Wary of no caller ID or unknown caller messages? We don’t blame you! It’s always nerve-racking when you’re contacted anonymously — you never know who’s on the other end of the line.
But, unbeknownst to many, you don’t have to struggle with these daunting calls forever. And no, you don’t need to change your number, either. Instead, you need to understand the differences between both messages and learn how to block them. Luckily, we’re going over all that (and a bunch more) right here. You’ll soon be free from the often-scary nuisance.
Understanding the Terminology
The first step to dealing with unknown callers and no caller ID calls is to understand the difference between them. How do you do that? By knowing their definitions.
“Unknown caller” is the term used to indicate that the caller’s number can’t be identified by your phone’s network. There are a few reasons for this, international calls and technical issues included.
“No caller ID’ is the term used to indicate that the caller has intentionally concealed their number. They’ve chosen to block their number or contact information from appearing on your caller ID, typically by dialing *67 before your number or utilizing a privacy app.
Common Reasons for Each Type of Call
Since both types of calls have different definitions, they also have distinct reasons for occurring. Take a look:
No Caller ID
Both businesses/professionals and individuals use the no caller ID feature to protect their privacy and maintain security.
Individuals
A person may use this feature because they don’t want to share their phone number. Celebrities and those wanting to file an anonymous complaint are typically the people who switch on no caller ID.
However, people with bad intentions (i.e., stalkers and scammers) also set up no caller ID to hide their true identity.
Businesses
Telemarketing firms and fundraising organizations (legitimate and malicious) tend to set up no caller ID, so people don’t find out who’s calling and won’t have a direct phone number to call back.
Other businesses may use it to prevent a lot of return phone calls. Although, this isn’t the best customer service policy!
Unknown Callers
Unlike no caller ID calls, unknown callers haven’t purposefully hidden their numbers. Instead:
- there may be a network or technical error.
- the call might be coming from overseas.
- the number calling may be unregistered or outdated.
Sometimes, the caller may be in your contacts list, but network issues have prevented it from appearing.
If it keeps happening, we suggest speaking to your phone carrier. They’ll be able to troubleshoot the problem and (hopefully) get your service back up and running quickly.
How to Handle Unknown Caller and No Caller ID Calls
It can be tricky to know what to do when you receive an unknown caller or a no-caller ID message. But the below-mentioned guidelines should help you out:
Unknown Caller
Firstly, you should answer with caution. Since you don’t know who is on the other end of the phone, you should answer then wait before speaking. In other words, let them speak first. That way, you’ll be able to tell whether you know the person or business who’s calling.
Then, if the number appears later, use reverse lookup services to check whether the number relates to a business or person you know. You can access many of these services for free. Even just searching the number on Google should do the trick.
Lastly, block the number if you’re uncomfortable with whoever contacted you (we go over this later on).
No Caller ID
One of the best ways to deal with no caller ID calls is to prevent them by adding your number to the Do Not Call List. It’s operated by the FCC in the United States and protects your number from unwanted calls. To add your number to this list:
- Call 1-888-382-1222 (voice) or 1-866-290-4236 (TTY) from the phone number you want to register.
- Register online at donotcall.gov.
As soon as you’re registered, telemarketers have to remove your number from their call lists within 31 days.
Before your calls are blocked for good, evaluate whether you need to answer them. Most of these calls are better left unanswered. However, you can always use your voicemail to screen calls — if they’re a legitimate entity, they’ll leave a message.
Blocking and Managing Calls
Don’t worry; you don’t have the deal with unknown or no caller ID calls forever. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to put an end to them for good!
Blocking Unknown Callers
The quickest and easiest way to block unknown callers is by using your phone’s built-in settings:
| iPhone | Android |
| Go to Settings. Choose Phone. Hit Silence Unknown Callers to block all unknown numbers. | Open your phones calling app. Tap the three-dot menu icon. It’s displayed in the top-right corner of the screen. Choose Blocked Numbers. Depending on your phone’s manufacturer, the exact name may differ. Tap on Block Unknown Numbers. Check the box next to the Unknown Numbers option to block calls and messages from unknown or hidden numbers. Confirm your choice. Hit Exit to leave the settings menu and your phone won’t receive calls or messages from unknown numbers! |
However, that isn’t the only way.
Depending on your carrier, you can ask them to block unknown callers for you. For instance, T-Mobile users can dial #662# to prevent robocalls for free and turn on the Scam Block and Scam ID features. Likewise, AT&T customers can stop unwanted calls by dialing *61 on their mobile device or *60 on their landline.
Alternatively, you can use third-party call blockers like Robo Shield Spam Call Blocker (iPhone) and Call Filter (Android) to catch and prevent spam calls. Each app uses different methods to detect and stop unknown calls, so try a couple before deciding on the one that works best for you.
Blocking No Caller ID Calls
You can use built-in features to block no caller ID calls. Simply follow the device-dependent steps below:
| iPhone | Android |
| Head to Settings. Scroll down and hit Phone. Near the bottom of this page, find the Silence Unknown Callers tab. Flip the Block ‘No Caller ID’ Calls switch. | Open the dialer. Hit the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the app. Choose Blocked. Click Call block rules. Hit Block unknown numbers. |
Beyond that, you can contact your carrier service and request they block no caller ID numbers for you or download a third-party app like TrapCall or Whoscall.
Pros and Cons of Call Blocking
While blocking calls is a sure-fire way to get rid of unknown and no caller ID calls, there are still drawbacks. For many, the pros will outweigh the cons, but it’s crucial to be aware of both sides before jumping headfirst into blocking:
| The Pros | The Cons |
| You won’t be contacted by people you don’t know. You’ll shield your sensitive information from possible scams. You won’t have to deal with cold callers. Telemarketers won’t try to strong-arm you into buying things you don’t need or want. | You may miss important calls. Lawyers and doctors often purposefully choose to display no caller ID to protect their identities. Telemarketers can still find ways to reach you. |
Unblocking Calls
If you decide the cons outweigh the pros, you can always unblock calls on your device by following these steps:
| iPhone | Android |
| Go to Settings. Scroll down and hit Phone. Tap Silence Unknown Callers. Toggle the Block ‘No Caller ID’ Calls switch to off. You’ll receive no caller ID calls again. Exit this pane and hit Silence Unknown Callers to receive calls from unknown numbers again. | Open the Phone app. Hit the three-dot menu icon located at the top-right corner of the screen. Select Blocked. Click Call block rules. Turn off Block unknown numbers to start receiving calls again. |
If you blocked calls via your carrier service, you can call them to request an unblock.
For third-party apps, head into the relevant settings to unblock unknown callers and no caller ID calls. Each app is different, so check their help pages if you get stuck.
Tools and Apps for Managing Calls
The best call blockers come with a range of features, including spam call identification, chat and SMS features, intelligent dialers, caller ID functions, spam filters, risk meters, and block lists. Here are a few of the most popular that fit the bill:
- TrueCallerhas a bunch of features from our list and is arguably the most widely used.
- Hiya was originally one app available for download. But today, it offers a range of products — call blocker included.
- Alongside providing the above-mentioned features, Robokiller keeps recorded logs of all blocked calls so other consumers can reference them.
The Bottom Line
Unknown caller messages appear during technical faults, network issues, or international calls. No caller ID is displayed when the person or business has purposefully prevented their number from being displayed.
But regardless of the calls you receive, you’re now armed with all the information you need to protect your phone privacy and manage all incoming calls. The power is now firmly back in your hands!
Feel free to share your experiences and ask questions in the comments. We always look forward to hearing from you.