You want an Instagram account but you'd rather not hand over your own phone number, or you simply don't have one that can receive texts. The short answer is that Instagram lets you sign up with an email address, so a phone number isn't strictly required. The part that catches people out comes later: Instagram may stop a new account with a "confirm you're a real person" style check and ask for phone verification. If you don't want to use your own number at that point, a private temporary number that can receive SMS will do the job.
Get a private number and receive your Instagram code →
Do you need a phone number for Instagram?
According to Instagram's help center, you tap Create new account in the app and enter your email address or mobile number, then type in the confirmation code sent to that address or number. After that you set a password, birthday, name and username. Email and phone are alternatives; the official flow doesn't require a phone.
A few things to know if you go the email route:
- Use an inbox only you can access. Instagram points out that if you log out and forget your password, you'll need that email to get back in.
- Enter your own birthday, even if the account is for a business or a pet. You must be at least 13.
- The sign-up screen can differ by region and app version. Sometimes the default field is the phone number and you need to switch to email. Go by what you actually see.
If you already have a Facebook account, you can also create Instagram from it. That avoids entering a number, but both accounts end up in the same Accounts Center with linked login details. If you'd rather keep them apart, sign up with email instead.
Why Instagram asks for phone verification after you signed up with email
This is where most "Instagram phone verification" searches come from. You skipped the phone number at sign-up, and then, sometimes days later and sometimes straight away, a screen blocks you until you enter a mobile number and the SMS code.
Instagram doesn't publish what triggers it. Its help center says phone numbers and emails are used to help you log in, reset your password and keep the account secure, and it lists a few reasons you might be asked to confirm contact details, such as never finishing a confirmation or not having added any contact info yet. For the "confirm you're human" type of check, user reports point to a few common situations:
- A brand-new account that follows, likes or messages a lot in a short time
- A new device or network, or a login location far from the usual one
- Many accounts on the same device or network
The check itself varies. It may be an SMS code, an email code, a captcha, and in some cases a short video selfie. Treat all of this as "may happen" rather than a rule; follow whatever the screen asks for.
To be clear about scope: this guide is for ordinary users who want to keep their personal number private. If an account was disabled for breaking the rules, or you want to create accounts in bulk, a temporary number isn't the answer, and that use goes against Instagram's Terms of Use. We don't cover it here.
How to receive the Instagram code on a private temporary number
Whether you choose the phone option at sign-up or get asked for a number afterwards, the process is the same. You rent a number for one order, enter it on Instagram, and the code appears on the order page on our site. The number is private; nobody else sees that SMS while your order is active.
- Create an account on our site and add credits. Signing up is free and credits are only used when you request a number. See the if you need to top up.
- Open Instagram's verification screen first. Get to the step where it asks for a phone number before going further. The countdown starts as soon as you take a number.
- Choose Instagram and a country. On the , each country shows its credit price and whether numbers are available. Pick one that has numbers.
- Request the number. It appears on the order page with a 15-minute countdown.
- Enter it on Instagram. Select the matching country code and type the number exactly as shown. Some forms split the country code and number, others use one field, so check you're not adding the country code twice.
- Request the code once. Tap Instagram's send button and keep the order page open. The code usually shows up within a minute or two, though timing varies.
- Enter the code. Copy it from the order page. If it never comes, cancel before the countdown ends or let the order expire, and the credits go back to your account balance automatically.
Three things to do right after you're verified
A temporary number gets you past this one check. It isn't a long-term recovery option. Once the order ends the number isn't yours, and it may be given to another customer. If Instagram later sends a login, password reset or recovery code to it, you won't receive it. So as soon as you're through:
- Add and confirm your own email. Do this under personal details in Accounts Center. Instagram's help center notes you can remove a confirmed phone number as long as at least one confirmed email or number stays on the account, so once your email is confirmed you can consider removing the temporary number.
- Turn on two-factor authentication with an authenticator app. In Settings, open Accounts Center, then Password and security, then Two-factor authentication, and choose Authentication app (for example Google Authenticator or Duo Mobile). Don't choose text message, since those codes would go to a number you no longer have.
- Save your backup codes. Under the same two-factor settings, "Additional methods" gives you backup codes. Store them somewhere safe; they get you in if you lose your phone or the authenticator app.
Please follow Instagram's Terms of Use and the laws where you live.
Instagram code not received or number rejected: what to try
These are the situations we see most often. Instagram doesn't publish most of its rules, so treat these as practical steps, not guarantees.
"This phone number can't be used" or a similar error. Instagram rejected that specific number, usually before any SMS is sent, so retrying it rarely helps. The number may already be linked to other accounts, or be a type Instagram doesn't accept. Cancel the order and try a different number, ideally in another country. For background on why some numbers pass more easily, read .
The code never arrives. Check the country code and digits against the order page. Instagram's "resend" option usually becomes available only after a wait; when it does, tap it once. If a few more minutes pass with nothing, cancel and switch country. The credits return to your balance. More general checks are in .
"Try again later" after too many resends. Requesting codes repeatedly can make Instagram stop sending for a while. Stop tapping, wait, and start again with a fresh number. Instagram doesn't publish how long the cooldown lasts, so go by what the screen says.
The email code doesn't arrive. If you signed up with email, check spam and promotions folders and make sure the address is spelled correctly. An address already linked to another Instagram account usually can't be reused for a new one.
Verified, then asked to confirm again soon after. Repeated checks on new accounts are not unusual. For the first few days, avoid bursts of follows or messages, fill in your profile photo and bio, and use the account normally. This is another reason to get your email and authenticator app set up early.
Country far from where you are. Using a number from another continent sometimes performs worse. If one country keeps failing, try one closer to where you actually are.
Which country should you pick
How readily Instagram accepts numbers differs by country and changes over time. We don't publish success rates because they depend on the service, the country and current conditions. What we can say:
- The shows each country's credit price and current availability before you spend anything.
- If the first number is rejected, switch country instead of retrying the same one.
- A country close to your actual location is a sensible default.
For how other social apps compare, see , and for a broader list, .
FAQ
Do I need a phone number to create an Instagram account?
Not necessarily. Instagram's help center describes entering either an email or a mobile number, then the confirmation code sent to it. Email sign-up skips the phone, though a later security check may still ask for one.
Why does Instagram ask for phone verification after I signed up with email?
Instagram doesn't say. It's common on new accounts, after a device or network change, or when activity looks unusual. It may be an SMS code, email code, captcha or video selfie.
Can I use a temporary number to receive the Instagram code?
Yes, if the number can receive a normal SMS and Instagram sends to it. Acceptance varies by country and number, so keep a second country in mind.
What should I do if the Instagram code never arrives?
Check the number, resend once when allowed, then cancel and switch country. Cancelled and expired orders return the credits to your account balance.
Why does Instagram say my phone number cannot be used?
Instagram doesn't publish its criteria. The number may be linked elsewhere, be a rejected type, or you may have tried too often. Switch number or country.
Can the number receive Instagram codes after the order ends?
No. It may go to someone else. Add your own email and set up two-factor authentication with an authenticator app right after signing up.
How much does it cost?
Each country's price is shown in credits before you request a number. Signing up is free, and if no code arrives the credits go back to your balance.
