Change your phone number in Facebook settings

To change the phone number Facebook has on file for your account, open Facebook on a computer or phone, go to Settings and Privacy, then select Settings. Click Personal Information on the left side, then Phone. You'll see the number currently linked to your account. Click the pencil icon next to it, delete the old number, type in your new one, and click Save Changes.

Facebook will send a confirmation code to your new number by text or call. Enter that code when prompted to verify the change is real. Once you confirm, the old number is removed and your new number becomes active on your account.

If you no longer have access to your old phone number, you can still change it — just skip the verification step and enter your new number directly. Facebook may ask you to confirm your identity another way, such as through email or a security question, before the change goes through.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook phone number through Settings and Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Phone on any device.
  • Facebook sends a confirmation code to your new number by text or call, and you must enter it to complete the change.
  • If you no longer have access to your old phone number, you can still update it by verifying your identity through email or security questions instead.
  • The change takes effect immediately after confirmation, and your old number is removed from your account.
  • You can add multiple phone numbers to your Facebook account if you want to keep more than one active.

Why you might need to change your phone number

People change their phone numbers for many reasons — switching carriers, moving to a new area code, or getting a new device. If you've done any of these things, updating Facebook keeps your account secure and makes sure you can receive login codes if you ever get locked out.

Changing your number also matters if you're concerned about privacy. If you added your phone number to Facebook years ago and no longer want it linked to your account, you can remove it entirely by going through the same process and deleting the number without adding a new one.

What happens to your old phone number

Once you confirm your new number, Facebook removes your old number from your account completely. Someone else who gets that old phone number later cannot use it to access your Facebook account, because it's no longer connected to you.

However, if you had set up two-factor authentication using your old number, you'll need to update that setting too. Go to Settings and Privacy > Settings > Security and Login > Two-Factor Authentication and change the phone number there as well, or switch to using an authenticator app instead.

Adding multiple phone numbers to your account

Facebook lets you keep more than one phone number on file. This is useful if you have both a personal phone and a work phone, or if you're switching carriers and want to keep your old number active temporarily while you transition.

To add a second number, go to Settings and Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Phone and click Add Phone Number. Enter the new number and confirm it the same way you would for a primary number. You can have up to three phone numbers linked to your account at once.

You can remove any of these numbers individually by clicking the pencil icon next to it and selecting Delete. Your account will still work fine with fewer numbers on file.

Fixing problems when the confirmation code doesn't arrive

If Facebook sends a confirmation code but you don't receive it, first check that you typed the number correctly. Wait a few minutes — text messages sometimes arrive slowly. If nothing shows up after five minutes, try requesting the code again or ask Facebook to call you instead of texting.

If you still don't receive a code, you can verify your identity through email instead. Click "Don't have access to this phone?" on the confirmation screen and Facebook will walk you through confirming your identity using your email address or security questions. Once you verify that way, your new number will be saved without needing the text code.

Changing your number on the Facebook app versus the website

The steps are the same whether you use the Facebook app on your phone or the website on a computer. On the app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, scroll down to Settings and Privacy, tap Settings, then Personal Information, then Phone. On the website, click the downward arrow in the top right corner and select Settings and Privacy, then Settings.

Some people find it easier to make this change on a computer because the screen is larger and the menu is easier to navigate. But if you're already on your phone and have your new number handy, the app works just as well.

What to do if you can't access your account

If you've changed your phone number and can no longer log into Facebook, you can still recover your account. Go to the Facebook login page, click "Forgotten password?", and enter your email address or username. Facebook will send you a recovery link to your email, which you can use to reset your password and regain access.

Once you're back in your account, you can update your phone number the normal way. If you don't have access to your email either, Facebook has additional recovery options — you can identify trusted friends who can help you regain access, or answer security questions you set up previously.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my phone number without confirming it with a code?

No, Facebook requires you to confirm any new phone number by entering a code sent to that number. If you don't have access to the new number yet, wait until you do before making the change. If you're switching carriers and your new number isn't active yet, change it after your new service is turned on.

What if someone else's phone number is on my Facebook account?

Go to Settings and Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Phone and remove it immediately by clicking the pencil icon and selecting Delete. If you didn't add it yourself, change your password right away and review your login activity to see if someone else accessed your account. You can check this under Settings and Privacy > Settings > Security and Login > Where You're Logged In.

Do I have to add a phone number to Facebook at all?

No. A phone number is optional on Facebook. You can use your email address alone to log in and recover your account if you get locked out. However, having a phone number on file makes account recovery faster if something goes wrong.

Will changing my phone number affect my Facebook friends or messages?

No. Your friends will not see that you changed your number, and your messages will stay exactly as they are. Only you and Facebook know about the change. Your account, your posts, and your friend list remain unchanged.

How often can I change my phone number on Facebook?

You can change your phone number as often as you need to. There's no limit on how many times you can update it. Each time you make a change, Facebook sends a confirmation code to verify the new number is real.