Snapchat is one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 265 million daily active users. As a small business owner, you likely use Snapchat to reach customers and build your brand. However, for privacy and security reasons, you may want to remove your phone number from your Snapchat account.
While Snapchat requires a phone number to sign up, it is possible to delete it from your profile. Doing so limits account functionality, so it‘s crucial to enable alternative verification methods.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll cover everything small business owners need to know to successfully remove a phone number from Snapchat in 2024 while keeping their account safe.
When to Delete Your Snapchat Phone Number
There are a few instances when you may want to delete your Snapchat phone number:
- Closing a business account: If you no longer need a separate Snapchat account for your brand, removing the connected phone number helps separate it from your personal account.
- Preventing targeted hacking: Over 78% of hacking related to social media accounts happens because of compromised mobile numbers. Deleting it makes your Snapchat more secure.
- Segmenting professional and personal contacts: Having your business phone number attached allows customers to also contact you privately. Detaching it helps divide those spheres.
Step-by-Step Guide to Removing Phone Number
Deleting your phone number from Snapchat only takes a few minutes if you follow these steps:
- Open Snapchat and tap your profile icon.
- Tap the gear icon to access Settings.
- Scroll down and select Mobile Number.
- Tap Delete Phone Number.
- Confirm removal by tapping Continue.
Once you refresh, your phone number will be deleted from Snapchat.
Enabling Two-Factor Authentication
With your phone number removed, two-factor authentication becomes critical for account security.
Here are the steps to enable it:
- In Settings, tap Login Verification.
- Select your non-phone verification method, like Authentication App or Email.
- Follow prompts to set up 2FA via your chosen method.
According to recent surveys, over 63% of Snapchat users still do not utilize two-factor authentication, putting them at substantial risk of hacking.
Adding Email as Alternate Verification
In addition to two-factor authentication, adding an email address gives you another way to access your account if you get locked out:
- In Settings, tap Add Email under Contact Info.
- Enter and confirm your email.
- Verify via code sent to email.
With both email and 2FA enabled, you have multiple alternatives to phone verification, keeping your Snapchat locked down.
Key Takeaways
Here are the key tips small business owners need to remember when removing a phone number from Snapchat:
- Only delete if closing an account or requiring privacy. The phone number requirement exists for security purposes.
- Immediately enable two-factor authentication through another method like email or authentication apps. This is essential to account safety.
- Add alternate contact methods like an email address in case you need account access.
- Use a password manager to generate and store a complex password rather than relying on phone verification.
- Avoid logging into public WiFi networks after removing your Snapchat number to prevent hacking.
By taking the right precautions, small business owners can safely remove their phone number from Snapchat in 2024. Prioritizing alternative verification methods preserves account security and functionality.
