier.

Not with the Phone caller ID switch. Texts and iMessage use your phone number or Apple account reachable address. Use a second-number service if you need a different visible number.

No, not in the same way as a phone call. FaceTime uses your selected FaceTime caller ID. You can change that address, but you cannot make FaceTime show No Caller ID like a phone call.

No. Hiding caller ID affects outgoing calls you make. Blocking or silencing No Caller ID calls affects incoming calls from other people.

Hiding caller ID hides your number from the recipient’s normal caller ID display. It does not guarantee anonymity from carriers, emergency services, legal requests, or every call system.

Bottom line

Use Show My Caller ID when you want to hide your number for all outgoing calls. Use *67 or #31# when you need to hide your number for one call and your carrier supports the code.

If the setting is missing or dimmed, stop fighting the iPhone. Call your carrier and ask whether caller ID blocking is available on your line.