Google Automatically Links Phone Numbers to Android Accounts

Google has been quietly linking Android users' phone numbers to their other signed-in accounts on the device for over a year now. According to the company's support documentation, this setting has been in place by default since September 2025.

The process of linking the phone number is automatic and occurs during device setup. Google verifies the number and adds it to every account on the phone, including work and secondary accounts. This means that even if you have multiple Google accounts set up on your Android device, they will all be linked to your phone number.

Google's support documentation explains that verification enables features such as account recovery and RCS messaging. However, the company does not provide a clear explanation for why the phone number needs to be added to every account. It is unclear whether this linking of accounts has any significant implications for users' data protection or security.

Android Authority discovered that Google's support documentation was amended between August and October 2025 to reflect that verification is now on by default. A changelog dated September 8, 2025 also confirms that number verification runs automatically during setup.

Users are only recently becoming aware of this linking process after receiving unsolicited emails from [email protected] informing them that their phone number has been verified for multiple accounts. The link between the phone number and Google accounts is not limited to existing accounts; it also applies to new accounts added later, as well as any future numbers associated with the device.

When a user enables phone number verification on their Android device, they may not be aware that it also allows for a feature called Better sharing on Google to function for one of the signed-in accounts. This enables features such as video calls, messages, and notifications for content sent to the number, including photos. Additionally, other services like finding a lost device, emergency location services, and Quick Share rely on phone number verification.

The consequences of automatic phone number verification extend beyond existing accounts, as it also applies to new accounts created later and any future numbers associated with the device. This means that even if a user doesn't sign in to their Google account using their phone number initially, they may still be linked due to this auto-verification process. As a result, users may find themselves having to deal with unexpected access or permissions on their Android devices.

Google's own documentation highlights another aspect of automatic phone number linking: the Sign in with Mobile Number feature. This tool allows users to recover access to their Google account using the lock screen passcode from their previous device, provided the phone number is verified. Furthermore, a setting called Better ads & Google services uses a phone number across Google services to show more relevant ads.

The exact implications of this linking process are still unclear, as Google hasn't specified which ads settings apply to numbers attached automatically. However, it's worth noting that any verified number on an Android device can be added to any Google account signed into it. This raises questions about the extent to which phone number verification affects users' online experience and data management.

To opt out of this linking process, users can navigate to their Android device's Settings > Google > All services menu and toggle off Verify phone numbers automatically under Privacy & security. Note that different devices may have slightly varying menus or labels for this feature.

To remove already-linked numbers, users must navigate to Personal info > Phone in each account's Google settings and manually detach them.

Disabling phone number verification also has a consequence for messaging: RCS chats in Google Messages will revert back to SMS. This is because the feature requires verified phone numbers to connect RCS conversations between Android phones and iPhones, which began rolling out in May.

Google maintains that it does not sell personal data, including phone numbers, to third parties. In addition, users with new Google accounts may face reduced storage capacity - 5GB instead of the standard 15GB - if they don't link a verified phone number.