Facebook requires users to confirm their phone number for various security reasons, including logging in from a new device or resetting a forgotten password. However, many users have reported issues receiving the confirmation code sent via text message or phone call when trying to verify their number. There are a few potential reasons why Facebook may not be sending the confirmation code:
Incorrect or Outdated Phone Number on Facebook Account
The most common reason is that the phone number listed on your Facebook account is wrong or outdated. When you try to verify your number, Facebook attempts to send a code to the number currently associated with your account. If this is an old number you no longer have access to, you will not receive the code.
To fix this, you need to update your phone number on your Facebook account with your current, valid number. You can do this through your account settings. Just be aware you may need to provide additional information to confirm your identity before being able to change the number.
Temporary Block on Number Verification
Facebook may temporarily block the ability to verify a number if there have been multiple failed verification attempts. This is likely triggered if you or someone else has attempted to verify an incorrect number multiple times.
The block is usually in effect for a short time, ranging from a few hours to a few days. During this time, Facebook will not send a confirmation code when you try to verify that number. The only option is to wait for the block period to pass before trying again with the correct number.
Issues with Phone Carrier
In some cases, the issue may be on the phone carrier end, preventing Facebook’s verification texts or calls from going through properly. Here are some potential carrier-related issues:
- Text messaging is not enabled on the phone account
- Poor cellular reception or no signal
- Wireless carrier outage or technical issues
- Incorrect cellular data or text messaging settings on device
- Wireless account is suspended, expired, or has billing issues
Troubleshooting steps to try with the carrier include:
- Confirm text messaging is active on the account
- Check that the device has adequate signal
- Contact carrier support to see if there are any known outages
- Verify cellular and text messaging settings are configured properly
- Make sure the wireless account does not have billing or suspension issues
Facebook System Issues
In rare cases, widespread technical issues on Facebook’s end could temporarily disrupt the sending and receiving of verification codes for multiple users. This is not common, but there have been instances where Facebook has experienced outages or bugs that interfered with verification systems.
If the issue appears widespread, it is likely a system problem on Facebook’s end. Check their support pages or Twitter account for any notifications. You may just need to wait until their engineers resolve the problem.
Account Security Enabled
If you have certain account security features enabled, it can introduce extra steps when trying to verify your phone number. These include:
- Two-Factor Authentication – Requires entering a special login code or using a security key to access the account
- Login Approvals – Requires approval from other devices to login from a new one
Try disabling these features temporarily to remove the extra security steps. Then attempt the phone number verification again without them enabled.
How to Troubleshoot Facebook Phone Number Verification Issues
Here are some general troubleshooting steps to try if Facebook won’t send a code to verify your phone number:
- Double check the phone number on your Facebook account is definitely correct and up-to-date.
- Try forcing Facebook to re-send a new verification code several times.
- If verification worked previously, reboot your device and try again.
- Log out then back into your Facebook account and retry the verification.
- Temporarily disable any VPN or ad-blocking software which could interfere.
- Try switching to mobile data if on WiFi or vice versa.
- Verify the mobile number can receive texts and calls as normal.
- Contact your mobile carrier to confirm there are no issues on their end.
- Check Facebook’s system status page for any known issues.
If you still do not receive the verification code after exhausting the troubleshooting steps, your only options are to wait and try again later or to contact Facebook support. Provide as much detail as possible about the issue for Facebook to investigate further.
Conclusion
Facebook phone number verification is important for maintaining account security and access. However, there are a number of potential reasons the confirmation code may not be sent successfully. The most common include an incorrect number on your account, temporary blocks, carrier issues, or general Facebook technical problems.
Troubleshooting steps like confirming your listed number, retrying the verification, checking for system issues, and contacting support can help resolve problems receiving the code. Be sure to keep your number up to date and retry until the verification goes through to regain access to your account.