Where to find your phone number settings on Amazon

Your phone number on Amazon lives in your account settings, not in a separate app or email. To reach it, sign into your Amazon account on a web browser or the mobile app, then go to Account & Lists in the top right corner. From there, select Your Account, then Login & security. Your current phone number appears under the "Phone number" field — this is where you change it.

If you use the Amazon mobile app, the path is slightly different. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, scroll down to Settings, then select Login & security. The phone number field works the same way as on the website.

Amazon stores your phone number for two main reasons: account recovery if you lose access to your email, and two-factor authentication if you turn it on. Changing it does not affect your orders, payment methods, or address — only the phone number Amazon has on file.

Key Takeaways

  • Your phone number is stored in Login & security settings, which you reach through Account & Lists on the website or Settings on the mobile app.
  • You can change your number yourself without contacting Amazon support, and the change takes effect immediately.
  • If you no longer have access to your old phone number, you will need to verify your identity through email or a security code before Amazon lets you change it.
  • Adding a phone number is optional, but it makes account recovery faster if you ever get locked out.

The step-by-step process to update your number

Once you are in the Login & security section, click or tap the Edit button next to your phone number. Amazon will ask you to enter your new phone number in the field provided. Type it in the format Amazon shows — usually with the country code if you are outside the United States, or just the 10-digit number if you are in the US.

After you enter the new number, Amazon sends a verification code to that phone via text message. You have 10 minutes to enter this code into the box on the screen. Once you do, Amazon confirms the change and returns you to your account settings. The old number is deleted and replaced with the new one.

If the text does not arrive within a minute or two, click Resend code to request another one. If you still do not receive it, check that you typed the number correctly — a single digit wrong will send the code to the wrong phone.

What to do if you cannot access your old phone number

If you no longer have the phone number currently on your account — because you switched carriers, lost the phone, or changed numbers — Amazon will not send a verification code to it. Instead, you will see a message saying you need to verify your identity before changing the number.

Amazon offers two ways to verify: through your email address or through a security code. If you choose email verification, Amazon sends a link to the email address associated with your account. Click that link, and you can then change your phone number without needing the old one. This usually takes a few minutes.

If you do not have access to your email either, you can request a security code by answering security questions you set up when you created your account. Amazon asks for information like your date of birth or the last four digits of a credit card on file. Once you answer correctly, you get a code to enter, and then you can update your phone number.

Changing your number on a shared or family account

If your Amazon account is part of an Amazon Household or Family Library, only the account owner can change the phone number associated with the main account. If you are a family member with your own login, you can change the phone number for your own account through your own Login & security settings.

If you are the account owner and want to change the number, the process is the same as described above — go to Login & security and edit the phone number field. This change affects the whole household's account recovery options, so make sure you use a number you will have access to long-term.

Why Amazon asks for a phone number and what happens if you skip it

Amazon uses your phone number as a backup way to recover your account if you lose access to your email. If someone gains access to your email address, Amazon can text a recovery code to your phone instead, which prevents them from taking over your account. This is called two-factor authentication, and it is optional — you can turn it on or off in the same Login & security section.

You do not have to provide a phone number to use Amazon. Many people shop on Amazon without one on file. However, if you ever get locked out of your account and cannot access your email, having a phone number on file makes recovery much faster. Without either a phone number or email access, Amazon support may ask you to verify your identity through other means, which takes longer.

Troubleshooting common problems when changing your number

If you see an error message saying "We could not update your phone number," the most common cause is that you typed it in the wrong format. Amazon expects 10 digits for US numbers (without dashes or parentheses), or a full international format with country code for numbers outside the US. Try entering it again exactly as shown in the example on the screen.

If the verification code never arrives, check that your phone can receive text messages. Some carriers block messages from certain numbers, and Amazon's verification texts sometimes come from a short code rather than a regular phone number. Contact your carrier if you think messages are being blocked. You can also request the code be sent again by clicking Resend code — Amazon allows up to three resend attempts before you have to start over.

If you see a message that says you have changed your phone number too many times recently, Amazon has a limit on how often you can update it for security reasons. Wait at least 24 hours before trying again. This limit protects your account from unauthorized changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Amazon phone number on the mobile app?

Yes. Open the app, tap the menu icon at the bottom right, go to Settings, then Login & security. The process is identical to the website version — you enter your new number, receive a verification code by text, and confirm it.

What happens to my old phone number after I change it?

Amazon deletes it from your account immediately. If you ever need to recover your account using that old number, you will not be able to. Make sure you have access to your email address or another recovery method before you change your phone number.

Do I need to change my phone number on Amazon if I got a new phone but kept the same number?

No. Your phone number is tied to your account, not to a specific device. As long as your new phone can receive text messages to the same number, you do not need to change anything on Amazon.

Can Amazon support change my phone number for me?

Amazon support can help you change your number if you cannot access your account, but they cannot do it for you if you are already logged in. If you are locked out and cannot verify through email or security questions, contact Amazon support and they can walk you through identity verification.

Is my phone number visible to other Amazon users or sellers?

No. Your phone number is private and stored only in your account settings. Sellers and other shoppers cannot see it. Amazon may use it to contact you about your orders, but only through their own systems.