Why Does OpenAI Need My Phone Number? Plus, Troubleshooting Tips

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Your questions about OpenAI account creation answered

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Phone Verification

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Landline / VoIP / Google Voice

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Voice or Email Verification

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WhatsApp

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Multiple Accounts

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"Too many attempts" Error

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"Unsupported country" Error

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Tips

Wondering why OpenAI requires you to provide a mobile phone number during account creation? OpenAI uses your phone number to verify your account with a text message code. There isn't a way to skip this process during account creation. This How.com.vn guide discusses why OpenAI needs a phone number when creating your account, answers general questions about the process, and provides troubleshooting information for account creation errors.

Things You Should Know

A mobile phone number is required to verify your account and keep OpenAI secure.
You can't use a landline, VoIP, or Google Voice for phone verification.
You can use WhatsApp in certain countries.

Section 1 of 7:

Why is a phone number required?

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OpenAI uses your phone number as an account verification step and security measure. The company notes that it doesn't use your phone number for anything else.^{[1]XResearch source}

Section 2 of 7:

Can you use a landline / VoIP / Google Voice?

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You can't use these services to complete the phone number verification step while creating your OpenAI account. Only mobile phone numbers and WhatsApp (in some countries) can be used.

Section 3 of 7:

Can you use a voice or email verification instead?

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You can only use a SMS text message or WhatsApp (in some countries).

Section 4 of 7:

Can you use WhatsApp?

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Yes, in a few supported countries. You can view the updated list of supported countries at this website, under the section "Which countries do you support for WhatsApp phone verification?":
- https://help.openai.com/en/articles/6613520-phone-verification
- If you don't have a WhatsApp account yet, check out our guide to using WhatsApp.

Section 5 of 7:

Can you make multiple accounts with one number?

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However, only the first API account will be given free trial tokens.

Section 6 of 7:

What does the "too many attempts" error mean?

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This means that you've attempted the phone verification too many times. To resolve this, wait a few hours before trying again. If there's still an issue, try these fixes:
- Check your list of blocked numbers to make sure you get the text message.
- Make sure you have cellular coverage in your area.
- Turn your phone off and back on again.

Section 7 of 7:

What does the "unsupported country" error mean?

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This means you might be signing up from an unsupported country. OpenAI is only available in certain countries. You can check the most up-to-date list at the link below:
- https://platform.openai.com/docs/supported-countries