Where to find your phone number setting on Facebook

Your phone number on Facebook lives in your personal settings, not in your profile where other people see it. To reach it, open Facebook and click the downward arrow in the top right corner (on desktop) or tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom right (on mobile). Select Settings and privacy, then Settings. From there, go to Personal information in the left menu, then click Contact information. Your phone number appears here, and this is where you change it.

The process is the same whether you use Facebook on a computer, phone, or tablet. If you are logged out or cannot find the menu, log back in first — you must be the account owner to change this information.

Key Takeaways

  • Your phone number is stored in Settings > Personal information > Contact information, not on your public profile.
  • You can change, add, or remove a phone number at any time without Facebook's approval.
  • If you no longer have access to your old number, you can still remove it and add a new one in the same step.
  • Facebook uses your phone number to help you recover your account if you lose access to your email, so keeping it current is useful.
  • Your phone number is not shown on your profile unless you choose to make it public in your privacy settings.

Steps to add or replace your phone number

Click on the phone number field in your Contact information section. If you already have a number listed, you will see an option to edit it. If the field is empty, click Add phone number. Type your new number in the format that appears — usually with your country code and area code. Facebook will show you the format as you type.

After you enter the number, click Save changes or Update, depending on whether you are adding a new number or editing an existing one. The change takes effect when ready. You do not need to confirm the number by text or email unless you are using it for two-factor authentication (a security feature that requires a code sent to your phone when you log in from a new device).

Removing a phone number you no longer use

If you want to delete your phone number entirely, go to the same Contact information section. Click the phone number field, then look for a delete or remove button — usually an X or trash icon next to the number. Click it, then save your changes. The number is removed from your account right away.

You can remove a number even if you no longer have access to that phone. Facebook does not verify that you still own the number when you delete it. If you are removing an old number because you switched phones, you can add your new number in the same visit to your settings.

What happens if you use your phone number for two-factor authentication

If you turned on two-factor authentication and chose to receive security codes by text message, changing your phone number affects how you log in. When you add a new number to your account, Facebook will start sending codes to the new number instead of the old one. The old number stops working for login codes as soon as you save the change.

If you are switching phones and want to make sure you can still log in, add your new number to Facebook before you lose access to your old phone. That way, the next time you log in from a new device, the code will go to your new number. If you removed your old number and do not have a backup way to receive codes, you can turn off two-factor authentication temporarily in your Security and login settings, then turn it back on with your new number.

Privacy: who can see your phone number

By default, your phone number is private — only you and Facebook can see it. Other people cannot find it on your profile or through Facebook search. However, you can change this if you want. Go to Settings > Privacy and look for the Who can see your phone number? option. You can set it to Public, Friends, Friends except, or Only me.

Most people leave this set to Only me for security reasons. If you make your number public or visible to friends, anyone in that group can see it and contact you. You can change this setting at any time without affecting the number itself.

Troubleshooting: number won't save or keeps disappearing

If you enter a phone number and it will not save, check that you are using the correct format for your country. Some countries use different digit counts or require a plus sign and country code at the start. Try entering it with the country code — for example, +1 for the United States, +44 for the United Kingdom. If the format is still rejected, your number may contain a typo.

If your number saves but then disappears from your settings, log out and log back in to see if it reappears. Sometimes the page does not refresh properly. If it is still gone after logging back in, try adding it again from a different browser or device. If the problem continues, you may need to contact Facebook through their Help Center, though they cannot change the number for you — only you can do that from your own account.

Using your phone number to recover a locked account

One reason to keep your phone number current is account recovery. If you forget your password or lose access to your email, Facebook can send you a recovery code by text to your phone number on file. This is faster than waiting for email recovery and works even if someone else has taken over your email account.

To set this up, make sure your phone number is saved in your Contact information. You do not need to turn on two-factor authentication — the number just needs to be there. If you ever get locked out, Facebook will offer you the option to receive a code by text, and it will go to this number.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to give Facebook my phone number?

No. Your phone number is optional. You can use Facebook without one. However, having a phone number on file makes it easier to recover your account if you forget your password or lose access to your email.

Can I use the same phone number on multiple Facebook accounts?

Yes, you can. Facebook does not prevent the same number from being linked to more than one account. However, if you turn on two-factor authentication on both accounts, you will receive codes for both when you try to log in, which can be confusing.

What if I enter a fake number by mistake?

You can change it at any time. Go back to Contact information, edit the field, and enter the correct number. Facebook does not verify that the number is real unless you use it for two-factor authentication, in which case you will not receive the code and will know to update it.

Will changing my phone number affect my Facebook friends or messages?

No. Your phone number is not connected to your messages, friends list, or any content on your profile. Changing it only affects how you log in (if you use two-factor authentication) and how Facebook can contact you for account recovery.

Can I change my phone number on the Facebook app instead of the website?

Yes. Open the app, tap the three lines at the bottom right, go to Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information > Contact information, and follow the same steps. The process is identical on mobile and desktop.