# Can 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](https://smsfalcon.com/virtual-number/telegram) 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](https://smsfalcon.com/virtual-number/telegram). 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](https://smsfalcon.com/non-voip-number) and our [other guides](https://smsfalcon.com/guides).

## Sources

[Telegram FAQ](https://telegram.org/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)](https://telegram.org/blog/ultimate-privacy-topics-2-0): sign-up without a SIM card using numbers on Fragment.

[Fragment: Numbers](https://fragment.com/numbers): IDs not tied to a SIM card for logging in to Telegram, traded in TON.

Source: https://smsfalcon.com/guides/telegram-without-phone-number · Updated 2026-11-05