Telegram does not work without a phone number at sign-up: its FAQ calls the number the only way Telegram identifies a user, and landlines are not accepted. What you can do is keep that number private. Sign up with a number you do not hand out, set a username, and switch the phone number setting to Nobody, so people reach you without ever seeing it.
Does Telegram work without a phone number?
- Sign-up
- Needs a mobile number that can take a five-digit code. Landlines are not supported.
- Chatting
- Works by username. People can find and message you without knowing your number.
- Logging in again
- Uses the same number. The code often arrives inside Telegram on a device that is already signed in.
Telegram at a glance
- Virtual numbers
- Depends on the number range
- Code sent by
- SMS · inside the app · phone call
- Code length
- 5 digits
- Asks for the number again later
- Yes
- One number per account
- Yes
Signing up with a number you do not hand out
- Pick the number Telegram will know A second SIM, a work line, or a temporary number. Telegram treats each number as one account.
- Enter it on the sign-up screen Select the country first, then type the number without its leading zero.
- Type the five-digit code A brand-new number gets it by SMS. On a temporary number, read it in the app within ten minutes.
- Lock the account before anything else Set a two-step verification password and a recovery email in Privacy and Security.
Telegram numbers by country, with live availability, are on pages such as Telegram with a German number.
Hiding your number after sign-up
- Go to Settings → Privacy and Security → Phone Number.
- Set Who can see my phone number to Nobody.
- Below it, limit Who can find me by my number to your contacts.
- Go to Settings → Username and choose one. Usernames use a–z, 0–9 and underscores.
- Share your username or its t.me link instead of the number.
A side-by-side look at Telegram, Signal and WhatsApp privacy is in hiding your number in messengers.
When Telegram asks again on a new device
| Where the code goes | What you need | |
|---|---|---|
| You are signed in on another device | Into Telegram on that device | Nothing else; the number is not contacted |
| No other device is signed in | By SMS or call to the number | A number you still control |
| Two-step verification is on | Code first, then your password | The password you set |
Telegram's FAQ warns to keep the account tied to a number you control, or you may lose it.
If you signed up with a temporary number, stay logged in on at least one device and move the account to a lasting number under Settings → your number → Change Number. Your chats come with you. Missing codes are covered in Telegram code not received.
A second account in the same app
Telegram lets one app hold several accounts and switch between them without logging out. Each needs its own number. The setup is in a second Telegram account.
Common questions
Can I make a Telegram account without a phone number?
No. Telegram requires a mobile number at sign-up. You can hide it afterwards so other users never see it.
Can I use a landline for Telegram?
No. Telegram's FAQ says landlines are not supported.
Who can see my Telegram number?
By default only your contacts. Set Phone Number to Nobody and only people who already saved your number will still see it.
Can someone find me by my username and see my number?
No. If someone finds you by username, neither of you sees the other's number unless privacy settings allow it.
What if the temporary number is gone and I log out?
You may lose the account. Move it to a number you keep before you ever log out of every device.