When placing calls, you may notice that the city displayed on the recipient’s device does not always match the city you operate from. This happens because caller ID location is determined by the area code of your phone number, not your physical location. The display is also influenced by the type of device receiving the call.

This article explains how caller ID city display works and what you can do if you want your number to reflect a specific location.

How caller ID city display works

Caller ID location is controlled by the receiving device. Apple and Android devices use the caller’s area code to determine which city or region to show when a call comes in.

Area code based city display

  • Area code assignment: Each area code corresponds to a geographic region, such as a city, county, or broader area. When you make a call, the device receiving the call uses your area code to determine which location to display.

  • Device specific behaviour: Apple and Android devices independently generate this display. As a result, the city shown may not reflect your actual location if you are calling from a different region or using a number that does not match where you are based.

What the caller ID display looks like

android-city-caller-id.jpg  ios-city-caller-id.png

 

Note: The screenshots above may not match exactly what appears on your Android or iOS device. The display varies depending on the operating system version and device model.

How to ensure your number reflects your location

If you want your phone number to show a location that aligns with where your business is based, you can request a number with a specific area code.

Steps to request a preferred area code

  1. Contact Aircall Support.

  2. Provide the area code you would like.

  3. We will check availability and offer a number that matches your request as closely as possible.

Important: Area code availability depends on regional regulations and current inventory. We will provide the closest available option if your preferred area code is not in stock.

Enhancing outbound caller ID with third party services

You can further customize how your outbound calls appear by using third party services such as Hiya or Truecaller. These services offer advanced branding options, including displaying your business name or a custom message to help increase answer rates.

These tools allow you to create a more recognizable and professional presence, especially when combined with an area code that aligns with your business location.

Note: Aircall supports the use of these third party services, but we are not affiliated with them and cannot guarantee their performance. We recommend researching and testing any service to confirm it meets your needs before relying on it for business purposes.