Change Your Phone Number in Account Settings

To change the phone number Facebook has on file for your account, open Facebook on any device, go to Settings and Privacy, then select Settings. On the left menu, click Personal Information. Find the Phone section and click Edit. You can then remove your old number and add a new one. Facebook will send a confirmation code to the new number — enter that code to complete the change.

The process takes about five minutes. You do not need to know your old phone number to add a new one, and you can have multiple phone numbers linked to the same account at once. If you want to remove a number without adding a replacement, you can do that too — just delete it from the Phone section and confirm.

Key Takeaways

  • Your phone number lives in Personal Information under Settings, not in security settings, even though Facebook uses it for account recovery.
  • Facebook sends a confirmation code to your new number to verify you own it, so you must have access to that phone before you start.
  • You can keep multiple phone numbers on your account at once, which is useful if you are switching phones gradually or keeping a backup.
  • Changing your phone number does not affect your password, two-factor authentication, or any other security setting unless you specifically change those too.
  • If you no longer have access to your old phone, you can still add a new number — you just skip the step of removing the old one.

Why Facebook Asks for a Phone Number

Facebook stores your phone number for two main reasons: account recovery and identity verification. If you get locked out of your account or forget your password, Facebook can text you a code to regain access. If the platform suspects unusual activity on your account, it may ask you to confirm your identity by texting a code back.

Your phone number is not required to use Facebook. You can create an account with only an email address. Adding a phone number is optional but makes it faster to recover your account if something goes wrong. Facebook does not use your phone number to send marketing messages or sell it to advertisers — it is stored separately from your ad preferences.

What Happens to Your Old Number After You Change It

Once you remove your old phone number from Facebook, that number is no longer linked to your account. If someone else later signs up for Facebook with that same number, Facebook will not connect the two accounts. Your old number cannot be used to recover your account anymore.

If you are switching phone numbers because your carrier reassigned your old number to someone else, remove it from Facebook as soon as possible. This prevents the new owner of that number from using it to reset your password or receive your two-factor codes. You should also update your phone number on any other accounts that use it — email, banking, social media — for the same reason.

Adding a Phone Number for Two-Factor Authentication

Changing your phone number in Personal Information is different from setting up two-factor authentication. Two-factor authentication is an extra security layer that requires you to enter a code sent to your phone every time you log in from a new device. You can turn this on separately in the Security and Login section of Settings.

If you have two-factor authentication turned on and you change your phone number, Facebook will still send codes to your new number automatically. You do not need to turn two-factor off and back on. However, if you remove your phone number entirely and have no backup authentication method set up, you will not be able to log in from a new device until you add a phone number back.

Changing Your Number on Mobile Apps

The steps are the same on the Facebook app for iPhone or Android as they are on a computer. Open the app, tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner, scroll down to Settings and Privacy, tap Settings, then Personal Information. Tap Phone and follow the same process: remove the old number if you want to, add the new one, and enter the confirmation code.

If you are switching to a new phone, you can make this change on your old phone before you lose access to it, or you can do it on your new phone once you have set it up. Either way works. If you do it on your old phone, make sure you have the new phone number ready to enter when ready, because Facebook sends the confirmation code right away.

If You Cannot Receive the Confirmation Code

If you enter a new phone number but do not receive the confirmation code, wait a few minutes — text messages sometimes arrive slowly. If nothing arrives after ten minutes, check that you typed the number correctly. Go back and re-enter it, making sure you included the country code if you are in a different country than before.

If you still do not receive a code and you are certain the number is correct, try again in a few hours. Facebook's text system occasionally experiences delays. If the problem persists, you can skip adding a phone number for now and come back to it later. Your account will work fine without one — you just will not have that recovery option until you add a number you can actually receive texts on.

Removing Your Phone Number Entirely

You do not have to keep a phone number on your Facebook account. Go to Settings, Personal Information, Phone, and click Edit. Select the phone number you want to remove and click the X or Delete button. Confirm the removal. That number is now disconnected from your account.

If you remove your only phone number and you do not have two-factor authentication set up, you will still be able to log in with your password. However, if you get locked out and need to recover your account, you will have to use your email address instead. Make sure your email address is current and that you have access to it before you remove your phone number.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my phone number without confirming the new one?

No. Facebook requires you to enter a confirmation code sent to the new number before the change takes effect. This is a security measure to make sure you actually own the phone number you are adding. You must have access to the new phone to complete the change.

Will changing my phone number log me out of Facebook?

No. Changing your phone number does not affect your login status or your password. You will stay logged in on all your devices. The change only updates the phone number Facebook has on file for account recovery and verification purposes.

What if I share a phone number with someone else?

Each phone number can only be linked to one Facebook account. If you try to add a number that is already connected to a different account, Facebook will not let you. You and the other person will need to use separate phone numbers, or one of you will need to remove the number from their account first.

Can I change my phone number if I forgot my password?

If you can still log in to Facebook, yes — go to Settings and change it the normal way. If you cannot log in, you will need to use the account recovery process first. Click "Forgot Password" on the login screen, and Facebook will send a recovery code to your current phone number or email. Once you regain access, you can then change your phone number.

Does Facebook tell my contacts that I changed my phone number?

No. Your phone number is private information that only you and Facebook can see. Your friends and contacts will not be notified that you changed it, and they cannot see your phone number on your profile unless you chose to make it public in your privacy settings.