TikTok has become one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1 billion monthly active users. When creating a TikTok account, users have the option to sign up using a phone number or email address. Many choose to use their phone number for convenience or because it is required in some countries.
However, there are reasons why TikTok users may eventually want to unlink, change, or delete their phone number from their account. Some key reasons include:
- Privacy and security concerns – Phone numbers can be used to identify or locate users. Unlinking it increases anonymity.
- Getting a new phone number – If users change their number, they’ll need to update or unlink it.
- Too many SMS notifications – TikTok may send numerous text alerts, which can be disruptive.
- Restricted account access – Having a linked number allows TikTok to lock users out of accounts more easily.
- Handing account over to someone else – Unlinking the number allows someone else to take over the account more easily.
Fortunately, TikTok provides users with the ability to manage the phone number linked to their account. This includes unlinking, changing, or deleting it. However, the process is not straightforward and users need to understand the proper steps.
View Current Phone Number
To view your currently linked phone number in TikTok account settings:
- Open the TikTok app and tap on your profile icon in the bottom right corner.
- Tap on the menu icon in the top right corner (three horizontal lines).
- Select “Settings and privacy” from the menu.
- Tap on “Manage account” and then select “Phone number”.
- Here you will see the phone number currently linked to your TikTok account.
If you don’t see a phone number listed here, it means you have not linked a phone number to your TikTok account yet (TikTok Support).
Unlink Phone Number
If you no longer want your phone number linked to your TikTok account, you can easily unlink it by following these steps:
- Open the TikTok app and go to your profile page.
- Tap the three-dot menu icon in the upper right corner and select “Manage account” from the menu.
- Select “Privacy and safety” from the account settings menu.
- Tap “Login and security.”
- Under “Phone number,” tap the phone number currently linked to your account.
- On the next screen, tap “Unlink” to confirm removing your phone number.
Once you unlink your phone number, you’ll no longer be able to use it to log in or reset your password. You can link a new phone number through the same menu if desired. But unlinking your number is a quick and easy way to remove that connection from your TikTok account.
Source: https://vergizmo.com/tiktok-contacts/
Change Phone Number
If you want to change the phone number linked to your TikTok account, the process is simple but requires access to your current number for verification.
Here are the steps to change your phone number on TikTok:
- Open the TikTok app and go to your profile page.
- Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner and select “Manage account” from the menu.
- Select “Change phone number.”
- Enter your new phone number and tap “Next.”
- TikTok will send a verification code to your current phone number. Enter this code to verify your identity.
- Once verified, your new phone number will be linked to your TikTok account.
You need access to your current number to receive the SMS verification code. If you no longer have access to your current number, you’ll need to go through TikTok’s account recovery process to regain access before changing your number.
It’s important to keep your phone number up to date in your TikTok account settings so that you can receive security codes when needed. If you get a new device or phone number, be sure to update it through your TikTok profile.
Delete Phone Number
If you want to permanently delete the phone number linked to your TikTok account, follow these steps:
1. Open the TikTok app and go to your profile page.
2. Tap the three dot menu icon in the top right corner.
3. Select “Settings and privacy” from the menu.
4. Tap “Manage account” and then “Delete account”.
5. Enter your password when prompted to confirm your identity.
6. Select “Delete account” again to permanently delete your TikTok account.
Deleting your TikTok account will unlink your phone number and completely remove your profile and all associated data from TikTok’s servers. This action is permanent and cannot be undone, so make sure you really want to delete your account before proceeding.
Once your account is deleted, the phone number previously linked to it can be used to create a new TikTok account if desired. Your old videos and data will not carry over to the new account.
If you simply want to change your linked phone number rather than deleting your account entirely, follow the steps in the “Change Phone Number” section instead.
Regain Access After Unlinking
If you lose access to your TikTok account after unlinking your phone number, there are a few options to try to get back in:
Submit a feedback request through TikTok’s support form explaining that you lost access after unlinking your number. Provide as many details as possible like your username, email if you had one linked, when you created the account, etc. TikTok may be able to verify your identity and regain access.
