Where to Find the Phone Number Setting

Your phone number on Facebook lives in your personal settings, not in your profile. 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, you'll see a menu — click Personal information. Your phone number appears here, and this is where you change it.

If you're on a phone, the steps are the same, but the menu may look slightly different depending on whether you use iPhone or Android. The downward arrow is still in the top right. Once you're in Settings, scroll down until you see Personal information — it's usually near the top of the list.

Key Takeaways

  • Your phone number is stored in Settings under Personal information, not on your profile page.
  • You can add a new number, change an existing one, or remove it entirely — Facebook does not require a phone number to use the account.
  • If you add a new number, Facebook may send a text to confirm you own it before the change takes effect.
  • Removing your phone number does not affect your login options unless you use it as a way to sign in.
  • The process takes less than two minutes and works the same way on phone and computer.

Adding or Replacing Your Phone Number

Once you're in Personal information, look for the row labeled Phone. If you already have a number listed, click the pencil icon next to it. If there's no number yet, click Add. Either way, you'll see a text box where you can type or paste your new number.

Type your number in the format Facebook shows — usually with the country code first (for the United States, that's +1), then your area code and number. Facebook will accept the number with or without dashes and parentheses, so +1 (555) 123-4567 and +15551234567 both work. Once you've entered it, click Save or the checkmark button.

Facebook may ask you to confirm the number by sending a text message with a code. If this happens, check your text messages for a message from Facebook, copy the code, and paste it into the box on the screen. This step usually takes a few seconds. Once confirmed, your new number is saved.

Removing Your Phone Number Entirely

If you want to delete your phone number instead of replacing it, go to the same Phone row in Personal information. Click the pencil icon next to your current number, then look for a Remove or trash icon button — it's usually at the end of the row or in a small menu. Click it, and Facebook will ask you to confirm. Your number will be deleted when ready.

Removing your phone number does not affect your ability to log in unless you've set up two-factor authentication using that number. If you use your phone number as a backup way to sign in, Facebook will warn you before deleting it. You can still log in with your email address or username.

What Happens When You Change Your Number

The old number is replaced with the new one right away. Facebook does not keep a record of old numbers on your account, so if you need to remember what your previous number was, write it down before you change it. The new number is private — only you and people you've shared it with directly can see it.

If you've used your phone number to set up two-factor authentication (a security feature that requires a code from your phone to log in), changing your number means Facebook will send future codes to the new number instead. You don't have to do anything — the switch happens automatically once the new number is confirmed.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The most common error is typing the number in the wrong format. If you're outside the United States, make sure you include your country code at the start. If Facebook rejects your number, try removing all dashes and parentheses and typing it as a plain string of digits with the + and country code at the front.

Another mistake is not waiting for the confirmation text. If you add a new number and don't see the confirmation code arrive within a minute or two, check that you typed the number correctly. If the number is right but the text doesn't come, try clicking Resend code or Send code again — the button appears on the confirmation screen.

Do not close the browser or app while you're in the middle of confirming a new number. If you do, you may have to start over. It's safe to step away once you see "Your phone number has been saved" or a similar confirmation message.

If You No Longer Have Access to Your Old Number

If you're trying to change your number but you no longer have the old phone and can't receive texts on it, you can still make the change. Go to Personal information, click the pencil icon next to your phone number, and straightforward type in your new number. Facebook will ask you to confirm it by text — the code will go to your new number, not the old one, so you'll be able to receive it.

The only time this becomes a problem is if you've set up two-factor authentication and you can't access your old number. In that case, you may need to turn off two-factor authentication first before changing your number. Go to Settings and privacy > Settings > Security and login, find Two-factor authentication, and click Edit to turn it off temporarily. Then change your phone number, and turn two-factor authentication back on with your new number.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes, you can use one phone number on as many accounts as you want. Facebook does not require phone numbers to be unique. However, if you set up two-factor authentication on multiple accounts with the same number, you'll receive codes for all of them when you try to log in, which can be confusing.

Will changing my phone number affect my Facebook login?

Only if you've set up two-factor authentication or if you use your phone number as a way to sign in. If you log in with your email address or username, changing your number won't affect that. If you do use your number to sign in, you can still use your email or username instead — your phone number is just an option, not a requirement.

What if I typed my number wrong and Facebook won't let me confirm it?

Delete the number and try again. Go back to Personal information, click the pencil icon, and remove the incorrect number. Then add a new one, making sure to include the country code and check each digit carefully before clicking Save. If you're still having trouble, try typing it without any dashes or parentheses.

Does Facebook store my old phone numbers?

No. When you change your number, the old one is replaced and not kept in your account history. If you need to remember your previous number for any reason, make a note of it before you change it in Facebook.

Can I hide my phone number from other people on Facebook?

Your phone number is private by default — only you can see it in your settings. Other people cannot view it on your profile or through Facebook search. You control who can contact you by phone through your privacy settings, but your actual number is never visible to other users.