How to Create a Telegram Account Without a Phone Number (2025 Guide)

In 2025, when nearly every phone number links to large data networks and identity systems, creating a Telegram account without using your real number is more than a privacy choice; it’s digital self-protection. Whether you’re a journalist, freelancer, or simply someone who values discretion, there are now legitimate ways to register for Telegram without exposing your real SIM card. 

This guide walks through the safest options available in 2025, showing how to stay anonymous while keeping your account secure and compliant with Telegram’s policies.

Why You Might Want to Use Telegram Without a Phone Number

Privacy, Anonymity, and Data Protection

In 2025, privacy has become a digital luxury. Every phone number now links to vast databases from ad trackers to national ID systems, making your real number on Telegram a potential key to your broader online identity. Even though Telegram uses strong encryption, once your number is tied to an account, it can still expose personal connections across platforms.

This risk became clear in 2020 when tech outlet Kod.ru reported a 900 MB Telegram-related data leak. Hackers had accessed and published user IDs and phone numbers that were collected through the app’s contact synchronization feature. While most of the data was outdated, it revealed how easily identifiers can resurface and why using Telegram without your real number is safer. Registering with a temporary number breaks that traceable link between your identity and your chats, protecting you from spam, data leaks, and unwanted profiling. It’s a simple but powerful step toward digital hygiene and private communication.

Managing Multiple Telegram Accounts Securely

Many people now maintain separate online identities for work, personal life, or public communities. Telegram supports multiple accounts, but each requires a unique phone number. Instead of juggling SIM cards, temporary numbers offer a flexible and secure alternative.

This method lets freelancers, entrepreneurs, and community managers run different Telegram profiles without exposing private contact details. It’s a practical balance between convenience and privacy, giving you control over who can reach you and on what terms.

Is It Possible to Create a Telegram Account Without a Phone Number?

Telegram’s Phone Verification Policy Explained

Telegram links each account to a unique phone number, which serves as an identity anchor for syncing chats and contacts across devices. At sign-up, users must verify ownership of a number by receiving an SMS code. The number can belong to any active line, including a virtual or eSIM, and does not have to come from a physical SIM card. Any active line capable of receiving texts can complete registration.

This design verifies that users are real without revealing who they are. Telegram even notes in its documentation that third-party SMS services or virtual numbers are acceptable for registration. Once verified, you can hide your number completely in privacy settings, keeping your identity secure while using the platform.

Legal and Safe Alternatives Only

While many third-party websites claim to offer free Telegram verification, some violate Telegram’s terms or expose you to risks like account bans or data theft. To stay safe and compliant, always choose legitimate methods:

1. Temporary number services that provide private, one-time-use numbers (not shared public ones).
2. eSIM providers that issue temporary mobile lines capable of receiving SMS messages.
3. Secondary SIM cards under your own control are ideal for business or travel use.

Avoid open “receive-SMS” sites where numbers are publicly shared. These are frequently abused by bots and often lead to immediate account suspension once Telegram detects duplicate usage.

Proven Methods to Create a Telegram Without a Phone Number

The following verified methods work reliably in 2025 and comply with Telegram’s registration requirements.

Method 1: Use a Temporary Number Service

A temporary number is a short-term, digital phone line that lets you receive SMS verification codes online without exposing your real SIM number. These numbers are issued through online SMS reception platforms and work with Telegram’s verification system in the same way as standard mobile numbers.

When you register Telegram with a temporary number, the service receives the one-time password (OTP) sent by Telegram, which you then enter in the app to activate your account. Afterward, the number can be discarded, keeping your identity private and your real number untraceable.

Reliable services like SMSFAST let users receive Telegram verification codes quickly and securely, offering one-time numbers in multiple countries.

Step-by-Step Guide: Creating a Telegram Account with a Temporary Number (Using SMSFAST)

Step 1. Log in to Your Account

Go to the SMSFAST website. If you’re a new user, click “Registration” to create your account. If you already have one, simply log in with your credentials.

Step 2. Fund Your Balance

In the top-right corner, click the “+” icon and choose a payment method that suits you. Add the amount you plan to use; even a small top-up is enough to buy a temporary number for Telegram.

Step 3. Select Telegram

From the left-side menu, under “Select service,” click “Telegram.”

Then, choose your preferred region or country from the list. This determines the phone code for your temporary number.

Step 4. Purchase a Number

Click “Buy” and wait a few seconds while SMSFAST activates your temporary number. Once it’s ready, it will appear in your account dashboard.

Step 5. Get the Number

Copy the number from the “Number” field. Open Telegram (mobile or desktop app) and paste it into the registration form.

Step 6. Enter the Verification Code

Wait for the one-time password (OTP) to appear in the “Code from SMS” field in SMSFAST.

Copy that code and enter it into Telegram’s verification screen to complete your sign-up.

