Instagram sends a six-digit code to the email address or mobile number you entered at sign-up, and a login code by text, WhatsApp or authenticator app if two-factor authentication is on. When a text does not come, the fastest fix is usually another route you already set up, not another request on the same one.
Where Instagram sends the code
| Situation | Where the code goes | |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmation code | Creating a new account | To the email or mobile number you entered |
| Login code by text | Two-factor login with SMS | To the mobile number on your account |
| Login code by WhatsApp | Two-factor login, WhatsApp switched on | Into WhatsApp; needs the text method set up first |
| Authentication app | Two-factor login with an app | Generated in the app, nothing is sent |
| Backup code | A code cannot be delivered | One of the codes you saved earlier |
Instagram at a glance
- Virtual numbers
- Depends on the number range
- Code sent by
- SMS
- Code length
- 6 digits
- Asks for the number again later
- Yes
- One number per account
- No
Code not arriving: what to check
- The email or number you typed At sign-up the code goes exactly where you sent it. A typo in the address or a missing country code is the most common reason nothing arrives.
- Spam and filtered texts Email codes end up in junk folders; texts from unknown senders end up in filtered folders on many phones.
- Reception A text needs mobile signal. On Wi-Fi only, choose WhatsApp or the authenticator app if they are set up.
- The newest code If you requested more than once, use the latest message and ignore the earlier ones.
- The number on the account For login codes, check the number under Settings → Accounts Centre while you are still logged in somewhere.
Asking for the code another way
- WhatsApp: if you turned it on as a two-factor method, the login code can come there instead of by SMS.
- Authentication app: Instagram recommends it; the code appears in the app without any message being sent.
- Backup codes: meant for exactly the case where a code cannot be sent. Each one works once.
- Trusted device: a phone you marked as trusted earlier can log in without a code. Never mark a shared or public device.
Too many tries: when to wait
After several requests or wrong entries Instagram stops sending codes for a while. It does not publish how long, so put the phone down for a few hours and then request one code only. Why the lock exists and what extends it: too many attempts.
New account, no code at all
If you are creating a new profile and the text never comes, switch to signing up with your email address; Instagram sends the confirmation code there too. If you want the account on a separate number instead of your personal one, a one-time number can take that single sign-up code.
- Instagram asks for the number again for some logins, so add an email and an authenticator app to the account straight away.
- Choose the country by the success rate in the app, and request the code by SMS.
Common questions
How many digits is the Instagram code?
Six digits, whether it comes by text, by email or through WhatsApp.
Can Instagram send the code to WhatsApp?
Yes, for two-factor login, once you have turned on text messages first and then the WhatsApp method.
Where do I find my Instagram backup codes?
In Accounts Centre → Password and security → Two-factor authentication → your account → Additional methods → Backup codes. You must be logged in.
Why does the Instagram confirmation email not arrive?
Check the spelling of the address and your junk folder. If it still does not come, sign up with a mobile number instead.