How to Search a Person on Facebook by Phone Number (Easy Guide)

Ever wondered if you can find someone on Facebook using their phone number? You’re not alone! Many people try to reconnect with old friends, track down a business contact, or even verify a caller’s identity using Facebook.

Good news? It’s possible to search for a person on Facebook using their phone number—but it depends on their privacy settings. If their number is linked to their account and not hidden, you might be able to find them in just a few steps.

This guide will walk you through different ways to search for someone on Facebook using their phone number, including a few alternative methods if the direct search doesn’t work.

>> Also Read: How to Search Facebook by Phone Number for Free (Tips for 2025)

Can You Find Someone on Facebook by Their Phone Number?

Yes, but there’s a catch. Facebook allows users to link their phone numbers to their accounts, but they can control who can search for them using their number. If they’ve kept this setting public or limited it to “Friends,” you might be able to find them. If not, you’ll need to try other methods.

>> Also Read: How to Track Someone Through Facebook Messenger Without Them Knowing

How to Search a Person on Facebook by Phone Number?

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Open Facebook – Log in to your Facebook account using a web browser or the mobile app.
2. Enter the Phone Number – In the search bar at the top, type the phone number, including the country code.
3. Hit Enter or Search – If the person has their number linked publicly, their profile will appear in the search results.
4. Check the Profile – Click on the profile to confirm if it's the person you're looking for.
5. Send a Friend Request or Message – If the account is visible, you can send a request or message.

Note: If no results appear, the person may have restricted their phone number visibility in privacy settings.

>> Also Read: How to Remove Personal Information From the Internet for Free

Method 1: Using the Facebook Search Bar

The easiest way to find someone by phone number is through the Facebook search bar.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Open Facebook – Log into your account on the Facebook app or website.
2. Enter the phone number – In the search bar (top of the screen), type the number, including the country code if needed.
3. Hit Enter and check the results – If the person has linked their number to their account, their profile might show up.
4. Click on the profile – If you find the right person, you can send a friend request or message.

?? Note: If no results appear, it means the person has either not linked their number to their account or they’ve restricted searches using their number.

Method 2: Syncing Contacts to Find Friends

If the first method didn’t work, Facebook’s contact syncing feature might help. This works best if you have the person’s number saved in your phone.

How to Sync Contacts on Facebook:

1. Open the Facebook app.
2. Tap on the Menu (?) at the top or bottom right.
3. Select "Find Friends."
4. Enable "Sync Contacts."
5. If the person’s number is linked to their Facebook account, they might show up in your friend suggestions.

?? Pro Tip: This method works great for finding new connections who recently joined Facebook!

Method 3: Searching by Name & Location

If the phone number search didn’t work, try searching using the person’s name and location.

?? Steps:

• Go to the Facebook search bar.
• Type the person’s name and add their city or workplace.
• Check the profiles that match your search.

?? Why it works: If you know where they live or where they work, adding those details can narrow down results and help you find the right person.

Method 4: Using Google to Search for Facebook Profiles

Another clever trick is using Google to find a person’s Facebook profile linked to their phone number.

How to do it:

• Open Google.com.
• Type this in the search bar: "123-456-7890 site: facebook.com" (Replace the number with the one you’re searching for.)
• If the number is publicly visible on Facebook, Google might show a direct link to their profile.

?? Bonus Tip: Try variations like their name + phone number to see if anything pops up.

Method 5: Reverse Phone Lookup Services

If Facebook search doesn’t work, you can try a reverse phone lookup tool. These tools scan public records, social media sites, and databases to find details about a number.

Here are some free reverse phone lookup services:

• Truecaller (Truecaller.com)
• Whitepages (Whitepages.com)
• Spokeo (Spokeo.com)

?? Note: Some lookup services might require a paid subscription for full details.

>> Also Read: How to Tell if Someone Blocked You on Facebook

What If You Can't Find Them? Try These Alternatives!

If the search didn’t return any results, don't worry. Here are some alternative ways to find someone on Facebook:

1. Use Facebook's "Find Friends" Feature

• Go to Friends > Find Friends
• Sync your contacts to see if the person is on Facebook

2. Search by Email Address

• If you have their email, try searching it instead of the phone number.

3. Look Up Their Name and Location

• Enter their full name + city in the search bar for better accuracy.

4. Check Mutual Friends

• If you share mutual friends, browse their friend list.

5. Use Google to Search Their Facebook Profile

• Type "phone number" site:facebook.com into Google.
• If their profile is public, Google might index it.

Pro Tip: If none of these methods work, the person may have strong privacy settings or isn't on Facebook.

Why Can’t I Find Someone on Facebook by Their Phone Number?

