There are a few reasons why TikTok users may want to change the phone number associated with their account without keeping the old number tied to it:
- You got a new phone number and no longer have access to your old number
- You want to disconnect an old number from your account for privacy reasons
- Your old number was linked to a phone you no longer use or have access to
- You want to link your TikTok account to a new number and don’t need the old one anymore
Changing your TikTok phone number while completely removing the old number allows you to connect a new number to your account and take control of your profile. This guide will walk through the process step-by-step.
Check Current TikTok Phone Number
To find your currently associated phone number on TikTok, follow these steps:
- Open the TikTok app and tap on your profile icon in the bottom right corner.
- Tap on the three horizontal lines menu icon in the top right corner.
- Select “Settings and privacy” from the menu.
- Tap on “Manage account” and then select “Phone number” to view your currently associated number.
You can also check the email address associated with your TikTok account here. Make sure you have the correct TikTok account open before checking your phone number.
According to TikTok’s Help Center, the phone number menu shows the phone number you used to create your account or that is currently linked for SMS notifications [1]. Checking here allows you to confirm the number that needs to be changed.
Disconnect Current Number
To remove your current phone number from your TikTok account, you’ll need to follow these steps:
1. Open the TikTok app and tap on your profile icon in the bottom right corner.
2. Tap the menu icon in the top right corner (the 3 horizontal lines).
3. Select “Settings and privacy” from the menu.
4. Tap “Account” and then “Change phone number”.
5. You will be prompted to verify your identity. TikTok will send a verification code to your current phone number to confirm it’s you trying to change the number.
6. Enter the 6-digit verification code and tap “Next”.
7. Enter your new phone number and tap “Next”. TikTok will send a verification code to your new number.
8. Enter the new verification code and tap “Confirm”.
Your old phone number should now be disconnected from your TikTok account. TikTok will update your account with the new phone number. Make sure to update any other linked accounts like Facebook or Instagram with your new number as well.
Add New Number
Once you have disconnected your old phone number from your TikTok account, you can add your new phone number. Here are the steps to add a new phone number to your TikTok account:
1. Open the TikTok app and tap on your profile icon in the bottom right corner.
2. Tap the menu icon in the top right corner (the 3 horizontal lines) and select “Settings and privacy”.
3. Tap “Manage account” and then “Change phone number”.
4. Enter your new phone number and tap “Next”.
5. TikTok will send a 6-digit verification code to your new phone number. Enter this code and tap “Confirm” to verify your new phone number.
Once you complete these steps, your new phone number will be connected to your TikTok account. You can now use this number to log in, enable two-factor authentication, and receive alerts from TikTok.
Verify New Number
After entering a new phone number in the TikTok app, users will need to verify their new number via a code sent to that number. TikTok will send a text message containing a 6-digit verification code to the new phone number. Users will need to enter this code in the app within 10 minutes to verify ownership of the number.
If the verification code is not received, users can request a new code or try verifying through an automated phone call instead. TikTok also provides options to verify through email or Facebook if the phone number verification is not working.
Once the verification process is complete, the new phone number will be linked to the TikTok account. Users can check their profile to confirm the phone number change was successful.
If users run into any issues verifying their new number, they can find troubleshooting tips in TikTok’s Help Center article “Can’t verify new phone number.” Common problems involve using a phone number already associated with another account, entering the code incorrectly, or delays in receiving the verification text.1
Update Other Linked Accounts
Mention any other accounts linked to TikTok that may also need the new number updated. Many users connect their TikTok account to other social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, etc. These connected accounts may also need to be updated with your new TikTok phone number for full functionality.
According to TikTok’s help article, you can link your TikTok account to Instagram by going to your TikTok profile, tapping Edit Profile, and selecting Add Instagram to your profile. Linking another social media account | TikTok Help Center
Similarly, you may have connected your TikTok account to a TikTok for Business account to run ads or shop. These business accounts will also need your new phone number updated. As per TikTok’s help article, a TikTok account can only be linked to one TikTok for Business account at a time. So you’ll need to unlink the old number and relink with the new number. FAQs for Linking TikTok Account
Be sure to check all platforms and accounts connected to your TikTok to update them with your new phone number as well, for full functionality.
Recover Old Videos
If you had any videos associated with your old TikTok number that you want to save, it is possible to recover deleted videos for up to 30 days after they were removed. TikTok stores deleted videos in the “Recently Deleted” folder, which can be accessed from the profile page. Simply go to your profile, tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner, choose “Settings and privacy” then “Account” and “Recently deleted.”
To restore a video from the “Recently deleted” folder, simply access the folder and select the desired video. Then, tap on the “Restore” option, and the video will be returned to your account (source: https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/us/tiktok-videos-how-to-recover-deleted-videos-heres-everything-you-should-know/articleshow/101602404.cms). Recovered videos will no longer be associated with your old phone number.
However, if more than 30 days have passed since a video was deleted, it can no longer be restored through the TikTok app. In this case, you will need to use a third-party TikTok video recovery app to attempt to retrieve the deleted videos.
Deactivate Old Number
Once you’ve fully switched over to your new phone number on TikTok, it’s a good idea to deactivate the old number if you no longer plan to use it or have access to it. Here are the steps to fully deactivate an old number from your TikTok account:
1. Go to the Privacy and Safety settings page in the TikTok app.
2. Tap ‘Deactivate account’.
3. Enter your password to confirm deactivation.
4. Select ‘Permanently delete my account’ and tap ‘Next’.
5. On the confirmation page, tap ‘Permanently Delete’ to fully deactivate your account and disconnect the old phone number.
Once your account is deactivated, the old phone number will no longer be associated with your TikTok account. Anyone who tries to access your old account or reset the password will not be able to do so.[1]
Deactivation completely removes your account from TikTok, including all of your old videos and data. So only deactivate if you’re absolutely certain you no longer need anything from your old account.
Troubleshooting Changing Your TikTok Phone Number
There are a few common issues that may come up when trying to change your phone number on TikTok. Here are some potential solutions:
If you get an error message that your old phone number could not be verified, try waiting a bit and requesting the verification code again. TikTok’s servers may be overloaded. You can also try contacting TikTok support through their help center to see if they can assist with verifying your old number.
If your number change becomes stuck pending and won’t complete, try logging out and back into your TikTok account. This may help reset the verification process. As a last resort, you can delete the TikTok app and reinstall it to force a fresh login.
If your old videos disappear after changing your number, don’t panic. According to TikTok support, your old videos are stored for 30 days after changing your phone number. You should be able to recover them by contacting TikTok support within that window.
If you no longer have access to your old number, you will need to contact TikTok support directly to verify account ownership another way, such as by providing the original sign-up email. TikTok support can be reached through the in-app help center.
Be sure to use a strong password when re-linking your account to protect it going forward. Enabling two-factor authentication via a backup authentication app adds another layer of security as well.
Summary
Briefly recap the key steps covered in the guide:
To change your phone number on TikTok without losing your old videos and account, you’ll first need to check your current TikTok phone number under account settings. Then, disconnect your old phone number and add your new number, being sure to verify it. Once your new number is connected and verified, update any other social media accounts linked to your TikTok so they have your new number too. Recover any old videos that may have been lost in the transition. Finally, deactivate the old number you had connected to your TikTok account. If you run into any issues during the process, you can troubleshoot by checking for errors or contacting TikTok support.
In summary, changing your TikTok phone number involves disconnecting your old number, adding and verifying your new one, updating linked accounts, recovering old videos, and deactivating the old number. Following these steps carefully will allow you to change your TikTok phone number smoothly without losing your account or content.
