Privacy feels like a myth these days. You’ve probably noticed how your phone number ends up in the hands of every random delivery driver, marketplace seller, or potential employer you’ve ever contacted. It’s annoying. It’s also a security risk. If you're wondering how to make a private call on iPhone, you aren't just looking for a button to press; you’re looking for a way to reclaim a bit of your digital footprint.
The reality is that Apple makes this pretty easy, but there are some massive caveats that most tech blogs just gloss over. Your carrier, your location, and even the person you’re calling can change whether your "Private" tag actually works.
The one-time trick for a single call
Sometimes you don't want to change your entire life. You just want to call a local plumber without being put on their SMS marketing list for the next decade. For that, you use a prefix.
In the United States and Canada, that prefix is #31#. Well, technically, it’s *67.
Wait, which is it?
Actually, it depends on what you're trying to do. If you want to mask your Caller ID for a single outgoing call, you open the Phone app, go to the Keypad, and type *67 followed by the number you’re dialing. It looks like this: *675551234567. Then hit the green call button. The person on the other end will see "Private," "Anonymous," or "Restricted" on their screen.
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But here is the catch. This doesn’t work for toll-free numbers (like 800 numbers) or emergency services. If you call 911, they see you. If you call a 1-800 number, the company often uses a system called Automatic Number Identification (ANI) that bypasses your "private" setting because they are paying for the call.
If you are outside North America, the code changes. In the UK, Ireland, and many other regions, you use 141. It's a relic of old telecom standards that survived the transition to smartphones. It’s kinda weird that we are still using 1990s landline tech on a device that can generate AI images, but hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Flipping the permanent switch in Settings
If you’re someone who does a lot of cold outreach or you just value total anonymity, doing the manual code thing every time is a massive pain. You’ll forget. You’ll mess up.
You can actually set your iPhone to always hide your number.
Go to Settings. Scroll down until you see Phone. It’s usually tucked between FaceTime and Messages. Tap that, and then look for Show My Caller ID.
Inside that menu, there is a single toggle. Turn it off.
Now, every call you make from that iPhone will be private. Easy, right?
Not always. Depending on your carrier—looking at you, Verizon and some prepaid MVNOs—that toggle might be grayed out or completely missing. This isn't an iPhone glitch. It’s a carrier restriction. Some networks require you to manage this through their own app (like the My Verizon or AT&T Gateway apps) or by logging into your account on a web browser. If you don't see the toggle, you're not crazy; your carrier just wants more control over your metadata.
Why "Private" isn't always "Secret"
We need to talk about the difference between hiding your number from a person and hiding your identity from the network. Even when you figure out how to make a private call on iPhone, you aren't a ghost.
Your service provider still logs every single call. The duration, the time, the recipient—it’s all there on your monthly billing statement. If you're trying to hide a call from someone who shares your phone plan, the "Private" setting on the iPhone does absolutely nothing for you. They will see the outgoing number on the bill at the end of the month.
Also, many people now use apps like Truecaller or Hiya. These apps use crowdsourced databases to identify callers. While they usually respect the "Private" flag sent by the network, some advanced VoIP setups can occasionally strip that metadata away. Honestly, if the person you're calling has "Silence Unknown Callers" turned on in their own iPhone settings, your private call won't even ring. It’ll go straight to voicemail.
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When the iPhone settings fail you
If your carrier has blocked the "Show My Caller ID" toggle, or if you need to call someone who blocks anonymous calls, you need a different strategy.
Burner apps are the gold standard here.
Apps like Hushed or Burner allow you to purchase a secondary "disposable" number. This is way more effective than a private call because the person on the other end actually sees a real number. They are more likely to pick up. But it isn't your real number. You’re essentially routing your data through a secondary server that acts as a shield.
Then there is Google Voice. It’s free (mostly) and gives you a legitimate second line that rings on your iPhone.
The international "Private" problem
Traveling changes the rules. If you have a US-based iPhone and you’re using an eSIM in Europe, using *67 probably won’t work. The GSM standard used in most of the world prefers #31#.
If you’re in Australia, it’s 1831.
It is a mess. If you travel a lot, the most reliable way to stay private is the Settings menu toggle, because that communicates directly with the local exchange regardless of what the "dialing code" for that country is.
Step-by-step reality check
Let's be real: most people just want to hide their number for one specific conversation.
- Try the code first. It's the fastest way. (*67 in US/Canada, 141 in UK).
- Check the Settings app. If "Show My Caller ID" is there, use it for long-term privacy.
- If the toggle is missing, call your carrier. They can often enable "Caller ID Blocking" on their end for free, though it's a permanent change until you call them back to undo it.
- Use a third-party app if you actually want the call to be answered. Most people ignore "Private" calls because they assume it's a telemarketer or a debt collector.
What happens on the other end?
When you successfully mask your number, the recipient's experience is... underwhelming. Their phone will vibrate or ring. The screen will say No Caller ID.
They can't call you back. They can't see who you are. But they also can't see your location data or your contact name, even if they have you saved in their phone. The "Private" flag overrides the local address book on the receiving device.
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However, if they have a "TrapCall" subscription or similar unmasking service, they might be able to see your number anyway. These services work by redirecting the call to a toll-free number they own, unmasking it via ANI (as discussed earlier), and then sending it back to the user. It’s a bit of an arms race.
Actionable next steps for your privacy
Start by testing it. Call a friend or your own landline using the *67 method to ensure your carrier supports it. If that works, you’re golden for one-off situations.
If you find yourself needing to stay private constantly, check your Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID right now. If it's toggled off and you still show up on other people's phones, your carrier is overriding the iPhone's software. In that case, download a secondary number app like Google Voice. It provides a permanent, searchable "fake" identity that keeps your personal life and your iPhone's primary SIM card completely insulated from the person on the other end of the line.
Double-check your "Silence Unknown Callers" setting while you're at it. If you're making private calls, you'll likely start receiving them too, and that setting is the only way to keep your sanity when the spammers start calling back using the same tricks you just learned.