What Is a PayPal Address & How Does It Work?

When people refer to a “PayPal address,” they mean the email address or phone number(s) linked to a PayPal account, not a physical street address. These digital identifiers are the primary means for sending and receiving funds through the platform, facilitating secure and efficient online transactions.

Understanding Your PayPal Identifiers

Unlike traditional banks, PayPal accounts are not identified by a conventional account number. Instead, your PayPal account is recognized by the email address or mobile number used to log in. To send you money, others direct payments to your registered email addresses or phone numbers. Similarly, when you pay someone, you use their PayPal-registered email address or phone number as the destination. This system allows for convenient digital transfers without sharing sensitive bank details.

For business accounts, PayPal also assigns a unique 13-digit alphanumeric Merchant ID. This identifier can be used for specific business functions, such such as creating payment buttons, to help protect your primary email address from being exposed to spam. However, for most personal transactions, the email address or phone number remains the standard identifier. Maintaining accurate and current identifiers is important for security and to ensure seamless financial operations.

Managing Your PayPal Identifiers

Managing the email addresses and phone numbers associated with your PayPal account is a straightforward process, ensuring it remains accessible and secure. To begin, navigate to your account settings, often found by clicking a gear icon or profile icon within the PayPal interface. Within the settings, you can locate sections dedicated to “Emails” and “Phone Numbers” to view your currently linked identifiers.

Adding a new email address or phone number involves selecting an “Add New” option and entering the details. PayPal then sends a confirmation code or link to the newly added identifier, which you must use to verify its ownership. This confirmation step activates the new contact information. You can also designate one email address as your primary for receiving notifications and login purposes.

Should you need to remove an identifier, select the specific email or phone number and choose the “Remove” or “Delete” option. You generally cannot remove your primary email address without first setting another as primary. Similarly, you may need at least two phone numbers registered to remove one. Regularly reviewing and updating these identifiers contributes to the security and smooth functioning of your PayPal account.