Change Your Phone Number on Login.gov

To change a phone number on Login.gov, sign in, add the new number from your account page, and make it the default number if you want sign-in codes sent there. Verify that the new number works before removing access to an old authentication method.

How do you sign in to your Login.gov account safely?

Open the company’s official website and select the Login.gov sign-in option. Check that the page identifies itself as Login.gov before entering account information; avoid sign-in pages reached through unexpected messages.

Have your Login.gov email address, password, and at least one authentication method ready. An authentication method is the second security check used in addition to your password.

1. Enter the email address connected to your Login.gov account.
2. Enter your password and select “Sign in.”
3. Complete authentication with a method already set up on the account.
4. Wait for the Login.gov account page to appear. This page contains the settings for your phone numbers and other authentication methods.

If a government agency sent you to Login.gov, make changes only after reaching your Login.gov account page. A phone-number change belongs in Login.gov settings, not in the separate agency account.

How do you change your authentication phone number on Login.gov?

The official Login.gov phone number change process adds the new number from the account page. The “Default phone number” setting controls which number receives text or call codes when phone authentication is used.

1. Sign in and complete authentication with a method you can currently access.
2. On the account page, select “Add phone number.”
3. Enter the new phone number carefully.
4. Do not enter a number with an extension. Login.gov also says not to use a web-based VoIP number or a premium-rate number.
5. Select “Default phone number” if security codes should go to the new number.
6. Follow the remaining on-screen prompt to confirm the change.
7. Review the account page to make sure the new number and the intended default setting appear correctly.

Do not remove a working backup method until the Login.gov update authentication phone number process is complete. Login.gov recommends keeping more than one authentication method so one lost device does not lock you out.

How does Login.gov verify a new phone number?

Login.gov new phone number verification uses a one-time code when the screen asks you to confirm the number. A one-time code is a temporary security code that works only for the current authentication attempt.

1. Choose text message for a mobile number or phone call when that option is available and appropriate.
2. Keep the new phone nearby and wait for the message or call.
3. Enter the code in the “One-time code” field exactly as received.
4. Complete any confirmation shown on the screen, then review the phone settings on the account page.

A landline cannot receive a text message, so select a phone call for a landline. If several codes arrive, older codes may no longer work because Login.gov accepts the newest one-time code.

What can you do if your old Login.gov phone number is unavailable?

If the Login.gov old phone number is unavailable, first try another authentication method that was already connected to the account. Login.gov cannot add a new method for you merely because the old device or number is missing.

1. Enter your email address and password on the Login.gov sign-in page.
2. When Login.gov asks for the code sent to the old phone, select “Choose another security option.”
3. Choose another method that you previously configured, such as an authentication application, security key, backup codes, face or touch unlock, or a government employee ID.
4. After signing in, add and verify the new phone number, make it the default if needed, and remove the lost authentication method.

If you can regain control of the original number through your phone carrier, Login.gov says you can request the code on a new device or SIM using that same number.

If no configured authentication method remains accessible, Login.gov may require deletion of the existing account and creation of a new one. Read the official deletion warning carefully because deleting an account can affect access through participating agencies and may require identity verification again.

What should you do if the Login.gov verification code never arrives?

A missing or rejected Login.gov security code may result from the phone connection, delivery delay, number type, or use of an older code. Try these checks in order:

1. Make sure the phone is turned on, has service, and is not in airplane mode.
2. Confirm that the displayed destination is the new number you intended to add.
3. Wait up to ten minutes for a delayed message or call.
4. Select “Resend code” once if the code still has not arrived.
5. For a landline, request a phone call instead of a text message. Login.gov may leave the code in voicemail if the call is unanswered.
6. If multiple codes arrive, begin with the newest code. Enter it without extra spaces and before requesting another.
7. Use another authentication method if one is already connected to the account.

A number that recently opted out of Login.gov text messages may not receive codes immediately. Check the Login.gov help guidance for the current opt-in restriction instead of repeatedly requesting messages.

How do you contact official Login.gov support?

Open the company’s official website, find the Support area, and select “Contact us.” Use the official help form or contact option displayed there rather than contact details copied from search results or messages.

Before contacting Login.gov support, prepare:

• The email address associated with the Login.gov account.
• A short description of whether the old number, old device, or both are unavailable.
• The authentication methods you can still access, named by type only.
• The exact error message and the step where it appeared.
• Your device and browser type, if the problem occurs during sign-in.

Never send your password, one-time security code, backup codes, personal key, or full identity documents in a general support message. Login.gov support can explain official options, but it cannot bypass required authentication or grant access without a method already connected to the account.