Truecaller Not Working? 9 Fixes for Android & iPhone
Around 90% of Truecaller issues come down to three things: missing permissions, Truecaller not being set as the default caller ID app, or a stale app version. This guide walks through 9 verified fixes for Android and iPhone — covering caller ID not showing, spam not blocking and app crashes — plus a diagnosis table so you can jump to your fix.
Before You Start
Make sure Truecaller is on v27+ (Android) or v14+ (iPhone). Older versions have known broken caller ID. Updating the app first fixes roughly 30% of issues instantly.
Android Fixes
Fix 1 — Set Truecaller as the default caller ID & spam app
If another app (Samsung Phone, Google Phone, etc.) is set as the default caller ID handler, Truecaller will never show. This is the number-one cause of caller ID not appearing.
On stock Android / Pixel: Settings → Apps → Default Apps → Caller ID & Spam → select Truecaller.
On Samsung (One UI): Phone app → ⋮ Menu → Settings → Caller ID & Spam → Truecaller.
After setting this, make a test call. Caller ID should now appear during the ring.
Fix 2 — Grant all required permissions
Truecaller needs Phone, Contacts and Call Logs permissions at minimum. It also needs “Display over other apps” to show the caller ID overlay during calls.
Path: Settings → Apps → Truecaller → Permissions → Allow all.
For the overlay: Settings → Apps → Truecaller → Special App Access → Display over other apps → Allow.
On Android 12+, the system may automatically restrict background activity for apps you don’t use often. Open Truecaller daily for a week to avoid this.
Fix 3 — Disable battery optimisation for Truecaller
Android’s battery saver kills background apps — including Truecaller’s caller ID service. This is why caller ID works sometimes but not others, especially after the phone has been idle.
Path: Settings → Apps → Truecaller → Battery → Unrestricted.
On Samsung: Settings → Battery → Background Usage Limits → Never sleeping apps → add Truecaller.
Fix 4 — Clear cache and app data
A corrupted cache is the most common cause of Truecaller crashing or freezing on launch. Clearing it doesn’t delete your account — it only clears temporary files.
Path: Settings → Apps → Truecaller → Storage → Clear Cache.
If that doesn’t help, try Clear Data (you’ll need to log in again): Settings → Apps → Truecaller → Storage → Clear Data.
Fix 5 — Check your internet connection during calls
Truecaller performs a live database lookup when your phone rings. If mobile data or Wi-Fi is off at that moment — even briefly — the lookup fails and no name appears. This is why caller ID sometimes works on Wi-Fi but not on weak mobile data.
Fix: Ensure mobile data is always on. Go to Settings → SIM & Network and make sure data isn’t restricted on the SIM that receives calls. Dual SIM users: if calls come in on SIM 2 but data is only active on SIM 1, Truecaller can’t fetch the name. Enable data on the SIM that receives calls, or on both SIMs.
iPhone-Specific Fixes
Fix 6 — Enable all four Call Blocking switches (iOS)
iOS requires you to enable Truecaller individually for each Call Blocking & Identification slot. Most users only enable one — which gives partial coverage at best. You need all four switches ON.
Path: Settings → Apps → Phone → Call Blocking & Identification. Toggle every Truecaller switch to ON. Requires iOS 18.2 or later — on older iOS versions real-time caller ID is not available at all, so update your iPhone first.
Fix 7 — Enable Spam Identification inside the Truecaller app (iOS)
The iOS Settings toggle and the in-app Spam Identification toggle are separate. Even with iOS Settings enabled, auto-blocking won’t work until you also turn on Spam Identification inside the app: Truecaller app → Spam Identification → toggle ON.
This requires a Premium subscription. Free users get only manual number lookup — not automatic blocking.
Fix 8 — Caller ID shows after the call, not during
This almost always means you’re on iOS older than 18.2, or running Truecaller older than v14.0. The real-time Live Caller ID Lookup API requires both. Step 1: update iPhone to iOS 18.2+ via Settings → General → Software Update. Step 2: update Truecaller to v14+ via the App Store. Step 3: re-enable all four switches in Settings → Phone → Call Blocking & Identification.
Fix 9 — Wrong name showing — how to correct it
Truecaller displays whatever name appears most frequently across its database for your number — pulled from other users’ contact lists. If people saved your number under a wrong name, that name shows up.
Option 1 — Edit your Truecaller profile: open the app → tap your profile photo → Edit → update your name. This increases the weight of the correct name in their algorithm.
Option 2 — Unlist and re-register: unlist your number (see our unlist guide), wait 48 hours, then re-register with your correct name. This resets how your number appears to others.
Quick Diagnosis Table
| Symptom | Most likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Caller ID not showing at all | Truecaller is not set as the default caller ID app | Fix 1 |
| Caller ID shows after the call ends | Old iOS version or old app version | Fix 8 |
| Works sometimes, not always | Battery optimisation is killing the caller ID service | Fix 3 |
| No caller ID on mobile data, works on Wi-Fi | Mobile data restricted on the call SIM | Fix 5 |
| Spam not auto-blocked (iPhone) | Missing iOS switches or missing in-app toggle | Fixes 6 and 7 |
| App crashes on open | Corrupted cache | Fix 4 |
| Wrong name displayed | Crowdsourced database mismatch | Fix 9 |
| Dual SIM caller ID missing | Data active on the wrong SIM | Fix 5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Truecaller work on Wi-Fi but not mobile data?
Truecaller performs a live lookup when your phone rings. If mobile data is restricted, slow or on the wrong SIM, the lookup times out before caller ID can be displayed. Fix it by ensuring mobile data is enabled on the same SIM that receives calls.
Does Truecaller work without an internet connection?
No — on Android or iPhone, Truecaller requires a live connection to query its database. It caches some numbers locally, but real-time caller ID needs internet. If you need offline identification, a downloadable database app such as Whoscall is an alternative.
Truecaller is updated but still not working — what next?
Try a full uninstall and reinstall. On Android: Settings → Apps → Truecaller → Uninstall, then reinstall from the Play Store and re-grant all permissions. This resolves most persistent issues that survive cache clears and updates. On iPhone, delete the app and reinstall it from the App Store, then re-enable all four switches in Settings → Phone → Call Blocking & Identification.
Why is my caller ID showing after the first ring instead of before it?
This usually means the live lookup is timing out on a slow or briefly interrupted connection. Check Fix 5 (mobile data on the right SIM) and Fix 3 (battery optimisation off). On iPhone, make sure you’re on iOS 18.2+ with Truecaller v14+ so the real-time Live Caller ID Lookup API is active (Fix 8).
Can battery optimisation really break caller ID?
Yes — it’s one of the most common causes of intermittent caller ID. Android’s battery saver can kill Truecaller’s background caller ID service after the phone has been idle, so names stop appearing until you open the app again. Setting the battery option to “Unrestricted” (Fix 3) prevents this.
Related: best Truecaller alternatives in 2026
