Where to find the phone number setting on Facebook
Your phone number on Facebook lives in your personal information settings, not in your password or security section. Open Facebook on a computer or phone, click the downward arrow in the top right corner, then select Settings and privacy followed by Settings. On the left side, click Personal information, then Contact information. Your current phone number appears there, and you can edit it directly from that page.
On a mobile phone, the path is the same but the menu looks different. Tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) at the bottom right, scroll down to Settings and privacy, tap Settings, then scroll to Personal information and Contact information. The phone number field works the same way on both devices.
Key Takeaways
- Your phone number is stored under Settings > Personal information > Contact information, not in security settings.
- You can change your number without losing your account, and Facebook does not notify your friends when you do.
- If you no longer have access to your old number, you can still change it by using a recovery email or phone number you set up earlier.
- Removing your phone number entirely is an option if you do not want one listed on your account at all.
The steps to replace your current number
Once you are in the Contact information section, click or tap the phone number field. Delete the old number completely, then type in your new number with the correct country code. Facebook automatically detects your country based on your location, but if you are moving or using a number from another country, make sure the country code is correct before you save.
After you enter the new number, click Save changes or the checkmark button on mobile. Facebook saves the change when ready. You do not need to confirm the new number by text or email — it takes effect right away. If you made a typo, you can go back to the same screen and edit it again at any time.
What happens if you cannot access your old number
If your old phone number no longer works or you no longer have that phone, you can still change it. Facebook does not require you to verify the old number before replacing it. straightforward go to Contact information, delete the old number, and enter the new one. The system allows you to overwrite it without any confirmation step.
If you are locked out of your account entirely and cannot reach the settings page, you can use your recovery email address or a backup phone number you added to your account in the past. Go to the Facebook login page, click Forgotten password?, and follow the steps to regain access using your email or recovery number. Once you are back in your account, change the phone number as described above.
Removing your phone number instead of changing it
You do not have to keep a phone number on Facebook at all. If you want to remove it completely rather than replace it, go to Contact information, click the phone number field, and delete the text. Leave it blank and click Save changes. Your account will have no phone number listed, and you can add one later if you change your mind.
Removing your number does not affect your account security or your ability to log in. It only changes what information appears on your profile and what contact methods Facebook can use to reach you about account activity. If you have two-factor security turned on and it uses your phone number, removing the number will disable that protection — you would need to set up a different two-factor method, such as an authentication app.
Privacy and who can see your phone number
By default, your phone number is visible only to you and Facebook. Your friends cannot see it on your profile unless you change the privacy setting. To control who sees your number, go to Contact information, and look for the privacy icon (usually a globe or lock symbol) next to your phone number. Click it and choose Only me, Friends, or Public. Most people leave it set to Only me for security reasons.
Changing your number does not change these privacy settings — whatever visibility level you had before stays the same after you update the number. If you want your new number to be private, check the setting after you save the change to make sure it is still restricted.
Updating your number on other Facebook services
If you use Instagram, Messenger, or other Meta services linked to your Facebook account, they all pull your phone number from the same Facebook settings. Changing it in one place changes it everywhere. You do not need to update your number separately on each app.
If you use your phone number to log into Facebook instead of your email address, you can still do that with your new number after you change it. The old number will no longer work for login purposes once you replace it.
Troubleshooting if the change will not save
If you try to save a new phone number and it does not stick, clear your browser cache and try again. On a phone, close the Facebook app completely and reopen it. If the problem continues, try using a different browser or device. Sometimes Facebook's servers take a few minutes to sync the change across all devices.
If you see an error message saying the number is already in use, it means that number is linked to another Facebook account. You would need to remove it from that account first before you can add it to yours. If the number belongs to you but you cannot access that account, use the account recovery process to regain access, then remove the number from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my friends be notified when I change my phone number?
No. Facebook does not send notifications to your friends when you change your phone number. The change is private to your account settings and does not appear in anyone's activity feed or notification list.
Can I use the same phone number on multiple Facebook accounts?
No. Each phone number can be linked to only one Facebook account at a time. If you try to add a number that is already in use, Facebook will tell you it is already associated with another account. You must remove it from the other account first.
What if I enter the wrong country code by mistake?
You can fix it when ready by going back to Contact information and editing the number again. There is no penalty for correcting it, and you can change it as many times as you need to get it right.
Do I need to change my phone number if I change my phone but keep the same number?
No. Your phone number on Facebook is separate from the device you use. If you get a new phone but keep the same phone number, you do not need to change anything on Facebook. Your account stays the same.
Can I add multiple phone numbers to my Facebook account?
Facebook allows only one phone number per account in the Contact information section. If you need to use a different number for login or recovery, you can update the existing number, but you cannot store two numbers at once.