Accounts & Passwords

Update Your Recovery Email and Phone Number

Out-of-date recovery information is one of the most common reasons people get permanently locked out of accounts. Here's how to update it on all your main accounts.

Marcus Bell Updated May 25, 2026 · 2 min read
Update Your Recovery Email and Phone Number
Photo: Towfiqu barbhuiya · Unsplash
On this page
  1. Microsoft Account
  2. Google Account
  3. Apple ID
  4. Facebook
  5. General Good Practice

Your recovery email address and phone number are the lifeline that lets you get back into an account if you forget your password or get locked out. If they're out of date — an old phone number, a closed email account — you lose that lifeline. Keep them current.

Microsoft Account

  1. Sign in at account.microsoft.com.
  2. Go to Security > Advanced security options.
  3. Under Ways to prove who you are, you'll see your current verification options (phone, email, Authenticator app).
  4. Click Add a new way to sign in or verify to add updated details, then remove the old ones by clicking the item and choosing Remove.

Google Account

  1. Go to myaccount.google.com and click Security.
  2. Under Ways we can verify it's you, you'll see your recovery phone and recovery email.
  3. Click either one to update it. You'll need to verify the new email or phone with a code before the change takes effect.

Apple ID

  1. Go to appleid.apple.com and sign in.
  2. Under Sign-In and Security, click Edit next to trusted phone numbers or email addresses.
  3. Add new numbers or emails, then verify them. Remove old ones only after confirming the new ones work.

Facebook

  1. Go to facebook.com > Settings & privacy > Settings > Accounts Centre > Personal details.
  2. Under Contact info, you can add or update mobile numbers and email addresses.

General Good Practice

  • Add both a phone number and a backup email where possible — if one becomes unavailable, you still have the other.
  • Use a personal email address you control long-term as a recovery address, rather than a work or school email that might be closed.
  • Review recovery details once a year — when you change your phone number or close an email account, update your recovery info on the same day.

Not sure where to find recovery settings on a specific account? Ask us.

Frequently asked questions

I changed my phone number last year and forgot to update it on my accounts — how much of a problem is that?

It can be a significant problem if you get locked out, since verification codes will be sent to a number you no longer control. Worse, that old number could be reissued to someone else, who might then receive your account codes. Update your recovery phone number on all important accounts as soon as possible.

Should I use the same recovery email for all my accounts?

Using one dedicated, secure email as your recovery address for all other accounts is acceptable — but make sure that recovery email itself has a strong password and two-factor authentication. If that email is compromised, the attacker could reset all your other accounts. Think of it as a master key — protect it accordingly.

Marcus Bell

IT support veteran who breaks messy tech problems into simple, ordered steps anyone can follow.

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