Where to find the phone number setting on Facebook

Your phone number on Facebook lives in your personal information settings, not in a separate security section. 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'll see a Phone number field — that's where you change it.

If you're on the Facebook app for iPhone or Android, the path is slightly different. Tap the three horizontal lines (the menu) at the bottom right, scroll down to Settings & privacy, tap Settings, then scroll to Personal information and tap Phone number. The steps are the same from there.

Key Takeaways

  • Your phone number is stored in Personal information settings, accessible through the downward arrow menu (computer) or the three-line menu (phone app).
  • You can change your number directly in the phone number field without needing to remove the old one first.
  • Facebook will send a confirmation code to your new number to verify you own it before the change takes effect.
  • If you no longer have access to your old phone number, you can skip the verification step and use a backup contact method instead.

The step-by-step process to update your number

Once you're in the Phone number field, click or tap the pencil icon next to your current number. A box will open showing your existing number. Delete the old number and type in your new one, making sure to include the country code if you're outside the United States (for example, +44 for the UK, +1 for Canada).

After you enter the new number, click Save changes or tap the checkmark. Facebook will when ready send a confirmation code to that new phone number via text message. You'll see a prompt asking you to enter the code. Check your text messages, find the code from Facebook, and type it into the box on your screen. Once you submit the code, your number is updated.

The whole process takes less than five minutes if you have your new phone in hand and can receive texts on it right away.

What happens if you can't receive texts on your new number

If you've entered a new number but don't have when ready access to it, or if the text message doesn't arrive, Facebook offers a workaround. When the confirmation screen appears, look for a link that says Can't access this phone? or Didn't get the code? Tap or click it.

Facebook will ask you to verify your identity using a backup contact method — usually your email address. You'll receive a confirmation code at that email instead. Enter the code, and your phone number will be updated without needing the text confirmation. This route takes a few minutes longer but works when your new phone isn't available yet.

Removing your phone number entirely

You don't have to keep a phone number on Facebook at all. If you want to remove it instead of changing it, go back to the Phone number field in Personal information. Click or tap the pencil icon, then click the X or Remove button next to your number. Facebook will ask you to confirm the removal. Once you do, the field will be blank.

Removing your number doesn't affect your account security or your ability to log in — Facebook will still let you sign in with your email address and password. However, if you've set up two-factor authentication using your phone number, removing it will disable that security feature. You can set up two-factor authentication using an authenticator app instead if you want that extra layer of protection.

Why Facebook asks for a phone number

Facebook uses your phone number for two main reasons: account recovery and security. If you forget your password or someone tries to access your account, Facebook can send you a code to your phone to verify it's really you. The second reason is two-factor authentication — an optional security setting that requires a code from your phone whenever you log in from a new device.

Your phone number is not shown on your public profile unless you choose to make it visible. By default, only you and people you've messaged can see it. You can control who sees your phone number by going to Settings and privacy > Settings > Privacy and adjusting the Who can look you up using the phone number you provided? setting.

Troubleshooting if the change won't go through

Sometimes the confirmation code doesn't arrive, or Facebook shows an error message when you try to save. First, wait a few minutes — text messages can be delayed. If nothing arrives after five minutes, request a new code by clicking Resend code on the confirmation screen.

If you keep getting an error message, try a different browser or the Facebook app instead of the website, or vice versa. Clear your browser cache and cookies, then try again. If the problem persists, use the email verification method described above instead of waiting for a text code. If none of these steps work, you may need to contact Facebook's support team through the Help & Support section in your settings.

Changing your number on the Facebook app versus the website

The process is nearly identical on both, but the website version is often faster because you're working on a larger screen and can see all the fields at once. The app version works just as well — it just requires more scrolling. If you're having trouble on one platform, switching to the other sometimes fixes the issue.

One small difference: on the website, you can see your phone number in plain text before you confirm the change. On the app, the number is partially hidden with asterisks for privacy. Either way, double-check that you've typed the new number correctly before you submit it, because you'll need to receive the confirmation code on that exact number.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to change my phone number if I get a new phone?

No. Your Facebook account is tied to your email address and password, not to your phone number. You can keep the same number on Facebook even if you switch to a new phone. You only need to change it if your phone carrier assigned you a different number, or if you want to update it for security reasons.

What if I change my number but forget to update Facebook?

Your old number will stay on your account until you change it. If someone gets your old number from a new carrier, they won't be able to access your Facebook account because they'd still need your password. However, they could potentially use Facebook's account recovery feature to request a code be sent to that old number. To prevent this, update your number as soon as you get a new one.

Can I have two phone numbers on Facebook at once?

No. Facebook only stores one phone number per account. If you want to add a second number for backup, you can't do that in the phone number field. Instead, you can add a backup email address in the same Personal information section, which Facebook can use to send you recovery codes if you're locked out.

Will changing my phone number affect my two-factor authentication?

If you have two-factor authentication turned on and it's set to send codes to your phone, changing your number will update it automatically — the codes will go to your new number from that point on. If you're switching to an authenticator app instead of text messages, you'll need to turn off the phone-based two-factor authentication and set up the app separately in your Security and login settings.

Is my phone number visible to other Facebook users?

Not by default. Your phone number is private unless you change the privacy setting. To check who can see it, go to Settings and privacy > Settings > Privacy and look for the phone number visibility option. You can set it so only you can see it, only your friends can see it, or everyone can see it. Most people leave it set to private.