At the core of Authy's account identification system is the phone number. When you create an Authy account, the app links your ownership to both the Authy account and the associated phone number. In other words, the user who possesses the phone number linked to an Authy account is recognized as the legitimate owner of that account. This fundamental principle serves two critical purposes:
- Account Ownership Verification: Registering a phone number ensures that Authy can verify the true owner of the account. This is a vital security measure to prevent unauthorized access and protect your account from potential threats.
- Authy App Registration: Your phone number is also used to register the Authy app itself. This association helps in maintaining the security and integrity of the 2FA process.
Authy's reliance on phone numbers as part of your identity is not a mere formality; it's a critical component of the app's security architecture. For this reason, it is not possible to use Authy without a phone number. The integration of your phone number helps maintain the integrity of your Authy account, ensuring that only authorized users can access it.
Recovering Access with Your Phone Number
In the unfortunate event that you lose access to your Authy account but still retain ownership of your phone number, there's a path to recovery. Please take a look at the recommendations in Restoring Authy Access on a New, Lost, or Inaccessible Phone.
Updating Your Phone Number
Should you no longer possess the phone number linked to your Authy account, Authy offers some options to update your phone number. Please go to Phone Number Change Process for Authy and How Long it Takes to learn how you can recover access.