How to Remove a Mobile Number from a Previous iPhone

Remove a mobile number still associated with a previous iPhone so it can be used elsewhere.

When you port a mobile number away from an iPhone, messages from iPhone users may continue to arrive via iMessage on your previous device instead of as standard SMS to your new device. This occurs because your number is still registered with that iPhone’s Apple ID.

If you still have the iPhone

If you still have access to the iPhone with your number, follow these steps:

Turn off iMessage and FaceTime

  1. Go to Settings.

  2. Scroll down and tap Messages.

  3. Turn off the iMessage toggle.

  4. Go back to Settings, then tap FaceTime.

  5. Turn off the FaceTime toggle.

Remove the number from your Apple ID

  1. Go to Settings and tap your name at the top.

  2. Tap Sign-In & Security.

  3. Tap your phone number to see if there is an option to Remove from Account.

  4. You may need to add a new trusted phone number before you can remove the old one.

If you no longer have the iPhone

If you have switched to a non-Apple phone and are no longer receiving SMS messages from iPhone users, your number is likely still registered with iMessage. Use Apple’s self-service website to deregister it:

  1. Go to the Apple iMessage deregistration page.

  2. Enter your phone number.

  3. Apple will send a confirmation code to your number via text message.

  4. Enter the code on the website to complete deregistration.

Your number will then be removed from the iMessage service and you will receive SMS messages normally.