Although, Telegram requires you to provide a phone number during the account creation process, it is still possible to use Telegram without using your phone number.
This can be achieved by using a Landline phone number or virtual phone number as provided by many well-known VoIP providers to verify your Telegram Account.
Once your Telegram account is verified, the virtual phone number that you provided during the account verification process is no longer used by Telegram to send/receive messages or to make/receive calls.
Use Telegram Without Phone Number
If you have Landline Phone Number, it can be used to verify Telegram Account by using the option to receive the verification code by phone call.
If you do not have a Landline phone number, you can get a virtual phone number from TextNow, TextFree or Google Voice and use it to create and verify Telegram Account.
Another option that is officially supported by Telegram is to buy an anonymous +888 phone number from its own Blockchain based Marketplace known as Fragment.
However, this method is unlikely to preferred by most users, who are only looking for a way to use Telegram on a secondary mobile device or use Telegram without associating their personal or business phone number.
Method 1: Verify Telegram Using Landline Number
As mentioned above, the most convenient way to use Telegram without phone number is by using a Landline Phone number to create and verify your Telegram Account.
1. Download the Telegram App on your mobile device from App Store (iPhone) or from Google Play Store (Android).
2. Once the App is downloaded, open Telegram and follow the initial set of instructions.
3. Select Country > Enter your Landline Phone Number and tap on Next to receive a Verification code from Telegram.
Since, Landlines cannot receive text messages, the text message sent by Telegram will fail, after which Telegram will try to send the verification code by making a call to your Landline phone number.
In about 1 to 2 minutes, Telegram will automatically call your Landline number and you will hear an automated voice from Telegram repeating the verification code.
4. Enter the verification code that you received from Telegram and tap on Next.
5. Follow the next set of onscreen instructions to complete the verification process.
After the phone number has been verified, you can enter your Name and add a Profile picture to complete the setup process of your Telegram Account.
Method 2: Verify Telegram Using Virtual Phone Number
Another way to use Telegram, without using your main personal or business phone number is by using a virtual phone number to verify Telegram Account.
You can get a virtual phone number from well-known VoIP service providers using steps as provided in this guide: How to Get Virtual Phone Number (Free & Paid).
After getting the virtual phone number, you can create and verify your Telegram Account using the following steps.
1. Download the Telegram App on your mobile device.
2. Once the download is completed, open Telegram and follow the initial set of onscreen instructions.
3. Select Country > Enter your Virtual Phone Number > tap on Next to receive a verification code from Telegram on your Virtual Phone Number.
Note: The Country selected should be the same as that of your Virtual Phone Number.
4. Open the VoIP app that you are using > Wait for 1 to 2 minutes and you will get an automated call from Telegram repeating the verification code.
5. Note down the Verification code > Enter the Verification code to verify your virtual phone number.
After the virtual phone number is verified by Telegram, you can finish setting up your Telegram profile by adding your Name and a profile picture.
Hopefully, one of these methods has helped you create a Telegram Account and allowed you to use Telegram on an iPhone or Android Phone that does not have a Phone Number or a SIM Card installed on it.
Method 3: Verify Telegram Using Fragment Number
As mentioned above, Telegram provides its own official way to register for an anonymous Telegram Account using phone number bought from its own marketplace known as “Fragment”.
Fragment is powered by TON Blockchain, which was developed by Telegram to facilitate buying and selling of anonymous phone numbers and other things using Toncoin cryptocurrency.
The phone numbers sold on Fragment are +888 numbers, which do not belong to any Country and do not require a physical or virtual SIM Card to be used on Telegram.
However, most of our readers are unlikely to be interested in knowing the steps to verify Telegram Account using Fragment number due the following reasons.
1. There is no fixed price for a Fragment phone number, as they are mostly bought and sold on auction.
2. Fragment phone numbers are being bought by collectors and speculators, which has been driving up their prices. For example, Fragment phone numbers that were available for $27 during their initial limited edition launch in December 2022 are now being sold for hundreds to thousands of dollars for premium phone numbers.
3. Fragment phone numbers can only be used on Telegram. They cannot be used to send/receive SMS messages or to verify WhatsApp and other online accounts.
4. Fragment phone numbers can only be bought/sold using cryptocurrency (TONS), which requires the users to go through the process of creating a TON Wallet, Pin code, 24-word recovery phrase and password to login to the Tonekeeper App.
5. The Fragment platform now requires KYC (know your client) verification for buying and selling anonymous phone numbers (Since, Nov, 2024).
Method 4: Verify Telegram Using Disposable Phone Number
- Disposable phone numbers are publically accessible, which makes them unsuitable from privacy and security point of view.
- You can end up losing access to Telegram Account, if Telegram requires a re-verification and your disposable phone number has expired.
Advantages of Using Telegram Without Phone Number
The real and measurable advantage of using Telegram without phone number is that it provides a way to put your spare or secondary mobile device to good use.
Instead of laying around unused, your secondary mobile device can now be given to someone in the family or you can use it yourself to make free calls local, national and international calls.
If you are a privacy focused individual, you can make use of Telegram for broad-range social, hobby, marketing and lead generation purposes, while reserving your main phone number for important Contacts and Accounts.