How Livecaller identifies incoming calls

How Livecaller identifies incoming calls

Livecaller’s standout feature is showing you who’s calling as your phone rings. When you receive a call from an unknown number (any number not saved in your contacts), this is what happens:

Livecaller Lookup: As the phone rings, your iPhone uses the Livecaller extension to check the number against Livecaller’s massive database. This is done privately via Apple’s network, so the process is secure and behind the scenes.

Caller’s Name Displayed: If there’s a match, you will see the caller’s information on the incoming call screen. For example, instead of just a phone number, it might show “John Doe” or “ABC Plumbing Inc.” in the Caller ID area. Livecaller will show the name in real time, usually within the first ring or two.

Spam Call Alert: If the incoming number is recognized as a spam or scam caller, Livecaller will indicate that on the call screen – often by displaying a label like “Spam Risk,” “Telemarketer,” or “Scam Likely” in place of or along with the caller’s name. Depending on your spam protection level settings, the call may also be automatically silenced or blocked (see the Spam Blocking section for details on that). If it’s just set to warn, you’ll see the warning but the phone will continue to ring, allowing you the choice to ignore or answer.

Unknown Number: If Livecaller doesn’t have info on the number, the call screen will remain as just the number (or whatever your carrier shows by default). This might happen for very new numbers or ones not yet collected in the database. You can later use the app to search these numbers if needed.

Importantly, you are not required to take any action during the call. Just glance at the screen when you get a call:

• If you see a name you recognize or a legitimate business name, you know it’s likely safe to answer.
  
  
• If you see a spam warning or an unfamiliar name, you might choose to ignore it or let it go to voicemail.
  
  
• Livecaller basically gives you context for the call so you can decide confidently.
  
  

After the Call: Viewing Identified Call Details

• Check your Phone app Recents list. Identified calls will usually appear with the name that was shown. (E.g., If 1-234-567-8901 called and Livecaller identified it as “John Doe,” your Recents list will show “John Doe” instead of the number.) This makes it easy to recognize that number later without re-checking.

Common Questions:

• Sometimes, the name appears a second or two after the phone starts ringing. Is that normal? Yes. There might be a brief delay (usually very short) as Livecaller fetches the info. This is normal and still much faster than answering blindly. If the delay is long (e.g., you only see the name after you missed the call), that could be due to a slow internet connection at that moment.
  
  Is the caller notified that I’m using Livecaller or that I identified them? No, the caller has no idea. Livecaller’s identification happens only on your device. It doesn’t affect the call for the person calling you. So feel free to use that info without concern.
  
  
• I got a call that said, “Spam Likely” (or similar). What should I do? We recommend you do not answer calls labeled as spam. Let those go to voicemail or just ignore. Livecaller is warning you based on community spam reports. If by chance it was a mistake (false positive), a legitimate caller will likely try another way or leave a message. You can always call back if you determine it was real.
  
  

User Tips:

Trust but Verify: Livecaller provides a name, but if someone on the call claims something suspicious (e.g., “I’m calling from your bank”), always verify independently. Scammers can spoof numbers. Livecaller might correctly show the name of the bank, but the call could still be fraudulent. Use the info as a guide, but stay cautious if the conversation feels off.