To hide your phone number in Telegram, open Settings > Privacy and Security > Phone Number and set Who can see my phone number to Nobody. This is the only documented method Telegram provides for hiding your number from other users.
How to hide phone number in Telegram
Telegram's privacy settings give you direct control over who can see your phone number. The menu path is identical whether you use Telegram on iPhone or Android.
- Open Telegram and tap the Settings option.
- Select Privacy and Security.
- Tap Phone Number.
- Under Who can see my phone number, choose one of the three options:
The three documented choices are:
- Everybody, Anyone who has your number saved in their contacts can see it on your Telegram profile.
- My Contacts, Only people already in your Telegram contacts list can view your number.
- Nobody, No one on Telegram can see your phone number, including your contacts.
After selecting Nobody, your number is completely hidden. Other users can still message you, but they will not see your digits. This setting does not affect your ability to send or receive messages, join groups, or use any other Telegram feature.
Add a username for extra privacy
Creating a username is a supplementary privacy step that lets people contact you without needing your phone number. Once you set a username, others can find you by searching for it, and they can message you without ever seeing your number.
Open Telegram app, go to Settings (three horizontal lines top-left), select Username, tap Edit, choose a username, tap checkmark to save.
Your username is public, so choose one that does not reveal personal information. This does not replace the Nobody setting; it simply gives you an alternative way for people to reach you while your number stays hidden. Telegram's FAQ links usernames to the phone-number privacy settings, but the official documentation does not provide a separate step-by-step username creation path.
What to do if you want to change your number instead
If hiding your number is not enough and you want to switch to a different number entirely, Telegram offers a documented alternative. Go to Settings, tap your phone number, and choose Change Number. This lets you replace the number associated with your account without losing your chats or contacts.
This option is for users who want a different number on their account, not for those who simply want to hide the existing one. The Nobody privacy setting remains the definitive way to hide your current number from other users.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does two-step verification hide my phone number?
No. Two-step verification adds an extra password when logging in on a new device, in addition to the SMS code. It protects your account from unauthorized access but does not hide your phone number from other Telegram users. To set it up: Settings > Privacy and Security > Two-Step Verification > Set Additional Password, enter password, optionally set hint and recovery email.
Can I use a virtual number to hide my phone number?
No official Telegram support page documents a virtual-number option for hiding your phone number.
What does 'My Contacts' mean in the phone number setting?
Choosing My Contacts means only people who are already in your Telegram contacts list can see your phone number. Anyone who has your number saved in their phone's address book but is not yet a Telegram contact will not see it.
Can I hide my phone number from specific contacts only?
No. Telegram's privacy settings apply to everyone at once. You cannot hide your number from individual contacts while showing it to others; the setting is global across all users.
Can I hide my phone number from specific contacts in Telegram?
No, Telegram does not have a built-in feature to hide your phone number from specific contacts.
Will hiding my phone number affect my ability to use Telegram?
No, you will still be able to send and receive messages, join groups, and use all other Telegram features.
Will hiding my phone number stop people from messaging me?
No. Even with Nobody selected, other users can still send you messages, add you to groups, and interact with you normally. They just cannot see your phone number on your profile.
For the wider topic, see creating accounts without a phone number.
