No Caller ID: What It Means and 4 Ways to Find Out Who Called

"No Caller ID" means the person calling you blocked their number from showing, so your phone has no number to display. You cannot look it up directly, and you cannot call it back. You can still find out who it was in a few ways, and you can stop the calls.

• Meaning: the caller hid their number on purpose
• Who: hospitals, doctors and offices, but also debt collectors and scammers
• Find the number: voicemail, a follow-up text or email, or your call log
• Call back: not possible, because no number was saved
• Stop it: iPhone Silence Unknown Callers, or your Android block setting

What does No Caller ID mean?

It means the caller's phone sent no number, because they hid it. Hiding a number is legal and common, so it is not proof of a scam. If the call matters, the caller will usually leave a voicemail or send a text. If it is a recording, a long silence or a threat, do not answer again. Phones that show "Unknown" or "Unavailable" instead are a different case, covered in unknown caller: who is it?

Is No Caller ID the same as *67?

Not exactly. *67 is one way a caller hides their number for a single call: they dial it before the number, and your screen shows No Caller ID. Callers can also switch on a "hide my number" setting in their phone, which hides it on every call. Some organisations, such as hospitals, hide their lines from their phone system. To you, all three look the same, so the label alone does not tell you which one it was.

Who is No Caller ID?

A quick way to sort them: calls from a doctor, school or bank tend to come at set hours and leave a clear message. Scam calls tend to come at odd hours, push you to act now, and ask for money, codes or personal details. Never give out a code or password to an inbound caller, whoever they say they are.

Once you have a number from a voicemail or text, enter it on the phone lookup page.

How do you find out who called from No Caller ID?

1. Wait for the voicemail. Legitimate callers leave one, and it usually includes a callback number. Look that number up to confirm it is real before you call it.
2. Check any text or email that follows. Hidden callers often follow up another way. A reverse phone lookup shows the carrier, line type and location free, and the owner's name in the full report.
3. Check your call log. On some Android phones the call details screen shows a partial number even when caller ID is blocked. Look before you delete the entry.
4. Keep a record if it is threatening. Write down the dates and times, report it to your local police, and ask your carrier's support what it can do. Report scam calls at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Can you call back a No Caller ID number?

No, because your phone never received a number to dial. Your call log shows only "No Caller ID", so there is nothing to tap. The way back is the voicemail: if the caller left a callback number, check it with a lookup first, then call. If they left nothing, wait. People who need to reach you will try again or send a message. Never call a number you got from a stranger's text without checking it, because some numbers charge by the minute.

Can you unmask or trace a No Caller ID call?

You cannot read the hidden number off your phone screen. Apps and services that promise to unmask No Caller ID calls exist, and "trapcall" gets 4,400 searches a month in the US (OpenSEO), but we did not verify what any of them do or cost, so read their terms and refund policy before you pay.

• Safer first step: use the voicemail, text or email the caller leaves behind.
• For threats: give your police report the dates and times. Do not try to find the person yourself and confront them.
• Remember: a lookup works on a number you already have. It does not reveal a hidden one.

How do you block No Caller ID calls on iPhone and Android?

• iPhone: Settings, then Phone, then Silence Unknown Callers. Calls from numbers not in your contacts go straight to voicemail, including No Caller ID calls.
• Android: open the Phone app, then Settings, then Blocked numbers, and turn on the option to block unknown or private numbers. The exact menu name varies by phone brand.
• Your carrier: check your carrier's app or support page for a spam or call-blocking option.
• Do not engage: if you answer and it is a recording, hang up and do not press any key.

The catch: blocking unknown callers also sends doctors, schools and delivery drivers to voicemail. Check your voicemail daily.

How do you call with No Caller ID, or turn it on?

To hide your number on one call, dial *67 before the number. To hide it on every call, look for the caller ID setting in your phone: on iPhone it is Show My Caller ID under Phone settings, and on Android it is under the Phone app's call settings. If someone hid their number from you, a people search on the person you suspect lists the numbers registered to them, so you can match it against any number that shows up later.

Deepscanner also searches by name or email if you only have those.

Related

• Who called me? How to find out whose number this is
• Is this phone number a scam? 6 checks that take 2 minutes
• Reverse phone lookup

Deepscanner is not a consumer reporting agency under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Do not use it to make decisions about employment, housing, credit, insurance or tenant screening.