How to sign up for Telegram without your own phone number: options and privacy settings

Telegram requires phone verification to sign up. Learn how the code is sent, the ways to avoid using your personal number, and how to hide your number and keep your account safe afterwards.

Telegram is known for privacy, but you still cannot sign up without a phone number. Many people who search for “Telegram without a phone number” actually want something more specific: not giving Telegram their everyday number, and not letting the people they chat with see it. This guide explains why Telegram requires a number, which options actually work, and which settings to change after you sign up.

Why Telegram always needs a phone number

A Telegram account is identified by its phone number. You must enter a number and the code during sign-up, and there is currently no way to skip this step. So “signing up without a phone number” really means not using your own everyday number and completing verification with a different number instead.

Your phone number does three jobs in Telegram: it receives login codes, it is the basis for recovering your account, and it lets friends in your contacts find you. Once you understand this, it is easy to see which features need another plan after you register with a temporary number.

Ways to avoid using your personal number

Use a temporary number to receive the code

This is the most common and cheapest option:

1. Choose a temporary number that can receive SMS, with the correct country code.
2. Enter the number in Telegram and tap “Next”.
3. Read the 5-digit code in the SMS within the validity period and enter it.
4. Set your name and profile photo, and you are done.

On SMS Activate, you can check prices and stock by country on the Telegram SMS page, then place an order to get a number. If you are not yet familiar with how temporary numbers work, read What is an SMS verification service? first.

Use an anonymous number

Telegram also supports logging in with an anonymous +888 number obtained through the Fragment platform, with no SIM card required. These numbers are bought with cryptocurrency and usually cost far more than one-time verification, so they suit people who want to keep a number unrelated to their identity for the long term.

Use a second number

If you have a work number or a second SIM card, you can sign up with that. The number stays with you, which makes receiving codes and recovering the account easier later, but it is still linked to you personally.

What if the code does not arrive by SMS?

Telegram sometimes sends the code to a Telegram app where you are already logged in instead of by SMS, and some users are asked to set up a login email, after which codes may be sent by email. Brand-new numbers usually still get an SMS. If it does not arrive:

• Make sure the number and country code are correct and that you did not enter the country code twice.
• Wait for the countdown to finish before choosing to resend, and avoid tapping repeatedly.
• Try another country or number; countries with plenty of stock usually receive codes more easily.

You can check order status and refund rules in the Help center.

Privacy settings to change after signing up

After registering with a temporary number, we recommend changing these settings right away so the account no longer depends on that number:

• Two-step verification password: turn on two-step verification in “Privacy and Security” and add a recovery email. When you log in on a new device later, you will need this password to get in, even if you cannot receive an SMS.
• Hide your phone number: set “Who can see my phone number” to “Nobody”, and limit “Who can find me by my number”.
• Set a username: let people find you by username instead of exchanging phone numbers.
• Stay logged in on a device: keep at least one device logged in, because Telegram sends codes to logged-in apps first.

Before you start

A temporary number is recycled when it expires, after which you can no longer receive SMS on it. If you want to keep the account long term, set a two-step verification password soon after logging in, and do not rely on that number for account recovery. Please follow Telegram’s terms of service and local law.

FAQ

Will I lose my Telegram account once the number is recycled?

Not immediately. As long as you stay logged in and have set a two-step verification password, you can keep using the account. But if you are logged out on every device and cannot receive a code, you may not be able to log in again, so keep at least one device signed in.

Which country’s number should I choose?

Pick a country with plenty of stock and a reasonable price. US numbers have wide coverage, and you can compare them on the US virtual number page. The country of the number generally does not affect how you use Telegram day to day.

How many Telegram accounts can one number register?

One phone number can be linked to only one Telegram account at a time. If the number was registered before, entering it will try to log in to the account that already uses it (which may also require that account’s password) instead of creating a new one. In that case, switch to another number.

Can I switch to my own number after signing up?

Yes. In Telegram’s settings, tap your phone number, choose to change it, and enter the code sent to the new number. Your chats, contacts and groups are kept. If you only want to keep your everyday number private for now, you can sign up with a temporary number first and switch later when you plan to use the account long term. Before switching, make sure the new number is not already used by another Telegram account.