Google now automatically attaches and verifies your phone number across all signed‑in Google accounts on your Android device, a policy change that rolled out between August and October 2025 under the “Verify phone numbers automatically” setting.

The feature is enabled by default and requires users to opt out, applying to both current and future Google accounts used on the device.

Proponents say the change improves cross‑account sharing, phone recovery, faster sign‑ins, and emergency location services, boosting usability.

Critics raise privacy concerns, warning that linking a phone number to multiple accounts across devices could widen ad targeting.

There is a practical way to disable the feature: Settings → Google → All Services → Privacy & Security → Phone number verification, then turn off “Verify phone numbers automatically.”

Because Google periodically re‑verifies numbers, users may incur carrier charges tied to the verification process.