Maybe you’re trying to keep your personal and business numbers separate. Maybe you’re moving and need a new area code. Or maybe you’re just tired of spam calls and mystery voicemails from your number’s previous owner.
Whatever the reason, it’s time to break up with your old phone number. And the good news is it’s probably easier than you think.
This guide explains how to change your phone number on Android and iOS devices. Plus, if you’re a business, we’ll show you why a VoIP app may be the smarter move.
How to change your phone number with your carrier
The first step in switching your phone number is getting in touch with your carrier.
You need to:
- Contact your carrier (AT&T, Verizon, or whichever you use).
- Request a number change. You may need to provide account verification information.
- Confirm fees or waiting periods. You don’t want to get blindsided by hidden charges.
- Update your device or insert a new SIM card if required.
- Adjust your phone settings. This depends on the type of device you have (Android or iOS), which we’ll cover in the steps below.
Do you need to change your phone number or get a second number?
Do you actually need to replace your existing number? Or do you need a second phone number?
Getting a second number may be more practical than replacing your number if you:
- Want to keep your personal and business lives separate. Instead of replacing the number you already have, you could get a second phone number to talk and text from your computer, tablet, or mobile phone.
- Need to filter spam and robocalls. Getting bombarded by endless spam calls? Rather than switching out your number entirely, you could get a second number with an auto-attendant that filters out spam and directs real callers to you.
- Want to share a number with your team. With OpenPhone, you can easily set up a shared phone number to use with your team or coworkers. This way, you can keep your existing mobile number and avoid the hassle of migrating contacts and conversation histories.
How to change a phone number on an iPhone
Here’s how to change your phone number on iOS:
1. Under Settings, tap on Cellular.
2. Tap Add eSIM and add it to your phone. You can transfer the new phone number via QR code or with a nearby phone linked to your Apple ID.
3. Return to Settings. Tap Phone and then My Number.
4. Remove your old number by deleting it from the text box. Then, add the new number you wish to use that’s associated with your new SIM.
5. Tap Save at the top right to confirm your new number.
Don’t forget to notify contacts that you’ve recently changed your number. You should also back up your data in iCloud to avoid breakdowns in communication.
How to change your number on Android
Here’s how to change the number on an Android phone:
1. In your Settings menu, tap Google.
2. Tap Your name, then Manage your Google Account.
3. Tap the Personal info tab. Under Contact info, tap Phone.
4. Tap the number you wish to change. Then, tap the Edit symbol.
5. Tap Update to confirm your changes.
And that’s it — you’ve successfully changed your Android device.
Just make sure your new number is updated across your Google Accounts, which you can check by refreshing the Contact info screen.
A smarter way to manage your phone numbers (with OpenPhone)
Changing your phone number can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re a busy business owner. And if switching means calling your carrier? No one has time to sit on hold for two hours.
That’s why so many business owners choose OpenPhone. It’s a virtual phone solution that works anywhere with a WiFi connection. We offer unlimited calling and texting to the US and Canada, shared calling and texting inboxes for teams, and advanced features you won’t find on a standard iPhone or Android — like call recording, transcripts, auto-replies, and business hours.
Whether you’re changing your number or adding a second one, here’s what makes OpenPhone a great fit for growing businesses:
- Change numbers instantly without contacting carriers. Open your admin account, switch your number in settings, and you’re done in minutes. For a step-by-step guide, check out our article on how to change your OpenPhone number.
- Easily manage multiple numbers. Assign a dedicated line to each team member and create shared phone numbers for departments. Plus, each user gets a free toll-free or local number with their plan, making it easy to scale as your business grows.
- Block spam callers with an auto-attendant. Since robocalls don’t have real humans on the line, they can’t navigate phone menus. With OpenPhone, you can easily set up custom greetings on your business phone number (like ‘Press one for Sales’) to keep spam calls from cluttering your phone line.
Try OpenPhone for free by signing up for a seven-day trial.
Common issues when changing your phone number
Changing your number is easy. But dealing with what comes next? Not always as simple.
Here’s what to consider before switching your SIM card:
Two-factor authentication disruptions
If you use your old number for verification codes, getting a new phone number could lock you out of important accounts. Avoid this headache by migrating your 2FA before switching:
- Remove your old number from each account’s 2FA settings.
- Add another method, like an authenticator app or backup codes.
- Once your new number is active, add it to your 2FA settings.
*Note: Virtual numbers like OpenPhone aren’t always accepted for 2FA. We recommend keeping a traditional cell phone number for verification purposes.
Lost voicemails, texts, and call logs
If your old number was with a carrier like T-Mobile or Verizon, switching could wipe out voicemails, text messages, and call records. If those details aren’t backed up, they’ll be gone for good — not ideal for business owners.
Don’t want the stress of losing customer-related data? A virtual phone system lets you transfer contacts, SMS, and call history so nothing gets lost in the switch.
Important contacts can’t reach you
Customers and clients won’t know you’ve changed phone numbers unless you tell them. If they don’t recognize your new number, they might not answer — meaning missed opportunities.
You’ve got a few options for keeping them posted:
- Bulk import contacts from your old number to your new number. Then, you can call or leave a message letting them know about the change.
- Set up temporary call forwarding to your new number. This will help you avoid missing calls and opportunities during the transition to a new number.
- Add your old and new numbers to the same device. That way, you’ll receive calls from both lines and can sort out any issues without dropping important conversations.
The easiest way to make sure contacts can still reach you? Partnering with a flexible phone provider like OpenPhone. You can port all your virtual phone numbers to one system and make and receive calls from anywhere with a WiFi connection.
Change your number hassle-free with OpenPhone
Changing your phone number doesn’t have to be complicated or disruptive to your business. With OpenPhone, small business owners can easily switch numbers, maintain professional communication, and improve team efficiency.
It takes 15 minutes or less to get a new phone number with OpenPhone, and with our five-minute phone number porting form, you can migrate existing numbers (or turn them into shared phone numbers) whenever the need arises. Then when you’re ready, you can tap into features that make managing business calls easy, from phone menus and auto replies to third-party integrations and more.
Sign up today for a seven-day trial and see why OpenPhone is the #1 small business phone system on G2.
