If you’re trying to reconnect with someone who’s changed their phone number, you’re not alone. Finding their new number is definitely possible—and you no longer need to manually search through those humble phone books.

Indeed, there are plenty of efficient online resources that can assist you in your search. It might take a few tries and some techniques (which we’ll equip you with), but with just their name or an old number, you may successfully track them down.

Method 1. Conduct online searches manually

Based on our experience, manually searching for someone’s phone number can be tedious and time-consuming, especially if you’re not well-versed in online search techniques or if the person has very little digital footprint. Therefore, to save you the hassle, we recommend you prioritize some handy tools that streamline the process. These tools leverage advanced data mining, aggregation and matching technologies to quickly provide you with as much relevant information as possible. However, if you’re skilled at online searching, you can certainly start with the manual methods below to see if you can find their new phone number yourself.

❶ Conduct a Google search

Sometimes, a simple Google search can uncover a new number. However, since Google is not a dedicated people search engine, the results can be overwhelming and often include many irrelevant matches, especially when dealing with common names. Therefore, using effective search techniques is crucial, such as add unique identifiers and use quotation marks:

For example, I once found an acquaintance’s contact details just by Googling her name along with “UCLA,” the university she attended. This search helped me find a wealth of information about her. This was partly because she had a rich personal history, which meant there were many online records about her.

So what I want to point out is that the amount of information you can gather from a simple Google search will largely depend on the person you’re looking for. Generally speaking, if the individual has little online presence—not being a public figure, not holding a professional license, etc.—then you might find very little or even no information.

❷ Do some targeted searches on specific websites

In addition to broad searches on Google using names and extra details, you can also try more targeted searches.

• Work-related websites

If you know where the person works, use that information as a starting point. For example, many government agencies and public institutions (e.g. public schools) operate under principles of transparency, making certain employee information publicly accessible, such as their contact details, office locations, and even salaries. 

Example: How to find a residential school teacher in NC

Finding this information on the Internet can be quite straightforward. Let’s say you’re trying to find someone who’s a residential school teacher in Charlotte, NC, you can try searching with keywords like “NC school staff directory”, “NC Department of Public Instruction staff directory”, etc.

This search will likely lead you to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction website, or the webpage which lists the detailed contact info for all the DPI, State Board, NCCAT, and residential school staff in North Carolina (screenshot below). Sometimes you’ll need to navigate through the website to find the right section. 

As you can see in the screenshot, the staff directory includes phone number, email address, and other work-related details.

Even if the person you’re looking for isn’t a public employee, you can still conduct a similar search if you know they work for a specific company or organization. Most employers have their own websites where you might find employees’ contact info, often under the “About Us” or “Team” sections. 

While these are typically work contacts, they can still provide valuable clues to help you get in touch.

• Public records (especially licenses & permits)

Another way to find someone’s new phone number is by searching public records databases, such as those for licenses and permits^[1]. To use this method effectively, you’ll need to know the type of license or permit the person might hold, such as recreational or commercial licenses, health care licenses, or certifications for attorneys.

For instance, if you’re looking for someone with a Florida fishing license, you can Google “FL fishing license” to find the official site (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission). By carefully exploring the site, you might uncover personal information about license holders, including phone numbers, addresses, and email addresses.

To make your search easier, we’ve put together links to various nationwide, statewide, and countywide public databases. Keep in mind, though, that if the license is outdated, the contact information might not be current. Still, it’s an option worth considering.

❸ Search for online accounts

Nowadays, social media and online interactions have become the norm. People readily share personal details on platforms like Facebook, Twitter (X), LinkedIn, Instagram, and more. They might update their phone number on their profile, and even if they don’t, their posts can offer valuable clues—like recent vacation spots or their current job. Social media also allows you to directly reach out through messages, as long as it’s done respectfully.

Now the question is, how to locate their social media accounts? Generally, you can start by typing their name into the search bar on the relevant website or app. Some platforms also offer advanced search features that let you refine your results by criteria such as location. Let’s use LinkedIn as an example to show how you can search for someone’s profile and connect with them:

How to search for someone's profile: example of LinkedIn

1. Go to LinkedIn’s search page.
2. In the search bar at the top of the page, type the person’s name. For more accurate results, you can include additional information like their current job title or location if you know it.
3. You can further refine the search results (if there are many) using the filters provided by LinkedIn (as shown in the image below). These filters allow you to narrow down your search by connections, locations, current or past companies, schools, industries, and more, to find the right person more efficiently.

Once you find the person’s profile, check their “Contact Info” section right behind their profile picture. (You’ll need to connect with a LinkedIn profile before accessing their contact information)

However, it’s worth noting that not every LinkedIn user will publicly list their phone number on the platform (although some do). The most commonly listed information is their email address, which can also help you get in touch. Additionally, some people include their personal website (or their company’s website)in their contact info. If that’s the case, you might find additional clues there.

