How to Block Your Number from an iPhone: A Comprehensive Guide
Blocking your phone number, also known as making a private call or using a hidden number, can be useful for various reasons. Maybe you're making a sensitive inquiry, want to maintain anonymity, or simply prefer not to share your personal number with a particular recipient. Fortunately, iPhones offer several ways to achieve this, depending on your specific needs and the type of call you're making.
This guide covers multiple methods, addressing common questions and concerns about blocking your number from your iPhone.
How do I hide my number for just one call?
This is the most common method and arguably the easiest. You don't need any special settings or apps. Simply follow these steps before making your call:
- Open the Phone app: Locate the green phone icon on your iPhone's home screen.
- Dial the number: Enter the phone number you want to call.
- Access the keypad: Before tapping the "Call" button, you'll see the number you've dialed.
- Hide your number: Tap the "i" (information) icon next to the phone number.
- Toggle "Hide My Number": In the "Call" section of the details view, you should see an option to "Show My Caller ID" or similar phrasing. Toggle this setting to OFF. This will hide your number for this specific call only.
- Make the call: Tap the "Call" button to initiate the call with your number hidden.
Important Note: The success of hiding your number depends on the recipient's service provider. Some carriers might still display your number despite the "Hide My Number" setting, or they might display it as "Unknown" or "Private Number."
Can I permanently hide my number on my iPhone?
While you can't completely permanently hide your number in all circumstances, you can set a default to always hide it unless you explicitly choose to show it. This setting affects all outgoing calls unless you change it for a specific call using the method described above. This method is often preferred for frequently making private calls.
- Open the Settings app: Locate the grey icon with gears.
- Navigate to Phone: Tap on "Phone."
- Find "Show My Caller ID": Scroll down until you find "Show My Caller ID."
- Toggle the setting: Toggle this switch to the OFF position.
Now, all your outgoing calls will have your number hidden unless you manually enable "Show My Caller ID" for a specific call as previously explained.
What happens if I hide my number and the person calls me back?
They will see your actual phone number when they return your call, as this setting only affects outgoing calls. Your number is visible to the recipient when they call you back because they are initiating the call from their side, where the default settings for displaying caller ID would apply.
Does hiding my number affect emergency calls?
No, hiding your number doesn't affect emergency calls. Emergency services will always be able to identify your location and number in an emergency situation.
Will hiding my number work internationally?
The success of hiding your number internationally depends entirely on the regulations and policies of the countries involved in the call. It's not guaranteed to work in all international calls.
This guide covers the most common methods of blocking your number from your iPhone. Remember, the success of hiding your number is not always guaranteed, and depends on the recipient's carrier and network settings. However, these steps will significantly increase your chances of making a private call.
