How to Transfer an Account to a New Phone Number

Changing your phone number requires updating it across all your accounts to maintain security and access. Most services use phone numbers for two-factor authentication and account recovery, making this update critical for continued access.

1. Create a list of accounts using your current number. Check your password manager, email inbox, and phone for SMS verification codes to identify which accounts use your current number. Include banking apps, social media, email providers, streaming services, and work accounts. Write down each service name and your username or email address.
2. Keep both phone numbers active temporarily. Maintain service on your old number for at least one week after activating your new number. This ensures you can receive verification codes during the transition period. Contact your carrier to arrange this overlap or port your number if keeping the same digits.
3. Update critical accounts first. Start with banking, email, and work accounts since these often serve as recovery methods for other services. Log into each account, navigate to Security or Account Settings, and update your phone number. Most services will send a verification code to your new number immediately.
4. Configure two-factor authentication apps. For accounts using authenticator apps like Google Authenticator or Authy, the phone number change may not affect app-based codes. However, update your backup phone number in the app settings. For SMS-based 2FA, update the number in each account's security settings.
5. Update social media and messaging platforms. Change your number in WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. These platforms often use phone numbers for account verification and friend discovery. In WhatsApp, go to Settings > Account > Change Number to transfer your chat history.
6. Test account access with new number. Log out of each updated account and attempt to log back in, requesting SMS verification codes to confirm the new number works. Try password reset functions to ensure recovery methods function properly. Document any accounts that fail verification.
7. Disable service on old number. After confirming all accounts work with your new number and waiting at least one week, cancel service on your old number. Contact accounts that couldn't be updated to arrange alternative verification methods before disconnecting the old line.