Note that LinkedIn users with a Basic (free) account can only message other LinkedIn members they are connected to. However, if you have a LinkedIn Premium account, you can use the InMail feature to send a direct message to the person even if you’re not connected. 

Read more: LinkedIn help center – Send an InMail Message

That’s how you can use LinkedIn to find someone’s new phone number. The process is quite similar on other social media platforms, such as Facebook (screenshot below).

Some people prefer not to use their real names as usernames on social media. In such cases, try to recall if they have a unique nickname or username they often use. Many people stick to the same username across different platforms, so if their username is distinctive and not too common, it can make finding their social media profiles much easier.

Method 2. Use a people search engine (recommended)

As you can see from the methods we’ve discussed earlier, the contact info of a person can be scattered across different sources, and the most relevant details might be hidden in unexpected databases. Finding this information can be time-consuming and challenging. To simplify the process, you can consider using a specialized people search engine.

Unlike general search engines, people search sites focus specifically on personal information. These tools can collect all the scattered information from various sources—like public records, online directories, and social media accounts—into one place, saving you the hassle of searching manually.

Premium people search engines

Paid services generally offer more detailed information, including hard-to-find information, and often have access to more current and frequently updated data. They also provide advanced filtering options and are ad-free. After comparing and testing various services, we found that BeenVerified offers the best value and overall report quality. 

With 10+ years of experience providing users access to billions of records from leading sources, BeenVerified is a reputable people search tool that allows users to enter a name and get detailed reports within minutes. These reports typically include sections such as phone numbers, email addresses, address history, possible relatives, jobs, social media, and more.

When it comes to finding someone’s new phone number, BeenVerified stands out among paid people search sites in several ways:

• Each phone number is usually accompanied by a date range (e.g., “Dates seen Nov 2018 – Jul 2024”), which can help you identify the most recent numbers. 
• The list of possible phone numbers distinguishes between “top phone number match” and “high confidence.”
• Each phone number is labeled with its type (mobile/possible mobile/landline/work phone).
• The updates are quite timely; we once saw a report with information updated just two weeks ago.

These features make it easier to prioritize potential numbers effectively, saving you time and effort compared to blindly trying different options.

How to find someone’s new phone number and more with BeenVerified

To get your report, go to BeenVerified’s Name Lookup page, enter the person’s full name, and click SEARCH. 

There are also various other search options available, such as searching by phone number, email, or address. For instance, if you can’t recall their full name but have their old number, you can try searching by phone number instead.

During the search process, you might be prompted to provide some extra information (like the state) to narrow down the results, especially if there are many people with the same name.

💡 Pro tips: How to make the most of the report

You can check through the different numbers listed, as the primary goal of these people search sites is to provide as much relevant information as possible right away. If you find old numbers that you already know, you can just ignore them. (Seeing an old number in the report can actually confirm that the search tool is able to provide accurate information)

The report features a section called “Possible Relatives,” which lists potential family members like parents, siblings, spouses, and other relatives (you can click and view their “person report”). If you’re having trouble reaching the person directly, contacting these people might be a good alternative way to find them.

BeenVerified can find a variety of possible social media accounts, including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter (X), Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, MySpace, and more. Don’t forget to make use of these clues.

During our testing, we noticed that BeenVerified sometimes creates multiple profiles for the same person due to data matching issues. Therefore, it’s a good idea to check multiple search results that seem to be for the same individual (e.g., profiles with matching details like full name and age) to potentially uncover more complete information.

Relatively effective free services

We’ve tried several free services that provide basic information, including possible phone numbers, and found that TruePeopleSearch is among the best for free searches. In our testing, we used real people to compare the quantity and quality of information provided by different websites. We found that TruePeopleSearch has the advantage of showing a relatively larger number of phone numbers, with details such as possible primary phone, last reported time, and carrier.

If free sites like TruePeopleSearch didn’t work for you, it may be time to consider a paid people search engine.

Method 3. Find a new number within a messaging app

If both you and the person you’re trying to reach use messaging apps and they’ve recently changed their number, there are a couple of ways you might be able to find their new one.

Here, we take the example of WhatsApp which is one of the most widely used:

• Individual chat notifications: When a WhatsApp user changes their phone number, they have the option to notify their contacts. If they choose to do so, when you open the chat with their old number, you’ll see a message informing you of the number change, along with a button to start a chat with the new number.
• Group chat notifications: Even if the user doesn’t choose to notify their contacts individually, if you’re both members of the same group, the group chat will automatically notify all members of the number change.

Read more: The FAQ section on the official WhatsApp website provides detailed information on this.

Do you have any other effective tricks besides the ones discussed in this article? We’d love to hear them in the comments section!

