Solving the Google Phone Number Verification Problem

If you’re getting a “Google phone number cannot be used for verification” error message, you can get a temporary number online. Learn more from the experts. 

Key Takeaways 

• Your Google phone number verification could fail for various reasons 
• You can try contacting Google support for help, but this may not yield results
• Your best bet is to get a new temporary phone number to sign up 

Creating a new account on popular platforms like Facebook, Google, or Instagram generally means the system will require you to provide a phone number. This protects your account from malicious activities by verifying that it’s indeed you trying to access your account when you log in. 

You may, however, unexpectedly get an error message that the phone number cannot be used for verification. This message can be annoying because regardless of the phone numbers you enter, you won’t be able to gain access to your account. 

You’re reading this guide because you’re looking for a way to navigate this frustrating situation. It may seem like contacting Google is the next best step, but that may not always be the easiest way out. 

You may have noticed from Google’s contact page that there’s no means of reaching the support team. Searching for “this phone number cannot be used for verification” may not yield results, either.

Getting locked out of your Google account because your phone number cannot be used for verification is frustrating, and to make matters worse, Google indicates that “you still may not be able to recover your account after finishing the process.” What should you do if you get the message, “this phone number cannot be used for verification”? Here’s what you need to know. 

Why Does Google Ask for a Phone Number to Verify an Account?

One of the most significant reasons Google asks for your phone number is to protect your privacy. It uses the phone number to:

• Check your identity against other registered records on the platform 
• Verify that you’re an actual human and not a robot or automated program searching through Google 
• Prevent identity theft, especially if you have turned on two-factor authorization through the phone

It’s also easier to recover your account and change your passwords more quickly if you have turned on phone number verification. 

Reasons Google Can’t Verify Your Phone Number 

There are many reasons Google can reject a phone number, causing it to fail at the verification stage. These include:

• The phone number was used on spam listings 
• The phone number on other web properties is different 
• The phone number you suggested is different from what you provided during account creation 

A “this phone number cannot be used for verification” message when opening a new account could also mean you’ve used the same number to open too many Google accounts. You may have exceeded the limit for a single phone number. 

You Can Verify a Google Account Without a Phone Number 

The first step in rectifying this error message is to confirm that you entered the correct number. It’s also vital to ensure you have a valid country code. If you do this and still get the error message, move to the next step. 

Skip Phone Verification on Google 

You can circumvent the verification step by creating a Google account without a phone number. At the point where the system asks you to enter a phone number, leave the field blank and click next. 

Here are steps to follow:

• Go to Gmail 
• Select the Create an Account button 
• Input your full name and username 
• Create a strong password 
• Click Next 
• Leave the phone number field empty 
• Enter your recovery email address 
• Finish up setting your account 

You are doing this at your own risk, however, as you might not be able to recover your account later when you need to do. It’s therefore highly recommended to use a temporary or burner phone number in these situations.

Register Your Gmail Account with Another Number 

You may not be comfortable with the idea of verifying your Gmail account without a phone number, so your next best option, in this case, is to acquire a new number. Google allows you to enter the country code, and entering it alongside your newly acquired number can be the solution you need to stop getting the “this phone number cannot be used for verification” error message. 

Use a Burner Phone Number to Get the Verification Code 

A burner phone number is a prepaid number you can get online without signing a contract with the service provider. Burner phone numbers effectively help you to:

• Verify your account on various services 
• Protect your identity 
• Protect your private phone number 
• Protect yourself from spam text messages and robocalls 

A burner number won’t completely protect you from spam texts and calls, however, because they can still redirect to the number. Most of them also have a short activation period, after which you can’t use them any longer. 

Buy a Temporary Phone Number 

Getting a temporary phone number from a verified provider to create your Google account is your best bet in navigating the verification error problem. You’re not using your personal, private phone number to receive SMS verification codes online; instead, you’re using a secure temporary phone number. 

The phone number you get is authentic and supported by major USA-based carriers. It’ll allow you to sign up into your Gmail, Facebook, or Instagram account with no issues. 

Connect to your account’s dashboard via internet service to access the verification code, and use it within the allotted time before it expires. No cellular services are required to access and enjoy this service. 

All these methods are solid options for accessing your accounts without using your private phone number. A temporary number is your best bet, though, and Tardigrada can help you get one.   

Use Tardigrada’s Temporary Phone Numbers Online 

The pros at Tardigrada can help you receive a Google SMS verification code online by providing you with a temporary phone number. Here’s what we do differently that sets us apart from the competition:

• USA-major carriers provide all our SIM cards and phone numbers, and we don’t use VOIP numbers.
• We pride ourselves in providing an easy-to-use dashboard where you can purchase and manage subscriptions to sites and numbers. 
• You can access SMS verification codes from any country without having to worry about verification code timeout. When we receive your SMS verification code we’ll post it on your Tardigrada dashboard, where you can access it from anywhere in the world. 

You can talk to a professional for further guidance on overcoming the phone number verification error message. We may also be able to show you how to bypass the 2FA phone number online, depending on your circumstances. Contact Tardigrada today to speak to an expert.