Add or remove your phone number in Messages or FaceTime - Apple Support (2024)

You can use the phone number of your iPhone with Messages and FaceTime on your Mac, iPad, or iPod touch.

Set up or remove your phone number

Turn your number on or off for Mac

Turn your number on or off for iPad or iPod touch

Get help

Set up your phone number

On your iPhone:

  1. Go to Settings > Messages and make sure that iMessage is on. You might need to wait a moment for it to activate.

  2. Tap Send & Receive. If you see "Use your Apple ID for iMessage," tap it and sign in with the same Apple ID that you use on your Mac, iPad, and iPod touch.

    Add or remove your phone number in Messages or FaceTime - Apple Support (1)
  3. In the "You can receive iMessages to and Reply From" section, make sure that your phone number and Apple ID are selected.

  4. Go to Settings > FaceTime and make sure that your phone number and Apple ID are selected in the "You can be reached by FaceTime at" section.

On your other devices, you can now turn on the phone number that you just set up:

  • Turn on your phone number for your Mac

  • Turn on your phone number for your iPad or iPod touch

If you use this feature and share your Apple ID with someone, you can't prevent them from seeing your conversations. Instead of using the same Apple ID as someone else, set up Family Sharing.

To set up a phone number to use with Messages or FaceTime, you need an active SIM or eSIM associated with that number.

Remove your phone number

If you don't want calls or messages for your iPhone on your iPad, iPod touch, or Mac, you can remove your phone number. There are two ways to do this:

  • On your iPhone, go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive. Select your Apple ID at the bottom of the screen and tap Sign Out. Then go to Settings > FaceTime, select your Apple ID, and tap Sign Out.

  • If the phone number that you want to remove belongs to an iPhone that you can't access, change your Apple ID password. This removes all phone numbers from your iPad, iPod touch, and Mac. Calls or messages for the removed numbers won't appear on those devices anymore.

If you have questions, contact Apple Support.

Turn your phone number on or off for your Mac

After you set up your phone number, you can turn it on or off for Messages and FaceTime on your Mac.

  1. Open Messages or FaceTime. If asked, sign in with the Apple ID that you're using with Messages and FaceTime on your iPhone.

  2. For Messages, choose Messages > Settings, then click iMessage. For FaceTime, choose FaceTime > Preferences, then click General.

  3. Turn your phone number on or off:

    • To turn on your phone number, select it and your Apple ID in the list. If you don't see your phone number, get help with your settings or contact Apple Support. If you see a number that isn't yours, change your Apple ID password.

    • To turn off your phone number, deselect it in the list.

  4. If you want recipients to see your phone number and not your Apple ID, select your phone number from the "Start new conversations from" or "Start new calls from" pop-up menu.

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Learn how to make messages that you send and receive on your iPhone appear on your Mac, iPad, and iPod touch.

Turn your phone number on or off for your iPad or iPod touch

After you set up your phone number, you can turn it on or off for Messages and FaceTime on your iPad or iPod touch.

  1. For Messages, go to Settings > Messages and make sure that iMessage is on. If asked, sign in with the Apple ID you're using with Messages and FaceTime on your iPhone. Then tap Send & Receive.

  2. For FaceTime, go to Settings > FaceTime. If asked, sign in with the Apple ID that you're using with Messages and FaceTime on your iPhone.

  3. Turn your phone number on or off:

    • To turn on your phone number, select it and your Apple ID in the “You can be reached” section. If you don't see your phone number, get help with your settings or contact Apple Support. If you see a number that isn't yours, change your Apple ID password.

    • To turn off your phone number, uncheck it.

      Add or remove your phone number in Messages or FaceTime - Apple Support (3)

Learn how to make messages that you send and receive on your iPhone also appear on your Mac, iPad, and iPod touch.

If you can't see or select your number in Messages or FaceTime

  1. Make sure that you're using the latest software for your Mac or iOS device.

  2. Make sure that you correctly followed the iPhone steps to set up your phone number. You should be using the same Apple ID on all of your devices.

  3. In the "You can be reached" section of Messages and FaceTime settings, make sure that there are checkmarks beside your phone number and Apple ID:

    Add or remove your phone number in Messages or FaceTime - Apple Support (4)

If your phone number is unchecked and you can't select it, or you have some other issue, follow these steps:

  1. On your Mac:

    • In Messages, choose Messages > Settings, then click iMessage. Click Sign Out.

    • In FaceTime, choose FaceTime > Settings, then click General. Click Sign Out.

  2. On your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch:

    • Go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive. Tap your Apple ID, then tap Sign Out.

    • Go to Settings > FaceTime. Tap your Apple ID, then tap Sign Out.

  3. On your iPhone:

    • Go back to Settings > Messages and make sure that iMessage is turned on.

