Privacy is a bit of a joke lately, isn't it? We’re all walking around with these $1,000 tracking devices in our pockets, handing over data to every app that asks nicely. But sometimes, you just want to make a simple phone call without giving the person on the other end a permanent way to contact you. Whether you're calling a local contractor you don't quite trust yet, or you're dealing with a Craigslist buyer who seems a little "off," knowing how to hide your phone number on iPhone is a basic digital survival skill.
It's actually easier than you think. You don't need a burner phone or some shady third-party app that sells your contacts to the highest bidder. Apple has baked these features directly into iOS, but they’ve tucked them away in places that aren't exactly intuitive.
The Settings Toggle: The "Set It and Forget It" Method
If you want to go completely ghost mode for every single person you call, there's a master switch. Most people don't even know this exists because it lives deep in the Settings app, not the Phone app.
Go to Settings, scroll down until you hit Phone, and then look for Show My Caller ID.
Here’s the catch: depending on your carrier, this toggle might be grayed out or missing entirely. Verizon and Sprint (now T-Mobile) used to be notorious for locking this down because they wanted you to pay for "premium" privacy features. If you see the switch, just flip it off. Now, every call you make will show up as "Private" or "Unknown" on the recipient's screen.
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But honestly? This is usually a bad idea.
If you leave this off, your mom won't pick up. Your friends will think you're a telemarketer. Most people today have "Silence Unknown Callers" turned on, meaning your call won't even ring their phone—it’ll go straight to voicemail purgatory. Use this only if you’re doing something like a day of cold-calling for work and you don't want your personal cell number floating around in CRM databases.
The Star-Code Trick (The Precision Strike)
What if you only want to hide your number for one specific call? You've probably heard of *67. It’s a classic. It’s been around since the landline days, and surprisingly, it still works perfectly on the latest iPhone 15 or 16.
Just open your Keypad and dial #31# followed by the number.
Wait. Or is it *67?
Actually, it depends on where you live. In the United States and Canada, *67 is the standard. If you’re in the UK or Ireland, you’ll likely use 141. It’s a bit of a mess globally, but for most iPhone users in North America, typing *67 before the area code is the most reliable way to hide your phone number on iPhone for a one-off interaction.
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I used this recently when calling a car dealership. I wanted a quote on a part, but I knew that if they got my real number, I’d be getting "Is today the day you buy a Jeep?" texts for the next three years. It worked like a charm. They saw "Blocked," I got my info, and my inbox stayed clean.
Why Some Calls Still Show Your Number (The "Gotchas")
Here is the part where things get complicated. You can't hide from everyone.
If you call 911 or any emergency service, your number (and your location) is sent automatically. This is a federal requirement for safety. Don't think for a second that *67 is going to keep you anonymous if you're calling the police.
Also, toll-free numbers (those 800, 888, and 877 prefixes) are a different beast. These numbers are paid for by the recipient. Because they are paying for the call, they are legally entitled to see who is calling through a system called Automatic Number Identification (ANI). While *67 blocks Caller ID (the name/number display), it doesn't always block ANI. If you’re calling a giant corporation’s customer service line, they probably know it’s you before you even say hello.
Using a Secondary "Burner" Number
Sometimes, you need more than just a hidden number. You need a fake one.
If you’re running a small business or dating online, hiding your number is only half the battle. You still need people to be able to call you back, right? This is where VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) apps come in. Google Voice is the gold standard here because it’s free and integrates well with iOS. You get a real, working secondary number that rings your iPhone.
It’s the ultimate middle ground. You aren't "Unknown," so people actually answer your calls, but your "real" number—the one tied to your bank account and iMessage—remains private.
There are also paid apps like Burner or Hushed. These are great because they allow you to create a number, use it for a week, and then literally "burn" it so it no longer exists. If you've ever dealt with a persistent stalker-ish situation after a bad first date, you know exactly why this is worth the five bucks.
The iMessage Complication
Here is a nuance that trips up even the tech-savvy: hiding your number for a call doesn't hide it for a text.
If you use the *67 trick and then send a text to that same person, your iPhone will send that text via iMessage or SMS using your real credentials. There is no "*67 for texting." If you want to text anonymously, you must use a secondary number app or change your "Start New Conversations From" setting in the iMessage menu to use your email address instead of your phone number.
To do that, head to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive. Uncheck your phone number and check your iCloud email. Now, when you text someone new, they’ll see "coolguy99@icloud.com" instead of your digits. It’s not perfect, but it’s a layer of separation.
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Practical Steps to Reclaim Your Privacy
- Audit your "Show My Caller ID" setting. Most people should keep this ON but know where it is for emergencies.
- *Memorize 67. It's the fastest way to handle one-off calls to businesses or strangers.
- Get a Google Voice number. Use it for any form you fill out online. Never give your real number to a website unless you absolutely have to.
- Check your "Send & Receive" settings. Decide right now if you want your email or your phone number to be your primary "ID" for new iMessage threads.
- Use "Silence Unknown Callers" (Settings > Phone). This doesn't hide your number, but it protects you from everyone else who is trying to call you with a hidden number.
Technology shouldn't feel like a trap. By mastering these small toggles, you're taking back a little bit of the control we’ve all lost over the last decade. Whether it's for a single call or a total lifestyle shift, you now have the tools to decide exactly who gets access to your pocket.
Next, take five minutes to open your Settings app and see if your carrier even allows the "Show My Caller ID" toggle; if they don't, you'll know you need to rely on the *67 method or a secondary app. Look at your "Send & Receive" list in the Messages settings and remove any old email addresses you no longer use to ensure your outgoing texts aren't accidentally revealing more than you intend. Finally, consider setting up a dedicated VoIP number for any public-facing activities like selling items online or professional networking.