How to Verify an Apple ID Without Your Own Phone Number

You can't skip phone verification on an Apple ID altogether, but the number doesn't have to be a SIM in your pocket. Apple accepts any number that can receive a text or a voice call: a landline, a family member's phone, or in some cases a virtual number. Codes can also go straight to another Apple device you're already signed in on.

The catch is that whatever number you pick becomes the key to your account. Choose one you'll still control a year from now.

Your options side by side

Why Apple wants a phone number in the first place

Apple IDs (now labelled "Apple Account" in newer software) use two-factor authentication, usually shortened to 2FA. After you enter your password on a new device, Apple sends a six-digit one-time password, or OTP, to prove it's really you.

That code needs somewhere to go. Apple calls it a trusted phone number. If your account was created on iOS 10.3, macOS 10.12.4 or later, 2FA is switched on automatically and can't be turned off. So the question isn't whether you need a number. It's whose number and what type.

Creating the account itself is the easy part. You verify an email address first. The phone number comes in when Apple asks you to confirm your identity or set up 2FA, and that's where people get stuck.

Landline: the underrated option

Most people forget this one. When you add a landline as your trusted number, Apple lets you pick "Text message" or "Phone call". Choose the call. An automated voice reads out the code, and you type it in.

This suits anyone without a mobile plan, such as older relatives, kids on a family iPad, or people between SIMs. The limitation is obvious: if the code comes by call, you have to be home to answer it. Landline texting is patchy, so don't count on SMS to a fixed line. Some carriers do deliver text-to-landline as a voice read-out, but that depends on the provider, so check with yours.

Borrowing someone else's number

Using a parent's, partner's or close friend's mobile is the most common workaround, and it does work. Apple only checks that the number can receive a code.

Think before you do it, though. Every time you sign in on a new device, that person gets the code. If you ever forget your password and start recovery, prompts go to their phone too. And if they change numbers or lose access, you're the one who gets locked out.

Apple lets you add more than one trusted number. Add the borrowed one now, and swap in your own as soon as you have a SIM.

Skip the number entirely: use a trusted device

If you already own an iPhone, iPad or Mac signed into the same Apple ID, you don't need SMS at all. When you sign in somewhere new, the code appears as a pop-up on the trusted device, under a message that reads "Apple ID Sign In Requested". You tap Allow and read the code aloud.

You can also generate one manually. On an iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name, then Sign-In & Security (labelled Password & Security on older iOS), and choose Get Verification Code. It works offline too, which is handy when there's no signal.

Virtual numbers: what to expect

A virtual number is a phone number delivered over the internet rather than tied to a physical SIM. Many are VoIP (voice over internet protocol), which means the number runs on internet telephony rather than a mobile carrier.

Here's the honest picture. Apple doesn't publish a list of numbers it blocks, and results vary by number range and country. Some virtual numbers receive Apple's text without a problem. Others get an error when you try to add them, or the code simply never arrives. We hear about both outcomes regularly, and there's no reliable way to predict which you'll get before you try.

If you want to try one anyway, use a private rental from a service like PVACodes rather than a shared number, and rent long enough that you won't lose it mid-setup. A one-time number that expires after twenty minutes is a poor choice for the number that guards your account, since you'll need codes again every time you sign in on a new device. If you've hit problems with a different app first, our guide to Instagram phone number verification online covers how virtual-number rejections usually look.

Whatever you choose, don't treat a short-term virtual number as permanent. Numbers that lapse get recycled to new owners, and a stranger could end up receiving codes tied to your Apple ID.

Adding or changing a trusted number

Once you can receive a code somewhere, set it up properly.

1. Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad and tap your name at the top.
2. Tap Sign-In & Security, then Two-Factor Authentication.
3. Under Trusted Phone Number, tap Edit, then Add a Trusted Phone Number.
4. Enter the number, pick text or call, and confirm with the passcode if prompted.
5. Type the verification code when it arrives. The number is added once the code is accepted.

