How to Remove Your Phone Number From the Internet

Has your phone been blowing up with spam calls lately?

You might be alarmed to discover your phone number is readily available on Google, social media, and other websites you’re registered with. This vulnerability can lead to unwanted calls and potential privacy breaches. The good news is that you can take immediate steps to remove your personal information from Google, social media, and other corners of the internet.

Here’s how you do it.

How Your Phone Number Ends Up on the Internet

In 2024, the personal data of over 1.7 billion people was exposed.1 That marks an increase of over 300 percent compared to 2023. So far, that trend shows no signs of slowing down.

But this is just one of the reasons why your phone number ends up on the internet. Some of the others include:

• Your phone number is a compulsory field for social media platforms or other website profiles.
• You provided your phone number to participate in a free trial or contest, which resulted in it being published.
• You used your phone number to claim loyalty points, discounts, or coupon codes.

>> Up Next: How to Opt Out of Online Data Collection

How to Remove Your Phone Number From Google

Google uses phone numbers for account recovery, two-factor authentication, and various other services. While you’ll lose access to these features, you can remove your number by following these steps:

How to Remove Your Phone Number From Social Media Platforms

Most social media platforms require a phone number for account verification and security purposes. After setting up your account, you can usually remove it. Just remember to add a different account recovery method first.

Facebook

Removing your phone number from Facebook is straightforward. You will need your password handy to complete the process.

1. Log in to your account and click on your profile photo.
2. Click on Settings and Privacy.
3. Go to Accounts Center and select Personal details.
4. Choose Contact info and click on the phone number you want to remove.
5. Hit Delete number and select Delete again to confirm.

Facebook will make you re-enter your password to confirm it’s you. They will also send an email once the change has occurred.

Instagram

Since Instagram and Facebook are both owned by Meta, they follow a similar process:

1. Open the Instagram app.
2. Go to your profile.
3. Tap the Edit Profile button.
4. Hit Personal Information Settings.
5. Select Contact Info.
6. Choose your phone number.
7. Press Delete Number to remove it from your Instagram account.

X (formerly Twitter)

X doesn’t provide instructions for phone number removal, so we had to figure it out ourselves. Here are the steps to remove your phone number from X:

1. Open the X app.
2. Click on your profile image in the top left-hand corner.
3. Scroll down to Settings and Support.
4. Go to Settings and Privacy.
5. Hit Your Account.
6. Select Account Information.
7. Tap your phone number.
8. Choose Delete Phone Number.

You’ll see a pop-up box confirming the action. It also recommends you add another number, but it won’t impact your ability to use the app.

TikTok

If you don’t want TikTok using your phone number to personalize ads based on your activity, complete these steps to remove it.

1. Log in to your TikTok app.
2. Go to your profile.
3. Tap the three-line button at the top of the screen.
4. Select Settings and Privacy.
5. Choose Account.
6. Go to User Information and then Phone Number.
7. You’ll receive a verification code to confirm your identity.
8. Follow the remaining steps to delete it from your account.

How to Remove Your Phone Number From Websites

While you might be using a VPN to encrypt your traffic, there will be instances where you need to enter personal information into a website. It could be to purchase a product or to sign up for a service.

Even reputable websites can experience data breaches. That’s why data removal services like Incogni continuously monitor for new exposures. Once they find your data, they notify you and request its removal.

>> Read More: A 2025 guide to data removal services

Google also allows you to remove your address, phone number, and other personal information of yours you find in search results. If you come across any of that information, follow these steps to flag it with Google.

1. Log in to your Google account.
2. Click the More button above the search results.
3. Choose About This Result.
4. Select Remove Result.
5. Pick the reason It Shows My Personal Contact Info.
6. Follow the reporting steps.
7. Press Submit.
8. Finish the process by hitting I’m Done.

After submitting your request, you’ll receive an email confirming your request within 24 hours. You can monitor the request in the Results About You page in your Google account settings. Processing usually takes a few days.

>> Learn More: The best data removal services 2025

The Do Not Call Registry

If you still receive phone calls after removing your number from Google, websites, and social media, you can use the Do Not Call Registry or a data removal service like DeleteMe to protect yourself from telemarketing calls.

Registering your phone numbers with the National Do Not Call Registry is free and permanent. It takes effect within 31 days, but after that, legitimate telemarketers should stop calling. However, you may still receive calls from surveys, charities, political organizations, and companies you’ve done business with in the past 18 months.

Keeping Your Phone Number Off the Internet

Even if you’ve followed our VPN guide and are using other security measures to protect your identity, once your phone number is online, it’s up to you to remove it. Every second it’s available means telemarketers, data brokers, and questionable parties can use it for their own means.

Now that you know how to remove your phone number from the Internet, create a checklist of all the places it might appear. Then, set a reminder every few months to check for any reappearances and new exposures before they spread.

>> Up Next: How to Remove Your Name From the Internet