How to remove a TextNow number from your account
You can delete a TextNow number directly from the app or website by going to your account settings, finding the phone number section, and selecting the option to remove or delete that number. The process takes about two minutes. Once deleted, the number becomes unavailable and cannot be recovered — TextNow does not restore deleted numbers, so make sure you have forwarded any important contacts elsewhere first.
TextNow lets you keep multiple numbers on one account, so deletion is permanent for that specific number only. Your account itself remains active, and you can add a new number afterward if you want a replacement.
Key Takeaways
- Deleted TextNow numbers cannot be recovered, so save any important contact information before you delete.
- The delete option is in your account settings under the phone number or line management section, available on both the app and website.
- Deleting a number does not close your TextNow account — your account stays active and you can add a new number later.
- If you want to keep the number but stop using it, you can simply stop opening the app instead of deleting it permanently.
Steps to delete on the TextNow app
Open the TextNow app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner. Select "Settings" and then look for "Phone Number" or "My Number" — the exact label depends on your app version. Tap on your current number to open the number details page.
Look for a "Delete Number" or "Remove Number" button, usually near the bottom of that page. Tap it and confirm when TextNow asks you to verify the deletion. The number will be removed from your account immediately, and you will no longer receive calls or texts to that number.
Steps to delete on the TextNow website
Log into your TextNow account at textnow.com. Click on your profile icon or account menu in the top right corner and select "Settings." Find the section labeled "Phone Number," "My Number," or "Lines" depending on your account type.
Click on the number you want to delete and look for a delete, remove, or trash icon — usually a small red button or trash can symbol. Click it and confirm the deletion in the popup that appears. The number will be deleted from your account right away.
What happens after you delete your number
Once deleted, your TextNow number is gone permanently. Any calls or texts sent to that number will not reach you or anyone else — they will fail or bounce back to the sender. Contacts who have your old number saved will not be able to reach you at that number anymore.
Your TextNow account itself stays open. You can still use any other numbers attached to your account, and you can add a brand new TextNow number whenever you want. The new number will be different from the one you deleted.
Before you delete: what to do with your contacts
Before you delete your number, send a message to anyone who needs to reach you with your new contact information. If you are switching to a different phone number entirely, let people know what that number is. If you are keeping a TextNow account but getting a new TextNow number, share the new number with the people who matter.
Check your TextNow message history to see if there are any important conversations you want to save. TextNow does not back up deleted messages, so take screenshots or notes of anything you need to keep. Once your number is deleted, all messages associated with that number are gone.
Reasons to delete instead of just stopping use
If you no longer want the number but do not need to close your whole account, deletion is cleaner than abandonment. A deleted number cannot be mistaken for an active line, and you will not receive spam or misdirected calls to a number you are not using anymore.
Deletion also frees up that number for TextNow to reassign to someone else eventually, though there is usually a waiting period before that happens. If you think you might use the number again in the future, you could instead just stop using the app — but deletion is the only way to truly disconnect from that number.
If you want to keep the number but pause it
TextNow does not have an official pause or suspend feature for individual numbers. Your options are to keep using the number, delete it, or simply stop opening the app. If you stop using the app, the number stays attached to your account but you will not receive any messages or calls.
If you come back to TextNow months later, that same number will still be there waiting for you. This is useful if you are unsure whether you want to keep the number long-term but do not want to delete it right now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get my deleted TextNow number back?
No. TextNow does not restore deleted numbers under any circumstances. Once you delete a number, it is gone permanently and cannot be recovered. Before you delete, make sure you have saved any important information or contacts associated with that number.
Will deleting my number close my TextNow account?
No. Deleting a number only removes that specific phone number from your account. Your TextNow account stays active, and you can still use any other numbers you have on that account. You can also add a new number to your account anytime after deletion.
What happens to messages on a deleted number?
All messages and call history associated with that number are deleted along with it. TextNow does not back up message threads from deleted numbers, so if you need to save any conversations, take screenshots before you delete.
Can someone else use my deleted TextNow number?
Eventually, yes. TextNow may reassign your deleted number to another user after a waiting period, but this does not happen immediately. There is no way to permanently reserve a number or prevent it from being reassigned.
Do I need to delete my number if I am closing my TextNow account?
No. If you delete your entire TextNow account, all numbers and messages associated with it are removed automatically. You only need to delete individual numbers if you want to keep your account but remove one specific number.