    • Tap Send & Receive, then choose “Use your Apple ID for iMessage” and sign in with your Apple ID.

  4. Using the same Apple ID, sign back in to Messages and FaceTime on your other devices.

If you still need help, change your Apple ID password and repeat the setup steps. If that doesn't work, contact Apple Support.

Published Date:

Add or remove your phone number in Messages or FaceTime - Apple Support (2024)

FAQs

Add or remove your phone number in Messages or FaceTime - Apple Support? ›

To remove a number, uncheck the box next to it in the iMessage and FaceTime preferences on the device you want to be removed. This will stop you from receiving future calls and texts on that device. If you'd like to remove it from your iCloud account altogether, you'll need to turn off from your iPhone.

What does remove number from iMessage and FaceTime mean? ›

To remove a number, uncheck the box next to it in the iMessage and FaceTime preferences on the device you want to be removed. This will stop you from receiving future calls and texts on that device. If you'd like to remove it from your iCloud account altogether, you'll need to turn off from your iPhone.

Why is my phone number unavailable for iMessage and FaceTime? ›

If you can't see or select your number in Messages or FaceTime. Make sure you're using the latest software for your Mac or iOS device. Make sure you've correctly followed the iPhone steps to set up your phone number. You should be using the same Apple ID on all of your devices.

What does your Apple ID and phone number are now being used for iMessage and FaceTime on a new iPad mean? ›

1 Answer. This may mean that someone is logged under your AppleID on some other phone.

What happens if you remove FaceTime? ›

If you delete the FaceTime app, you can still make and receive FaceTime calls in Contacts and the Phone app. If you try to delete the Health app from an iPhone that's paired with Apple Watch, an alert asks you to unpair your Apple Watch before you can delete the app.

Why is my iMessage and FaceTime number different to my phone number? ›

After your number's been transferred, you might need to manually update the number on your iPhone. This is to make sure your number shows correctly when you make calls or send texts, use iMessage or FaceTime.

How do I activate my iMessage and FaceTime number? ›

Set up your phone number
  1. Go to Settings > Messages and make sure that iMessage is on. ...
  2. Tap Send & Receive. ...
  3. In the "You can receive iMessages to and Reply From" section, make sure that your phone number and Apple ID are selected.
Dec 19, 2023

Why is my phone number not connecting to iMessage? ›

Make sure that you're connected to a cellular data or Wi-Fi network. Make sure that your device has the latest version of iOS. Make sure that your time zone is set correctly. Go to Settings > General > Date & Time.

Why is my number not letting me FaceTime? ›

Make sure that your phone line turned on. If you use multiple SIMs, make sure that the phone number you want to use is selected and turned on. In the Settings app, tap FaceTime. Turn FaceTime off and then back on.

What happens if I turn off iMessage? ›

After you complete deregistration, your phone number is removed from iMessage services. You should be able to receive text messages right away but it might take a few hours for some Apple devices to recognize that you're not using iMessage when they send you a message.

How do you refresh your iMessage number? ›

To update iMessage:
  1. Go to Settings > Messages.
  2. Tap iMessage to On.
  3. Scroll down to 'Send & Receive. '
  4. Check the right number has been ticked.

Can I call Apple for tech support? ›

How do I know if my phone is linked to another device on my iPhone? ›

How to Tell If Your iPhone Is Synced to Another Phone
  1. Check Your Apple ID Devices List:
  2. Look for Synced Data Across Devices:
  3. Use the Find My App:
  4. Check for Unexpected Apple ID Sign-In Notifications:
  5. Review Messages and FaceTime:
  6. iCloud Photo Library and Shared Albums:
Mar 5, 2024

How do you know if another device is using your iMessage? ›

To manage where you're signed in and where your messages are potentially popping up, head to your Apple ID account page and review what's listed under "devices." You can decouple any of the devices by clicking on it and selecting "remove." Also, your Apple ID should be yours and yours only.

How do I remove my old phone number from my Apple ID? ›

Go to Trusted Phone Number, then do any of the following:
  1. Add a phone number: Click the Add button below Trusted Phone Numbers. If prompted, enter your Apple ID password or Mac login password. ...
  2. Remove a phone number: Select a phone number, click the Remove button , then click Remove.

What happens when you deregister a number from iMessage? ›

After you complete deregistration, your phone number is removed from iMessage services.

What is the meaning of FaceTime and iMessage? ›

iMessage and FaceTime are services from Apple that allow text, audio, and video messages to be shared with other users.

What happens when you delete a number on an iPhone? ›

When you delete a contact, it permanently deletes it from your device. If you delete a contact from your email account, you also permanently delete the contact from all devices signed into that email account.

Can you hide your number on iMessage? ›

Using an iMessage effect will cause your number to appear as all zeros to the recipient. They'll still see your name if you're in their contacts.

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