When a WhatsApp verification code doesn't arrive, start by working out which code is being requested and which number you're waiting on. On your own number, the usual cause is the waiting period after repeated attempts. If you're creating a new account with a virtual number, the country you choose matters most.
Which code is WhatsApp asking for?
WhatsApp uses three codes that are easy to confuse:
| Code | When it's requested | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| 6-digit registration code | Verifying your number for the first time or on a new phone | SMS, voice call or, if you added one, email |
| 6-digit two-step verification PIN | After the registration code, if two-step verification is on | Nowhere; you set this PIN yourself |
| 8-character linking code | Linking WhatsApp to a computer or tablet with your phone number | Shown on the device you're linking and entered on your phone |
If the code isn't reaching your own number
Select the country code from the list and type the number without a leading zero. When the timer ends, request the SMS again or use "Call me" to hear the code. If you ask for several codes in a short time, WhatsApp stops sending for a while, and the wait can grow with each attempt, so let the countdown finish and make a single request. WhatsApp's help page on how to verify your phone number also points out that verification needs a working internet connection.
When you'd rather not use your own number
WhatsApp allows one account per phone number. So if you want a second WhatsApp account, want to keep work and personal chats apart or want to sign up without sharing your personal number, you'll need a separate number. You can receive the code on a number reserved for you; compare country options and current prices on our WhatsApp virtual number page.
Why a WhatsApp code doesn't reach a virtual number
WhatsApp applies stricter checks to numbers from some countries and some number ranges. That's the most common reason a code doesn't arrive on a virtual number. Because a country's success rate changes over time, choosing by current data directly affects your chances.
Start with "Recommended countries"
With "Recommended countries" turned on in the Onay360 order screen, the countries with the highest success rate for WhatsApp are listed and sorted by that rate. Make your first attempt, and any retry after an order with no code, from this list. Other factors are covered in our country selection guide.
What to watch when ordering
- Ask for the code by SMS. Onay360 numbers are set up to receive texts; a code read out in a voice call won't appear in your panel. Don't use "Call me".
- Select the right service. The number is assigned to the service you choose, so make sure you ordered it for WhatsApp.
- Watch the timer. Orders stay active for 5 minutes. If no code arrives, the order is cancelled automatically and the amount returns to your balance, so you can try again with a new number.
- Don't retry a banned number. If WhatsApp says the number is banned from using WhatsApp, no account can be created on it. Place a new order.
What to do once the code arrives
After verifying, go to Settings > Account > Two-step verification, set a PIN and add your email address. As WhatsApp explains in About registration and two-step verification, re-registering your number then also requires that PIN. On an account created with a virtual number this matters even more, because you won't have access to the number later. Further steps are in our guide to keeping your account, and other apps are covered in our guide to missing verification codes.