Apple Account and iCloud
Trusted phone numbers
Most people call this where your verification codes are sent.
Two factor authentication sends verification codes to your trusted devices and to the phone numbers listed here.
This setting is present on your iPhone.
- We have this path on file but have not yet confirmed it against an official source.
Where to find it - iOS 16 and later
- Settings
- Apple Account
- Sign-In & Security
- Trusted Phone Numbers
What it does
More than one number can be listed, which matters if you lose the phone. A trusted device shows codes directly, so a second number is the fallback when no device is available.
What changes
When it is on
Codes can be sent to that number.
When it is off
That number can no longer receive codes.
Should you turn it on?
Good reasons to turn it on
- A second number is a genuine safety net.
- A family member's number works as a backup.
Good reasons to turn it off
- Remove a number you no longer control immediately.
Battery
No real change
Privacy
No real change
Performance
No real change
Cellular data
No real change
Storage
No real change
Out of the box: One number, set during account creation.
Worth reading first
Questions people actually ask
- How do I add a second phone number for verification codes?
- Settings, then Apple Account, then Sign-In and Security, then Trusted Phone Numbers.
If it is not working
- Add a second trusted number before you need it.
- Remove old numbers when you change carrier or country.
- Account recovery is the route back if you lose access to every number.