To change the phone number on your Google account, go to myaccount.google.com, click Personal info, scroll to Contact info, and click Phone. Click the pencil (edit) icon next to your number, enter the new one, and verify it with the code Google texts you. Your Google account can store the number in a few places, though, so also update your recovery phone and any 2-Step Verification phone under the Security tab.
Here’s how to update each one on a computer, Android, and iPhone, and what to do if you no longer have access to your old number.
Where Google uses your phone number
| Use | What it does | Where to change it |
|---|---|---|
| Contact phone | Shown on your profile and used across Google services | Personal info > Contact info > Phone |
| Recovery phone | Helps you get back into your account and receive security alerts | Security > How you sign in to Google > Recovery phone |
| 2-Step Verification phone | Receives sign-in codes | Security > 2-Step Verification |
Change your phone number on a computer
- Go to myaccount.google.com and sign in.
- Click Personal info in the left menu.
- Under Contact info, click Phone.
- Click your current number, then the pencil icon, or click Add a recovery phone if none is listed.
- Enter your new number and click Update or Next.
- Enter the verification code Google sends by text and click Verify.
Update your recovery phone
- In your Google Account, click Security (on some screens, Security & sign-in).
- Under How you sign in to Google, click Recovery phone.
- Sign in again if asked.
- Click the pencil icon to edit the number, or the trash icon to remove it, then add your new number and verify it.
Update your 2-Step Verification phone
- Go to Security and click 2-Step Verification.
- Sign in again if asked.
- Under Phone numbers (or Second steps), add your new number and remove the old one.
Add the new number before removing the old one so you’re never left without a way to sign in.
Change it on an Android phone
- Open Settings and tap Google (or Google services).
- Tap Manage your Google Account.
- Tap the Personal info tab, then Phone under Contact info.
- Edit the number and verify it.
- Open the Security tab to update the recovery and 2-Step Verification numbers.
Change it on an iPhone or iPad
- Open the Gmail or Google app.
- Tap your profile picture and choose Manage your Google Account.
- Tap Personal info > Phone and update the number.
- Repeat under Security for recovery and 2-Step Verification.
Not getting the verification code?
- Wait a minute and check spam filters. Some phones file messages from short codes into a separate folder.
- Check the number and country code. A missing or wrong country code is the most common mistake.
- Try a voice call. If texts don’t arrive, choose the option to get the code by phone call.
- Don’t request too many codes. Google may pause sending if you ask repeatedly. Wait a while and try again.
- Check carrier blocking. Some prepaid plans or business lines block short-code texts. Your carrier can turn this on.
Why it’s worth keeping your number up to date
An outdated recovery phone is one of the most common reasons people get locked out of Google accounts. Phone numbers are also recycled by carriers, so an old number you no longer own could eventually belong to someone else. Updating your number whenever you switch keeps account recovery working and stops security alerts from going to a stranger.
If you can’t receive codes on your old number
- Use another sign-in method. A backup code, a security key, or a Google prompt on a signed-in phone or tablet can let you in.
- Use account recovery. Go to Google’s account recovery page and answer the questions as fully as you can, ideally from a device and location you’ve used before.
- Port your number. If you changed carriers but kept your number, codes will still reach you once the port completes.
Control who can see your number
Under Personal info > Phone, you can choose whether your number is used for things like helping people who have it find you across Google services. Turn those options off if you’d rather keep it private. Your recovery number isn’t shown to other people.
Other places to update your number
- Google Pay and Google Play: Check payment profiles at pay.google.com.
- Google Voice: Your linked forwarding numbers are managed in Voice settings.
- Google Business Profile: The public business phone is edited on the profile itself.
Related: How to skip phone number verification on Google.
Related: How to use Google Voice without a phone number.
Related: Make a Google Calendar public.
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a Google account without a phone number?
Often yes, though Google may ask for one during sign-up or for security checks. Having a recovery phone makes it much easier to get back in if you’re locked out.
Will changing my number sign me out of my devices?
No. Your devices stay signed in.
How many phone numbers can I add?
You can add more than one contact number, but there’s one recovery phone. 2-Step Verification can use several numbers as backups.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.