Only the account owner, and the people they choose, can manage an account online, in a store, or over the phone. Review what can be managed in each area.

About account owners
An account owner is the person whose name is on the bill and is financially responsible for the account. They can give other people with an AT&T ID the right to access and manage their account. This includes access to bill totals, payment details, and service-related notifications online, by phone, or in an AT&T store (AT&T WirelessSM accounts only).

For AT&T Wireless and internet online accounts, there are two levels of account access, primary and secondary.

Primary online access

Only one person with an AT&T ID can have primary online access. This person is usually the account owner. Primary access users can:

  • Request a number transfer PIN
  • Add or remove Retail Authorized Users
  • Add or remove secondary online access for other users
  • Transfer primary access to a secondary user

Secondary online access

Secondary online access can belong to multiple people with AT&T IDs, which allows them to co-manage the AT&T account online. They can do most of the same things as the person with primary access.

Both primary and secondary online users can:

  • Access and manage the account online
  • Change or upgrade plans and services
  • Manage add-ons
  • View and pay bills, and transfer billing responsibility
  • Turn Wireless Account Lock on and off
  • Update profile info (email, phone number, address)

Add or remove secondary online access

  1. Go to your account profile. Sign in, if asked.
  2. Select Permissions.
  3. Choose the account you want to update by selecting Switch, if you have more than one.
  4. Select Add a secondary user to add a user, or Remove next to a user you want to remove.
  5. Follow the prompts to finish up.

Accept an invitation for secondary online access

  1. Review the text or email you received about an invitation for secondary online access.
  2. Select the link in the text or email, if you trust the offer.
  3. Enter the AT&T Wireless phone number (for wireless accounts) or the AT&T account number and billing ZIP Code (wireless or internet accounts).
  4. Choose to create an AT&T ID or use your current one.
  5. Enter the requested info. If you create an ID and password, agree to the AT&T ID Terms & Conditions.

In AT&T stores, the account owner or a Retail Authorized User (wireless accounts only) can manage an AT&T account.

  • The account owner is the person who’s financially responsible for the wireless account. This person's name is on the bill and they can manage all parts of the account. They can add or remove Retail Authorized Users from the account. An AT&T Wireless account can have up to 10 Retail Authorized Users.
  • A Retail Authorized User is someone at least 18 years old. They can go to an AT&T store to make certain account changes that the wireless account owner can also complete. They can’t make certain account changes, like assign account roles, add new lines of service, change plans, or transfer billing responsibility.

To manage a wireless account in a store, the account owner or Retail Authorized User must:

  • Show a valid government-issued photo ID. This includes a driver's license, passport, or alien Registration Receipt Card with photo.
  • Provide the wireless security passcode, or other account-identifying info as requested by the store.

Add a Retail Authorized User

  1. Go to your account profile. Sign in, if asked.
  2. Choose Permissions, then under In-store access (Retail Authorized Users) select Add authorized user.
  3. Follow the prompts to add one or more authorized users.

Remove a Retail Authorized User

  1. Go to your account profile. Sign in, if asked.
  2. Locate Permissions and select In-store access.
  3. Choose the trash can icon next to the person you want to remove.
  4. Select Yes to confirm removal.

Good to know: Before you can add an authorized user, your account must be 30 days old and have the first bill paid.

When calling AT&T, the account owner or an authenticated caller can manage the account. If they have a wireless account and want to manage it, they need to confirm the wireless security passcode or other info.

  • The account owner is the person who can identify themselves as financially responsible for the account. This person’s name is on the bill and can perform any function for the account.
  • An authenticated caller is someone who can confirm the account’s security passcode or other identifying info. This person can perform most of the same functions by phone as the account owner.
Last updated: June 10, 2026

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