Snapchat is a popular social media app that allows users to send photo and video messages that disappear after being viewed. When you first sign up for Snapchat, you are required to provide a phone number that is then linked to your account. This allows you to find friends, get verification codes, and recover your account if needed. However, there may come a time when you want to unlink your phone number from Snapchat. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it.
Why Would You Want to Unlink Your Phone Number?
There are a few reasons why someone might want to unlink their phone number from Snapchat:
- You got a new phone number and don’t want it linked to your old Snapchat account
- You want to increase privacy by removing personal info from your account
- You are transferring your account to someone else
- You keep getting verification codes sent to your phone from Snapchat
Unlinking your number will mean that some Snapchat features will no longer work, like password recovery via text message. However, it does allow you to fully disassociate your account from a phone number if needed.
How to Unlink a Phone Number from Snapchat
Here are the steps to unlink your phone number from your Snapchat account:
- Open the Snapchat app and login to your account
- Tap your profile icon in the top left corner
- Tap the settings gear icon in the top right corner
- Scroll down and tap ‘Mobile Number’
- Tap ‘Unlink My Number’
- Confirm that you want to unlink your number
It’s as simple as that! Snapchat should immediately unlink your phone number from your account so it is no longer associated.
How to Link a New Phone Number
If you want to add a new phone number to your Snapchat account, here is how to do it:
- In the Snapchat app, go to your profile and tap the settings icon
- Tap ‘Mobile Number’
- Tap ‘Add Mobile Number’
- Enter your new phone number and tap ‘Continue’
- Snapchat will send a 6-digit verification code to your new number
- Enter the code and tap ‘Verify’
Your new phone number will now be linked to your Snapchat account. You can toggle between phone numbers within the Snapchat settings if you want to switch your active number.
How to Verify Your Account Without a Phone Number
Without a phone number linked, here are a couple ways to still verify your identity on Snapchat:
- Email Address – You can add an email address to your Snapchat account and verify through email instead of phone number.
- Friends Confirmation – If you have Snapchat friends, you can send them a friend request to confirm your identity. Once confirmed, your account will be verified.
While less convenient, these options allow you to use Snapchat without any phone number attached to your account.
Pros of Unlinking Your Phone Number
Here are some of the advantages to unlinking your phone from Snapchat:
- Increased privacy and separation from personal info
- Avoid unwanted verification texts if number changes hands
- Ability to fully delete your account and association with a number
- More control over account security through alternate verification
Cons of Unlinking Your Phone Number
Some drawbacks to be aware of when unlinking your number include:
- Unable to recover/reset password via text message
- Adding friends is more difficult without a number linked
- Extra steps needed if you need to verify identity or access account
- Lose one form of two-factor authentication for logins
Troubleshooting Problems Unlinking a Number
In some cases, you may run into issues trying to unlink your phone number from Snapchat. Here are some potential problems and fixes:
Verification code not sending
- Double check that the number you want to unlink is correct
- Try resending the verification code
- Contact Snapchat support if code still doesn’t send
Error message when unlinking
- Refresh the app and try unlinking again
- Update to the latest version of the Snapchat app
- Clear app cache and data then try again
Number not fully unlinked
- Log out then back into your Snapchat account
- Go through unlink process again
- Contact support if number stays linked
Can’t add new number
- Make sure your new phone number is valid and correct
- Double check that your old number is fully unlinked
- Restart the Snapchat app and try again
Contacting Snapchat Support
If you continue having trouble unlinking your Snapchat number, you can contact Snapchat support for additional help:
- In-app – Open Snapchat settings and tap ‘Contact Snapchat Support’
- Email – Write to [email protected]
- Phone – Call (213) 266-3630
- Twitter – Tweet @snapchatsupport
- Web form – Fill in help request form at https://support.snapchat.com
When contacting support, provide details on the issue you are having unlinking your number and what troubleshooting steps you’ve tried. Support can look into your account and assist with fully unlinking the number.
Conclusion
Unlinking your phone number from Snapchat can provide more privacy and control over your account. Just tap through the app settings to find the option to unlink your number. Keep in mind you’ll lose some functionality like SMS recovery without a linked number. But if you need to separate your account from a phone number, the process is straightforward. Contact Snapchat support if you encounter any problems unlinking your number so they can help resolve the issue.