Yes, you can change your TextNow number, but the process depends on whether you have a free account or a paid subscription
TextNow lets you change the phone number associated with your account. If you have a free TextNow account, you can change your number once every 30 days. If you pay for a TextNow Plus subscription, you can change it as often as you want. The change takes effect when ready, and your old number becomes available for someone else to claim.
The steps are the same whether you use the app or the website. You do not need to contact TextNow support to do this yourself — the option is built into your account settings.
Key Takeaways
- Free TextNow accounts can change their number once every 30 days; paid TextNow Plus subscribers can change it whenever they want.
- You change your number through the Settings menu in the TextNow app or on the TextNow website, not by contacting support.
- Your old number is released when ready and becomes available to other users, so anyone texting the old number will not reach you.
- You keep the same account, contacts, and message history when you change your number — only the phone number itself changes.
- If you have already used your one free change this month, you will need to wait until the 30-day window resets or upgrade to TextNow Plus.
How to change your number on the TextNow app
Open the TextNow app and tap the gear icon in the bottom right corner to open Settings. Scroll down and tap Phone Number. You will see your current number and a button that says Change Number — tap it.
TextNow will show you available numbers in your area code, or you can search for a different area code if you want a number from somewhere else. Browse the list, select the number you want, and confirm. The change happens right away.
If you see a message saying you have already changed your number this month, you have used your one free change. You will need to wait until 30 days have passed since your last change, or upgrade to TextNow Plus to change again when ready.
How to change your number on the TextNow website
Go to textnow.com and log into your account. Click the gear icon in the top right corner and select Settings. On the left side, click Phone Number. You will see your current number and a Change Number button.
Click the button, browse or search for a new number, select it, and confirm. The change takes effect when ready on both the app and the website.
What happens to your old number
When you change your number, your old TextNow number is released back into the pool of available numbers. Someone else can claim it within a few days. This means anyone who texts or calls your old number will not reach you — the number will either go to whoever takes it next or return a "number not in service" message.
Your contacts, message history, and account settings stay exactly the same. You are only changing the phone number itself, not your account.
The 30-day waiting period for free accounts
TextNow enforces a 30-day cooldown between number changes on free accounts. This means if you changed your number on January 15, you cannot change it again until February 14. The timer resets on the anniversary of each change, not on a calendar month.
If you need to change your number more often than once a month, TextNow Plus removes this restriction. With a paid subscription, you can change your number as many times as you want, whenever you want.
Why you might want to change your TextNow number
People change their TextNow number for several reasons: to get a local area code for a different city, to avoid unwanted contacts, to start fresh after sharing the number too widely, or straightforward because they prefer a different number. Since TextNow numbers are virtual and not tied to a physical location, you can pick any available area code you want.
Keep in mind that if you share your new number with people, they will need to save it in their contacts — your old number will not automatically forward to your new one.
If you cannot change your number right now
If you see an error message or the Change Number button is not available, the most common reason is that you have already used your one free change within the last 30 days. Check the date of your last change in your account settings to see when the window resets.
If the button is missing entirely or you see a different error, try logging out and logging back in, or try the change on the website if you were using the app (or vice versa). If the problem persists, TextNow support can help, but in most cases the 30-day limit is the reason.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I lose my messages and contacts when I change my number?
No. Your message history, contacts, and all account data stay the same. Only the phone number changes. Anyone you have been texting will still see your old conversations, but they will need to update your contact information to reach you at your new number.
Can I get my old TextNow number back?
Once you change your number, it is released to other users and you cannot reclaim it. If you think you made a mistake, change back to a different number right away, but TextNow cannot reserve your old number for you.
What if someone else takes my old number?
If someone claims your old TextNow number after you release it, they own it. Texts and calls to that number will go to them, not to you. This is why it is important to tell your contacts your new number before they try to reach you at the old one.
Do I have to pay to change my number?
No. Free TextNow accounts can change their number once every 30 days at no cost. TextNow Plus subscribers can change as often as they want, also at no extra charge — the ability to change more frequently is included in the subscription.
Can I choose a specific number, or do I have to pick from TextNow's list?
You choose from TextNow's available numbers. You can filter by area code to find a number in a specific region, but you cannot request a custom number or a number that is not currently available in the system.