How do I update my telephone number to reset my lost MFA device?

Short description

I followed the instructions for recovering a root user MFA device or resetting my AWS root user account MFA device. I received the verification email, but not the automated telephone call with the code.

Resolution

Note: If you receive errors when you run AWS Command Line Interface (AWS CLI) commands, then see Troubleshoot AWS CLI errors. Also, make sure that you're using the most recent AWS CLI version.

You can use an AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) user to update the AWS account telephone number if the user meets the following requirements:

• The IAM user is active on the AWS account and has administrator access permission.
• The IAM user has access to the AWS Billing console.

The telephone number must have the correct international dialing code standard with no additional spaces or special characters. Also, remove any leading zeros after the country code. For example, the UK country code is +44. Enter the telephone number 07911 123456 as +447911123456 for the UK.

To update your phone number, complete the following steps:

1. Log in to the AWS Billing and Cost Management Console with your IAM user credentials for the AWS account that you want to update. For more information, see How to sign in to AWS.
2. Select the account dropdown menu, and then select Account.
3. In the Contact Information section, choose Edit.
4. Update the phone number.
   Important: The phone number must use the correct country code and can't include extra spaces.
5. Choose Update.

To use the AWS root user account to reset the lost MFA device, see How do I reset my AWS root user account MFA device?

Note: It's a best practice to create an IAM user with administrator access and lock away the root user credentials.

You can also manage primary and alternate contacts on AWS accounts within your organization from the AWS Organizations console, the AWS CLI, or AWS SDKs. For more information, see Update the alternate contacts for your AWS account.

If you need additional assistance, then see Lost or unusable multi-factor authentication (MFA) device. Expand I'm still having problems and would like to contact AWS Support. Then, complete the Request assistance with lost or unusable MFA device form, and choose Submit.

Related information

How do I change the email address that's associated with my AWS account?

Managing an AWS account