> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://help.creatures.com/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# Changing your email, phone, or privacy defaults

Open **Settings** and select the **Account** tab. Changing your email or phone takes two codes: one to a contact you already use, and one to the new address or number. The **Privacy** switches there decide whether new animals and records start out private.

To get there, select your photo at the top of any page, then **Settings**, then **Account**. The **My access** tab next to it shows the teams, animals and other accounts that have given you access. See [Seeing and leaving the accounts you can access](https://help.creatures.com/en/article/seeing-and-leaving-the-accounts-you-can-access-10zlabo/).

## Change your email

1. In the **Email** row, type the new address in **New email**.
2. If your phone is verified too, pick where the first code goes in **Send the first code to**: **Your current email** or **Your current phone**.
3. Select **Send verification codes**. Creatures sends one code to your current contact and one to the new email.
4. Type them into **Current code** and **New email code**, then select **Change email**.

![Email row with a new email entered, Send the first code to, and the Current code and New email code fields](https://cdn-test.creatures.com/e13/2b5/98b/4c167.png?width=1564)

The codes work for 10 minutes. If they expire, select **Send verification codes** again. If the new address already belongs to another Creatures account, sign in with that account or contact support to connect them.

## Change your phone

Use the same steps in the **Phone** row: enter the number in **New phone**, select **Send verification codes**, type the **Current code** and **New phone code**, then select **Change phone**. Creatures can text US and Canadian numbers.

Your number shows in a format like +1 828-555-0148. It's never shown on your profile or listings. No phone yet? Select **Verify phone** to add one.

## If your phone shows Alerts only

A number added when you answered a Creatures text invitation shows **Alerts only**. It can get text alerts, but it isn't strong enough to confirm a change yet, so the row asks you to confirm it first.

![Phone row marked Alerts only, with Confirm with a code and a contact support link](https://cdn-test.creatures.com/fac/398/0db/3d4b7.png?width=1564)

If you still have that phone, select **Confirm with a code**. Your number is already filled in. Select **Send code**, type the code from the text, then select **Verify phone**. The row then says **Verified**, and you can change your email or phone yourself.

If you no longer have that phone, select **contact support** in the row. It opens an email to info@creatures.com, and our team will make the change with you.

## Choose your privacy defaults

The **Privacy** section sets how new things start:

- **Default new animals to private** starts every new animal profile as private.
- **Default new records to private** starts new records as private, even kinds that are usually public.

You can still change the privacy of each animal or record before or after you save it.

The animals switch only changes new animals. With it on, you may also see **Animals you already have**, with how many are still public. Select **Make them private** (or **Make it private**) to change them too. An animal with an active listing stays public, and Creatures tells you which. You may also see **Parents added from pedigrees**. Select **Make them private** to make those parent profiles private as well.

![Privacy switches for new animals and new records](https://cdn-test.creatures.com/e9a/1a4/5bc/277b0.png?width=1600)

Under **Animal profiles**, turn off **Valuation tools on animal profiles** if you'd rather not see value panels and suggestions when you view animals. This only changes what you see.

## Your auction card

The **Auction card** section shows the card saved for bidding. Creatures uses it for temporary authorization holds when you bid on auctions. Select **Add card**, **Change card** or **Remove**. Saving a card doesn't charge it.

## If Creatures asks you to confirm it's you

If you signed in from a link in an email or text, changing your email or phone first asks for a code we email you. The **Signed-in devices** row on this tab can also sign you out everywhere else. See [Keeping your account secure](https://help.creatures.com/en/article/keeping-your-account-secure-11hc7oq/).

### Related information

- [Choosing how Creatures notifies you](https://help.creatures.com/en/article/notification-and-account-settings-mzlidj/)
- [Keeping your account secure: sign-in links and security codes](https://help.creatures.com/en/article/keeping-your-account-secure-11hc7oq/)
- [Verifying your phone number](https://help.creatures.com/en/article/verifying-your-phone-number-1n2mfmy/)
- [Public, private, and reference animals](https://help.creatures.com/en/article/public-private-and-reference-animals-vvbyse/)