Get a Facebook Confirmation SMS on a Free Number

What a Facebook confirmation SMS looks like

A Facebook confirmation SMS is a short text with a numeric code, and Facebook often prefixes it with FB-. The length depends on the flow, and both 5 and 6 digits are common.

On this page the new message appears in the feed with the code highlighted. It stays in full for 10 minutes, then part of it is masked. The page refreshes about every 20 seconds while the tab stays open, so you can leave it beside the Facebook form.

How to add a free number on Facebook

You add a free number by selecting it above, typing it into the Facebook mobile number field with the right country and requesting the code. Open the sign-up form or the contact settings of a test profile, paste the number and submit it.

Then watch the inbox on this page. Enter the code in the confirmation box as soon as it shows. If nothing arrives, request one more code and pick another line rather than sending several requests, because repeated requests can make Facebook pause new codes.

Risks of tying a Facebook account to a public number

A public number puts a Facebook login at risk, because anyone can read the inbox that receives its codes. Facebook's account lookup works with a phone number, so a stranger who sees the number can start a password reset and read the reset code in the same open inbox.

That is why public lines fit only test accounts. Facebook can also lock accounts that look suspicious and ask for proof of identity, and a number shared by many people can raise the chance of that check.

Options for a Facebook account you want to keep

A private number from our provider receives codes only for you, which suits a Facebook account that has to last. If you want to avoid a phone altogether, Facebook also accepts an email address at sign-up, described on the Facebook without a phone number page.

When codes fail to arrive, the Facebook code not received guide lists what to check. A private number covers accounts where reliability matters more than convenience.