This article teaches you how to delete a phone number you no longer use from your iPhone. If you’ve already added your new phone number to your iPhone, you can remove the old phone number by making a quick change in your settings. If the phone number you want to remove is connected to FaceTime or iMessage, you’ll need to remove it from those apps first.

Before you start: Ensure that a new phone number is added to your iPhone to replace the old one, if applicable.

Warning: Removing a phone number linked to FaceTime or iMessage must be done first, or the removal option may be unavailable.

How to remove a phone number from your iPhone

Follow these steps to successfully delete a phone number from your iPhone.

  • Open your iPhone’s Settings. It’s the gray gear icon on your Home screen.
  • Tap your name at the top of the Settings menu.
  • Tap Sign-In & Security. It will be near the top of the list below your name and email address.
  • Tap the phone number you want to remove. This displays options for that phone number.
  • If you haven’t already added a new phone number, make sure to do that first.
  • Tap Remove from Account. You will be prompted to select or enter a new phone number.
  • If you don’t see this option, the phone number you’re trying to remove is in use by Messages and/or FaceTime. Refer to the section on removing from Messages & FaceTime.
  • Enter or select a new phone number. Ensure you can currently access the new number for verification.
  • Follow the on-screen instructions to verify. If the number isn’t already verified, Apple will text a code to that number for verification.

Removing from Messages & FaceTime

  • Scroll down and tap Apps. It’s located at the bottom of the Settings menu.
  • Select FaceTime. This displays your FaceTime settings.
  • To remove your phone number from FaceTime, tap the number you want to remove, then tap Remove to confirm.
  • Return to the Apps menu and select Messages. Tap the back buttons at the top-left corner until you’ve reached the list of apps, then tap Messages.
  • Tap Send & Receive, located under “iMessage.”
  • To remove the phone number, tap the number, then tap Remove to delete it from iMessage.
  • If you want to stop using this number altogether, you can now also remove it from your Apple ID.

Pro tip: Always verify that your new phone number is active and accessible before you attempt to delete an old number to avoid losing access to your Apple ID account.

Removing an outdated phone number is essential to maintaining accurate contact information across your Apple devices. Ensuring your current phone number is linked helps avoid issues related to account recovery or verification processes associated with your Apple ID. Regularly updating your contact information also ensures smoother communication through services like FaceTime and Messages.

These steps not only help you manage your contact information but also enhance your privacy and security features tied to your Apple devices. Remember, having the correct information associated with your Apple ID is crucial for accessing various functionalities and receiving important notifications from Apple.