How to Create a PayPal Account Without a Phone Number
In most countries you can't fully skip the phone number. PayPal's signup form usually asks for one, and even when you get through without it, PayPal may ask for it later to confirm your identity or secure the account. What you can often do is avoid using your own mobile: a landline, a family member's number, or a number you already hold on another device.
The rules differ by country, by app versus website, and by account type, and PayPal changes its flows without announcement. Treat what follows as the pattern we see most often, then check what your own screen shows.
Quick answer
Start signup on PayPal's website and look for a skip or "not now" option beside the phone field. If it's required, use a landline that accepts voice calls, or a number you control. The catch: a number you can't keep is a bad idea for a money account, because losing it can lock you out later.
Why PayPal keeps asking for a number
Two causes account for nearly every case.
First, the field is mandatory in your region or flow. PayPal uses the number for login confirmation, fraud checks and account recovery. In many places the form simply won't move forward without one.
Second, you do have a number, but PayPal rejects it or can't reach it. Typical reasons are an internet-based (VoIP) number, a typo in the country format, a number tied to another account, or a text that never arrives.
Everything else is a variation on those two.
Which problem is yours? A 30-second check
Open the signup page in a regular browser window and reach the step with the phone field. Then look at what's happening.
- No skip link, and the Next button stays grey or throws a "required" warning: the field is mandatory. Go to the first fix below.
- You typed a number and got an error such as "we can't verify this number" or it won't accept the format: the number is the problem, not the form.
- The number was accepted but no code shows up after a couple of minutes: it's a delivery problem.
- You're on the app and see no way past the field: try the website before assuming it's required.
Takes half a minute, and it saves you from trying fixes that don't match your problem.
Fix for the top cause: the field is mandatory
If PayPal won't let you proceed without a number, you aren't going to find a clever trick. Trying to dodge the requirement tends to get accounts flagged, and PayPal handles money, so its checks are stricter than a typical app. The legitimate route is to supply a number that isn't your personal mobile.
Try the website, not the app
The web signup and the mobile app don't always behave the same. Some users find the phone step is optional or deferrable on one and mandatory on the other. Use a desktop browser, enter your email, and see whether a skip option appears. If so, you can usually add the number later, but expect PayPal to prompt for it when you send or withdraw money.
Use a landline
A home or office landline works in many cases, because PayPal can read the code out over a voice call instead of a text. Enter it with your country code, for example a US number as ten digits, or in international format like +1 followed by the area code. If the flow only offers text, a landline will fail silently, so look for a "call me instead" style option after you submit.
Borrow a number you trust
A partner, parent or flatmate can receive the code for you. This is the most reliable workaround when you don't have a SIM. The downside is real: that person will also receive any future security codes and recovery messages. Update the number to your own as soon as you get one.
Use a number you actually keep
A prepaid SIM or a long-term rental number you control works better than anything disposable. Prepaid SIMs are cheap in most countries and count as real mobile numbers, which PayPal tends to accept. A PVACodes rental can also work as a private, non-shared option, though PayPal may still reject VoIP-type numbers depending on your country, so don't count on it.
Fixes for the runner-up causes
When PayPal rejects a number you do have, check these in order.
- Format. Select the right country in the dropdown and don't type the country code twice. A leading zero often has to be dropped in international format.
- Number type. Internet-based numbers are frequently refused. A real mobile or landline number is safer.
- Already in use. If the number is confirmed on an older account, PayPal may refuse it or ask you to remove it there first. Log in to the old account and check.
- Delivery. Wait the full couple of minutes, check that your phone isn't blocking unknown senders, then tap resend once. Repeated resends can trigger a temporary lockout.
Delivery trouble is common across payment apps. Our guide on why Venmo codes don't arrive covers the carrier-side causes, and since Venmo is owned by PayPal, much of it applies here too.
Why not just use a free public number?
Public inbox sites show every incoming text to everyone who visits the page. If you register PayPal with one, a stranger can see your login codes. Many of those numbers are also long since blocked, and you lose them the moment you close the tab. For a throwaway forum account, fine. For something that holds money, it's a poor trade.
We see this regularly: people get through signup with a disposable number, then can't pass a security check three weeks later because they can no longer receive the code. By then the account may hold a balance. Our piece on temporary numbers for Venmo explains the same risk in a sister payment app.
What to do when nothing works
First, try again later from a different network and a clean browser session. Signup errors sometimes come from a flagged connection rather than anything you did.
Second, contact PayPal through the Help Center and explain that you have no mobile number. Support can sometimes point to the option that applies in your country, and that's the only source that will be accurate for your account. Don't rely on forum posts that claim a universal bypass.
Third, accept that in some regions the answer is simply to get a number. A basic prepaid SIM costs little and works as a permanent anchor for recovery. It isn't glamorous, but it's the approach that doesn't break later.
Common questions
Can I open a PayPal account with only an email?
Sometimes the signup starts with email, but PayPal commonly asks for a phone number during or after setup. Whether it's optional depends on your country and the flow. If you can skip it, expect prompts to add one later.
Can I use a landline for PayPal?
Often yes, if the flow offers a voice call. If it only sends text, a landline can't receive the code. Look for an alternate delivery option after entering the number.
Will PayPal accept a Google Voice or other internet number?
It varies. Many financial services reject internet-based numbers, and PayPal's checks aren't published. Try it only if you control the number long term, and have a backup ready.
Is it safe to use someone else's number?
It works for signup, but that person can see your codes. Use someone you trust, and swap in your own number at the first chance in your security settings.
Can I add a phone number later and skip it now?
If the form shows a skip option, yes. PayPal can still ask for one when you move money or when it detects unusual activity, so don't assume you'll avoid it indefinitely.
Why does my code expire so fast?
Security codes are typically valid for only a few minutes. If it expires, request a new one and use only the newest message, since older codes stop working.
Does a business account need a phone number too?
Business signup generally collects contact details, and a number is often among them. Requirements can differ from personal accounts, so check the form for your country.
What if I lose access to my number after signup?
Use the Help Center's account recovery steps and be ready to verify your identity another way. Add a backup method like an authenticator app if PayPal offers it for your region.
Your next step
Open PayPal's website in a desktop browser and check whether the phone field has a skip option. If it doesn't, use a landline with voice-call delivery or a number you'll keep for years, and avoid shared public inboxes entirely. If you can't get any usable number, contact PayPal support before trying workarounds that put the account at risk.