Are you getting a lot of calls from unknown callers (e.g., spammers, telemarketers etc) with “No Caller ID”. You may want to block these calls because you cannot possible identify the number of a caller before answering. These calls may also be labeled as Anonymous, Private, or Blocked.
You are receiving these calls because, in the USA, The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandates that cellular carriers allow people the ability to block their Caller ID, hence No Caller ID. Some ordinary people may want to block the display of their telephone numbers intentionally because of some privacy concerns.
There are also more and more telemarketers, spammers using No Caller ID because they do not want to be known.
The good news is that you can block specific callers/numbers.
In this short article. I am explaining what you can do to block No Caller ID calls. There are basically two methods to do this:
Method 1: Do Not Disturb
You can block unknown callers using the Do Not Disturb mode. This mode lets you silence calls. Here is how:
- Go to Settings > Do Not Disturb
- Choose Manual and turn on Do Not Disturb (when it is on, you will see a moon icon in the status bar)
- Tap Allows Calls From
- Choose “All Contacts”
All calls from numbers/anyone who isn’t already added to your address book will now be silenced. This means that “No Caller ID” calls will be silenced because they won’t be in the address book.
Note that the calls are not blocked, they are only silenced. You’ll still get the calls.
Method 2:Using Contacts
- Create a new contact, you may name this new contact “No Caller ID”. Here is how:
- Launch the Phone app
- Tap Contacts
- tap the + button
- As phone number, enter 000-000-0000
- Tap Done
- Now scroll down and tap Block this caller. A popup will appear saying “you will not receive phone calls, messages or FaceTime from people on the block list” then tap Block Contact.
Method 3: Block No Caller ID Calls (cellphone services)
The ONLY way to truly block a number is at the network level.
Most cellular carriers have a feature to block these calls. Here is how:
- Blocking Calls with No Caller ID (AT & T)
- Blocking Anonymous Callers (T Mobile)
- Anonymous Call Block (Verizon)
- How do I activate Anonymous Call Rejection (Bright House)
Check with your carrier provider to see if they provide this feature. Some carriers, as of now, do not offer this (e.g., Sprint).
Notes
See also: How to Unlock a Device From a Previous Owner’s Apple ID?
You can not find out who a “No Caller ID” caller is.
Note you can easily block a phono number/contact individually by going to Settings > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification.
If you want to hide your number/caller id when calling, simply go to Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID and turn this off. Please note that not all carriers allow this.
The terms “No Caller ID”, “Private Caller“, “Unknown Caller”, “Blocked Call”, or “Anonymous Call” are the same thing.
See also: How to Turn 4G or LTE Off On iPhone
Paula says
June 2, 2017 at 5:02 pmMethod 2 doesn’t work. I addd the contact o my iPhone with zeroes but there is no block caller feature to select when you craft a contact.
Reecee Rae says
June 7, 2017 at 5:22 amDid you add the number 000-000-0000 and it allows you to block
kenneth wilson says
June 15, 2017 at 10:12 pmPaula is right – I did the same thing – there is no option to “block contact”, It only has Send Message, Share Contact, Add to Favorites, Share Location
DD says
June 15, 2017 at 10:32 pmI get the impression this used to work but no longer does. Thanks Apple.
CARRIE CUELLAR says
June 28, 2017 at 8:03 pmUse to work but now does not. In the same boat.
Andrew says
August 1, 2017 at 5:50 pmJust worked on my wife’s iPhone 6 – maybe the newer ones don’t have this feature?
Shae says
October 17, 2017 at 4:10 amGo to setting>
Phone>Call blocking > all the way down> block contact. Not sure if it’s going to work but that’s how you block a contact now on iPhone.
Reeves Ostrowidzki says
December 17, 2018 at 7:36 pmIt just worked on my iPhone X max. I had the same issue but I briefly called the 000 number and then clicked on it in my phone log and blocked that.
Patrick says
February 4, 2019 at 6:18 pmMethod 2 does not work. I have it as blocked and just got an unknown caller ID call.
