You can use WhatsApp without a SIM card in the phone, but not without a phone number. WhatsApp only needs to deliver one six-digit code to a number, by SMS or call, during registration; after that the app runs over Wi-Fi. The number can sit in another phone, be a landline with WhatsApp Business, or be a one-time number that receives the code.
WhatsApp needs a number, not a SIM in the phone
Registration checks that you can receive a message on a number at that moment. Where the number lives does not matter to WhatsApp, as long as the code reaches you while the timer runs.
WhatsApp's help centre lists number types it does not support, among them VoIP, toll-free and premium numbers. Landlines work only in the WhatsApp Business app.
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
Three ways to register without a SIM
| How the code arrives | Best for | |
|---|---|---|
| Landline with WhatsApp Business | By phone call to the landline | A shop or office that wants its fixed number on WhatsApp |
| A number for one code | By SMS to a temporary number | A separate profile on a Wi-Fi tablet or a phone without a plan |
| Linking to your existing account | No code: you scan a QR code | Using your own WhatsApp on a second device |
A linked device is not a new account. It mirrors the account on your main phone.
Landline setup has its own guide: WhatsApp with a landline number.
Step by step with a one-time number
- Install WhatsApp and connect to Wi-Fi No SIM required. Stop at the screen that asks for your phone number.
- Get a number for WhatsApp Choose WhatsApp, then a country. WhatsApp is strict, so compare success rates and favour the highest.
- Enter it with the right country code Select the country in WhatsApp's list and type the rest without a leading zero.
- Wait for the SMS, not the call The one-time number receives texts only. If WhatsApp offers to call, ignore it and let the text arrive.
- Type the six digits Nothing after about two minutes? Take another number for free rather than requesting more codes.
- Turn on two-step verification Settings → Account → Two-step verification. Set a password and add an email address.
Some countries have their own pages, for example WhatsApp with a Turkish number.
What happens later: re-verification and two-step
- A new phone or a reinstall sends a fresh code to the registered number. A one-time number is closed by then.
- Your two-step password (older accounts may still have a six-digit PIN) is separate from the registration code, and WhatsApp asks for it when the account is registered again.
- Forgot it? With an email on the account you can reset it by email. Without one, expect to wait a few days before WhatsApp lets you reset it.
- Keep a backup of your chats so a re-registration does not cost you history.
Tablet, PC or second phone: link it instead
If you only want your existing WhatsApp on another screen, do not register a second time. Link the device to your main phone: no SIM and no code on the new device. The details are in WhatsApp on a PC or tablet.
Common questions
Can I use WhatsApp on a phone with no SIM card?
Yes. WhatsApp runs on Wi-Fi. You only need a number that can receive the registration code once.
Can I register WhatsApp with a landline?
Only in WhatsApp Business. The standard app does not accept landlines; Business sends the code to the landline by phone call.
Why does WhatsApp reject my virtual number?
WhatsApp does not support VoIP numbers and checks number ranges closely. Try a different country with a higher success rate.
Will WhatsApp ask for the code again?
When you register on a new phone or reinstall, yes. Turn on two-step verification with a password and an email so you are not stuck.
Can the one-time number receive the WhatsApp call?
No. It receives texts only, so always wait for the SMS.