ChatGPT or Claude says your phone number has been used too many times

OpenAI and Anthropic both ask for a phone number to cut down on spam accounts, and both limit how many accounts one number can verify. Once a number reaches the limit, the next sign-up with it stops.

Claude

Claude asks every new member to verify a phone number with a 6-digit code. Anthropic’s help centre says one number can verify at most three Claude accounts; past that, you’ll see “That phone number has been used too many times.”

• Sign in to one of the accounts that used the number and ask Anthropic’s support to unlink it. Once they do, the number can verify another account.
• You can’t change the number on an account yourself once it’s verified.
• You sign in to Claude with your email or Google, not the number, so it’s only needed for this one check.

ChatGPT and the OpenAI platform

ChatGPT itself doesn’t usually ask for a number. OpenAI asks for one when you create your first API key on its platform, and sometimes when you start using Codex. Its help centre says a number can verify up to three accounts, and deleted accounts still count; past that, you’ll see that the number is already linked to the maximum number of accounts.

• There’s no setting to raise the limit yourself; OpenAI’s support is the only route.
• If OpenAI offers WhatsApp as well as text, ask for the code by text message (SMS).

Another number

If your numbers are used up, a one-time number like ours receives the code. It costs $1; if no code arrives within 20 minutes, the money goes back to your balance. Get a number for Claude or OpenAI.

Their rules

Check each service’s terms before opening another account, and don’t use one to get round a suspension: that breaks their rules and ours (see our Acceptable use policy).