Where to Find the Phone Number Setting

Your phone number on Facebook lives in your personal settings, not in your profile where others can see it. Open Facebook on a computer or phone, click the downward arrow in the top right corner, and select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Personal information. You will see a section labeled Contact information — this is where your phone number appears.

If you are on a phone, the layout is slightly different but the path is the same. Tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) at the bottom right, scroll down to Settings and privacy, tap Settings, then tap Personal information. The Contact information section will be visible on the screen.

Key Takeaways

  • Your phone number is stored under Settings > Personal information > Contact information, not on your public profile.
  • You can add, change, or remove a phone number at any time without notifying Facebook or waiting for approval.
  • Removing your old number before adding a new one prevents confusion if you are switching phones or carriers.
  • Your phone number is private by default — only you and Facebook can see it unless you change the privacy setting yourself.

Adding a New Phone Number

Click on the Contact information section to expand it. You will see any phone numbers already listed. To add a new number, look for a link or button that says Add phone number or a plus icon next to the phone field. Click it, then type your new phone number in the format that appears — usually with the country code and area code included.

Facebook will ask you to confirm the number is correct before saving it. Double-check that you entered it without typos, especially the area code and the last four digits. Once you click Save or Confirm, the new number is added to your account when ready. You do not need to verify it by text or call — Facebook stores it right away.

Removing Your Old Phone Number

If you are replacing an old number with a new one, remove the old number to avoid confusion. In the same Contact information section, find the phone number you no longer use. Hover over it (on a computer) or tap and hold it (on a phone) until a delete or remove option appears. Click or tap that option, and the number is deleted from your account.

Removing a number does not affect your account security or your ability to log in, as long as you have another way to verify your identity — such as an email address or a backup phone number. If you have two-factor authentication turned on and you remove your only phone number, Facebook will ask you to add a different recovery method before the deletion goes through.

Understanding Privacy Settings for Your Phone Number

By default, your phone number is visible only to you. Facebook does not show it on your profile or to other users. However, you can change this if you want. In the Contact information section, look for a privacy icon (usually a circle with lines or a lock symbol) next to your phone number. Click it to see who can see your number: Only me, Friends, Public, or Custom.

Most people leave this set to Only me for safety reasons. If you change it to Friends or Public, anyone in that group can see your phone number on your profile. You can change this setting back at any time without affecting the phone number itself.

What Happens When You Change Your Number

Changing your phone number on Facebook does not log you out, reset your password, or affect your account in any way. Your friends, messages, photos, and settings all stay exactly as they are. The only thing that changes is the phone number stored in your contact information.

If you use your phone number to log into Facebook (instead of your email), you will still be able to log in with the old number for a short time while Facebook updates its systems. After a few hours, you will need to use your new number or your email address to log in. If you forget which number you used, you can always use your email address instead.

Updating Your Number on Other Devices

If you are logged into Facebook on multiple devices — a phone, tablet, and computer — you only need to change your number once. The change syncs across all devices automatically within a few minutes. You do not need to log out and log back in on each device.

If you have the Facebook app installed on your phone, the app will also update automatically. If you notice the old number still appears somewhere, try closing the app completely and reopening it, or log out and log back in to force a refresh.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have two phone numbers on my Facebook account at the same time?

Yes. You can add multiple phone numbers to the same account. This is useful if you have a work phone and a personal phone, or if you are switching carriers and want to keep both numbers active temporarily. Add the new number without removing the old one, and both will be stored in your contact information.

What if I forgot my password and need to use my phone number to reset it?

If you have a phone number on file, Facebook can send you a code by text to reset your password. Make sure the phone number in your contact information is current and that you have access to that phone. If you no longer have access to the number you listed, you can use your email address to reset your password instead, or contact Facebook's support team for help.

Does changing my phone number affect two-factor authentication?

If you use two-factor authentication and your phone number is your recovery method, you should update it before you lose access to your old phone. Go to Settings > Security and login > Two-factor authentication and update the phone number there as well. This ensures you can still receive security codes if you need to log in from a new device.

Will my contacts or friends see my new phone number?

No, unless you change your privacy settings. By default, your phone number is private and only you can see it. Your friends cannot see it on your profile, and it does not sync with their phone contacts. If you want friends to see your number, you have to manually change the privacy setting to Friends or Public.

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

Yes. Open the app, tap the menu icon (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.