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EspañolCan You Use Telegram Without a Phone Number?
No, you can't use Telegram without a phone number: Telegram requires one for every account, and its own FAQ calls the number the only way it identifies a user.
That number doesn't have to be your personal SIM, though: a separate number that only needs to receive one SMS code meets the same requirement.
What "without a phone number" actually means
Telegram's FAQ says each phone number is a separate account, and that the number is the only way Telegram identifies a user: whoever has the number, has the account.
There's no sign-up path that skips it.
What people usually mean is without my personal number.
That's possible in two ways: sign up with a different number that receives the SMS code, or use one of the +888 numbers sold on Fragment.
Once you're in, Telegram also lets you hide the number from other users in Settings › Privacy and Security › Phone Number.
By default, only people who have you in their contacts see it.
Telegram's one option with no SIM: Fragment's +888 numbers
Telegram announced sign-up without a SIM card in December 2022, using numbers sold on the Fragment platform.
Numbers not tied to a SIM
Fragment describes them as IDs not tied to a SIM card that let you log in to Telegram with your blockchain account.
Bought with Toncoin
They're traded on Fragment in TON, the TON blockchain's currency, mostly as resales and auctions.
Far pricier than an SMS number
Listings cost far more than a one-time SMS number, and the price moves with the TON market.
Telegram only
A +888 number logs in to Telegram.
It can't receive SMS codes from any other app.
A different number vs. a +888 number
| A different number (SMS) | A +888 number (Fragment) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A regular mobile-range number that receives the SMS code | A collectible number not tied to a SIM, held in a TON wallet |
| How you sign in | Telegram texts a code to the number | Through the blockchain account that holds the number |
| How you pay | Card or crypto on SMS Falcon | Toncoin (TON) on Fragment |
| Works for other apps | Yes, it's an ordinary number | No, Telegram only |
| Keeping access | Turn on Telegram's two-step verification and stay logged in | Keep the wallet that holds the number |
How to sign up for Telegram with a different number
- 1
Get a number that receives SMS
Pick a number for Telegram verification and pay by card or crypto.
It appears in your SMS Falcon account right after payment. - 2
Start the sign-up in Telegram
Tap Start Messaging, choose the number's country and paste the digits.
- 3
Ask for the code by SMS
A brand-new number has no other Telegram session, so the code comes by text.
SMS Falcon numbers receive texts only, so don't pick a call. - 4
Type the code
The SMS shows up in your SMS Falcon account.
Enter it and set your name. - 5
Turn on two-step verification
In Settings › Privacy and Security, set a password and a recovery email.
Telegram's FAQ recommends it, because whoever has the number has the account. - 6
Hide the number
In Settings › Privacy and Security › Phone Number, choose who can see it.
Telegram without a phone number in short
| Phone number | Always required: it's how Telegram identifies you |
|---|---|
| Your personal SIM | Not required: any number that receives the code works |
| Without any SIM at all | Only with a +888 number from Fragment |
| How the code arrives | By SMS for a new number; SMS Falcon numbers receive SMS only |
| Hiding the number | Settings › Privacy and Security › Phone Number |
| After sign-up | Turn on two-step verification and a recovery email |
| SMS Falcon delivery | 90–98% on every service, refunded if no code arrives |
Telegram without a phone number FAQ
Do you need a phone number for Telegram?
Yes.
Every Telegram account is tied to a phone number, and Telegram's FAQ says the number is the only way it identifies a user.
Can I use Telegram without a phone number at all?
No.
The closest option is a +888 number from Fragment, which isn't tied to a SIM but is still a number on your account.
How do I create a Telegram account without my personal phone number?
Sign up with a different number that can receive one SMS code, such as a number for Telegram verification.
Then hide it in the privacy settings.
How do I log in to Telegram without a phone number?
You still need the number, but not always the SMS: if you're logged in on another device, Telegram may send the login code inside the app instead of by text.
What are Telegram's +888 numbers?
Numbers sold on Fragment that aren't tied to a SIM card.
They let you log in to Telegram with the blockchain account that holds them, and they work for Telegram only.
Do +888 numbers cost money?
Yes.
They're bought with Toncoin on Fragment and cost far more than a one-time SMS number.
Is it against Telegram's rules to sign up with a different number?
Telegram asks for a phone number, not your personal one.
Any number you control at sign-up meets the requirement, as long as you use the account within Telegram's terms.
Can I hide my number from other users after signing up?
Yes.
Go to Settings › Privacy and Security › Phone Number.
By default, only your contacts can see it.
Does a different number get me around Telegram's checks?
No.
It's for opening an account without your personal SIM.
It doesn't help get around a ban, a restriction or Telegram's terms.
What happens if I lose access to the number I signed up with?
You stay logged in on your devices, and new logins can get their code inside Telegram.
Turn on two-step verification with a recovery email, and use Change Number if you ever move to a number you'll keep.
See also why some numbers get refused and our other guides.
Sources
Telegram FAQ: each number is a separate account, the number is the only way to identify a user, number privacy settings, login codes sent inside Telegram, changing your number.
Telegram blog: No-SIM Signup (December 2022): sign-up without a SIM card using numbers on Fragment.
Fragment: Numbers: IDs not tied to a SIM card for logging in to Telegram, traded in TON.