Are you worried about the privacy of your phone number on Facebook? If so, you’re not alone. Many people are concerned about the amount of personal information that Facebook collects and shares. However, there are steps you can take to protect your privacy, including removing your phone number from your Facebook account.
In this article, we’ll show you how to remove your phone number from Facebook in just a few simple steps. We’ll also provide some tips on how to keep your other personal information safe on Facebook. So, if you’re ready to take control of your privacy, read on!
Removing your phone number from Facebook is a relatively simple process. First, log into your Facebook account and click on the down arrow in the top right corner of the screen. Then, select “Settings & Privacy” and click on “Settings.” On the left-hand side of the screen, click on “Mobile” and then click on “Remove” next to your phone number. You will be prompted to enter your password to confirm the change. Once you have entered your password, click on “Save Changes” and your phone number will be removed from your account.
Identify Hidden Phone Numbers
Check Your Profile
Begin by reviewing your Facebook profile. Open your Settings by clicking on the downward arrow in the top-right corner and selecting “Settings.” Navigate to the “Mobile” tab within the “General” section. Here, you’ll find a list of phone numbers associated with your account. If you see any unfamiliar numbers, they may be hidden.
Examine the “About” Section
Next, inspect the “About” section of your profile. Click on the “About” tab below your cover photo. Scroll down to the “Contact and Basic Info” section. Under “Phone Numbers,” you should see all the phone numbers linked to your account. If you notice any numbers you don’t recognize, they could be hidden.
Utilize the Search Feature
Finally, you can search for hidden phone numbers using the Facebook search bar. Type “my phone numbers” into the search field. Facebook will return a list of all the phone numbers associated with your account. This method is particularly helpful for detecting hidden numbers that are not displayed in your profile or “About” section.
| Step 1: Identify the hidden phone number Step 2: Navigate to the “Mobile” tab in the Settings Step 3: Delete the hidden phone number under “Phone Numbers” Step 4: Confirm the removal |
Deactivate Call and Text Features
1. Open the Facebook app on your phone.
2. Tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
3. Scroll down and tap “Settings & Privacy.”
4. Tap “Settings.”
5. Tap “Account Settings.”
6. Tap “Personal Information.”
7. Tap “Contact Information.”
8. Tap the “Phone” field.
9. Tap the “Remove Phone Number” button.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open the Facebook app on your phone. |
| 2 | Tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom-right corner of the screen. |
| 3 | Scroll down and tap “Settings & Privacy.” |
| 4 | Tap “Settings.” |
| 5 | Tap “Account Settings.” |
| 6 | Tap “Personal Information.” |
| 7 | Tap “Contact Information.” |
| 8 | Tap the “Phone” field. |
| 9 | Tap the “Remove Phone Number” button. |
10. Tap the “Remove” button to confirm.
Review Your Privacy Settings
To review your privacy settings and adjust who can see your phone number, follow these steps:
1. Access Privacy Settings
Click on the drop-down arrow in the top right corner of Facebook and select “Settings & Privacy” from the menu. Then, click on “Privacy” in the left-hand panel.
2. Manage Privacy Settings
Scroll down to the “Who can see your phone number on your timeline?” setting under the “How people can find and contact you” section.
3. Customize Phone Number Visibility
Use the drop-down menu to select who can see your phone number:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Public | Anyone on Facebook and people not on Facebook who have your phone number can see it. |
| Friends and Friends of Friends | Only your Facebook friends and their friends can see your phone number. |
| Friends | Only your Facebook friends can see your phone number. |
| Only Me | No one can see your phone number on Facebook, even your friends. |
Delete Previous Phone Numbers
1. Click your profile picture in the top-right corner of Facebook
This will open your profile page.
2. Click the “About” tab
This is located below your profile picture.
3. Scroll down to the “Contact and Basic Info” section
This section is located on the right side of your profile page.
4. Click the “Edit” button next to your phone number
This will open a pop-up window.
In the pop-up window, you can do the following:
- Delete your phone number by clicking the “X” next to it.
- Edit your phone number by clicking the “Edit” button next to it.
- Add a new phone number by clicking the “Add Phone Number” button.
Once you have made your changes, click the “Save” button to save your changes.
5. Click the “Close” button to close the pop-up window
Your changes will be saved and your phone number will be removed from your profile.
Check for Third-Party Apps
In some cases, third-party apps that you’ve connected to your Facebook account may have access to your phone number. To check for such apps:
- Log in to your Facebook account.
- Click on the downward arrow in the top right corner and select “Settings.”
- In the left-hand menu, click on “Apps and Websites.”
- Click on the “Logged in with Facebook” tab.
- Review the list of apps and websites that have access to your Facebook account. If you see any apps that you no longer use or that you don’t recognize, click on the “Remove” button next to them.
- Once you have removed all suspicious apps, click on the “Done” button.
Removing third-party apps with access to your phone number can help you protect your privacy and prevent them from sharing your information with others.
App Name |
Access Level |
Permissions |
Date Added |
Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| App 1 | Full Access | Read and write | 01/01/2023 | |
| App 2 | Partial Access | Read-only | 02/02/2023 | |
| App 3 | Limited Access | Write-only | 03/03/2023 |
Contact Facebook Support
Facebook does not offer an option to remove your phone number from your account through your own settings. Instead, you will need to contact Facebook’s Support Team to help you with this request.
