If you are waiting for an SMS or a verification code on your virtual number and nothing arrives, go through the checklist below from top to bottom. Most cases are solved in the first three steps.
1. Check that the number can receive SMS
Not every number receives SMS. Open the "MY NUMBERS" block in your Personal Account and look at the number type:
- Voice and toll-free numbers receive calls only. They cannot receive SMS. Not sure what you bought? See Which type of number is best to choose.
- SMS numbers and numbers "For registration" receive SMS and verification codes.
If your number cannot receive SMS, you need a number of a suitable type.
2. Check that the number is active
A number that is "Not active" or "Waiting for payment" does not receive anything. Make sure the order is paid and the number is activated. Numbers with manual activation can take some time after payment. See How to purchase a number.
3. Look in the right place
Where the message shows up depends on your settings:
- One-use SMS numbers: the code appears in the "SMS" column of the table in your Personal Account. See How to purchase a one-use SMS number.
- Monthly numbers: SMS go to the place you chose for forwarding: email, Telegram, Slack or your own server. Check that forwarding is set up and that the message did not land in spam. See How to Set Up SMS Forwarding.
4. Check how you entered the number
- Enter the number with the country code, without spaces, brackets or dashes.
- Do not add an extra zero or the "+" twice.
- Make sure the number you typed is the same as the one in your Personal Account.
5. Wait and request the code again
Codes can be delayed by the sender or by the operator network. Wait 2 to 3 minutes before you request a new code. Many services limit the number of attempts, so repeated requests in a row can block new codes for some time.
6. Check the service itself
Some services do not send codes to virtual numbers, or send them only to certain number types. This is a limit of the service, not of your number. Things you can try:
- Use a number "For registration" (non-VoIP). It works with more services than regular virtual numbers.
- Try again later or from another device or network, because the service may have limited your attempts.
- Use a different country for the number if the service supports it.
One-use numbers are public or recycled, so a service may already have blocked them. If the code does not come from a one-use number, try another one.
7. Bypass the security algorithms
Please note that successful registration in services with strict security algorithms depends not only on the number, but to a greater extent on your own actions. To bypass these algorithms, follow these simple rules:
- Your IP address must match the country of the phone number. We recommend using reliable, paid VPN services.
If you’re using a public IP address from a free VPN service, you’re sharing it with hundreds of other users, whose actions may have caused the service to block that IP address.
- You need a clean device and an IP address that have not previously been blocked by the service.
If the device has been blocked before, resetting the phone to factory settings and reinstalling the app will most likely help.
If you’ve encountered restrictions on devices that were connected to your usual network, switch to a different connection and change your IP address using a VPN. - Use only the original version of the app (not "Lite" or "Plus") on a real phone. Do not use the desktop version or a smartphone emulator;
- Change the Language/Time settings on your phone to match the country of the number
- Do not spam the app with repeated requests. If you do this too often, your number, device and IP address may be blacklisted by the app.
8. If nothing helps
Contact our support team and send us:
- the number and the country;
- the service you wanted to register in or get the code from;
- the date and time (with your time zone) when you requested the code;
- a screenshot of the error message displayed by the service.
With this information we can check the incoming messages on our side much faster.