On a Mac, the path is System Settings, your name, then Sign-In & Security. On the web, sign in at account.apple.com and look under Sign-In and Security.

What happens if you lose access to the number

Apple support can't bypass 2FA for you. If you can't get a code and don't have a trusted device, you'll go through account recovery, which is deliberately slow. Apple says it can take several days or longer, depending on how much it can verify about you. Plan for this, because it's the real cost of picking a flimsy number.

Setting up a recovery contact (a trusted person who can help you regain access) or a recovery key adds a safety net. A recovery key, once enabled, is a 28-character code you must keep somewhere safe, and losing both it and your devices makes recovery impossible.

Scams and mistakes to avoid

• Public number websites. Anyone can see the incoming message, so someone else can request a password reset on your account.
• "Verification service" ads promising to unlock any Apple ID. Apple doesn't work with third parties for this. They want your password or money, sometimes both.
• Texts claiming your Apple ID is locked. Real Apple codes never come with a link asking you to log in. Never read a code to someone who calls you.
• Wrong format. Select the right country first, then enter the number without the leading zero. A UK mobile like 07700 900123 should go in as +44 7700 900123.
• Using a number you can't keep. It works today and fails in six months.

Our guides on creating an Viber account without a phone number go deeper on how apps treat numbers that aren't SIM-based, and much of it applies here too.

Frequently asked questions

Can I create an Apple ID without any phone number?

You can start an account with just an email address, but Apple will ask for a trusted number when you set up two-factor authentication or confirm your identity. In practice, plan to provide one. The number can belong to someone else or be a landline, so it doesn't have to be a personal mobile.

Can I use a landline to verify my Apple ID?

Yes. Select the phone call option rather than text. Apple's automated system dials the landline and reads the six-digit code aloud. Make sure you're near the phone when you request it, because the code expires after a short time and you may need to request another call.

Will Apple accept a Google Voice number?

Sometimes. Apple doesn't promise that any specific VoIP number will work, and results vary from person to person. If the code doesn't arrive, try again after a few minutes or switch to a landline or a family member's mobile. Don't rely on it as your only recovery method.

Is it safe to use someone else's phone number?

It's fine if you trust them completely, but they'll see every code sent to that number. If they lose the phone or change numbers, you can lose access. Treat it as a short-term fix and add your own number as soon as possible.

How long does an Apple verification code take to arrive?

Usually a few seconds to a minute. If nothing shows up after two minutes, check signal and the number format, and make sure your device isn't filtering unknown senders. Request a new code rather than waiting, since each code is time-limited and tied to the most recent request.

Can I verify my Apple ID with only an email address?

An email verifies the account exists, but it doesn't satisfy two-factor authentication. For sign-ins on new devices you still need a trusted device or phone number. Email alone works for basic steps like confirming the address, not for ongoing security.

What if I can't receive the code on my old number?

If you still have a trusted device, you can change the number from there. Without one, you'll need to use Apple's account recovery. Expect a waiting period of several days or longer, and keep the device you started recovery on powered on and connected.

Can I turn off two-factor authentication to avoid the phone number?

Not on accounts created with recent software. For these, Apple enables 2FA automatically and doesn't offer an option to remove it. A few older accounts may still have the option within a short window after enrolling. Check Apple's current support page rather than trusting old guides.

Does a virtual number work for Apple ID recovery?

Only if you still control that number at recovery time. If the rental expired or the number was reassigned, the code goes elsewhere. This is the biggest weakness of short-term virtual numbers, and the reason a long-term private number is safer than a one-off.

Which option to pick

For most people the best answer is a landline or a trusted family mobile, backed by a signed-in Apple device that can generate codes. Use a private virtual number only if you accept that Apple may reject it and you can keep it active long term. Don't use a public or free shared number for an account that holds your photos, payments and backups. This week, add at least two trusted methods to your account so one lost number can't lock you out.

Reviewed by the PVACodes SMS verification team. Updated January 2026.

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