Many people have added their phone numbers to Facebook to help secure their accounts or find friends. However, there are a few reasons you may want to remove your phone number from Facebook:
- You don’t want people finding your profile via your phone number
- You’re concerned about your privacy and data sharing
- You have multiple accounts attached to one phone number
- Your number has changed
Luckily, Facebook allows you to remove your phone number completely from your profile. Here’s how to do it from desktop and mobile.
Removing Your Phone Number from Facebook on Desktop
Removing your phone number from Facebook using a desktop browser is easy:
- Go to Facebook.com and log into your account.
- Click the down arrow in the top right corner and select “Settings.”
- On the left sidebar, click “Mobile.”
- Under “Contact Info,” click “Edit” next to your phone number.
- Select “Remove Phone Number” and click “Remove.”
- Click “OK” to confirm.
Once you remove your phone number, it will no longer be visible on your Facebook profile or searchable. However, this does not delete the data Facebook has collected about your usage when your phone number was connected to your account.
Troubleshooting Problems Removing Your Number
In some cases, you may run into issues trying to remove your phone number from Facebook:
- Verification code required – Facebook may send a text with a code to verify it’s you removing the number. Enter it and click “Submit.”
- “Too many attempts” error – This usually resolves itself after a few hours.
- Number not appearing – Try logging out and back into Facebook before attempting to remove it again.
If you continue having trouble removing your phone number from Facebook, you can submit a request for help directly to Facebook.
How to Remove Your Phone Number from the Facebook App
You can also remove your phone number using the Facebook mobile app for iPhone or Android:
- Open the Facebook app and tap the three-line menu icon.
- Scroll down and choose “Settings & Privacy.”
- Tap “Settings.”
- Select “Personal and Account Information.”
- Tap “Contact Info.”
- Tap the “X” icon next to your phone number.
- Confirm you want to remove your number.
As with the desktop version, your phone number will immediately be disassociated from your account and not searchable.
Other Ways to Increase Privacy
In addition to removing your phone number, here are some other tips for locking down your Facebook profile:
- Review all personal info and remove anything you don’t want public
- Toggle off facial recognition
- Disable location sharing
- Check and adjust privacy shortcuts
- Limit old posts and reviews visible to friends/public
- Disable API sharing with apps
Regularly checking your privacy settings and activity log is the best way to understand how Facebook uses and shares your information.
The Pros and Cons of Removing Your Phone Number from Facebook
Removing your phone number from your Facebook account has both advantages and potential drawbacks:
Pros
- Increased privacy and security
- Prevents people finding your profile via your number
- Stops Facebook collecting data tied to your usage and number
- Limits some ad targeting based on your number
- Better separates multiple accounts you may have
Cons
- Reduces account security features
- Makes it harder to reset password if you forget it
- Limits Facebook’s on-site two-factor authentication
- May need to re-verify your account/ID periodically
Overall, for most users, increased privacy outweighs the minor loss in account security and convenience when removing your phone number. However, you can enable two-factor authentication using third-party apps as an alternative.
Using Third-Party Authentication Apps
If you want to keep your Facebook account secure after removing your phone number, using a third-party two-factor authentication (2FA) app is a great option:
| App | Platforms | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Authy | iOS, Android | Free |
| Google Authenticator | iOS, Android | Free |
| Duo Mobile | iOS, Android | Free |
These apps generate time-sensitive login codes needed during authentication to add an extra layer of security beyond just your password.
To set up 2FA using one of these apps:
- Download the app on your smartphone.
- Open Facebook and go to Settings > Security and Login.
- Under “Use two-factor authentication” click “Edit.”
- Select “Authentication app” and follow prompts to scan a QR code.
Now when you log into Facebook, you’ll need to enter both your password and a six-digit code from the authentication app. This prevents anyone else from accessing your account even if they know your password.
Other Facebook Security Tips
Here are some other suggestions to keep your Facebook account safe after removing your phone number:
- Create a strong password using caps, numbers, symbols.
- Be cautious clicking links from messages/emails.
- Enable login alerts to detect unauthorized access.
- Use updated antivirus/malware software.
- Don’t use public WiFi to access Facebook.
Enabling login approvals in your settings is another way to get alerts whenever your Facebook account is accessed from a new device.
Conclusion
Removing your phone number from Facebook is a smart choice if you’re concerned about privacy or no longer want your account associated with that number. While it may reduce some functionality like on-site two-factor authentication, you can enable more secure authentication through third-party apps. Just be sure to continue using strong security habits to protect your account after disconnecting your number from Facebook.