Changing your Apple ID phone number

If you've ever tried to sign in to your Apple ID but were asked for a two-factor authentication code, there's a slim chance that it was sent to a number you may not recognize. Here's how to fix it.

Prerequisites

This article assumes you have already configured your account when you first signed in. During this phase, you'll have been prompted to enter your phone number and new password to complete the account setup. If you haven't already done this yet, please sign in now.

Editing your account

1. In Settings, tap on the profile badge at the top of the left column. It should have your name and profile picture.
2. Next, tap on Password & Security on the Apple ID page.
   • You may be prompted to enter your password.
3. Under Change Password, tap Edit next to the Trusted Phone Number field.
4. Next to the old number, tap the red delete icon and tap the Delete button.
   • Your iPad will warn you. Tap Continue.
5. Enter a phone number that you have readily available, and select how you'd like to verify your number.
6. Tap Send in the top-right corner of the window.
7. Next, enter the code you received from Apple. This will verify your phone number.

Frequently asked questions

Q: I don't want to list my personal phone number on this Apple account. How can I verify my account otherwise?
A: You can't. If you don't want to use your personal number for an ALPSS Apple ID, you can use your work or office number instead. So long as it's able to receive calls or texts, it's eligible to be used for your Apple ID.

Q: Do students need to verify a phone number with their accounts?
A: No. Only teachers need to add a phone number. This is because teacher accounts have extended privileges over student accounts, and as such need to be secured properly.

Q: I got a "Cannot Verify Phone Number" error when I tried to enter my phone number. What gives?
A: Either the phone number you entered is already listed on another account, or the phone number you entered has an extension. Unfortunately, you cannot use extensions with Apple IDs, and you'll need to use another phone number. If you've got a Google account, you can get a free phone number from Google Voice.

Q: Will ALPSS be able to see my phone number on my account?
A: No. A Trusted Phone Number is stored by Apple and is only used for verification purposes. Unless you add a Reachable At phone number, no one besides Apple can see your number.