---
title: "Set a Phone Number as an External Caller ID"
slug: "set-a-phone-number-as-an-external-caller-id"
updated: 2026-05-17T17:42:19Z
published: 2026-05-21T21:25:40Z
canonical: "help.8x8.com/set-a-phone-number-as-an-external-caller-id"
stale: true
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.8x8.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Set a Phone Number as an External Caller ID

## Objective

The instructions below are a guide to enabling the sharing of a specific phone number as an outbound caller ID in 8x8 Admin Console, and for assigning a phone number as an outbound caller ID.

## Applies To

- 8x8 Admin Console
- Phone Numbers
- Caller ID

## Procedure

1. [Enable sharing of a specific phone number in Admin Console](/support/docs/set-a-phone-number-as-an-external-caller-id#enable-sharing-of-a-specific-phone-number-in-admin-console)
2. [Define the External Caller ID to be displayed on outbound external calls](/support/docs/set-a-phone-number-as-an-external-caller-id#define-the-external-caller-id-to-be-displayed-on-outbound-external-calls)

### Enable sharing of a specific phone number

To make a phone number on your 8x8 service available as an external caller ID number for your users:

1. Log in to [**Admin Console**](https://apps.8x8.com).
2. Click **Phone Numbers**.
3. Click **More Options** ![clipboard_e3d83a7d176869fc34f6585de12a9aaae.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/10660) for the number you are sharing, then click **Use as shared caller ID**. ![clipboard_e056eeb0ea16693bcf1a73ea22e3c4100.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/10665)
4. Enter the phone number or a common name that will appear with the phone number in 8x8 Work applications.
5. Click **Save**. ![clipboard_e7cf224e54affff45775dee25f45c5537.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/10667)

### Define the External Caller ID to be displayed on outbound external calls

There are two methods to apply a shared phone number as external caller ID:

- [Administrators define a specific number in the 8x8 Admin Console](/support/docs/set-a-phone-number-as-an-external-caller-id#administrators-define-a-specific-number-in-the-8x8-admin-console)
- [Users define their own external caller ID number in 8x8 Work apps](/support/docs/set-a-phone-number-as-an-external-caller-id#users-define-their-own-external-caller-id-number-in-8x8-work-apps)

#### Administrators define a specific number in the 8x8 Admin Console

In this case, an administrator can edit a user to set a specific phone number as their external caller ID.

1. In Admin Console, click **Home** > **Users**.
2. Click **Edit** (pencil icon) of a user you are changing the external caller ID of.
3. Under **External Caller ID** select the **phone number** to use as the Caller ID.
4. Click **Save** to complete the process.

> [!WARNING]
> **Important**:
> 
> Instructions for setting the External Caller ID policy for users are in the section, [below](/support/docs/set-a-phone-number-as-an-external-caller-id#below).

![clipboard_e949a9c290b77c5852ba12123051e8b2a.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/10659)

#### Users define their own external caller ID number in 8x8 Work apps

If an 8x8 Admin Console administrator has [allowed](/support/docs/set-a-phone-number-as-an-external-caller-id#allowed) users to set their own external caller ID:

1. Users must log into the 8x8 Work app.
2. Click on their **Profile Menu**, which is usually either their initials or a photo.
3. In the **Caller ID** section, click on the dropdown arrow and select the caller ID number to use. This number will remain in effect as the external caller ID until it is manually changed.

> [!WARNING]
> **Important**:
> 
> Administrators, see instructions [below](/support/docs/set-a-phone-number-as-an-external-caller-id#below) for setting the External Caller ID policy for users.

![clipboard_e523bbfcb18cae1de82f9beeafb833d60.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/10661)

## Administrator: Set the External Caller ID Policy

In Admin Console, administrators can control whether or not users can change their external caller ID in 8x8 Work apps.

1. Click on the control menu at the top-left of Admin Console: ![clipboard_e4341c7e564aa540c6bdbdafaae4c978b.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/10668)
2. Click **Profile Policies**. ![clipboard_e7c457ea8f893289dd919e6955f1260f6.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/10663)
3. Scroll down and select the option you need:
  - To allow users to change their external caller ID (default), leave this option set (gray): ![clipboard_e377a3ec0e598e43abafc9fdac1a99a9b.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/10662)
  - To prevent users from changing their external caller ID, you must enable this option (blue): ![clipboard_ed9a3cf4b0161a6dac6e0eb27fcf9d1ef.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/10666)
4. Click **Save** to complete the change. Users may need to log out of and log back into their 8x8 Work apps. ![clipboard_e5c651c9cc6111873f3c36db99f89c7f1.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/10664)