How to Remove Phone Number From Kik Account in 2024

Sharing your phone number online may be a privacy risk, and Kik is no exception. 

If you have unintentionally shared your phone number on Kik or wish to remove it for security concerns, this guide will explain how. 

Follow these steps to effortlessly remove your phone number from your Kik account.

What is Kik?

Kik Messenger, also referred to as Kik, is a freeware instant messaging smartphone app developed by the Canadian business Kik Interactive available for the iOS and Android operating systems.

When you register for an account, the software uses the internet connection on your smartphone to send and receive messages, images, videos, sketches, mobile websites, and other information.

Why Is It Important to Remove Your Phone Number from Kik?

There are two main reasons you might wish to remove your phone number from your Kik account:

Improved Privacy

• While Kik does not necessarily disclose your phone number to others, removing it gives a further sense of privacy. 
• This means that individuals you talk with through Kik will not be able to view your phone number until you expressly disclose it.

Lower Chance of Spam and Abuse

• Your phone number may be used to send spam calls and texts. 
• By disconnecting it from Kik, you reduce the possibility of your contact data being misused for unwanted solicitation or harassment.

Cybersecurity Issues

• Kik has already received criticism for its lack of user privacy. 
• While Kik itself is not harmful, removing your phone number reduces the amount of personal information linked to your account, making it slightly more secure.

How to Remove Your Phone Number from Kik

Unlike other messaging applications, Kik does not require a phone number to function. This means that there is no particular option to "remove" a phone number because it was most likely not linked in the beginning.

However, in other cases, you may have included your phone number so that friends may find you on Kik. Here's what you can do to fix that:

1. To turn off Let Friends Find Me, open the Kik app and tap the gear icon in the upper right corner to go to Settings.
2. then navigate to the Privacy settings.
3. Search for the option Let Friends Find Me and turn it off. This prevents your phone number from being used for friend discovery on the Kik network.

Important Things to Keep in Mind Before Removing Phone Number from Kik

Before you make changes to the Kik account's phone number association, consider the following:

Friend Discovery

• If you previously used your phone number to help friends locate you on Kik, removing it may make it more difficult for them to connect with you. 
• They will need to know your username to add you.

Two-Factor Authentication

• If you have previously activated two-factor authentication on Kik and used your phone number as the secondary verification method, removing it will disable that method. 
• If you'd like to keep two-factor authentication, you must select an alternative verification option.

Account Verification

• In some rare circumstances, Kik may need phone number verification for certain operations, such as restoring a lost password. 
• Removing your number may complicate the process slightly.

Is Kik Considered a Safe Platform?

Kik's absence of phone number verification and concentration on usernames provide a sense of privacy that may appeal to certain users, but it also raises safety concerns. 

This anonymity may motivate cyber criminals to target or harm younger users. The site also lacks effective parental controls, making it difficult for parents to monitor their children's activities. 

These characteristics increase the risk of cyberbullying, exposure to unsuitable content, and even potential offline dangers.

Kik's lack of safety measures may expose you to internet threats. PurePrivacy can help by providing options for controlling your social media privacy across several sites. 

It can check your privacy settings, make recommendations for improvements, and even remove your search history automatically. 

PurePrivacy allows you to exercise control of your online appearance while reducing the possibility of being exposed to improper content or cyberbullying.

Take Control of Your Online Activity 

PurePrivacy is a complete online safety application that allows you to control your privacy across several social media networks. 

How PurePrivacy Improves Your Privacy:

Social Media Audit and Suggestions

• PurePrivacy examines the privacy settings on your social media accounts to identify areas where you may make improvements. 
• It then makes recommendations for changing those settings to improve your online security.

Automated Privacy Management

• Certain features, such as auto-delete search history, can help with privacy management.
• Clear your search history across connected platforms, minimising your online trace.

Content Control

• Control what you share online. 
• Select whether to hide or permanently delete posts, giving you greater control over your online appearance.

Data Broker Control

• PurePrivacy's "Remove My Data" function can help you delete your details from data brokers, potentially limiting the amount of personal data sold or utilised for targeted advertising.

Privacy Score

• This feature gives a security rating according to your social media settings, providing a quick overview of your entire privacy posture.

Tracker Blocking

• Disable known trackers on your device, potentially restricting the information collected about your online behaviour.

Keeping Your Privacy Intact & Secure Your Account

Kik increases usernames over phone numbers, hence unlike some messaging apps, there is no option to remove a phone number. 

However, if you previously added your phone number for friend finding, you may easily disable it in your Kik settings.

Look for options like PurePrivacy for complete social media privacy control. 

It can help you improve your privacy settings across multiple platforms.