Deleting Number From Someone Else’s Phone: How to?

Here’s how to remove your number from someone else’s phone:

To remove a number, go to your contact on the phone and select the option to delete the contact.

This will remove your number from the phone, and shy of any backups, is a permanent deletion of your number. 

If you can’t access the phone, you can block the other person’s number or explore other alternative actions.

So if you want to learn all about how to remove your number from someone else’s phone, then you’re in the right place.

Let’s get started!

Deleting Number From Someone Else's Phone: How to? (Block)

How Can You Delete Your Number From Someone Else’s Phone? (3 Ways)

Upset black american woman sitting on the couch, cellphone in hand, thinking about something

There are a few ways to go about this project.

We can start with the easiest.

You can ask them to delete your number.

Regardless of why you want your number deleted, this is usually the easiest option. 

This doesn’t require you to gain access to their phone or go through any convoluted processes.

If you ask and they comply, your number gets deleted, and that’s that.

If they refuse, or if asking is out of the question, then the only way forward is to gain access to the phone.

There are reasonable ways to go about that, and there are illegal practices that might work.

We will not be discussing the latter.

#1 Gaining Access to the Phone

Woman accessing his man's mobile phone.

You need access to the phone, and physical access is going to be easier to get than remote access.

Before going forward, remember that phones are expensive objects, and taking a phone from someone without permission can be an illegal act.

At a minimum, it can prove to be a civil violation.

Assuming you can legally get your hands on the phone, deleting the number is easy.

Navigate to your contact in their phone.

Then, choose to delete the contact. 

It might ask you if you are sure you want to do that. Confirm the action, and your number is now removed from their phone.

Unfortunately, you’re not necessarily done here.

#2 Considering Cloud Backups

Serious man busy using cell phone indoors

Modern phones have a lot of redundancy.

Usually, that’s a good thing.

If your contacts were unintentionally deleted, you would probably appreciate having a backup somewhere, and developers have worked automatic backups into their phone systems. 

Because of this, your number is probably in a cloud backup.

It also might have automatically synced to the contacts of other devices this person owns.

Here’s the thing with cloud backups.

When they are set to automatically sync, that works in your favor.

When you manually delete a contact, the automatic synchronization will delete your contact from every associated device, including the cloud.

If backups are not automatically syncing, things get tougher.

That means that you would need to find the appropriate backup (or backups) with your number and delete them accordingly.

Realistically, this is not a viable option, and you risk destroying data far beyond your own phone number.

It’s best to just check that contacts are syncing and let the automated software do its job.

#3 Avoiding Nefarious Software

Young woman using smart phone and enjoy eating dessert in cafe

Depending on your motivation, there may be a temptation to use a third-party service or software that would allow you to access someone’s phone or remove a contact remotely.

At best, these apps are unethical.

In many cases, they operate on illegal principles. 

In many other cases, they don’t actually work.

The general advice here is to avoid such software and services altogether.

The steps in the next section offer more reliable and legal alternatives.

What If You Can’t Delete Your Number From Someone Else’s Phone? (3 Options)

Woman looking annoyed, looking at smartphone in hand

This all comes down to the question of why you are trying to delete your number from someone else’s phone.

Presumably, you don’t want them to contact you on your phone.

If that is the goal, there are some simpler options.

You can block their number from your phone, and they won’t be able to reach you.

Similarly, you can block them on any messaging or social media app for similar results.

If your reasons for removing their number have nothing to do with being contacted by this person, then your options are limited.

They have autonomy over their own phone, and shy of a court order (which would be extremely difficult to obtain), you have no legal way to force them to delete your number.

#1 Block Them in Your Contacts

Woman using her mobile phone with city skyline in the background

Blocking someone in your contacts is typically a lot easier than removing your number from their phone.

Every modern smartphone is capable of this, and when a contact is blocked, you will not receive calls or texts from that number. 

Depending on the settings, you might receive voicemails, but you can prevent that too by going through your voicemail settings.

The steps are similar for the major smartphone operating systems.

If you use an iPhone, pull up the contact that you want to block.

On the contact screen, scroll down.

The bottom option is “Block this Caller,” and it is often a different color from the other options.

Tap on it. 

You will be prompted that the number is being blocked to make sure it’s what you want.

Confirm the action, and the number is blocked.

On Android, this starts the same way.

Pull up the contact you want to block.

Tap where it says “More.”

You will see the option to “Block contact.”

Tap it and confirm your decision.

In either case, blocking a contact does not remove it from your phone.

You can then delete the contact if you wish, and the number will remain blocked.

If you need to block a number that is not in your contacts, you can do this through the app used to contact you.

If the number called you, use the phone app.

If it was a text, you can block the number from the message sent.

If you ever need to unblock a number, follow the same steps and choose “unblock” when you see that option.

#2 Don’t Forget Alternative Communication

Displeased woman looking at her cell phone outdoors

Two people can communicate with each other through many different media.

When you block someone in your phone’s contacts, you won’t see phone calls or text messages from them unless you unblock them.

But, they can still reach out to you with messaging apps, social media, and other resources.

You will need to block them in each app on your phone that they can use to contact you.

Every social media app supports this feature.

Messaging apps do too. 

Some apps to remember while you go through the list are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp, Messenger, WeChat, Viber, and anything else you have used for communication with this person.

You also need to consider email, which may require a little more effort on your part.

With Gmail, you can simply open a message from the sender, tap “More,” and choose to block the sender. 

With other email providers, the steps will vary, and some are not entirely straightforward.

Typically, you can look up steps to block a sender and go from there.

#3 File for a Restraining Order

Document with the name restraining order.

If maintaining contact with the other person is a serious problem and could adversely affect your well-being, you can involve the authorities.

You can apply for a restraining order that would legally bar them from directly contacting you through any means.

If the contact continues through the restraining order, your options for legal recourse will expand.

Ultimately, restraining orders exist for exactly this reason.

Law enforcement and legal proceedings can consistently escalate if contact continues through a restraining order.

This is arguably the most powerful tool at your disposal, and it is likely to burn bridges, so consider it accordingly.

Author

  • Theresa McDonough

    Tech entrepreneur and founder of Tech Medic, who has become a prominent advocate for the Right to Repair movement. She has testified before the US Federal Trade Commission and been featured on CBS Sunday Morning, helping influence change within the tech industry.