Change your number through your carrier, not through iPhone settings

Your phone number lives with your carrier — AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, or whoever you pay for service. iPhone has no setting that changes it. To get a new number, you contact your carrier directly by phone, through their app, or at a store. The process takes minutes to an hour, and your old number stops working once the change goes through.

Before you call, know that carriers handle number changes differently. Some let you pick a new number from available options in your area code. Others assign one to you. Some charge a fee (usually $15 to $30); others do not. A few carriers limit how often you can change your number — typically once per year or once every 30 days — so check your carrier's policy first.

Key Takeaways

  • Contact your carrier directly — by phone, app, or in-store — because iPhone settings cannot change your number.
  • Your carrier may charge a fee, may or may not let you choose your new number, and may have limits on how often you can change it.
  • After the change, your old number is reassigned to someone else, so tell your contacts your new number before you switch.
  • Update your number in apps and services that use it for login or recovery — email, banking, social media, and two-factor authentication.

How to change your number with each major carrier

AT&T: Call 611 from your AT&T phone or 1-800-331-0500 from any phone. Say you want to change your number. They will ask why (optional to answer) and offer you numbers available in your area code, or assign one. The change takes effect immediately. AT&T charges $15 for a number change on most plans, though some plans include one free change per year.

Verizon: Call 611 from your Verizon phone or 1-908-559-4899 from any phone. You can also go to My Verizon online, sign in, and use the "Change Phone Number" tool under Account settings. Verizon charges $15 per number change on most plans. The change takes effect right away.

T-Mobile: Call 611 from your T-Mobile phone or 1-844-839-4534 from any phone. You can also text "CHANGE" to 611611 or visit a T-Mobile store. T-Mobile does not charge a fee for number changes. The change takes effect immediately, though it may take a few hours for the old number to fully disconnect.

Other carriers: If you use a regional carrier, prepaid service, or MVNO (like Mint Mobile, Visible, or Google Fi), check their website or call customer service. Most follow the same process — call or log into your account — but fees and policies vary widely.

What happens to your old number after you change it

Your old number does not disappear. Your carrier reassigns it to another customer, usually within days or weeks. This means texts and calls meant for you may reach someone else. It also means if you ever need to recover an account using your old number, you cannot — the new owner of that number could potentially use it to reset your passwords.

Before you change your number, go through your accounts and update your phone number in places where it matters: email recovery options, banking apps, social media, two-factor authentication settings, and any service that uses your number to verify your identity. This takes 15 to 30 minutes but prevents lockouts later.

Tell your contacts before you switch

Send a text or email to people who have your number, telling them your new one. Do this before the change takes effect if you can, or immediately after. Include a brief note so they know it is really you — something like "I changed my number with my carrier. My new number is [number]. Please update your contacts."

For work contacts, consider sending an email from your work account as well, so they have a record. If you use your number for business, you may want to wait until after hours or a weekend to make the switch, so you do not miss urgent calls during the transition.

Update your number in apps and services

After your number changes, log into each account that uses your phone number and update it. Start with the ones that matter most for security: email, banking, and any service with two-factor authentication. Then move through social media, messaging apps, and anything else that has your number on file.

For two-factor authentication, you may need to turn it off, update your number, and turn it back on. Some services let you update it directly in settings; others require you to contact support. If you get stuck, the service's help page usually has a "Update phone number" or "Change recovery phone" section.

If you want to keep your number when switching carriers

You can transfer your number to a different carrier using number portability (called porting). Contact your new carrier and tell them you want to port your number. They will ask for your account number and PIN from your current carrier, then handle the transfer. The process takes one to three business days. Your old carrier cannot charge you extra for porting, though they may charge an early termination fee if you are still under contract.

During the port, your service may drop for a few hours. Plan for this and let people know you may be unreachable briefly. Once the port is complete, your number works on your new carrier's network, and your old carrier's service ends.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my number on iPhone without calling my carrier?

No. iPhone has no built-in feature to change your number. You must contact your carrier by phone, through their app or website, or in person at a store. The carrier controls your number, not your phone.

Will changing my number affect my iCloud or Apple ID?

No. Your Apple ID is tied to your email address, not your phone number. Changing your phone number does not affect iCloud, Find My iPhone, or any Apple service. However, if you use your phone number as a recovery method for your Apple ID, update it in Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security after you change your number.

What if I change my number and then want to change it back?

You can request your old number back, but only if it has not been reassigned to another customer yet. Call your carrier and ask. If your old number is still available, they may restore it for free or charge the standard number-change fee. If it has been reassigned, you cannot get it back.

Do I lose my text messages or photos when I change my number?

No. Your text messages, photos, and all data on your iPhone stay on your phone. Changing your number only changes how people reach you — it does not erase anything stored on the device.

How long does it take for my new number to work everywhere?

Your new number usually works immediately for calls and texts. However, it can take 24 to 48 hours for it to fully propagate through all networks and directories. If someone tries to reach you in the first day and it does not go through, ask them to try again later.