Absher Mobile Number Change KSA: With and Without Login
If you can still receive SMS on your old number, change it inside Absher under Update User Information. If you have lost that number, the Absher app now offers Digital ID Management before the login screen. It verifies you by fingerprint instead.
Do This Next:
- Check whether you can still receive SMS on the old number
- If yes, update it after logging in normally
- If no, use Digital ID Management in the app before logging in
The Lockout Problem This Solves
This situation is more common than most people expect, and it used to be genuinely painful.
Absher sends a verification code to your registered number every time you log in. Change your SIM without updating Absher first, and that code goes to a number you no longer control.
You are then locked out of the exact account you need to fix it. Until recently, that meant a mandatory trip to a kiosk or a Jawazat office.
Route One: You Still Have the Old Number
This is the simplest case, handled entirely online.
- Log in at absher.sa
- Click the three lines in the upper right corner
- Select Update User Information
- Click Edit
- Select Change Mobile Number
- Click Next
Absher sends an SMS containing a link. Open that link to complete the update.
Route Two: You Cannot Access the Old Number
This is the 2026 update most guides have not caught up with yet.
The Absher app now exposes Digital ID Management before the login screen. You do not need to sign in first, which is precisely the point.
- Open the Absher app without logging in
- Tap Digital ID Management
- Select Change Mobile Number
- Complete biometric verification when prompted
- Enter your new Saudi mobile number
- Confirm with the code sent to that new number
That same menu also holds Issue Digital Identity, Activate Digital Identity, and Pause Digital Identity. Only the mobile number option is covered here.
Route Three: The Kiosk Fallback
If biometric verification in the app fails, a self-service machine does the same job physically.
- Find the nearest Absher self-service machine
- Select English
- Choose Update Mobile
- Enter your Iqama number
- Scan your index finger to verify identity
- Enter your new mobile number and the verification code
Locations and the full range of kiosk services sit in the Absher self-service machines guide.
Pro Tip: Update Absher before cancelling your old SIM, not after. Doing it in that order keeps you on the simple online route and avoids biometric verification entirely.
The New Number Must Be in Your Own Name
This requirement blocks more updates than any technical fault.
Your new Saudi mobile number must be registered under your own Iqama or national ID. A number in an employer’s name, a friend’s name, or a previous holder’s name will not link.
This is the same rule that governs initial registration, covered in the Absher registration guide.
If the Verification Code Never Arrives
Five fixes resolve most delivery failures, and none require a government visit.
- Restart your phone, then request the code again
- Check your line receives short-code SMS, since some plans block them
- Turn off Wi-Fi calling and use the mobile network only
- On dual SIM phones, set the new SIM as the primary line for SMS
- If you recently ported the number, wait for the carrier to fully activate all services
Your telecom provider can confirm whether short-code messages are reaching your line at all. That single check separates an Absher problem from a carrier problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my Absher number without logging in?
Yes, the Absher app offers Digital ID Management before the login screen. It verifies you biometrically instead of by SMS to your old number.
What if I no longer have my old SIM card?
Use the app’s Digital ID Management option, or visit an Absher self-service machine. Both verify you by fingerprint rather than by a code sent to the old number.
Can I register a number that is not in my name?
No, the new number must be registered under your own Iqama or national ID. Numbers in an employer’s or friend’s name will not link to your account. The CST Argami SIM check shows every number registered under your identity.
Why is my Absher verification code not arriving?
Common causes include blocked short-code SMS, Wi-Fi calling interference, or a recently ported number still activating. Restarting the phone and disabling Wi-Fi calling resolves most cases.
Final Thoughts
The order of operations matters more than the method here. Updating Absher while you still control the old number keeps everything on the simple online path.
If you are already locked out, the app’s pre-login option is newer than most guidance online suggests. Try that before assuming a kiosk trip is unavoidable.
Last verified: September 2026
Reviewed by: Roman Shah
Source: Absher Update Mobile Number service; National Information Center
Note: app menu names and available routes are updated periodically by the Ministry of Interior. Confirm the current process in the official Absher app or at absher.sa.
