Would you like to make a phone call without the person on the other line being able to see who is calling? Then you can also choose to make anonymous calls by switching off caller ID. In this tip you can read how it works.
Calling anonymously: this is how you do it
Sometimes it is useful to call someone without being able to see your number or your name if you are in their contact list. You can enable anonymous calling for this, so that your number is not visible when you call someone. The person will then only see that ‘Unknown’ or ‘Anonymous’ is trying to reach him or her. This is how you turn off caller ID:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone, scroll down and tap on ‘Phone’;
- Tap on ‘Caller ID’;
- Tap the slider to turn Caller ID off.
It is now possible to make anonymous calls: the person you are trying to reach will not see your number or name. Keep in mind that many people do not want to answer the phone when it is not clear who is calling them, so it is good to make sure in advance that you want to call anonymously. It is therefore wise to turn it back on as soon as you no longer need the function.
Block unknown numbers
Is an anonymous number calling you? It is (unfortunately) not possible to find out who is calling you. If you are often bothered by anonymous callers, it is possible to block anonymous phone numbers from iOS 13.
Do you see a number, but is it a strange number that you do not know? Then you can block it by tapping the information icon (i) in your recent call list and tapping ‘Block this caller’ at the very bottom. You can also unblock it in the same way.
More useful iPhone tips
Would you like to read more practical tips about your iPhone? On iPhone we regularly publish tips & tricks about useful settings. For example, we explain how you can enter or change your SIM PIN or what to do if you have forgotten it. We also explain how to make your own Memoji stickers in iOS 13, and much more.