GOOGLE has announced that Android phone number verification is now on by default. The change means that when a user sets up an Android device, Google verifies one or more phone numbers on the device and links those numbers to every Google account signed in on that device. Any numbers added later are reportedly linked automatically to the accounts on the device, according to Google’s official help page.
Google describes the feature as supporting sign-in and account recovery, emergency location, and device finding or remote locking. It also notes usefulness for RCS messaging, video calls, and quick sharing. The article notes that Google and carriers may periodically re-verify numbers to confirm ongoing ownership, and that numbers linked to the device may be used for verification.
On devices with multiple Google accounts (personal, work, spare), the same number may be stored across accounts, and the verification setting also enhances the default sharing experience for video calls and messaging, while notifying users about items others send to the linked number. The piece adds that evidence from older Google help documents suggests the default linking potentially appeared in autumn 2025, with rollout possibly beginning last year.
For those who prefer to disable automatic verification, Google provides steps to turn off the feature on the device (not via the Google Account website) and to remove already linked numbers by editing Personal info in the relevant Google Account. The article cites those instructions and notes that turning off verification stops new linkings but does not automatically unlink numbers already associated.