How to hide a number on iphone

There are times when you don’t want the recipient of a call to know your number. This could be because you’re unsure of the person you’re contacting, hoping to surprise an old friend, or due to the fact that you are a secret informant buried deep within a corrupt regime. We don’t judge here at Macworld.

Thankfully, it’s quite a simple thing to hide your caller ID on iPhone, and we’ll show you how it’s done.

Use Settings on iPhone

There’s no need for any nefarious high-tech spy software to keep your number obscured. Instead you can adjust a solitary setting in iOS and just like that, poof, you’re gone.

To achieve this Keyser Soze-style vanishing act open the Settings app and scroll down to select Phone > Show My Caller ID, and then toggle off the Show My Caller ID switch.

Now whenever you ring someone, including those in your contacts, they should see Unknown Caller, Private Number, or No Caller ID rather than your name. 

Requesting the service from your contract provider

Some mobile services providers offer the ability to block your caller ID at the source, so that no one can see who you are. These can often be a paid add-on, though, so be sure to check before you request the feature.

Be warned, it’s by no means a perfect solution. We’ve seen reports of users who have called commercial numbers while using this service, only to receive text messages afterwards asking them to rate the call. Obviously, the number was still getting through, which isn’t great.

If you do go down this route, then it’s a good idea to pose plenty of questions about the security and reliability of the option offered by your provider.

Block your number on a single call

If you only want to withhold your number for a specific call, then this can be done by using the codes provided by national telecom companies.

In the UK, BT offers this service free of charge. All you have to do is add 141 to the beginning of the number you’re calling and the receiver will not be able to see who you are; instead they’ll be presented with Private Number or No Caller ID.

The 141 code also works for home phones, so you can mask the origin of a call even on your landline.

This feature is available in a range of countries, although you’ll need to check with your telecom company to see which code works in your region. For readers in North America it seems that the prefix is currently *67 for Verizon, Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile networks.

There you have it: three different ways obscure your identity on iPhone. Should you wish to stop other people contacting you, then read our How to block a number on iPhone guide and give yourself a break from those nuisance calls.

Author: Martyn Casserly, Contributor

Martyn has been involved with tech ever since the arrival of his ZX Spectrum back in the early 80s. He covers iOS, Android, Windows and macOS, writing tutorials, buying guides and reviews for Macworld and its sister site Tech Advisor.

iOS doesn't have a default one-touch feature to hide a specific contact or all your contacts. Though, there are some workarounds you can employ.

The methods to hide contacts on your iPhone depend on how private you want them to be. Here are three approaches.

Use iCloud to Create Contact Groups

You can create contact groups on macOS or iCloud. Then, you can opt to hide all your contacts or display a selected group.

The steps are illustrated on iCloud.

1. Log into iCloud with your Apple ID and password.

2. Select Contacts.

   
   

3. Select the "plus" icon on the left sidebar and choose New Group.

   
   

4. Give the new Group a name.

   
   

5. You can now add names to this contact group in three ways. This step copies the contacts from the All Contacts group to your designated group:

   • Drag and drop names from the contacts column to the group.
   • Select non-contiguous contacts together by pressing the Ctrl key on Windows (Command key on macOS)
   • Select multiple contiguous contacts with the Shift key.

6. Open the Phone app and select Contacts.

7. Select Groups.

8. Select Hide All Contacts at the foot of the screen.

   
   

9. Go back to the main Contacts screen and you will see that all contacts are now hidden.

10. To reveal all contacts again, return to Groups. Select Show All Contacts to bring back your complete contact list or the specific Group only.

    
    

Tip:

Contact Groups can be of any size. You can create a group of one and hide all your contacts or create a larger group of key contacts while hiding the rest.

Use Nicknames to Hide Real Contact Names

You can hide any name by using a nickname in the Contact app's first and last name fields. But iOS also supports Short Names or Nicknames from Settings. Nicknames aren't foolproof, but they can help you camouflage specific contact names from the call screen or the Contacts list. 

1. On the Contacts list, select the name you want to give a nickname to.

2. Select Edit.

   
   

3. Scroll down and tap add field.

4. Select Nickname from the list. This is added as an extra field on the contact's information screen.

5. Enter any nickname. This name will flash on the screen when the person calls instead of their real name.

   
   

6. To get iOS to use it, go to Settings > Contacts > Short Name and enable Prefer Nicknames.

   
   

Note:

In iOS 15, a bug may prevent the display of the nickname when a call comes in. But nicknames work with Spotlight Search and iMessage.

Turn Off Spotlight Search Settings

Someone can bring up specific contacts with a Spotlight search. Spotlight can display contacts even when the screen is locked unless you disable the Spotlight Search settings.

1. Go to Settings > Siri & Search.

2. Select Contacts by going down the list of apps.

3. Turn off each setting under While Searching and Suggestions.

   
   

How Do I Find Hidden Contacts on My iPhone?

You may have hidden some contacts in a Group and forgotten about them. To uncover them, return to Groups. Select Show All Contacts to bring back your compete contact list.

How Do You Hide a Contact on iMessage?

Again, there are no default methods to completely hide contacts on iMessage. But these two methods can give you a sense of privacy.

Hide Message Alerts

The most secure way to hide a contact on iMessage is to delete the conversation or use a private messaging app. But you can have partial privacy by hiding messaging alerts.

1. Open the Messages app.

2. Select the specific contact who uses iMessage.

3. Tap on the Profile icon.

4. Toggle the switch for Hide Alerts to On.

   
   

Use Message Filtering

You can also hide a contact by deleting their number from Contacts. iOS then filters messages from unknown senders into a separate list. It also turns off iMessage notifications from senders who aren’t in your contacts. Then, use the Unknown Senders list to view their messages.

1. Delete the specific contact.

2. Go to Settings > Messages > Message Filtering > Filter Unknown Senders.

3. Enable the toggle switch.

   
   

Note:

The above steps can protect your privacy from prying eyes, but a knowledgeable user can easily bypass them. Combine the above methods with lock screen privacy settings for iOS to hide your contacts.

FAQ

• How do I delete multiple contacts on iPhone?

  iOS doesn't have a fast way to remove multiple contacts at once. You can, however, do so on a Mac. Either open the Contacts app, or go to iCloud and select Contacts. From the list, click the contacts you want to delete while holding Command, and you can select multiples. Then, press Delete on your keyboard to remove them all at once. Because your Contacts app syncs across all devices you're signed in on with your Apple ID, the changes you make will transfer to your phone.

• How do I transfer contacts from iPhone to iPhone?

  Your contacts travel with your Apple ID, so all you need to do to move them over is to sign in on the new device. Alternatively, you can set up or restore your new iPhone from a backup of the old one.

  How do I hide one contact on my iPhone?

  Ways to hide one or all iPhone contacts: hide.

  Just don't save the contact. ... .

  Save the contact in Notes and lock it with a password..

  Save the contact with a nickname or something random..

  Add contact to an iCloud group and hide (or show) that group..

  Save contact to Google contacts and access it via a browser..

  How do I hide my caller ID?

  Hide your caller ID for all calls.

  Open the Google Voice app ..

  At the top left, tap Menu. Settings..

  Under “Calls,” turn on Anonymous caller ID . If you want to show your phone number to people you call, turn off Anonymous caller ID ..

  Does * 67 still work on iPhone?

  On your iPhone or Android, you can use star 67 by changing your caller ID settings in the phone app.

  Can you hide a number on your phone?

  Enter *67. Enter the number you wish to call (including area code). Tap Call. The words "Private," "Anonymous," or some other indicator will appear on the recipient's phone instead of your mobile number.