If you had an email linked to your TikTok account, try resetting your password through email. Go to the login page, tap “Forgot password?” and enter the email address to trigger a reset link.
As a last resort, you can try creating a new TikTok account with the same username and see if TikTok recognizes you as the original owner and merges the accounts. But there’s no guarantee this will work.
In the future, make sure you have a secondary login method like email or social media linked before unlinking your phone number. And record your username and password somewhere safe in case you lose access.
Citations:
[1] https://www.alphr.com/tiktok-recover-password-without-email-phone/
Pros and Cons of Unlinking Your Phone Number from TikTok
Unlinking your phone number from TikTok can have both benefits and drawbacks. Here are some of the key pros and cons to consider:
Pros:
- Increased privacy and anonymity – Your phone number will no longer be associated with your account, limiting the personal information TikTok has connected to you.
- Avoid spam calls and texts – Scammers or other malicious actors will no longer have direct access to contact you via your linked number if it gets exposed.
- More control over account security – Removing your phone number makes it harder for an outsider to access or take over your account.
Cons:
- Lose account recovery options – You won’t be able to use your phone number to recover or reset your password if you get locked out of your TikTok account.
- Limited features – Some TikTok features rely on a linked phone number, so you may lose access to certain capabilities.
- Less ad targeting data for TikTok – Advertisers will have less user data tied to your interests and demographics without a linked phone number.
Overall, unlinking your phone can increase privacy and security if you’re comfortable losing account recovery options. Evaluate your personal priorities to decide if it’s the right choice (source).
Security Risks
Having your phone number linked or visible on TikTok poses some potential security issues. According to John F. Plumb, the assistant secretary of defense for space policy, TikTok is considered a “potential threat vector” to users in the United States (https://www.defense.gov). Privacy advocates have raised concerns that TikTok collects an invasive amount of user data, and could share that data with the Chinese government if compelled to do so. Authorities in several countries have even banned TikTok on government-issued devices due to data privacy worries (https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ceo-shou-zi-chew-security-risk-).
With your phone number linked, TikTok has another data point connected to your account that could potentially be accessed or compromised. Some specific risks include:
– Unauthorized account access. A hacker could potentially use your phone number to gain access to your account through SMS verification.
– Phishing scams. Scammers could target you with more personalized phishing messages by having your number.
– Data profiling. TikTok could connect your account data to build an extensive profile tied to your phone number.
While the likelihood of these risks materializing may be low, it’s still wise to limit any unnecessary personal information tied to your TikTok account. Unlinking your phone number is one way to reduce potential vulnerabilities.
Alternatives to Phone Number
While using a phone number provides an extra layer of security for your TikTok account, there are alternatives you can use if you don’t have access to the phone number on your account:
Email – You can use an email address instead of a phone number when creating a new TikTok account. This allows you to receive verification codes through email rather than text message.
Authentication Apps – TikTok allows you to enable two-factor authentication through apps like Google Authenticator. This generates verification codes you can use without a phone number.
Social Media – If you no longer have access to the phone number used for your account, you may be able to regain access by logging in through a connected social media account like Facebook or Twitter.
Contact TikTok – As a last resort, you can contact TikTok support to verify your identity and regain access to your account without a phone number. Be prepared to provide details to confirm you are the account owner.
Conclusion
Your phone number is an important part of securing and accessing your TikTok account. However, there may be times when you want to unlink, change, or delete it from your profile for privacy or security reasons.
Overall, TikTok makes it relatively straightforward to manage the phone number connected to your account. You can view your current number through the app’s settings. Unlinking your number is a simple process, though you may temporarily lose access to certain account features as a result.
Changing your linked number involves updating your profile with your new phone number. And deleting the number entirely can be done by selecting the “Remove Phone Number” option. Just keep in mind this also deletes your account, so only do this if you want to permanently close your TikTok profile.
In conclusion, while linking a phone number provides important security benefits, TikTok does give you options if you ever need to update or remove this contact information from your account.
