How to remove your phone number from the internet (2026)
Your phone number is published and resold by hundreds of data brokers. Here’s how to get it down — and keep it down.
1. Opt out of the data brokers listing it
People-search sites (Spokeo, Whitepages, BeenVerified, FastPeopleSearch, and hundreds more) are where your phone number is published and resold. Opting out of them removes the biggest source. numbi files with all 566 CA-registered brokers at once.
2. Use Google’s "Results about you"
Google lets you request removal of search results that expose your personal contact info. Open Google’s "Results about you" tool, submit the URLs showing your phone number, and track the requests.
3. Lock down social media & public profiles
Set profiles to private, remove your phone number from "About" sections, and check old forum/marketplace posts. Public profiles are re-indexed constantly.
4. Replace it where you can
Use a free Google Voice or a secondary number for sign-ups, deliveries, and loyalty programs so your real number stops spreading.
5. Keep it off — automatically
Brokers re-add your data as new records appear, so a one-time cleanup doesn’t hold. numbi re-checks every 45 days and re-files, and escalates ignored requests with a CalPrivacy complaint ($200/day penalty). $5/mo.
The fast way: numbi
numbi files deletion requests with all 566 California-registered data brokers, re-checks every 45 days, and files a CalPrivacy complaint ($200/day penalty) when a broker ignores you — for $5/mo.
All broker opt-out guides · The California Delete Act
FAQ
Can I remove my phone number from the internet for free?
Partly. Each data broker offers a free opt-out and Google’s removal tool is free — but you have to do it for every site and repeat it as your data reappears. A service like numbi automates it for $5/mo.
How long does it take?
Individual broker opt-outs process in days to a few weeks. Under the California Delete Act, registered brokers must honor deletion requests within 45 days.
Why does my phone number keep reappearing?
Data brokers refresh from public records and re-list you over time. That’s why ongoing re-checks — not a one-time removal — are what actually keep your phone number offline.