Reminder: don’t forget to reach out to mutual connections

Although this article primarily covers online search methods, don’t overlook the value of reaching out to mutual connections—if it’s possible and you have someone to ask. Friends, family members, colleagues, or acquaintances who know both you and the person might have their new contact information or know how to get in touch with them directly. You can browse through your contact list or Facebook friends list, and you might stumble upon someone you hadn’t thought of.

This approach is respectful and can build trust, making it more likely that the person will be open to reconnecting. Also, it can potentially offer the benefit of updates on their recent activities and additional context, which can help make the reconnection smoother. However, this method depends on personal interaction and your existing network. If you lack a mutual connection or if your contacts don’t have up-to-date information, it may not be as effective as online searches.

Can I use phone books or directory assistance to find someone’s new phone number?

Many of you might still remember using phone books to find phone numbers or dialing 411 (directory assistance) for help in the 1980s. While today’s digital directories provided by phone carriers may still be useful in some cases, they have limitations compared to other methods:

• Phone directories may not be updated frequently.
• Many people choose to opt out of these directories to protect their privacy.
• These directories typically focus on landline numbers.

Given this, the success rate of this method is relatively low and can be quite cumbersome. However, if you’d like to try it, you can search the telecom company’s website for their white pages or similar directories. For instance, Verizon’s website has a searchable white pages feature. (This is not an easy task though: you’ll need to find the right directory and then navigate through many listings to locate the person you’re searching for.)

Directory assistance essentially functions the same way as a phone directory. It’s a service typically provided by phone companies, but instead of searching for yourself, a live operator would assist you. Today, this service is used less frequently, mostly by those who don’t have internet access. Additionally, some telecom companies are phasing out this service^[2]. Moreover, using directory assistance incurs a fee; for instance, T-Mobile’s 411 service can cost up to $2.99 per call, plus talk time for prepaid plans^[3].

For the most current and detailed results, using online people search tools is generally more effective. These services leverage vast and frequently updated digital records, offering a higher likelihood of finding the most recent contact details.

What to think about before searching for someone’s new number

I’ve noticed that some forum users face a situation where they find out their friend has changed their number but hasn’t notified or shared the new one. Without other contact methods like social media, they urgently want to know how to find their friend’s new number.

In such cases, you can certainly try the methods provided in this article to find their contact information. However, if they’ve chosen not to share their new number, it’s important to consider their feelings. For instance, do they want to be found? If you manage to find their new number and call them, could they be surprised that you tracked them down?

On various forums, people shared their reasons for switching to a new phone number. Some simply need a bit of “alone time” and don’t want to be overwhelmed by a long contact list constantly calling and messaging.

My number changes quite frequently as I travel and my numbers expire. Or I am switching providers. In any event, I purposely change numbers on a regular basis to flush out old services / contacts. The same for social media accounts, cut the history and start over. ^[4]

To take it a step further, I think this situation might prompt you to reflect on your relationship: if you’re truly close, the other person should take the initiative to contact you after changing their number, provide you with the new number, or at least save your number when they change theirs so they can still reach out to you. In short, you shouldn’t have to play detective to figure things out. 

That said, there are still many possibilities. They might be going through a tough time and need some space, in which case it’s best not to intrude—they will let you know when they’re ready. Or perhaps they simply forgot to notify you after changing their number. If you do need to get in touch, you can try contacting them directly, like visiting their home or reaching out through social media.

In brief, it’s important to deal with the situation with empathy and understanding.

A Note on responsible and ethical use of information

We also want to emphasize that we do not endorse using the methods described here to harass or stalk others. Such actions would contradict the very purpose of this article. Our concern arises from observing real-life and online situations where one person in a relationship persistently pursues the other, even after they’ve changed their contact information to avoid further contact. This behavior can sometimes intersect with serious issues like domestic abuse; for instance, a woman might change her number to protect herself from an abusive partner, yet her abuser manages to find it anyway^[5].

It’s crucial to respect boundaries and privacy, and to remember that the intent behind these methods should always be to reconnect in a respectful and appropriate manner.

FAQs

Reference

1. In the United States, various public records are accessible to the general public as required by law. That can include birth and death records, marriage licenses, property records, warrants/arrests, court cases, licenses & permits and more. ↩
2. Meyersohn, N. (2024, June 17). “411 out of service for AT&T customers’ landlines.” ABC7 News. https://abc7news.com/411-out-of-service-att-customers-landlines/12671256/↩
3. T-Mobile. (n.d.). Calling services. T-Mobile. Retrieved Aug 13, 2024, from https://www.t-mobile.com/support/plans-features/calling-services↩
4. r/privacy [box-bolt]. (Mar 14, 2023). Does anyone else here change their phone number? [Online forum post] Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/11qjryq/does_anyone_else_here_change_their_phone_number/↩
5. Questions [helper]. (2017, Jul 18). How would someone find a phone number after they change it? [Online forum post] Security Stack Exchange. https://security.stackexchange.com/questions/165410/how-would-someone-find-a-phone-number-after-they-change-it↩