When the WhatsApp verification code does not arrive, the cause is usually one of three things: the number was entered in the wrong format, the phone blocks or cannot receive the text, or WhatsApp's timer is still running after earlier attempts. Fix the format first, then wait out the timer and use Call me. Requesting codes again and again only makes the wait longer.
Check these first
- Number format Choose your country in WhatsApp's list, then type the number without leading zeros or any international exit code.
- Can the phone get texts at all? Ask someone to send an SMS to your number written exactly as you entered it in WhatsApp, country code included.
- Signal and roaming WhatsApp says verification may fail while roaming or on a weak connection. Turn on Wi-Fi calling if your carrier supports it.
- Blockers and filters Switch off call-blocking apps, task killers and spam filters for unknown senders during registration.
- Restart and update Restart the phone. If that fails, back up your chats, then delete and reinstall the latest WhatsApp version.
Why WhatsApp makes you wait between codes
Each new request starts a countdown, and WhatsApp says the wait can last up to ten minutes. Retry only once it has finished.
- Use the wait: check the number format and your SMS filters while the countdown runs.
- Do not guess. Wrong entries lead to You have guessed the code too many times, a lock that WhatsApp says cannot be made shorter.
- Do not request a new code while the last one may still be on its way. A newer code makes the older one invalid.
How these locks work across apps: too many attempts.
SMS or call: switching the channel
- Call me
- Appears when the SMS timer runs out. An automated voice reads out the six digits.
- Voicemail
- In most regions, if you miss the call and voicemail is on, the code is left as a message.
- Only when re-registering an account that already has an email address saved in WhatsApp.
WhatsApp at a glance
- Virtual numbers
- Often refused: try another country
- Code sent by
- SMS · phone call
- Code length
- 6 digits
- Asks for the number again later
- Yes
- One number per account
- Yes
Error messages and what they mean
| What it means | What to do | |
|---|---|---|
| You have guessed the code too many times | Wrong codes were typed more than once | Wait the time shown, then enter only the newest code |
| A countdown before you can request again | The previous request is still active | Wait it out; there is no shortcut |
| The number is not supported | VoIP, landline in the standard app, toll-free or premium | Use a mobile number, or WhatsApp Business for a landline |
| A two-step password or PIN is requested | The account already has two-step verification on | Enter it, or reset it by email if one is saved |
Wording varies slightly between Android and iPhone.
If your own number cannot receive codes
When none of this helps, WhatsApp's advice is to ask your carrier whether SMS or calls to your number are blocked or delayed. That is the fix for an existing account.
Setting up a new WhatsApp account and only need the six-digit code? A one-time number receives it by SMS. WhatsApp is strict, so pick a country with a high success rate, for example on the page for WhatsApp with a Brazilian number.
Common questions
Why is my WhatsApp code not coming?
Usually a wrong format, a phone that blocks or cannot receive the text, or an active timer from earlier attempts. Check the format, wait, then use Call me.
How long do I have to wait for a new WhatsApp code?
The timer can run up to ten minutes, and wrong guesses add a lock of their own. WhatsApp says there is no way to make it faster.
Can I activate WhatsApp without waiting for the code?
No. WhatsApp always needs the code, by SMS, call or, when re-registering, email.
Can I get the WhatsApp code by email?
Only when re-registering an account that already has an email address saved in its settings.
Does WhatsApp accept a landline?
Only in WhatsApp Business, where the code arrives as a call to the landline.