Guides
Practical help with phone verification, written for the problems people bring to us.
Your phone number is already linked to another account: what to do
Why apps turn down a number that’s on another account, and your options: free the number, recover the old account, or use a different number.
Verification code not arriving? What to check
The usual reasons a verification code doesn’t arrive by SMS, and what to check in order: the number, the delivery method, resend limits and the country.
How to keep your personal phone number private online
Practical steps to stop your phone number spreading: app privacy settings, contact discovery, sign-in methods, and when a separate number helps.
Free sites to receive SMS online: the risks of a public number
How public SMS inbox sites work, why apps often turn their numbers down, and how a code anyone can read puts your account at risk. Plus when a private number is worth it.
How to keep an account after verifying with a temporary number
A temporary number stops receiving codes, but the app may still send them. The steps that make sure you can always sign in: email, authenticator app, backup codes and more.
Virtual phone numbers for verification: will apps accept them?
The kinds of virtual numbers, how apps check a number before they send a code, why some numbers get turned down, and what to do when one is.
Why do apps ask for your phone number?
The real reasons apps want a phone number, from stopping fake accounts to recovery and finding friends, and how to limit what they do with yours.