How to unlink phone number from your Apple account

Learn how to disassociate your phone number from your Apple Account and remove it from nearly all places on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

You may want to do this if you have switched to another mobile number or if you just want to remove some old numbers still added to your account.

Remove the phone number from your Apple Account

You can remove a phone number that’s added to your Apple Account, only if that mobile number isn’t currently being used for iMessage and FaceTime. We’ll walk you through the entire process using an iPhone.

1) Open iOS Settings, tap Apps from the bottom, and select Messages from the list of applications.

2) Tap Send & Receive. If you see the mobile number you want to unlink checked here, tap to uncheck it, and then tap Remove.

3) Return to Settings > Apps, tap FaceTime, and make sure that your mobile number isn’t checked here as well.

4) Wait for at least 30 minutes. If you follow step 5 now, you’ll see a ‘Recently Deactivated’ label under your phone number, but no option to remove it yet.

5) After 30 minutes, return to iPhone Settings, tap your Apple Account name at the top, then tap Sign-In & Security. You won’t see your phone number here. But if you do, tap the phone number you want to unlink from your Apple Account, followed by Remove from Account.

Stop using the phone number for Apple Account sign-in

When you try to log in to your Apple Account on a new device or in a new web browser, Apple sends a code to one of your trusted devices: iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch. But if these devices are unavailable or offline, you can request a code via SMS on your trusted mobile number.

To ensure you have a backup, even if your iPhone is stolen, you must add more than one phone number for two-factor authentication. These numbers could be yours or those of a close family member or friend.

If you don’t want to use your current phone number for sign-in verification purposes, remove it from Apple Account settings:

1. Open iPhone or iPad Settings and go to Apple Account > Sign-In & Security.
2. Tap Two-Factor Authentication.
3. Tap the phone number listed here, then tap Remove from Account.
4. After this, I strongly recommend adding another working line as your trusted phone number.

Check iMessage and FaceTime settings once again

Return to Messages and FaceTime settings and make sure your main phone number isn’t checked here. Note that it will appear listed here as long as you have that SIM card/eSIM on that iPhone.

Delete eSIM or take out the physical SIM

If you don’t want to use a phone number on your iPhone, eject the physical SIM. And if you use an eSIM, you can delete it from cellular settings. Remember that deleting the eSIM doesn’t cancel your cellular plan bill; contact your carrier to do that.

1. Open iPhone Settings and tap Cellular, Mobile Service, or Mobile Data.
2. Tap the eSIM under the SIMs heading.
3. Tap Delete eSIM from the bottom and follow along.

Remove the number from your ‘My Card’

Your phone number may still be listed in your contacts card. Go to the Phone or Contacts app, tap My Card, and remove your inactive mobile number from here.

Ask family members and friends to update your contact

After you have removed your phone number from iMessage and FaceTime, make sure you inform your family members, friends, and colleagues to update their contact book with your new number or iMessage & FaceTime email address.

If they have added you as their Apple Account Recovery Contact, ask them to double-check everything.

FAQs

Here are some related questions and their answers.

Can I add a phone number to my Apple Account without using its SIM on my iPhone?

Yes. I have a mobile number whose SIM card is inside my Android phone, but that number is added to my Apple Account.

Note that I can’t use this number for iMessage or FaceTime until I insert the SIM into my iPhone and register for these.

Can I use a SIM card on my iPhone without adding it to my Apple Account?

Yes. I have a SIM card in my iPhone, but that number isn’t added anywhere in my Apple Account or for two-factor authentication. I haven’t even activated iMessage or FaceTime on this SIM line; it’s just for calls, SMS, and cellular data.

How to remove phone number from Apple Account if I don’t have an iPhone?

You can do that by signing in to your Apple Account on account.apple.com/account/manage. But again, the phone number must not be in use with iMessage and FaceTime. If it is, deregister your number from iMessage using Apple’s website first.