While you can't completely remove your phone number from Snapchat without replacing it with another one (as Snapchat uses it for security, verification, and friend-finding), you can change it or ensure people can't find you by it.

Here's a step-by-step guide to manage your phone number on Snapchat:

Method 1: Replacing Your Phone Number with a New One

This is the most common way to "remove" your old number, as Snapchat generally requires an active phone number for account recovery and verification.

Open the Snapchat App: Launch Snapchat on your mobile device.

Go to Your Profile: Tap on your Bitmoji or profile icon in the top-left corner of the screen.

Open Settings: Tap on the gear icon (⚙️) in the top-right corner to access your Settings.

Tap "Mobile Number": Under the "My Account" section, you'll see "Mobile Number." Tap on it.

Enter New Phone Number: Your current phone number will be displayed. Delete it and enter the new phone number you wish to use.

Verify the New Number: Snapchat will send a verification code to the new number you entered via SMS.

Enter Verification Code: Type the code received into the app and tap "Continue" or "Verify."

Confirmation: Snapchat will confirm that your phone number has been updated.

Your old phone number is now effectively removed from your account and replaced with the new one.

Method 2: Prevent Others from Finding You by Your Phone Number

Even if you have a phone number linked, you can prevent friends who have your number in their contacts from finding your Snapchat account.

Follow Steps 1-3 above to go to your Settings.

Tap "Mobile Number" (as in step 4 above).

Toggle Off "Let others find me using my mobile number": You should see an option or toggle switch (it might be labeled slightly differently depending on your app version) that allows others to find you via your phone number. Make sure this is toggled OFF.

This setting means that even if someone has your phone number saved in their contacts, Snapchat won't suggest your account to them based solely on that number. They would need your exact username or Snapcode to add you.

Method 3: Advanced (Using a Google Voice Number or Temporary Number)

Some users who want to fully disassociate their personal number without deleting their account use a secondary or virtual number:

Obtain a Virtual Number: Services like Google Voice (in regions where available) or other temporary/burner phone number apps allow you to get a secondary number.

Follow Method 1: Use this virtual number to replace your existing personal phone number on Snapchat.

Manage Virtual Number: Keep access to this virtual number's inbox for any future verification codes from Snapchat.

Optional: Delete the Virtual Number Account: If you truly want to remove any phone number association, after successfully linking the virtual number, some users might then try to delete the account associated with the virtual number, hoping it also removes the number from their main account. However, this is a less reliable and potentially risky method, and Snapchat's policies might change.

Important Considerations:

Security: Snapchat uses your phone number for account recovery (if you forget your password) and two-factor authentication (2FA). Removing or replacing it means ensuring you have a verified email address for recovery instead.

Friend Finding: Your phone number is often used to help you find friends and for friends to find you. If you remove or change it, this functionality might be affected.

Verification: You may still receive transactional SMS notifications from Snapchat, even if you opt out of being found by your number.

Always ensure you have a verified email address linked to your Snapchat account, as this is critical for account security and recovery, especially if you're trying to minimize your phone number's role.