Where Facebook stores your phone number and why you might want it gone
Facebook stores your phone number in your account settings, separate from your profile information. You gave it to Facebook either when you signed up, added it for two-factor authentication, or used it to recover a forgotten password. Once it is there, Facebook can use it for account recovery, security alerts, and — unless you change your privacy settings — to let other people find you by phone number.
You might want to remove it because you changed phone numbers, you do not want people searching for you that way, or you straightforward do not want Facebook holding that information. Removing it does not delete your account or change anything else about your profile — it only removes that specific piece of contact data.
Key Takeaways
- Your phone number lives in your account settings under "Personal Information", not on your visible profile.
- You can delete it in two steps: go to Settings, find your phone number, and click the X next to it.
- Removing your number does not affect two-factor authentication unless you delete the only phone number you have set up for security.
- After you delete it, Facebook may still have a record of it in your account history, but it will no longer be searchable by other users.
- If you use your phone number to log in, you will need to set up a different login method before you can delete the number.
How to delete your phone number in three steps
Open Facebook on a computer or phone and go to your Settings. On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right corner, then click "Settings and privacy", then "Settings". On a phone, tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right, scroll down to "Settings and privacy", then tap "Settings".
Once you are in Settings, look for the section called "Personal Information" on the left side (computer) or scroll down to find it (phone). Click or tap "Personal Information". You will see a list of your contact details, including your phone number. Find your phone number and click the X or delete button next to it. Facebook will ask you to confirm — click "Remove" or "Delete" to finish.
If Facebook tells you that you cannot delete the number because it is your login method, you will need to add a different way to log in first. Go back to "Personal Information" and add your email address as a login option, then come back and delete the phone number.
What happens to two-factor authentication when you delete your number
Two-factor authentication is a security feature that sends you a code by text or phone call when you log in from a new device. If your phone number is the only method you have set up for two-factor authentication, deleting it will turn off that security feature. Facebook will warn you before you delete it.
If you have more than one two-factor method — for example, an authenticator app and a phone number — you can delete the phone number without losing two-factor protection. The authenticator app will still work. To check what two-factor methods you have, go to Settings, click "Security and login" on the left, and look for "Two-factor authentication".
How to control who can find you by phone number
Even if you keep your phone number in Facebook, you can stop other people from using it to search for you. Go to Settings, click "Privacy" on the left side, and look for "Who can look you up using the phone number you provided?" Change that setting to "Only me" or "Friends". This does not delete your number — it just hides it from searches.
This is useful if you want to keep your number in Facebook for account recovery purposes but do not want strangers or old contacts finding you by phone. You can also control whether your number appears in search engines outside of Facebook by going to Settings, clicking "Privacy", and adjusting "Do you want search engines outside of Facebook to link to your profile?"
Recovering your account if you delete your phone number
If you delete your phone number and later forget your password, you will still be able to recover your account — but you will have fewer options. Facebook will ask you to verify your identity using your email address, a trusted contact, or a photo ID. Having multiple recovery methods makes this easier, so before you delete your phone number, make sure your email address is current and you have set up a trusted contact.
A trusted contact is a friend whose account you can access if you get locked out. You can add up to five trusted contacts in Settings under "Security and login". If you do this before deleting your phone number, you will have a backup way to recover your account if something goes wrong.
What Facebook does with your deleted phone number
When you delete your phone number from Facebook, it stops appearing in your account settings and becomes unsearchable by other users. However, Facebook may retain a record of it in your account history for legal and security reasons. This is standard practice for large technology companies — they keep records of past account information even after you delete it.
If you want Facebook to delete all records of your phone number, you would need to delete your entire account, which is a much larger step. Deleting just the phone number from your settings removes it from view and from search, but does not erase it from Facebook's servers. If you have concerns about your data, you can read a copy of all your information by going to Settings, clicking "Your information and permissions", and selecting "read your information".
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete my phone number if I use it to log in to Facebook?
No, not directly. You must first add another login method — your email address works — and set it as your primary way to log in. Once you have done that, you can delete the phone number. Go to Personal Information, add your email if it is not already there, then delete the phone number.
Will deleting my phone number turn off two-factor authentication?
Only if it is your only two-factor method. If you have an authenticator app or security key set up as well, your two-factor authentication will keep working. Check your two-factor methods in Settings under "Security and login" before you delete the number.
Can people still find me by phone number after I delete it?
No. Once you delete your phone number from your settings, other people cannot search for you using that number. If you want to keep the number but hide it from searches, you can change your privacy setting to "Only me" instead of deleting it entirely.
What if I need my phone number back later?
You can add it again anytime by going to Personal Information and clicking "Add phone number". Facebook will not restore your old number automatically — you will have to enter it again if you want it back.
Does deleting my phone number delete my account?
No. Deleting your phone number only removes that one piece of contact information. Your account, profile, messages, and photos all stay exactly as they are. Only the phone number is removed from your settings.