How to change your phone number on Facebook
You can change the phone number linked to your Facebook account in your settings at any time. Facebook uses your phone number to help you log back in if you forget your password, to verify your identity when you try to access your account from a new device, and to let you receive security alerts by text. Changing it takes about two minutes and does not affect your account otherwise — your posts, friends, and messages stay exactly as they are.
The steps are the same whether you use Facebook on a computer or phone. You go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information, then Mobile Number. From there you can remove your old number and add a new one. Facebook will send a confirmation code to the new number you enter, and you have to type that code back into Facebook to finish the change.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your phone number in Settings and Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Mobile Number on any device.
- Facebook sends a confirmation code to your new phone number, and you must enter it to complete the change.
- Your old phone number is removed from your account as soon as you add the new one, so make sure you have access to the new number before you start.
- If you no longer have access to your old phone number, you can remove it without adding a new one, but you will lose text-based login recovery.
Step-by-step: changing your number on a computer
Open Facebook and click the downward arrow in the top right corner. Select Settings and Privacy, then click Settings. On the left side, click Personal Information. You will see a row labeled Mobile Number with your current number (or "Not provided" if you have not added one yet).
Click on the Mobile Number row. A box will appear. If you already have a number saved, click the X next to it to remove it first. Then click Add a Mobile Number. Type your new phone number in the field that appears and click Add Number. Facebook will send a six-digit code to that phone by text message.
Check your text messages for the code from Facebook. Go back to the browser window and type the code into the field labeled "Enter the code we sent to [your number]". Click Confirm. Your new number is now linked to your account.
Step-by-step: changing your number on the Facebook app
Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner (on iPhone) or top right corner (on Android). Scroll down and tap Settings and Privacy, then tap Settings. Scroll down to Personal Information and tap Mobile Number.
If you have a number already saved, tap the X next to it to remove it. Then tap Add a Mobile Number and type your new number. Tap Add Number. Facebook will text a six-digit code to your new phone.
When the text arrives, go back to the Facebook app. The app will show a field asking for the code. Type the code in and tap Confirm. Your account is now linked to your new number.
What happens if you do not have access to your old phone number
If your old phone number no longer works — because you switched carriers, lost the phone, or the number was reassigned — you can still remove it from your account. Go to Settings and Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Mobile Number and click the X next to your old number. Facebook will delete it without asking for a confirmation code.
However, you should add a new number right away if you can. Without a phone number on file, you lose one way to recover your account if you forget your password or someone tries to log in as you. Facebook can still send you security alerts by email, but text alerts are faster and harder for someone else to intercept.
Why Facebook asks for your phone number
Facebook uses your phone number for three main things: password recovery, identity verification, and security alerts. If you forget your password, Facebook can text you a code to reset it without needing to remember security questions or access your email. If you try to log in from a new device or location, Facebook may text you a code to confirm it is really you.
Security alerts are text messages that tell you when someone logs into your account from a new device, changes your password, or tries to access your account. These alerts arrive faster than email and are harder for a hacker to intercept if they have already compromised your email account. You can turn off text alerts in your settings if you prefer, but keeping them on is one of the simplest ways to catch unauthorized access quickly.
Removing your phone number without adding a new one
You can delete your phone number from Facebook without replacing it with a different one. Go to Settings and Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Mobile Number and click the X next to your number. Facebook will remove it when ready.
Your account will still work normally. You can still log in with your email address and password. The main trade-off is that you lose text-based password recovery and text security alerts. If you forget your password, you will have to use your email address to reset it instead, which takes longer. If someone tries to access your account, you will only get email alerts, not text alerts.
What to do if you do not receive the confirmation code
If Facebook sends a code to your new number but you do not receive it within a few minutes, first check that you typed the number correctly. Look at the number Facebook is showing on the screen — if it has a typo, click back and enter it again.
If the number is correct, wait a few more minutes. Text messages sometimes take time to arrive, especially if you are switching carriers or the number is brand new. If you still do not receive it after five minutes, try clicking "Resend Code" if that option appears. If you have tried multiple times and still cannot receive texts on that number, you may need to contact your phone carrier to make sure texts are working on the account, or choose a different number.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my phone number if I do not remember my password?
Yes. You can change your phone number without logging out or entering your password. The change happens in your account settings, which you can access as long as you are already logged in. If you are not logged in and cannot remember your password, use the "Forgot Password" option on the login screen to reset it first.
Does changing my phone number affect my two-factor authentication?
If you have set up two-factor authentication using text messages, changing your phone number will update it automatically. The next time you log in from a new device, Facebook will send the code to your new number instead of your old one. If you use an authentication app like Google Authenticator instead of text messages, changing your phone number does not affect it.
What if someone else has access to my Facebook account and changed the phone number?
If you cannot log in and suspect someone changed your phone number without permission, go to facebook.com/login/identify on any device. Facebook will ask you to identify yourself using your name, email, or phone number. Follow the steps to regain access to your account. Once you are back in, change your password when ready and remove any phone numbers you do not recognize.
Can I have more than one phone number on my Facebook account?
No. Facebook only allows one phone number per account at a time. If you want to switch to a new number, you have to remove the old one first. You cannot keep both numbers active simultaneously.
Will my contacts be able to reach me by phone through Facebook after I change my number?
Your phone number on Facebook is not visible to other users unless you choose to make it public in your privacy settings. Changing it does not affect your Messenger or message history with anyone. Your contacts will still be able to message you through Facebook the same way they did before.