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Overview

An effective outgoing caller ID name helps you stand out and connect with your contacts more successfully. When recipients see your business name instead of just a phone number, they’re more likely to answer your calls and trust the communication.
Caller ID name is exclusively available to paying customers who represent a business with a Tax ID and an approved US carrier registration. This feature is not available for personal use.

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Understanding caller ID

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How caller ID works

When you make a call, carriers reference authoritative databases to display your business name on the recipient’s phone. This process involves:
  1. Database registration: OpenPhone submits your caller ID information to national databases
  2. Carrier lookup: Recipients’ carriers pull your information when you call
  3. Display on device: Your business name appears on their screen
If you’ve ever seen a caller’s name without having them in your contacts, this is the same system at work.

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Requirements and limitations

Caller ID name requirements:
  • Maximum 15 characters
  • Only letters, numbers, periods, commas, and spaces
  • No special characters like ”+” allowed
  • Cannot use “Private”, “Unavailable”, or “Unknown”
  • Must relate to your registered business name
Feature availability:
  • ✅ US local numbers only
  • ❌ Not available for toll-free numbers
  • ❌ Not supported for Canadian numbers
  • ✅ Requires admin or owner permissions

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Setting up caller ID

Watch this quick tutorial or follow the steps below:

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Step 1: Create a caller ID name

  1. Click Settings from the left-hand menu
  2. Under “Workspace”, select General
  3. Click Add a name under “Caller ID names”
  4. Enter your preferred caller ID (must match your business registration)
Creating a caller ID name in workspace settings
Your caller ID name must be related to the business name on your US carrier registration. If there’s no visible relationship, it will be rejected.

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Step 2: Assign to phone numbers

After creating your caller ID name:
  1. Click the “0 numbers” link next to your pending caller ID
  2. Select all numbers that should display this caller ID
  3. Click outside the pop-up to save
  4. Status will show as “Pending” during approval

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Step 3: Wait for approval

  • Approval typically takes 48 hours
  • Updates are processed weekly
  • After approval, it may take 2-3 additional days to propagate across all carriers

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Managing existing caller IDs

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Updating a caller ID name

  1. Go to Settings → General
  2. Find your existing caller ID name
  3. Click the three dots and choose Update name
  4. Enter your new preferred name
  5. Submit for approval
Updating an existing caller ID name
While changes are pending approval, your previously approved caller ID name will continue to display.

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Assigning to individual numbers

To manage caller ID for a specific number:
  1. Find the number in your workspace
  2. Click the three dots → Manage settings
  3. Under General settings, find “Caller ID name”
  4. Select or change the assigned caller ID
Managing caller ID for individual phone numbers

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Troubleshooting display issues

Even with proper setup, caller ID may not always display correctly due to various factors:

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Common reasons for non-display

Carrier variations
  • Each carrier has its own update schedule
  • Some carriers use outdated databases
  • Display policies vary by provider
Number type limitations
  • Toll-free numbers: Cannot display caller ID names (designed for receiving calls only)
  • Canadian numbers: Caller ID not supported due to carrier limitations
Timing issues
  • New caller IDs take 2-3 days to propagate
  • Database updates occur weekly
  • Some carriers update less frequently

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What you can control vs. what you can’t

You can control:
  • Accuracy of submitted information
  • Keeping caller ID updated
  • Ensuring compliance with naming requirements
You cannot control:
  • How often carriers update their databases
  • Whether all carriers will display your ID
  • Display on international calls

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Legacy caller ID management

If you created a caller ID name before 2024, you may encounter limitations with modifications.
For pre-2024 caller IDs:
  • Cannot be modified or reassigned to new numbers
  • Only deletion is available
  • Solution: Create a new caller ID name with current requirements
  • Assign desired numbers to the new entry

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FAQs