How to keep your personal phone number private online

Your phone number is linked to your accounts, your contacts and often your real name. The less widely it’s shared, the less spam you get and the harder it is for someone to find your profiles from your number.

Hide it in the apps you already use

Messaging and social apps usually have a privacy setting for who can see your number and who can find you by it. Set both to “Nobody” or “My contacts” where the app allows it.

Turn off contact discovery

Many apps suggest you to people who have your number in their contacts. Look for “Find me by phone number” or “Contact syncing” and turn it off if you’d rather not be found that way.

Use an authenticator app for two-step sign-in

Codes by text message tie your accounts to your number. An authenticator app keeps your sign-ins safe without handing your number to every service.

Use a separate number for one-off sign-ups

For an app you only need to verify once, a separate number keeps your own off its records. A one-time number like ours receives the code on screen for 20 minutes. It won’t receive codes later, so add an email or an authenticator app to the account once you’re in.

Clean up old accounts

Remove your number from accounts you no longer use, or delete those accounts. Every old account that has your number is one more place it can leak from.