Change your phone number in Instagram settings in under two minutes
Open Instagram and go to your profile. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right, then select Settings and privacy. Choose Account center, then Personal information. Find Phone number and tap it. Delete the old number and enter your new one, then tap Save. Instagram will send a confirmation code to your new phone — enter it to finish.
You do not need to delete your account or create a new one. The change takes effect when ready and does not affect your username, followers, or posts. If you no longer have access to your old phone number, you can still update it using a recovery email instead.
Key Takeaways
- The phone number change happens in Account center under Personal information, and you can complete it in two minutes from your phone.
- Instagram sends a confirmation code to your new number to verify the change, so you must have access to the new phone to finish.
- If you cannot receive texts on your new number, you can confirm the change using your recovery email address instead.
- Changing your phone number does not affect your account security, followers, or any of your posts or messages.
Step-by-step: updating your phone number
Start from your Instagram home screen. Tap the menu icon — it looks like three stacked lines — in the bottom right corner. This opens a list of options including Settings, Saved, and Your activity.
Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy. On the next screen, tap Account center. This is where Instagram groups all your account controls in one place. You will see options for Personal information, Password and security, and other account settings.
Tap Personal information. You will see fields for your name, username, email, phone number, and other details. Find Phone number and tap it. The current number (if you have one saved) will appear. Tap the X or delete button to remove it, then type your new phone number in the field.
Tap Save. Instagram will when ready send a six-digit confirmation code to the new phone number you entered. Open the text message and copy the code. Return to Instagram and paste or type the code into the confirmation field. Once you tap Confirm, the change is complete.
What happens if you do not have access to the new phone number yet
If you are switching phones and do not have the new device yet, or if the new number is not activated, you cannot receive the confirmation code. In this case, do not start the process — wait until you can receive texts on the new number.
If you already started the change and cannot receive the code, tap Did not get a code? on the confirmation screen. Instagram will offer to send the code to your recovery email address instead. You will receive a link in that email that lets you confirm the change without needing the text message.
Changing your phone number on a computer or tablet
The process is the same on a web browser. Go to instagram.com and log in. Click your profile picture in the top right, then select Settings. Click Personal information on the left side. Find Phone number, delete the old one, and enter the new one. Click Save.
Instagram will send the confirmation code to your new phone number. You will need to enter it to finish the change. If you cannot receive the code, click Did not get a code? and choose to receive it by email instead.
Why Instagram asks for a phone number and what it is used for
Instagram uses your phone number for account recovery. If you forget your password or someone tries to log into your account, Instagram can send a code to your phone to verify it is really you. This is one of the fastest ways to regain access to a locked account.
Your phone number is not shown on your public profile unless you choose to share it. Instagram does not sell your phone number to advertisers. However, if you have two-factor security turned on, Instagram may send login codes to your phone when you sign in from a new device.
Removing your phone number instead of changing it
If you do not want to add a new phone number and just want to remove the old one, you can do that too. Follow the same steps to go to Personal information and tap Phone number. Tap the X or delete button to remove it completely, then tap Save. No confirmation code is needed to delete a number.
Removing your phone number does not hurt your account. You can still log in, post, and message. However, you will lose the ability to recover your account by phone if you forget your password. Instagram will still be able to send recovery codes to your email address.
Troubleshooting: common problems when changing your phone number
If you see an error message saying the phone number is invalid, check that you entered it in the correct format for your country. Instagram expects numbers to include the country code (for example, +1 for the United States). If you are copying the number from somewhere else, make sure there are no extra spaces or dashes.
If the confirmation code never arrives, wait a few minutes — sometimes texts are delayed. If it still does not come after five minutes, tap Did not get a code? and ask Instagram to send it to your email instead. Check your spam or junk folder in case the email landed there. If you still cannot confirm, you can try again later or contact Instagram through the Help Center.
If you see a message that the phone number is already in use, it means another Instagram account has that number saved. This can happen if you previously used that number on a different account. You will need to remove the number from the other account first, or use a different phone number for this account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing my phone number affect my two-factor authentication?
If you have two-factor security turned on and set to receive codes by text, you should update your phone number first, then check your security settings to make sure the new number is registered there too. Go to Settings and privacy, then Password and security, and look for two-factor authentication. Update it if needed so codes go to your new number.
Can I change my phone number if I forgot my password?
No. You must be logged into Instagram to change your phone number. If you forgot your password, use the login screen to recover your account first — Instagram will send a code to your current phone number or email. Once you are logged back in, you can update your phone number.
What if someone else has my old phone number now?
Remove your old phone number from Instagram as soon as you know someone else has it. Follow the steps to go to Personal information and delete the phone number completely. This prevents the new owner of that number from using it to recover your account. You can add a new phone number or just rely on your email for recovery.
Does Instagram notify my followers when I change my phone number?
No. Your followers do not see any notification or announcement when you change your phone number. The change is private and only affects your account security and recovery options.
Can I use the same phone number on multiple Instagram accounts?
No. Instagram does not allow the same phone number to be saved on more than one account at a time. If you try to add a number that is already in use, you will see an error. You must remove it from the other account first, or use a different number for each account.