Steps to Contact Facebook Support:
1. Go to the Facebook Help Center: https://www.facebook.com/help/
2. In the search bar, enter “Remove Phone Number.”
3. Click on the search results and select the appropriate option.
4. Follow the instructions provided on the page to submit your request.
Instructions for Removing Your Phone Number:
1. In the “Contact Us” form, choose “Account Ownership and Security” as the category and “Remove My Phone Number” as the subcategory.
2. Provide your name, email address, and a detailed description of your request, including the reason you want to remove your phone number.
3. State clearly that you understand the consequences of removing your phone number, such as losing access to two-factor authentication and the ability to log in with your phone number.
4. Attach any relevant documentation, such as a screenshot of your account settings showing that your phone number is still listed.
5. Submit your request and wait for a response from Facebook Support.
Additional Tips:
* Be patient, as it may take some time for Facebook to process your request.
* Check your email regularly for updates on your request status.
* If you need to change your phone number instead of removing it, you can do so through the “Settings” menu in your Facebook account.
Remove Phone Number from Marketplace
Follow these steps to remove your phone number from Facebook Marketplace:
- Access Marketplace: Click the Marketplace icon from the Facebook homepage or app menu.
- Go to Your Profile: In the left-hand menu, click on your profile picture.
- Select "Settings": In the top-right corner, click on the gear icon to access Settings.
- Edit Contact Info: In the left-hand menu, scroll down to "Contact Info" and click "Edit Contact Info".
- Remove Phone Number: Under "Phone Number", click the "x" icon next to the phone number you want to remove.
- Confirm Removal: If prompted, click "Remove" to confirm the removal of your phone number.
- Update Contact Info: To ensure that your Marketplace profile is complete, you may need to update your contact information with an alternative email address or another phone number. Click "Save Contact Info" to apply your changes.
Note: Removing your phone number from Marketplace does not remove it from your Facebook account entirely. It will only make it inaccessible to other Marketplace users.
Additional Security Measures
Beyond disabling phone number visibility, consider implementing these additional security measures to enhance your Facebook account’s protection:
8. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA):
2FA adds an extra layer of security by requiring you to enter a one-time code sent to your phone or email when logging in. This prevents unauthorized access, even if your password is compromised. To enable 2FA:
- Go to “Settings & Privacy” on Facebook.
- Click “Security and Login.”
- Under “Two-Factor Authentication,” select “Get Started.”
- Choose your preferred method (phone or email) and follow the prompts to set it up.
Here’s a table summarizing the benefits and considerations of each method:
| Method | Benefits | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | Convenience, works even without internet access | Requires a working phone number |
| Back-up option if your phone is inaccessible | Less convenient, may require you to check multiple email accounts |
Remember, enabling 2FA is crucial for protecting your account. Consider using an authentication app like Google Authenticator or Authy for added security.
Protect Your Privacy
Having your phone number publicly displayed on Facebook can pose privacy concerns. To protect your information, follow these steps to remove it:
9. Edit Your Privacy Settings
To make your phone number private, navigate to the “Privacy” section in your Facebook settings. Under “Your Contact Information,” click “Edit” next to “Phone Number.” In the dropdown menu, select “Only me.” This will ensure that only you can view your phone number on Facebook.
Additionally, you can use Facebook’s “Activity Log” to review and delete any past posts or comments that may contain your phone number. To access the Activity Log, click the downward-facing arrow in the top right corner of your Facebook homepage and select “Activity Log.” You can then use the search bar to look for posts or comments containing your phone number and delete them.
To further enhance your privacy, consider using a separate phone number for social media accounts. This can help prevent unsolicited calls or text messages.
Troubleshooting Common Errors
Error Message: “Sorry, there was an issue with your request. Please try again.”
Possible Cause:
Solution:
Error Message: “Your phone number is already linked to another account.”
Possible Cause:
Solution:
Error Message: “We are unable to verify your phone number.”
Possible Cause:
Solution:
Error Message: “Your account has been flagged for suspicious activity.”
Possible Cause:
Solution:
Error Message: “There seems to be a problem. Please try again later.”
Possible Cause:
Solution:
How To Remove Your Phone Number On Facebook
If you’re concerned about your privacy, you may want to remove your phone number from Facebook. Your phone number is used to help you log in to your account, reset your password, and receive notifications. However, it’s not required to have a phone number associated with your account.
To remove your phone number from Facebook:
1. Click the down arrow in the top right corner of any Facebook page.
2. Select “Settings & Privacy” from the drop-down menu.
3. Click “Settings” from the left-hand menu.
4. Click “Mobile” in the left-hand menu.
5. Click “Remove” next to your phone number.
6. Enter your Facebook password and click “Submit”.
People Also Ask
How do I add a phone number to my Facebook account?
To add a phone number to your Facebook account:
- Click the down arrow in the top right corner of any Facebook page.
- Select “Settings & Privacy” from the drop-down menu.
- Click “Settings” from the left-hand menu.
- Click “Mobile” in the left-hand menu.
- Click “Add a phone number”.
- Enter your phone number and click “Continue”.
- Facebook will send you a text message with a verification code. Enter the code in the box provided and click “Confirm”.
Why can’t I remove my phone number from Facebook?
If you’re unable to remove your phone number from Facebook, it may be because:
- You’re using a Facebook feature that requires a phone number, such as two-factor authentication or mobile payments.
- You’re trying to remove the phone number that’s associated with your Facebook Business Page.
- Your Facebook account is locked or disabled.
If you’re still having trouble removing your phone number from Facebook, you can contact Facebook customer support for help.
