How To Block Your iPhone’s Number From Caller ID

August 11, 2008 · by Tony · in iPhone

Ever wish you could make a call from your iPhone without your phone number showing up on the other end? You’re in luck because there’s a very simple setting to turn your iPhone’s caller ID OFF.

Why turn your Caller ID off? I dunno. Maybe you have to call somebody that you don’t want to talk to… And you know this person doesn’t ever answer blocked phone calls. BINGO! Now you can call that bastard and safely leave a message without talking to them.

TIP: When leaving the message, DON’T give your number! Instead, say something like “I’m sure you’ve got caller ID. This is my cell phone number so call me back…”

Open Settings

Tap the Settings button on your iPhone.

Phone Settings

Tap the Phone button

Show My Caller ID Setting

Now tap Show My Caller ID

Switch Caller ID to OFF

Now move the slider to OFF

Your Caller ID Is Blocked!

Now your caller ID will be blocked for every call you make on your iPhone. To turn your caller ID ON, go back to the slider and move it back to ON.

Good or Evil?

1. Call up your ex and tell ‘em what a @*&^ing @!&*(#&$) they are.
2. Call your current boy/girlfriend at the wee hours of the morning just to make sure they’re not cheating on you.
3. Call a friend over and over just to drain their cell battery

Those are just a few ideas I came up with really quick. I’m sure you’ve got some too. Let loose – go wild. Nobody will know…

Will you use this Caller ID Tip for good or for evil? Let me know in the comments.

P.S. I’m not responsible if this blocked caller ID doesn’t work on other phones. I only tested it on an iPhone…. So it should work because everybody has an iPhone, right? Even if it doesn’t work and you get busted, you’re on your own, pal.

Written by Tony
Tony founded this website way back in 2007. Since then, he's owned two Macs, four iPods, two iPads, Apple TV, AirPort Extreme and 3 iPhones, is a huge nerd.

36 Responses

Zac B. August 13, 2008 at 3:44 pm · Reply →

Why would the iPhone control the blocked / not blocked number? You’d think a blocked number would be against the rules of the telcom giants.
Tony August 13, 2008 at 5:55 pm · Reply →

Not sure Zac – I thought that was strange too. But you gotta give AT&T some credit for allowing the iPhone to block the caller ID, right?
kelly December 1, 2008 at 1:45 pm · Reply →

Yes – thanks! That was easy!
lamb January 22, 2009 at 1:28 pm · Reply →

When I get to the Show My Caller ID screen, the button is locked. Meaning, I can’t turn it on or off, so now it’s just On.

How can I fix this?
Lori June 17, 2009 at 10:10 am · Reply →

I followed your directions and made a test call to a friend, it does not show my name, BUT, it did show my phone number.. Which means they can still know who you are.. I need something that will block my name and my phone number..
grant jones October 25, 2009 at 2:40 pm · Reply →

Someone stole my iPhone and I want to know how to block it completely. PLEASE HELP ME DO THIS!
1. Tony October 25, 2009 at 11:25 pm · Reply →
  
  If you have a MobileMe account, then you can erase your phone.
  
  If you don’t have a MobileMe account, then you can’t do anything.
Mimmers January 4, 2010 at 12:43 pm · Reply →

Holy smokes, that was easy! Thanks alot!!
Invincibob April 23, 2010 at 11:17 pm · Reply →

You can do this on any phone from any provider by putting *67 before the number you call……
ismail December 7, 2010 at 7:16 am · Reply →

I have the same problem. When I get to the Show My Caller ID screen, the button is locked. Meaning, I can’t turn it on or off, so now it’s just On. How can I fix this? And i try *67 before the number I call. Call failed. How can i do it ???
Tony December 7, 2010 at 6:40 pm · Reply →

Hi Ismail – My iPhone still has the option to turn the Caller ID On and Off. Sorry, don’t know what the problem is with your phone.
ismail December 8, 2010 at 8:17 am · Reply →

thanks Tony. it seems like carrier policy – I’m in Egypt. It’s to boring here
Lisa April 29, 2011 at 8:39 pm · Reply →

What about Verizon? I don’t have an opition for it.
1. Tony April 30, 2011 at 11:42 am · Reply →
  