If you didn’t get any results, there could be a few reasons:

• They’ve set their phone number to private. (Facebook allows users to control who can search for them.)
• They didn’t link their number to their account.
• They’re using a different phone number on Facebook.
• They deactivated or deleted their Facebook account.

?? What to do next? Try other search methods like name-based search, Google search, or reverse phone lookup.

Privacy Settings That Can Block This Search

Not everyone wants to be found by their phone number. If you can’t find someone, their privacy settings might be the reason:

• Who can look you up using the phone number you provided? If set to "Only Me" or "Friends," strangers won’t find them.
• Profile visibility restrictions – Some people restrict their profile from public searches.
• Blocked List – If someone has blocked you, their profile won’t appear.

To check your own settings:

1. Go to Settings > Privacy
2. Find "How People Find and Contact You"
3. Adjust "Who can look you up using the phone number you provided?"

Can You Use Third-Party Services?

Some websites claim to offer reverse phone lookup services, but many are unreliable. Instead, try trusted sources like:

• Whitepages
• Truecaller
• Spokeo

These services might provide useful details but are not guaranteed to work for Facebook.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

>> Also Read: How to Recover your Facebook Account (2025 Complete Guide)

Can You Find Someone on Facebook Using Their Phone Number?

Yes, you can! Facebook allows users to search for people using their phone numbers, but privacy settings play a huge role in determining whether this method will work. If someone has linked their number to their account and kept it public or visible to friends, you might be able to find them quickly. Otherwise, you may need alternative methods.

Can we find someone on Facebook by phone number?

Yes, but only if their privacy settings allow it. To search for someone on Facebook using their phone number:

1. Open Facebook and log into your account.
2. In the search bar, type the full phone number, including the country code if necessary.
3. Press Enter and check the results. If their number is linked to their profile, their account should appear.
4. If you don’t get any results, try another method: Tap the three-line menu (?) in the top-right corner of the Facebook app. Select "Find Friends" → "Find friends by phone number." If the person’s number is associated with their account, they may show up in suggestions.

Note: If they’ve hidden their number in privacy settings, this method won’t work.

>> Also Read: How to Find Out Personal Information About Someone for Free

How can I search for a person by phone number?

If Facebook search doesn’t work, you can try reverse phone lookup services to gather more information.

1. Choose a trusted phone lookup service, such as: Spokeo, Whitepages, Truecaller
2. Enter the phone number into the search field on the website.
3. If available, the service will provide details like the name, address, and social media links associated with that number.

Caution: Some services charge fees for full details, and not all numbers will have public information available.

How to find an account by phone number?

If you want to find an account linked to a phone number, Google search can help.

Steps to search with Google:

1. Open Google Search at www.google.com.
2. Enter the phone number in the search bar. Use quotation marks for exact results: "555-555-5555"
3. Check the search results for social media links or public listings.
4. If no direct results appear, try adding keywords like "LinkedIn," "Facebook," "Instagram," or "profile."

Other Options:

• Use reverse lookup websites to find social media links.
• Try searching for their email address if you have it.

>> Also Read: How to Tracking a Phone Number Location for Free (2025 Guide)

How to find someone on Facebook?

There are multiple ways to find a person on Facebook, even if you don’t have their phone number:

Search by Name

• Open Facebook and type their full name in the search bar.
• Tap "People" at the top to filter results.
• Use filters like City, Education, Work, or Friends of Friends to narrow it down.

Use Common Friends

• Visit a mutual friend’s profile and check their friend list.
• If the person you’re searching for is listed, you can send them a friend request.

Find by Username

• Some users have a custom Facebook URL like: facebook.com/username
• If you know their username, enter it directly in the browser.

Search via Contact Sync

• Open the Facebook app and go to Find Friends → Enable Contact Sync.
• If their number is linked to their account, Facebook may suggest them.

?? If you still can’t find them, their account may be private, deactivated, or under a different name.

Can I find someone’s Facebook account if they have a private number?

No. If their privacy settings hide their number from searches, you won’t be able to find them this way.

>> Also Read: How to Get a Free Smartphone Online | Quick and Easy Methods

What if I only have their old phone number?

If they changed their number and didn’t update it on Facebook, the search won’t work. Try searching for their name instead.

Can I search for a business on Facebook by phone number?

Yes! Many businesses list their phone numbers on Facebook, making it easier to find their pages.

Is it illegal to search for someone using their phone number?

No, as long as you’re not violating their privacy or using the information for harmful purposes.

Final Thoughts

Searching for someone on Facebook using their phone number can work, but privacy settings may prevent results. If the number search doesn’t work, try email, name, or mutual friends. If all else fails, they might have a private account or no Facebook presence.

Want to keep your number private? Adjust your privacy settings to "Only Me" under Settings > Privacy!