Donald wood says
October 31, 2018 at 8:32 pmThis black dude,with no caller I’d,is too smart to go to jail harassment! He has no caller I’d,Hiroo complained,to the phone company,and to the justice department,in Washington DC they said you must call the police,or the fbi he called more then 135 times he has no intention to stop calling! He is very smart but a sick disturbed,mentally ill mother fucker! Don wood did say I have lots of friends,that is black unless,it’s a hologram
K says
February 2, 2018 at 6:27 pmAdd the contact completely, THEN open the contact back up and at the bottom choose Block Contact
Charlotte says
July 11, 2017 at 2:50 pmIt works if you open contacts after you are in the phone app. It won’t work if you just go to your contacts outside of the phone app. When in contacts from within the phone app you get the block option.
Dd says
January 14, 2019 at 1:31 amIt worked on mine iPhone 8 plus
Maggie says
March 29, 2019 at 9:31 pmHow did you do it? my friend needs to block “”no caller id” and has an iphone 8
DDX says
June 13, 2017 at 1:57 pmMethod 2 does not work. I did add 000-000-0000 and have this contact blocked. Then from a different line I can still dial *67myiphone# and my iphone 6s+ rings up.
Shae says
October 17, 2017 at 4:09 amGo to setting>
Phone>Call blocking > all the way down> block contact. Not sure if it’s going to work but that’s how you block a contact now on iPhone.
Lisa says
May 14, 2018 at 11:20 amWorked for me as of 5-13-18
Paul P says
August 22, 2018 at 4:03 pmBut it only blocks the number 0000etc not the name
David says
January 23, 2019 at 7:22 pmMethod 2 DOES work but you have to tap on the phone, then go to your contacts. hit the + sign to add the contact and then block it.
Matt Pusateri says
July 10, 2017 at 3:21 pmAnd Option #1 isn’t ideal, either. I use DND mode at night to block anyone but close family, friends. If I go with that method, I can’t use that as well… It basically takes away the DND feature in order to block No Caller ID calls
Richard Brewer says
November 7, 2018 at 10:44 pmNot really– you can switch between “Everyone” “No one” “Favorites” (Which is where all people you wnt to get hthrough should go anyway), “All contacts”, and, in my case, “Number Guru” (as spam caller managerI use), and “OWA” (Outlook address book).
In my case, I flip between “Everyone” and “Favorites” to manage how many people can get through and ring.
htrsh3 says
July 10, 2017 at 4:54 pmIt worked for me….I didn’t when I put No Caller Id…lower case “d”…but when I put upper case “D” it worked…scroll down past send message, past share my location…it should be there to block….
not sure why it worked..but it did
Bev DeVore says
July 21, 2017 at 7:53 pmI had already blocked 000-000-0000 so when I looked at that option I had the choice to unblock! So I am good.
Thanks for the info!
Karen Redman says
July 25, 2017 at 8:14 pmWhat iphone app. there are several.
bigby says
September 17, 2017 at 9:48 amthe 000-000-0000 doesnt work on my end, I tried with lowecase and uppercase D, still doesnt work
iphone 7 plus, ios 10
Gary says
September 21, 2017 at 4:56 pmOption 2 worked for me. I entered my phone book and clicked the tab to create new contact. In first name, I entered (case sensitive) No Caller ID and then saved it. I clicked into the name and scrolled down to block caller. When I tested it from my land line, the call did not go through when the number was hidden.
It probably should be noted that “Private Caller” or “Number Withheld” or whatever the message displays for hidden numbers is what you may need to enter as the name. After a year of No Caller ID silent calls, I am hopeful I won’t receive them anymore.
Actually, I might unblock it and answer the next time and say the call is being logged by the police for a harassment complaint and the hidden number will be blocked….then block it. The caller will then think that there is a complaint, because their hidden number won’t connect anymore 🙂
Vinnie says
October 5, 2017 at 12:09 amThe only option is to buy an android phone, because my friend has a Samsung Galaxy S7 and he’s phone has an option to block No Caller ID/Withheld Numbers. Thanks Apple for showing that you care about your customers (sarcasm)
Roodo says
February 23, 2019 at 7:13 pmI know right
The One that got away says
March 12, 2019 at 8:23 pmI second that. iPhone market apps require payment. Android allows for easy downloading and using of clla blocking apps at no cost. Personal experience.
