# Android automatically shares verified SIM numbers across signed-in Google accounts

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/google-is-quietly-linking-your-phone-number-to-other-android-accounts/
- Published: 2026-10-24T18:45:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-24T19:02:30+00:00
- Original publisher: Engadget
- Original article: https://www.engadget.com/2292018/google-quietly-linking-phone-number-to-android-accounts/
- Topics: Gadgets, Technology

## Key points

- Android automatically links a phone number to every Google account on the device.
- The setting has been on by default since September 2025.
- Turning it off does not remove numbers already linked.

## Summary

Android phones have automatically verified the SIM’s number and linked it to every Google account signed in on the device since September 2025. The practice can affect work and secondary accounts as well as a person’s main account, raising questions about why the number is shared across accounts and how users manage that link.

Google says verification supports services including account recovery, RCS messaging, finding a lost device and Quick Share. The link can also apply to accounts added later and numbers from replacement SIMs; Google and mobile networks may re-verify numbers periodically, potentially incurring charges. Users can turn off automatic verification in Android’s Google settings, but must remove numbers already linked from each account separately. Disabling verification can also stop RCS chats from connecting and limit quick account recovery.

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.