Key takeaways:
- Signal now allows you to change your phone number while keeping your profile, groups, and message history
- You must be using the latest version of Signal and have access to your old number to change it
- Contacts will see an alert that you changed numbers and can update your contact info
As an avid Signal user for secure communication, I was excited to learn that Signal recently introduced a new feature that makes it easy to change the phone number associated with your account. In the past, changing numbers meant having to start over with a fresh install, losing all your contacts, groups, and message history. But with the latest updates to Signal on Android and iOS, you can now seamlessly transition to a new number while preserving your Signal profile and data. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it.
Table of Contents
Requirements
Before getting started, make sure you meet the following requirements:
- You are using Signal version 5.30.6 or later on Android, or version 5.27.1 or later on iOS
- You have access to your old device and number and can send/receive Signal messages with it
- You will be keeping the same phone and just changing the number
- You can receive SMS or calls at your new number to complete registration
The change number feature will not work if you no longer have access to your old device/number, have cleared data on your phone, or cannot receive a verification code at the new number. In those cases, you’ll still need to start over with a fresh Signal install.
Step 1: Update Signal
First, check that both your mobile device and any linked Signal Desktop apps are updated to the latest version. Change Number is supported in Signal 5.30.6+ on Android and 5.27.1+ on iOS.
To check your Signal version and update:
- On Android: Open the Play Store, search for Signal, and tap “Update”
- On iOS: Open the App Store, search for Signal, and tap “Update”
- On Desktop: Open Signal Desktop, click your profile icon, and click “About Signal” to see the version. To update, download the latest from signal.org/download
Step 2: Open Signal Settings
Open the Signal app on your phone and tap your profile icon in the top-left corner to get to Signal Settings. On the Settings screen, tap “Account”.
Step 3: Change Number
Under the Account settings, tap “Change Phone Number”. You’ll see a screen explaining that you can change your number without losing your Signal groups and messages. Tap “Continue” to proceed.
Step 4: Enter Old and New Numbers
On the next screen, carefully enter your old Signal number and your new number that you want to change to. Make sure to include the country code in front of each number.
Double check that both numbers are correct, then tap “Done” in the top-right corner. Signal will display the old and new numbers you entered and ask you to confirm.
Step 5: Confirm and Change Number
If the numbers look right, tap “Change Number” to initiate the change process. If you made a mistake, you can tap “Edit Number” to modify the numbers you entered.
After tapping “Change Number”, Signal will automatically begin the process of changing your account over to the new number. You’ll be logged out and have to go through the normal Signal registration process again, verifying the new number with a code sent via SMS or phone call.
Once you’ve re-registered, you’ll see all of your existing Signal contacts, groups, and message history as before. The only difference is your Signal account will now be associated with the new phone number instead of the old one.
What Contacts See
After changing your Signal number, any contacts you’ve previously chatted with will see an inline alert in their conversation with you stating that your number has changed. Signal will also give them a prompt to update your contact details on their device with your new number.
Contacts that you’ve never messaged before will not be notified about your number change. They will only see your new number if you start a new chat with them.
It’s a good idea to personally notify close contacts about your new number so they’re aware of the change. You may want to update your Signal profile name to something like “Alice (new number)” temporarily to make it obvious you’ve changed numbers.
Troubleshooting
If you don’t see the “Change Phone Number” option in your Signal Account settings, make sure you’ve updated Signal to the latest version. The change number feature was introduced in version 5.30.6 on Android and 5.27.1 on iOS.
If the change process gets stuck, check that you’re able to receive SMS or calls at the new number. You may need to contact your carrier if you’re having issues receiving the Signal verification code.
Remember, you can only change your number on your existing device. Changing numbers does not allow you to migrate your Signal account to a different phone. For that, you’ll need to use the “Transfer Account” feature in Settings > Account.
Conclusion
Signal’s new Change Number feature makes it simple to update the phone number on your account without losing any of your Signal contacts, groups, or messages. As long as you have the latest Signal version and access to your old number and device, you can easily make the switch in a few taps.
Being able to change numbers while preserving your Signal history is a huge convenience and means you no longer have to start from scratch if you get a new number. Just remember to update your contact details and notify people of your new digits.
I hope this guide helps you quickly change your Signal number! Let me know if you have any other questions.
