How to Change Your Phone Number on Facebook (Add, Swap, Remove)

Got a new SIM, a new handset or a new business line? Your Facebook account usually holds a mobile number, and it's worth keeping it current because it's one of the ways Facebook helps you get back into your account.

Here's the part that surprises people: Facebook's help centre doesn't describe one single Change button for a phone number. It describes two actions, adding a number and removing a number, and you use them together. I'll walk you through both on a computer and on Android, then cover the snags.

The two steps behind changing a Facebook phone number

Facebook's help article is titled Add or remove a mobile phone number from your Facebook profile. So the way to swap a number is to add the new one, then remove the old one. That order matters, and I'll explain why in a moment.

The help centre also recommends that you always add an email address to your account, in case you ever lose access to your mobile phone. It's good advice for anyone who runs a business Page from a personal account.

Adding a new phone number to Facebook on a computer

These are the steps Facebook gives for a browser:

1. Click your profile picture in the top right, then click Settings and privacy.
2. Click Settings.
3. Click Accounts Centre, then click Profiles and personal details.
4. Click Contact info, then click Add new contact.
5. Click Add mobile number.
6. Enter the mobile number you'd like to add, then choose the accounts you'd like to add it to.
7. Enter the confirmation code if you're asked for one, click Next, then click Close.

Facebook says that when you add a number you may be asked for a confirmation code. If no text message arrives, check that you've turned on mobile texts.

Adding a new phone number to Facebook on Android

The Android steps follow the same path, just with taps instead of clicks:

1. Tap Menu in the top left of Facebook.
2. Tap Settings and privacy, then tap Settings.
3. Tap Accounts Centre, then tap Profiles and personal details.
4. Tap Contact info, then tap Add new contact.
5. Tap Add mobile number.
6. Enter the number, choose the accounts you'd like to add it to, then enter the confirmation code and tap Next, then Close.

I haven't read the iPhone version of this article, and menus do vary by app version, so if the wording on your screen differs slightly, look for Accounts Centre and then Contact info. That's the heart of it.

Removing your old Facebook phone number

Once the new number is saved and confirmed, take the old one off. On a computer:

1. Click your profile picture, then Settings and privacy, then Settings.
2. Click Accounts Centre, then Profiles and personal details.
3. Click Contact info, then click the mobile number you'd like to remove.
4. Click Delete number, then click Delete.
5. If you're asked to re-enter your Facebook password, do that, then click Continue.

On Android it's the same route, ending with Delete number and a tap on Delete to confirm. Do the removal last, because a number you remove can't help you confirm anything later. If the old one is your only contact detail, add the new one first so you're never left without one.

What to do if the Facebook confirmation code doesn't arrive

This is the most common hiccup. Facebook's help centre points to one fix: check that you've turned on mobile texts. Beyond that, a few sensible checks are quick:

• Double-check the number you typed, including the country code.
• Make sure your phone has signal and isn't blocking messages from short numbers.
• Wait a short while before asking for another code, so the codes don't cross.
• Make sure you're adding the number to the account you meant to, since you choose the accounts during setup.

Only the first point comes from Facebook's help article. The rest are everyday checks, not official guidance, so treat them as a sensible starting point.

Choosing which Facebook accounts use your new number

A detail I like: while you add a number, Facebook asks you to choose the accounts you'd like to add it to. That's because the Accounts Centre can cover more than one Meta account. If you run a personal profile and an Instagram account for your business, take a second to tick the ones you want.

If you manage business accounts, a shared team number isn't ideal for something like login confirmation. A number that belongs to one trusted person is easier to recover. For a wider look at how details on your account are used and who sees them, my piece on whether Facebook tracks your location covers another setting worth checking while you're in there.

Who can see the phone number on your Facebook profile

Adding a number doesn't mean everyone sees it. Facebook has a separate help article about adjusting who can see a mobile number once it's on your profile, so look at that after you've saved the new number. I'd keep it visible only to you unless you've a good reason to share it.

If you're hoping the number helps friends find you, my guide to adding friends on Facebook covers the other routes that work.

If you've lost access to your old Facebook number

Sometimes the old number is gone for good and you can't confirm anything with it. Facebook's help centre sends you to its account recovery pages for that situation, so use those rather than trying to guess your way in. Having an email address saved on the account is what makes recovery far smoother, which is the reason Facebook suggests it.

Never share a confirmation code with anyone who messages you asking for it. Facebook won't ask for it by message.

If you want the full set, start at the Facebook Help: 80 Guides to Pages, Groups, Ads, Stories and Fixes.

Frequently asked questions

Can I change my Facebook phone number in one step?

Facebook's help centre describes adding a number and removing a number as two actions. To swap numbers, add the new one first, confirm it, then remove the old one.

Where do I find my phone number in Facebook settings?

Go to Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Accounts Centre, then Profiles and personal details, then Contact info.

Why isn't my Facebook confirmation code arriving?

Facebook says to check that you've turned on mobile texts. Also check you typed the number correctly and that your phone can receive texts.

Will Facebook ask for my password?

It may. Facebook's help centre says you might be asked to re-enter your password when you remove a number.

Should I also keep an email on my Facebook account?

Yes. Facebook recommends always adding an email address in case you lose access to your mobile phone.