Privacy is a bit of a myth these days, isn't it? You pick up your phone to make a sensitive call—maybe to a business you don't want having your personal cell, or perhaps a surprise party planning session—and suddenly you realize your name and number are broadcasted like a neon sign. It’s annoying. Honestly, it’s invasive. If you’re asking how do I turn off caller id on iphone, you probably want that "No Caller ID" label to do the heavy lifting for you.
It sounds simple. You go into settings, toggle a switch, and boom—ghost mode. But in reality, the way Apple handles this and how carriers like Verizon or T-Mobile interpret that signal can be two very different things.
Sometimes the toggle is grayed out. Other times, it's not even there.
The Standard Method (If Your Carrier Plays Nice)
For most people, the process is straightforward. You’ll find it buried in the Phone app settings, not the general privacy section where you might expect it. Open up Settings. Scroll down past the big hitters like Mail and Notes until you hit Phone.
Inside, you’ll see an option labeled Show My Caller ID.
Tap it.
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Wait for the little spinning wheel to stop.
Toggle it off.
Now, here is the kicker: that toggle is actually a request sent from your iPhone to your carrier's server. It isn't just a local software change on your device. If your carrier (looking at you, certain prepaid plans) doesn't support user-controlled Caller ID masking, that toggle might be permanently stuck in the "On" position or completely missing from your screen.
Why can't I see the "Show My Caller ID" menu?
If it’s missing, don't panic. You aren't crazy.
It usually means one of two things. First, your carrier has locked this feature at the account level. Companies like Verizon often require you to change this through their specific app or website rather than the iOS settings. Second, you might be in a region where local laws mandate Caller ID transparency. It's rare, but it happens.
If you're on a corporate-managed device, your IT department might have used a configuration profile to keep that ID on. They like knowing who is calling who. It’s a "security" thing, apparently.
The Old School Hack: Using *67
Sometimes you don't want to hide your number for every single call. You just want to hide it for this call.
The most reliable way to do this—and it works regardless of what your iPhone settings say—is the vertical service code. In the US and Canada, that's *67.
Open your keypad. Type *67 followed by the full phone number.
Hit call.
Your recipient sees "Private," "Restricted," or "Anonymous." It’s free. It’s immediate. It’s also a bit of a hassle if you have to do it fifty times a day, but for a one-off, it’s the gold standard. Interestingly, if you’re in the UK or Ireland, the code is 141. Different countries, different codes, same result.
When Turning Off Caller ID Fails
You’ve toggled the switch. You’ve dialed the code. And yet, the person on the other end still says, "Hey, why are you calling me from your cell?"
This is where things get technical and, frankly, a bit frustrating.
There is a massive difference between Caller ID and ANI (Automatic Number Identification). When you hide your Caller ID, you are essentially asking the network to hide your name and number from the display of the receiving phone. However, the billing system still needs to know who you are.
If you call an 800, 888, or 900 number, the receiver is paying for the call. Because they are the ones footing the bill, they are legally entitled to see who is calling via ANI. You cannot hide from toll-free numbers using standard iPhone settings. They see you. They always see you.
Also, Emergency Services. Don't think for a second that *67 works when you call 911. Dispatchers have direct access to the raw signaling data, which bypasses any "privacy" flags you’ve set on your iPhone. This is a safety feature, obviously, so they can find you if you can't speak.
The Third-Party App Trap
If you search the App Store for "Hide My Number," you’ll find a dozen apps promising total anonymity.
Be careful here.
Most of these apps are just "Burner" services. They give you a secondary VoIP (Voice over IP) number. While this technically hides your "real" iPhone number, it doesn't actually turn off Caller ID; it just replaces your ID with a different one. It’s a great solution if you’re selling something on Craigslist, but it isn't a "setting" change.
Moreover, these apps often collect a staggering amount of metadata. You’re trading your phone number privacy for a company having a log of every person you call. Not exactly a win for the paranoid among us.
Carrier-Level Blocking (The Nuclear Option)
If you never, ever want your number to show up, you should call your carrier. Most major providers offer a permanent Caller ID block.
Once this is enabled on your account, your iPhone will act as if the "Show My Caller ID" toggle is permanently off. This is a "set it and forget it" solution. But keep in mind, many people (myself included) have their phones set to Silence Unknown Callers. If you hide your ID permanently, a lot of your calls are going to go straight to voicemail because you'll show up as "No Caller ID."
It's a trade-off. Privacy vs. reachability.
Dealing with the "Silence Unknown Callers" Feature
Here is a weird quirk: Apple introduced a feature a few years ago that effectively kills the effectiveness of hiding your Caller ID.
If the person you are calling has enabled "Silence Unknown Callers" in their own iPhone settings, and your number isn't in their contacts, your call won't even ring their phone. Since your ID is hidden, the phone treats you as an "unknown" entity.
So, if you’re trying to reach a friend while your ID is off and they aren't picking up, that’s why. You’re being filtered out by the very privacy tools you’re trying to use yourself.
Actionable Steps to Take Right Now
If you need to disappear from the Caller ID screens of the world, don't just trust the toggle and hope for the best.
- Check the Toggle: Go to Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID. If it's there, turn it off and call a friend to verify it actually worked.
- *Test with 67: If the toggle is missing or fails, use the *67 prefix for individual calls. It’s the most resilient method across all carriers.
- Carrier Portal: Log into your Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile account online. Look for "Features" or "Add-ons." Often, there is a free "Permanent Caller ID Masking" option you can flip there.
- VoIP Alternatives: For long-term privacy without messing with settings, use an app like Google Voice. It gives you a separate number and a separate set of Caller ID rules, keeping your primary iPhone identity completely isolated from the person on the other end.
Hiding your number isn't as foolproof as it was in the landline era, but with a mix of iOS settings and manual codes, you can still maintain a decent level of anonymity on your iPhone. Just remember that toll-free numbers and emergency services are the exceptions to every rule.