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How to Create a ChatGPT Account Without a Phone Number
A practical guide — 2026
OpenAI requires a phone number to create a ChatGPT account. If you would rather keep your personal number out of it — whether for privacy, to create a second account, or because you do not have a US SIM card — this guide shows you how to get through that step without using your real number.
This works whether you are signing up for a free ChatGPT account, upgrading to Plus, or setting up an OpenAI API account for development work.
Short answer: OpenAI blocks free VoIP numbers (Google Voice, TextNow) outright. A virtual number from
TextVerify.io uses a genuine US mobile carrier network, passes OpenAI’s check, and keeps your personal number completely out of their system.
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Why ChatGPT Asks for a Phone Number
OpenAI added phone verification to reduce bot signups and abuse across its platform. When you create an account, they send a one-time code to the number you enter. Once you put that code in, your account is confirmed and you are good to go.
The issue is that once your number is linked to an OpenAI account, it sits in their database permanently. It also means one personal number can only be used for a limited number of accounts. For anyone who needs multiple accounts — for different projects, teams, or testing — that becomes a problem. Using a virtual number gets around this entirely while keeping your actual number completely private.
💡 Worth knowing: OpenAI actively blocks internet-based VoIP numbers during phone verification. Free temporary number sites almost always hand out VoIP numbers — which is why they get rejected. TextVerify.io provides numbers from real US mobile carriers, so they pass OpenAI’s checks without any trouble.
Most people try one of these before finding something that actually works. Save the time:
| Google Voice — VoIP. OpenAI detects internet-generated number ranges and rejects them immediately. The code never arrives. |
| TextNow / TextFree — Same category as Google Voice. OpenAI’s VoIP filter catches these too. |
| Free public SMS websites — Their number pools are publicly shared and already flagged by OpenAI. Even if a code somehow arrives, anyone on the site can see it — a serious risk for an AI account you plan to use regularly. |
| Borrowing a friend’s number — Ties your ChatGPT account permanently to their SIM. If they ever need their number for their own OpenAI account, you run into a conflict. |
What OpenAI accepts is a genuine US carrier number. That is what a paid virtual number service provides.
Here is the full process for creating a ChatGPT account without using your personal number:
| 1 |
Create a TextVerify account
Open textverify.io and sign up with your email. No phone number required. Your SMS dashboard is ready immediately after registration.
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| 2 |
Add credits and get a number for ChatGPT
Top up your balance, search for ChatGPT or OpenAI in the service list, and pick a US temporary number. You can also choose a specific US state for your number.
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| 3 |
Open ChatGPT and begin sign-up
Go to chat.openai.com and start the account creation process. Enter your email and work through the steps until OpenAI asks for a phone number. Stop there.
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| 4 |
Paste your TextVerify number and request the code
Copy your TextVerify number and paste it into the ChatGPT phone field. Set the country to United States (+1) and tap to send the code. Do not switch away yet.
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| 5 |
Grab the code from your TextVerify inbox
Switch to TextVerify. The 6-digit code from OpenAI will be in your dashboard within seconds. Copy it immediately.
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| 6 |
Enter the code and finish setup
Paste the code into ChatGPT and confirm. Your account is verified and ready to use. Your personal number was never part of this process.
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⚠️ Quick tip: Keep TextVerify and ChatGPT open in separate tabs. OpenAI’s codes do not stay valid for long — the sooner you switch over and enter it, the better.
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Using a free VoIP number first. If Google Voice fails, you may hit OpenAI’s rate limit on verification requests before switching to something that works. Go straight to a real carrier number and skip the trial and error. |
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Waiting before requesting the code. Once you have your TextVerify number, go straight to ChatGPT and request the code immediately. The number’s active window is short — every minute you delay before triggering the SMS shortens the time you have left. |
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Not matching the area code to your account location. If your ChatGPT account is linked to a specific US region, pick a TextVerify number from the same state. Consistent location data reduces the chance of follow-up identity checks. |
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Using a one-time number for an account that needs ongoing codes. If you plan to use two-factor authentication on your ChatGPT or OpenAI API account, get a rental number instead. A one-time temporary number expires quickly and will not be available for future login codes. |
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Not switching numbers when nothing arrives. Hit resend on the ChatGPT page and give your TextVerify dashboard a refresh. If still nothing after 30 seconds, get a new number and try once more. You are not charged if no message was delivered. |
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Frequently Asked Questions
| Q |
Does a virtual number actually work for ChatGPT verification?
Yes. TextVerify uses numbers from real US mobile carriers, so OpenAI has no way to distinguish them from a personal SIM. They go through without any flags or errors.
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| Q |
Does this work for ChatGPT Plus and the OpenAI API too?
Yes. Whether you are setting up a free ChatGPT account, a Plus subscription, or an OpenAI API developer account, the phone verification step is the same. TextVerify works for all three.
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| Q |
Can I create more than one ChatGPT account?
Yes. Each temporary number handles one verification. If you need several accounts, pick a new number for each one. A rental number is a better fit if you are setting up many accounts over several weeks.
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| Q |
What if the code does not arrive?
Tap resend on the ChatGPT page and wait about 30 seconds. If nothing comes through, get a fresh number from TextVerify and try again. There is no charge on any number that did not receive a message.
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| Q |
Is using a virtual number against OpenAI’s rules?
OpenAI’s terms prohibit creating accounts for abusive purposes, not for protecting your privacy. Using a virtual number to keep your personal SIM off yet another platform is completely within normal use.
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Bottom line
Getting through ChatGPT’s phone verification without your personal number is straightforward with the right tool. A TextVerify.io number routes through a genuine US carrier, the code arrives in seconds, and your real number stays completely out of OpenAI’s system the entire time.
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Disclaimer: TextVerify is an independent third-party service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to OpenAI, ChatGPT, or any other platform mentioned in this article. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
