Using *67 to block Caller ID on an iPhone is a useful feature for many users who want to make anonymous calls. However, there has been some confusion around whether *67 still works on modern iPhones. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about using *67 on iPhone.
What Does *67 Do?
*67 is a feature that blocks your phone number from being shown when you make outgoing calls. When you dial *67 before a phone number, your caller ID will show up as “private” or “anonymous” on the recipient’s caller ID display.
Some key things to know about *67:
- It prevents your phone number from being shown to the recipient when you call them.
- It works for one call at a time – you need to dial it before each call where you want your number blocked.
- It’s free to use on most mobile networks and landlines in the US and Canada.
By making your calls anonymous, *67 protects your privacy and gives you control over when you share your personal phone number.
Does *67 Work on iPhones?
The short answer is yes – *67 does still work on modern iPhones to block your caller ID.
When you dial *67 before a number on your iPhone’s phone app, your call will show up as “private” or “anonymous” to the recipient. This works on all iPhone models running recent iOS versions.
Here are some key points about using *67 on iPhones:
- *67 blocking is supported by default on iPhone – there’s nothing special you need to enable.
- It works both on cellular network calls and WiFi calling over VoIP.
- You need to dial *67 each time you want to block your number for a call – there’s no permanent option to enable it.
- *67 dialing may not work properly on some business or landline phones if anonymous calling is disabled.
So in summary – yes, *67 call blocking is fully functional and supported on modern iPhones and will make your caller ID show up anonymously.
When Would You Use *67 on iPhone?
There are a few common situations where using *67 on your iPhone can be very handy:
- Privacy: Blocking your number helps protect your privacy if you don’t want someone to have your phone number.
- Avoiding spam: Telemarketers often use caller ID to add numbers to their lists. *67 prevents them from getting your number.
- Anonymous tips: You can anonymously report crimes or give tips without exposing your caller ID.
- Avoiding awkwardness: *67 lets you call someone without exposing your number in awkward or unwanted situations.
It provides flexibility and control over when you share your personal number. You may want to use *67 whenever you want to make an anonymous call where you don’t want your number known.
Does *67 Work on iPhones for Texting?
Unfortunately, using *67 does not work for text messages sent from an iPhone. *67 only blocks your number for actual phone calls made through the iPhone’s phone app.
If you try using *67 before a phone number when sending a text message, it will not block or anonymize your caller ID. Your regular phone number will still show up for the recipient.
This is because texts work differently than calls – your phone number is directly attached to the text message content rather than relying on caller ID transmission.
Blocking texts is not currently possible on iPhones without using a separate third-party app. So *67 dialing is exclusively for anonymous calling, not texting, on iPhones.
Does *67 Work Consistently on iPhones?
In general, *67 blocking works consistently and reliably on modern iPhones running the latest iOS software. The *67 code triggers iPhone’s native caller ID blocking feature, so you can expect it to work whenever you dial it before making a call.
However, there are some potential situations where *67 may not work properly on iPhone:
- If your phone carrier disables *67 blocking, it may not function.
- Some landlines and business phones block all anonymous calls, ignoring *67 codes.
- Calling another iPhone user on WiFi may not block your ID due to Apple’s policies.
- VoIP networks and apps like Skype may not fully support *67 blocking.
Aside from some exceptions like these, you can expect *67 to reliably make your iPhone calls anonymous in most circumstances. But it’s not guaranteed to work 100% of the time for every iPhone call. Check that the recipient is seeing your calls as anonymous to confirm *67 is functioning.
Pros and Cons of Using *67 on iPhone
Here’s a quick rundown of the main advantages and disadvantages to be aware of when using *67 on your iPhone:
Pros:
- Lets you easily make anonymous calls right from the iPhone Phone app
- Protects your privacy and prevents spam calls/texts
- Works as you’d expect to block your number from being shown
- Free feature that doesn’t require any subscription or setup
Cons:
- Need to dial it before every call where you want anonymity
- Doesn’t always work reliably in all situations
- Can sometimes be seen negatively as avoiding consequences
- Emergency services may not accept anonymous *67 calls
Overall the pros tend to outweigh the cons for most situations where you need to make an anonymous call from your iPhone. But be aware it’s not a foolproof method before relying on it.
Are There Alternatives to *67 on iPhone?
If you find *67 unreliable or need to anonymize both calls and texts from your iPhone, there are some alternatives to consider:
- Burner apps: Apps like Burner provide temporary anonymous numbers to protect your real numbers.
- Google Voice: Google Voice gives you a free virtual phone number to use independently of your actual iPhone number.
- VoIP services: Apps like Skype allow making VoIP calls with an anonymous user profile.
- Prepaid phones: Pick up an inexpensive prepaid phone to use solely for anonymous calling purposes.
While these options require more setup and management, they can provide more robust and consistent caller ID blocking compared to the basic *67 method. But they also have costs and limitations of their own.
For many purposes, *67 will provide sufficient anonymity right from your iPhone. But explore alternatives if you need them for stronger protection.
Can You Get in Trouble for Using *67?
In most cases, there is nothing illegal about using *67 or anonymous calling features unless you are doing so for clearly fraudulent or harmful purposes. Some key legal considerations include:
- Emergency services often discourage *67 calls, but you won’t explicitly get in trouble just for using the feature.
- Repeated harassment, threats, stalking or other crimes can still be prosecuted even if done anonymously.
- Scams, false reporting and prank calls may be looked into with your number traced by authorities.
- If lawful authorities subpoena your call records, they can still identify *67 calls after the fact.
In summary – using *67 itself is not illegal, but it does not prevent you from getting in trouble for unlawful anonymous calling activities. Avoid any harassing, harmful or fraudulent purposes when making *67 calls.
For most benign everyday purposes like privacy protection, you are within your rights to use iPhone’s *67 blocking feature. But be smart about respecting laws around anonymous communication.
Is There Any Way to Unblock *67 iPhone Users?
If you are receiving calls from an iPhone user who has blocked their number with *67, there is unfortunately no way to unmask their caller ID or forcibly see their real number.
Here are the options:
- You can ask your phone carrier to block all anonymous calls, but this will prevent all *67 calls.
- Services exist to trace *67 calls after the fact, but require getting legal authorities involved.
- There are apps claiming to unblock *67 callers automatically, but most do not actually work.
- Beyond that, you have to hope the caller is willing to reveal their real number voluntarily.
The only surefire method is asking the anonymous caller to stop using *67 to block their caller ID when they call you. If they consent and dial your number normally, their real number will then be shown.
But as the recipient of *67 calls, you have little ability to bypass the blocking on your end alone without their cooperation. The best options are requesting the caller dial normally, blocking all anonymous calls indiscriminately, or tracing specific concerning calls through formal legal procedures if necessary for safety or law enforcement reasons.
Conclusion
In most cases, using *67 to make anonymous calls continues to work reliably on modern iPhones. It provides an easy built-in option for maintaining privacy and controlling when you share your phone number by blocking caller ID.
However, *67 has limitations, does not work perfectly in all scenarios, and could potentially get you in legal trouble if misused for unlawful purposes. Be smart and ethical when relying on it for anonymous calling from your iPhone. Consider burner apps and virtual numbers if you need to anonymize both calls and texts consistently.
Hopefully this guide has cleared up any confusion and provided the full details on how *67 functions on iPhones! Let us know if you have any other questions.