How to use Alternative Number

In this article, you will learn how to use your Alternative Number and how to edit it.

To proceed, you will need an active Surfshark VPN subscription and an Alternative Number subscription. Visit our pricing page to purchase a Surfshark subscription.
 

Managing your messages and calls

On Android

1. Open the Surfshark app on your mobile device, enter the Alternative ID tab.
2. Tap on Number at the top. Here, you will find any text messages sent to your Alternative Number:
   
   
    
3. By tapping on a number or name, you can see all the messages sent by it.
   
   
    
4. You can add a number to your phone's contact list by tapping on Add contact at the top right:
   
   
   
   This way, you can customize and save the sender:
   
   
   
   Once configured, you will see a name of your choice instead of a number in the message list.
    
5. To Delete all messages sent my a contact, tap and hold on the messages sent by the sender. In the pop-up that appears, tap Delete messages:
   
   
    
6. To delete or copy an individual message, tap on a sender of your choice. 
   
   Select the message you wish to copy or delete:
   
   
    
7. By pressing the highlighted icon, you can copy your Alternative Number:
   
   
    
8. When you receive a phone call to your Alternative Number, you will see a screen like so:
   
   

On iOS

1. Launch the Surfshark application.
2. Tap the Antiscam tab located in the bottom navigation menu:
   
   
    
3. Tap Alt number under Personal data masking:
   
   
    
4. Here you can view your Alt number:
   
   
5. Tap View messages to access all your messages. Calls will be forwarded to your phone:
   
   
    
6. To copy your Alt Number, tap the highlighted copy icon:
   
   
    
7. When you receive a phone call to your Alternative Number, you will see a screen like so:
   
   

Change or pause your Alternative Number

On Android

1. Enter Surfshark's dashboard and tap on Alternative ID. Here, you will find the options to Pause or Change your Alternative Number.
   
   We will cover Changing the number first. To do so, tap on Change number.
   
   NOTE: You can change your Alternative number once per month:
   
   
    
2. Changing your Alternative Number deletes your old one, meaning that you will no longer be able to receive any messages to it. To proceed, tick the box in the pop-up and press Confirm:
   
   
    
3. When finished, you will see that you are unable to change it again for another 30 days:
   
   
    
4. To Pause your Alternative Number, tap on Pause:
   
   
    
5. Once you Pause your Alternative Number, you will not be able to receive any messages and they will be unrecoverable. To proceed, press Pause on the pop-up:
   
   
    
6. To reactivate your Alternative Number, press Reactivate in the main dashboard page:
   
   

On iOS

1. Launch the Surfshark application.
2. Tap the Antiscam tab located in the bottom navigation menu:
   
   
    
3. Tap Alt number under Personal data masking:
   
   
    
4. Tap View messages:
   
   
    
5. Tap the pencil icon next to your Alt number:
   
   
    
6. To change your Alt number, tap Change number and follow further on-screen instruction:
   
   NOTE: You can change your Alt number once every 30 days.
   
   
    
7. To pause it, tap Pause:
   
   
    
8. Confirm by tapping Pause:
   
   
    
9. To reactivate, simply tap Reactivate:
   
   

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