  Hi Lisa – I think the caller ID feature is specific to the AT&T network. I’m on AT&T and still have the option. Sorry!
KGallagher June 30, 2011 at 9:07 pm · Reply →

When I turn “Show my Caller ID” off, my # will be blocked to EVERY # I call…. Even people who have my contact info saved to their phone? Seems like it might be useful occasionally, but a hassle to switch back and forth. Logic tells me that my number would still show up on text messages, correct?
1. Tony July 2, 2011 at 4:45 pm · Reply →
  
  Hi KGallagher – Great question. I haven’t tried blocking the number when sending text messages. I’m looking into that now.
Dannah Nuguid August 30, 2011 at 6:44 am · Reply →

I can’t slide the from ON to OFF at the Show my caller ID please help me what to do?
1. Tony August 30, 2011 at 9:50 pm · Reply →
  
  Hi Dannah – I’ve heard that the on / off caller ID switch only works on AT&T. I’m on AT&T, so I can’t test the other networks.
Anna October 4, 2011 at 1:46 pm · Reply →

I don’t have call waiting, call fowarding or show my caller I’d options on my iPhone 4. Why not?
1. Tony October 4, 2011 at 4:00 pm · Reply →
  
  Hi Anna – I don’t know why you don’t see the same options. It could be this is an AT&T only feature.
Danii October 10, 2011 at 9:01 am · Reply →

I have bell and it works just fine for me
suren October 13, 2011 at 4:56 am · Reply →

i cant able to off my caller id…. its still on ..help me..
Nasser October 21, 2011 at 5:36 am · Reply →

In middle east the serivce doesn’t work if there is a special software you guys can guide me to

Thanks inadvanced for worth information
John November 9, 2011 at 3:58 am · Reply →

I have an iphone 4, I go to Settings, go to my phone, and it shows My Number (But it doesn’t allow me to turn it off or on, something below that it says TTY, And Change Voicemail Password, next one says international calls.. and last thing says Verizon Services.. is there a quick fix so i can block my # from showing up on peoples caller ID?
Kevin November 25, 2011 at 5:04 am · Reply →

This feature is turned off for Sprint Being in the public safety sector “Fire/EMS”, I have on occasion needed to allow patients or citizens to use my cell to call a family member or friend. I really don’t want them having my number!!! Now that I am no longer with AT&T I won’t give my patients or citizens this option!!!
REHAN December 12, 2011 at 9:05 pm · Reply →

Hey what is AT&T can u please say
1. Tony December 13, 2011 at 12:16 am · Reply →
  
  Rehan – AT&T is one of the mobile phone carriers in the United States.
Jolanta January 6, 2012 at 4:33 pm · Reply →

Hi! I have problem as well . My caller ID is off!!! Nobody can see my number and if somebody ring to my as well I don’t see name or number. Strange. I don’t know what to do, never knows who ring me and when I’m ringing:(
Lele January 9, 2012 at 5:25 pm · Reply →

Hi there
Does that work for international calls ,I mean if am on Asia and want to call someone in austriala does it work and hide my caller ID?
1. Tony January 9, 2012 at 6:48 pm · Reply →
  
  Hi Lele – I’ve never made an international call with my iPhone. You’ll have to try it.
Betty January 17, 2012 at 7:49 pm · Reply →

Thanks Tony, it’s so great to have a simple question and then find a simple and straight forward answer.
Rondie August 20, 2012 at 10:58 am · Reply →

I think it should be illegal to not let iPhone users block their number by using *67 like everyother phone. In fact if there is a lawyer reading this I think we should consider a class action lawsuit. It would by like if you have unitech phone at home and not a ATT phone then you can not use the *67 feature it is a standard phone feature for all other ones but iPhones. Another propaganda to rake more oney out f us.
Raul August 21, 2012 at 6:26 pm · Reply →

I called myself but it was busy… I’m always busy
Tzvi August 23, 2012 at 7:34 pm · Reply →

Have no TTY option on jailbroken 3s. Can anyone help
john September 25, 2012 at 2:47 pm · Reply →

ATT SPECIFIC windows phone 7 you can select “only show my number to people in my contact list” there are calling apps for iphone that let you make any number up up to show on caller id 867-5309 is always funny.
chrissy October 14, 2012 at 6:01 pm · Reply →

When I tried it with *67 and your way it blocked my number but still showed the name.