You cannot change your iPhone's phone number through the phone itself

Your phone number is assigned by your carrier — the company that provides your cellular service, like Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or a smaller regional provider. The iPhone stores and displays that number, but changing it requires contacting your carrier directly. The process differs depending on whether you want to keep your current carrier or switch to a new one.

If you want a new number with your current carrier, you can request one by phone, through their website, or by visiting a store. If you want to switch carriers entirely, you may be able to transfer your existing number to the new carrier through a process called porting. Both routes take time — usually a few hours to a few days — and both require you to work with the carrier, not with Apple or your iPhone.

Key Takeaways

  • Your carrier controls your phone number, not your iPhone, so you must contact them to make any change.
  • Requesting a new number from your current carrier usually takes a few hours and can be done online, by phone, or in person.
  • Switching to a new carrier while keeping your number requires a process called number porting, which typically takes one to three business days.
  • After your carrier makes the change, your iPhone will automatically update to display your new number within a few minutes.
  • You should notify your contacts of your new number and update it in any accounts where it is linked to your login or recovery options.

Getting a new number from your current carrier

Contact your carrier's customer service and ask for a new phone number. Most carriers let you do this through their website, mobile app, or by calling their support line. Some carriers also allow you to change your number in person at a retail store. The process is usually free, though a few carriers charge a small fee — typically $5 to $15 — so ask before confirming the change.

Once your carrier processes the request, your iPhone will receive the new number automatically. This usually happens within a few minutes to a few hours. You do not need to do anything on your iPhone itself — no settings to change, no app to update. The phone will simply start displaying and using the new number.

Before you request the change, consider what you will need to update afterward. Any two-factor authentication tied to your old number will stop working, so you should update your login information for email, banking, social media, and other accounts before switching. Some services let you add a backup phone number or authentication method first, which is safer than changing your number and then scrambling to regain access.

Switching carriers while keeping your number

If you want to move to a different carrier but keep your existing phone number, you can use a process called number porting. This works across most carriers in the United States, though the exact steps vary slightly depending on which carrier you are switching to.

Start by signing up for service with your new carrier. During the signup process, tell them you want to port your existing number instead of receiving a new one. They will ask for your account number and PIN from your current carrier — you can find these on your bill or by calling your current carrier's customer service. Your new carrier will then submit a porting request to your old carrier.

The porting process typically takes one to three business days, though it can occasionally take longer if there are complications. During this time, your old carrier may cut off service, or service may continue until the port is complete — this varies by carrier. Once the port is finished, your new carrier's service will activate on your iPhone with your original number. You do not need to change any settings on your iPhone; the carrier handles everything on their end.

What happens to your iPhone during the change

Your iPhone itself does not need any updates or configuration changes when your phone number changes. The phone communicates with your carrier's network, and when your carrier updates your account, the iPhone automatically receives and displays the new number. You can check that the change went through by going to Settings > General > About and looking at the "Phone Number" field.

If your new number does not appear in Settings after a few hours, try restarting your iPhone. Power off the phone completely, wait 30 seconds, and power it back on. This forces the iPhone to reconnect to your carrier's network and refresh your account information. If the number still does not appear after a restart, contact your carrier to confirm the change was processed.

Updating accounts and contacts after changing your number

Once your new number is active, you should update any services that use your phone number for login or account recovery. This includes email accounts, banking apps, social media, and any other service where your phone number is listed as a recovery method. Many of these services send a verification code to your phone during the update process, so make sure your new number is active before you start.

You should also notify your contacts of your new number. Send a text, email, or call from your new number so people know to save it. If you use iCloud or another cloud service to back up your contacts, those contacts will sync to your new iPhone automatically — but they will still have your old number stored, so you will need to update them individually or ask people to update their records when they receive your new number.

Keeping your old number if you change iPhones

If you are changing your phone number because you are getting a new iPhone, you do not need to do anything. Your phone number stays with your carrier and your SIM card, not with the iPhone itself. When you set up your new iPhone with the same SIM card or the same carrier account, your old number will automatically appear on the new phone.

If you are switching to a new carrier at the same time you get a new iPhone, use the number porting process described above. Your new carrier will activate your new iPhone with your existing number as part of the porting process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my iPhone number without contacting my carrier?

No. Your phone number is managed entirely by your carrier, and there is no way to change it through your iPhone's settings or through Apple. You must contact your carrier directly — by phone, through their website, or in person at a store.

Will changing my phone number affect my iCloud account or Apple ID?

Your iCloud account and Apple ID are tied to your email address, not your phone number, so changing your phone number will not affect them. However, if you use your phone number as a recovery method for your Apple ID, you should update that information after your number changes to make sure you can still recover your account if needed.

How long does it take to change my phone number?

Getting a new number from your current carrier usually takes a few hours. Porting your number to a new carrier typically takes one to three business days. In both cases, your iPhone will display the new number automatically once your carrier processes the change.

What do I do if my new number does not show up on my iPhone?

Restart your iPhone by powering it off completely, waiting 30 seconds, and powering it back on. This forces your phone to reconnect to your carrier's network. If the number still does not appear after a restart, contact your carrier to confirm the change was processed on their end.

Do I lose my text messages and call history if I change my number?

Your text messages and call history are stored on your iPhone, not tied to your phone number, so they will remain on your phone after your number changes. However, people texting or calling your old number will not reach you, so you should notify your contacts of your new number.