“No caller ID” vs “Unknown caller”
“No caller ID” and “unknown caller” are not the same thing.
Both will hide the caller’s phone number, but only one does so intentionally. Let’s look into the difference.
Updated: April 10, 2024
What is “no caller ID?”
No caller ID means the caller has purposely disabled their caller ID so it doesn’t display on your phone. It also means that you won’t be able to call them back.
Who uses “No caller ID?”
“No caller ID” is used by some professions and organizations for privacy reasons. A medical professional may want to use it to ensure they initiate all calls and that patients are not calling them back directly. Government agencies also like to keep their phone numbers anonymous.
However, “no caller ID” can be used by scammers and spammers who want to hide their numbers to avoid repercussions. It’s best not to pick up unless you’re expecting such a call.
What is “unknown caller”?
“Unknown caller” means that the phone carrier cannot identify the unknown caller’s number for technical reasons. In other words, the number hasn’t been purposely blocked by the caller.
Unknown callers could even be on your contact list but don’t display because your phone service provider fails to identify them. However, most unknown calls should be handled like “no caller ID” calls—it’s best not to pick them up or silence them. The caller will leave a voicemail message if it’s important.
What to do if you receive calls from “unknown caller”?
- Don’t answer unknown calls — if it’s important, they’ll leave a voicemail.
- Listen to the voicemail to decide if it’s legit.
- Check your coverage or location if this happens often.
- Contact your carrier if known contacts are showing up as “Unknown.”
- Consider a plan upgrade if you make or receive many international calls.
What is the difference between “unknown caller” and “no caller ID?”
To recap: “No caller ID” means the caller hid their number on purpose; “Unknown caller” means the network couldn’t identify the number due to technical issues. Both hide the number, but only one is intentional.
| Display | “Unknown caller” | “No caller ID” |
| Phone number visibility | No phone number displayed | No phone number displayed |
| Caller’s intention | May be legitimate but unrecognized | Caller deliberately blocked identity |
| Call blocking | Proactive blocking with phone settings | Only after the call occurred; proactive blocking is possible with an app |
| Tracing | Challenging to trace | Challenging due to intentional masking |
| Risk of spam or scam | Moderate | High |
| How to react | Do not pick up, let it go to voicemail instead. | Do not pick up, let it go to voicemail instead. |
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FAQ
Is no caller ID someone I blocked?
“No caller ID” does not appear on your phone screen because you blocked a number. However, someone may decide to hide their caller ID to make you pick up the phone once they realize you’ve blocked them.
Can a no caller ID leave a voicemail?
Yes, a “no caller ID” caller can leave a message on your voicemail like any other caller.
