Caller ID FAQs

Thanks to Caller ID, the surprise element of a phone call is a thing of the past; and gone are the days of picking up the phone without knowing who was on the other line. 

So, what exactly is Caller ID?

Caller ID (CID) identifies an incoming caller by name and phone number by displaying the caller's name and number. Caller ID is offered by almost all commercial phone providers, including landline, VoIP, and mobile phone services.

 There are two types of Caller ID:

• Caller ID Number (CID) 
  • CID is the service that displays your phone number to the person you are calling. 
• Caller ID name (CNAM).
  • CNAM is the service that displays the name or text associated with your phone number to the person you are calling (ie how your name displays).

To help you navigate some common issues related to Caller ID, we've documented some of the most frequently asked questions. 

What is my Caller ID?

By default, your outbound ID is set to your primary, direct Dialpad number. That doesn't mean you can't tweak it for one-off calls, or even globally. Admins can, however, limit certain caller ID features office-wide.

Can I switch between different Caller IDs?

Yes! We've made it nice and simple to change your Caller ID from one number to another, depending on who you are calling (provided you already have multiple Caller IDs). For full details on how to change your Caller ID, please refer to this Help Center article. 

You'll need to be an Operator of a Department or Main Line, an Agent of a Call Center, or an Executive Assistant to place outbound calls using a Shared Line's primary and secondary numbers.

Can I block my Caller ID?

Absolutely! You can block your Caller ID for a single call, or block caller ID for all calls regardless of device, through global caller ID (see this handy Help Center article for more details).

How come my Caller ID does not always show up?

Unlike local number portability (LNP), Caller ID is not regulated by a governing body and there is no requirement that a particular carrier must look up the CNAM (called a CNAM dip). If the carriers have not "dipped" since your Caller ID was changed, your old Caller ID will be displayed. Dialpad has no control over how often a carrier performs a CNAM dip.

How do I request a new Caller ID name?

Dialpad makes it easy for Company Admins to update their own, and their team’s, Caller IDs.

Read this Help Center article to learn how, and don't forget to review the Outbound Caller Name limitations.

Is international Caller ID supported?

No. At this time we only support American and Canadian caller IDs. 

For more information on Caller ID settings, head to this helpful article.