kevynjr says
October 12, 2017 at 12:46 pmI tried all options and nothing seems to be working, last option I could add the name on contacts and I can scroll down to the bottom of the screen where it gives me the option to block the contact, when I press the button to block a message pops up saying you’ll not receive calls from this number but doesn’t block. I am able to block proper number with digits entered on the phone number field but not without a phone number.
kevynjr says
October 12, 2017 at 12:47 pmI am using IOS 11.2 iPhone 7 Plus
Michael pugh says
November 16, 2017 at 1:34 pmiPhone 7 in uk this does not work only option is to pay for ‘no unwanted callers’ package through provider. Nice one apple, sits along side not being able to record phone calls as your ‘best’ choice yet ??
vlasta gunning says
November 20, 2017 at 3:17 amI have tried all the above but none work. calls still go through.
Its a pain
Trev says
December 6, 2017 at 7:32 pmWhy complain about Apple when you still buy their products? Also the 000 number thing as option 2 worked for me.
Jaffo Nerr says
January 5, 2018 at 7:51 pmWhat’s wrong with taking the calls and screaming
CUNT!
FUCKING!
DIE!
and hanging up?
James Harrison says
January 11, 2018 at 7:50 pmSo I live in the U.K. I’m currently running iOS 11.2.2 on an iPhone X and I’ve managed to block NO CALLER ID successfully through trial and error. My steps were:
– create NO CALLER ID exactly as it appears on the phone call list.
– add the zeros in format specific for the U.K. eg. 00000-000000. Save the contact.
– exit phone app.
– go back and block contact through edit.
Tested with my landline which is withheld by default and was a Success.
I don’t know if it’s just me but I thought I’d throw it into the mix.
Hope this helps somebody 🙂
anonymous says
January 26, 2018 at 7:18 pmMost of the information in this page is outdated and wrong.
Robby says
February 5, 2019 at 1:33 pmWorks for me … iPhone 6 S Plus
IOS 12.12
Clicked on 📞
Selected Contacts
Clicked the ➕at the upper right
Named the contact No Caller ID
Clicked phone and entered 0000000000 as it would not accept 000-000-0000
Clicked done at the upper right
Scrolled down the new contact and clicked Block
The message became Unblock
Nick says
February 13, 2018 at 11:50 pmIngenious …. very empowering, thank you
TJ Says says
May 17, 2018 at 3:53 pmOn the newer iPhones try using +1 then the “0’s”
ATee says
August 30, 2018 at 3:00 pmMethod 1 worked for me. Thanks so much…
Vance says
September 3, 2018 at 9:40 amAdding zeroes as a contact number didn’t work – still received a No Called ID later.
What worked is to contact my telecommunications provider – for a mere 5.00 EUR fee got to disable all incoming No Called ID calls.
L says
November 6, 2018 at 3:28 am5 EUR? Guessing you mean 60 EUR / year.
hneves says
September 10, 2018 at 7:32 pmhow about inserting spaces instead of 000-000….?
Dave says
September 27, 2018 at 5:03 pmCreate contact “No Caller ID” use any digits for the number and block. Any No Caller ID calls will be blocked as they match the contact name ??
Shiven says
October 29, 2018 at 7:09 pmAdded No Caller ID as a new contact and blocked the number on my iPhone 6. ?crossing fingers
Heather says
December 1, 2018 at 9:26 pmOption 2 worked on my iPhone 8! Thank you! I really didn’t want to block legitimate calls by using the Do Not Disturb option.
No says
February 13, 2019 at 4:16 pmOption 2 DOES NOT WORK. I had a friend call me with *67 and ALL CALLS STILL WENT THROUGH. I tried adding 0000000000 for every version of phone and made the caller id “No Caller ID” and THIS DIDN’T WORK.
THIS WEBSITE IS FAKE NEWS.
Beau says
February 27, 2019 at 6:58 amEveryone should submit it to Apple as a “feature request”. Show them just how many of us want this feature! https://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html
Belle says
April 25, 2019 at 5:44 pmDef doesn’t work – tried it all ways & still getting “no caller ID” or private calls
iPhone 5
iPhone 6
iPhone SE
The carrier services & the f’n FCC better do something soon. >:(