Where to change your phone number depends on your phone type and carrier

Your phone number lives in two places: with your carrier (the company that provides your service) and on your device itself. Changing it on your device alone does not change your actual phone number — that change happens through your carrier. What you can do on your phone is update the phone number your device displays as yours, which is useful if you have already changed carriers or switched to a new number and want your phone to show the correct one.

The steps differ between iPhones and Android phones, and the process takes just a few minutes either way. You will need to know your new phone number before you start, and you should have already activated that number with your carrier.

Key Takeaways

  • Changing your phone number with your carrier happens through their website, app, or customer service — not through your phone's settings.
  • On an iPhone, you update the number your device displays by going to Settings > Phone > My Number and entering your new number.
  • On Android, the steps vary by manufacturer, but typically involve Settings > About Phone > Phone Number or a similar path in your carrier's app.
  • If you are switching carriers entirely, contact your new carrier to port your number; they handle the technical work.
  • Your phone number is tied to your SIM card, so replacing the SIM with one linked to a new number will change your phone number automatically.

Changing your number on an iPhone

Open Settings and tap Phone. At the top, you will see "My Number" — tap it and enter your new phone number in the field that appears. Tap Save or Done (the button name depends on your iOS version). Your iPhone will now display this number as yours.

If you do not see the My Number field, or if it is grayed out, your carrier may not allow you to edit it through Settings. In that case, contact your carrier directly through their app or website to confirm the number change has been processed on their end, then try again.

Changing your number on Android

The path varies depending on your phone's manufacturer and Android version. On most devices, go to Settings, then look for Phone, About Phone, or Device Information. Inside that section, find Phone Number or My Number and tap it to edit. Enter your new number and save the change.

If you cannot find this setting, your carrier's app may be the faster route. Open your carrier's app, navigate to Account or Settings, and look for an option to update your phone number. Some carriers let you change it there instead of through the phone's native settings. If neither path works, call your carrier's customer service line — they can confirm the change is active on their system and may need to push it to your device remotely.

Changing your number through your carrier

If you have already decided on a new number and your carrier has activated it, you still need to tell your carrier you want to use it. Log into your carrier's website or open their app, find the Account or Phone Number section, and follow the prompts to confirm the change. This step updates their records so that calls and texts route to the correct number.

For carriers like Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and others, this is usually a self-service process that takes a few minutes. If you run into trouble, call the customer service number on your bill or on the carrier's website — they can walk you through it or make the change for you over the phone.

Switching carriers and keeping your number

If you are moving to a new carrier but want to keep your current phone number, the process is called number porting. Contact your new carrier and tell them you want to port your number. They will ask for your account number and PIN from your old carrier, then handle the rest. The port usually completes within one to two business days.

During the port, your old carrier will deactivate your service once the new carrier confirms they have received your number. You do not need to do anything on your phone — once the port is complete, your new carrier's SIM card will carry your old number, and your phone will display it automatically. If it does not, use the steps above to manually update it in your phone's settings.

What to do if your phone number will not update

If you have entered your new number in your phone's settings but it still does not appear, restart your phone first — this clears temporary glitches that sometimes prevent settings from taking effect. Power off completely, wait ten seconds, and power back on.

If the number still does not stick, check with your carrier to confirm the number change has been processed on their end. Sometimes a delay of a few hours occurs between when you request the change and when it becomes active. If your carrier confirms the change is active but your phone still shows the old number, contact your carrier's support team — they may need to resend the settings to your device or investigate whether a technical issue is blocking the update.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to change my phone number on my device if I just got a new SIM card?

No. A new SIM card linked to a different phone number will automatically update your phone's display. Your phone reads the number from the SIM, so once the SIM is inserted and activated, your phone will show the correct number without any manual changes.

Can I change my phone number without contacting my carrier?

You can update what your phone displays as your number, but you cannot actually change your phone number without your carrier. The real change — the one that makes calls and texts route to you — happens on your carrier's network. Updating your phone's settings only changes what your device shows.

What happens to my old phone number when I get a new one?

Your old number is released back to your carrier's pool and may be reassigned to another customer after a waiting period. If you need to keep your old number, contact your carrier before you switch — they can help you port it to a new carrier or pause your service to hold the number temporarily.

Will changing my phone number affect my apps or accounts?

Apps and accounts linked to your old number will still work, but you should update your phone number in any services that use it for two-factor authentication or account recovery. This includes your email provider, banking apps, social media accounts, and any other service where your phone number is on file. Update these after your carrier confirms your new number is active.