You can also click the “Get Message” button in the “Actions” field if the SMS doesn’t appear immediately. This refreshes the incoming code.

Method 2: Register Using an eSIM

An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a digital version of the physical SIM card that’s built directly into your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Instead of inserting a plastic SIM, you simply download a mobile profile from a carrier or eSIM provider.

In 2025, eSIMs have become one of the most secure and flexible ways to manage online verification. Unlike traditional SIMs, they’re not tied to a single physical card, making them ideal for privacy-conscious users who want a real, unique number but without linking it to their main identity or long-term plan.

When used for Telegram, an eSIM provides a legitimate, operator-issued number that Telegram accepts for verification. Most eSIMs can be purchased and activated online through telecom providers or international marketplaces, and depending on the region, some plans do not require ID verification. Because eSIMs use encrypted provisioning channels, your number is harder to clone or leak compared to virtual or shared temporary numbers.

How to Activate a Low-Cost eSIM for Telegram

1. Choose a Reliable eSIM Provider

Look for international providers like Airalo, Nomad, or Holafly, or regional telecoms offering short-term data plans that include SMS reception. Ensure that the plan supports receiving text messages (not all data-only plans do).

2. Purchase and Download Your eSIM

Complete the purchase online and scan the QR code provided by the seller to install the eSIM profile on your device.

3. Check Your Assigned Number

Once activated, your phone will display a new number. This can be used just like a traditional SIM for Telegram registration.

4. Use the eSIM to Verify Telegram

Open Telegram, enter your eSIM number, and wait for the verification code. Telegram will send the code via SMS, which will appear in your eSIM’s message inbox.

Method 3: Register Using a Secondary SIM Card

A secondary SIM card is a physical SIM you own and control, separate from your main phone number. It works just like your regular SIM, capable of receiving SMS messages and calls, but is used exclusively for secondary purposes, such as business communication, travel, or managing online accounts like Telegram. This makes it one of the most secure and legitimate ways to register without exposing your personal number.

To use a secondary SIM for Telegram, simply insert it into any mobile phone or dual-SIM device, then open Telegram and begin the registration process. When prompted, enter your secondary number and wait for the one-time password (OTP) via SMS or call. Once verified, you can complete setup, remove the SIM if needed, and continue using Telegram through Wi-Fi or your main data plan.

Because you control the SIM card directly, it cannot be reused by others, which removes the risks of number recycling or public exposure common with shared online numbers. It’s fully compliant with Telegram’s policies and ideal for anyone who wants to maintain privacy while keeping control over their communication channels.

Comparison: Temporary Number vs. eSIM vs. Secondary SIM

Advanced Privacy Setup After Registration

Once you’ve successfully created your Telegram account without using your real phone number, it’s time to lock down your privacy. Telegram offers several built-in options to make your account nearly untraceable, ensuring your identity, contact info, and digital footprint stay protected.

Hide Your Number and Make Your Account Untraceable

Even if you used a temporary number to register, Telegram can still reveal that number to others by default. Here’s how to minimize that risk:

1. Configure Telegram privacy settings

Go to Settings → Privacy and Security → Phone Number.

You’ll see three visibility options:

• Everybody – anyone can see your number (avoid this).
• My Contacts – only people you’ve saved can view it.
• Nobody – the safest option; hides your number completely.

2. Removing your number from search results

Go to Settings → Privacy and Security → Phone Number → Who Can Find Me by My Number, then switch to My Contacts.

This setting prevents search indexing, meaning your Telegram won’t appear in global user searches, even if your number leaks elsewhere.

Create a Unique Username and Link for Chats

To communicate without exposing your number, use Telegram’s built-in handle system.

1. How to share your account without exposing your phone

Create a custom username under Settings → Edit Profile → Username.

Once set, Telegram generates a shareable link: https://t.me/YourUsername

You can give this link to others to message you directly without ever revealing your phone number.

2. Username vs. QR code

• Username links are practical for public use; you can share them in bios, emails, or websites.
• QR code (available in the upper-left corner of Settings) is better for private exchanges, it’s scannable only once, and harder for bots to exploit.

For maximum privacy, use QR codes in person or in encrypted chats, and rely on your username link for verified connections or business communication.

Common Issues and How to Fix Them

Even with reliable tools, creating a Telegram account without a personal number can sometimes lead to verification challenges or temporary blocks. Understanding the causes and knowing how to fix them helps you avoid wasted time and failed sign-ups.

“Verification failed” or “Too many attempts” errors

This issue usually appears when Telegram’s system flags multiple recent registration attempts from the same IP address or device.

How to fix it:

• Wait at least 15–30 minutes before trying again.
• Clear app cache or reinstall Telegram to reset verification data.
• If using a browser-based SMS service, switch to a different provider or a mobile device to appear as a fresh user.
• Always use a reliable temporary number provider like SMSFAST, since low-quality numbers may have been reused too often and flagged by Telegram’s anti-spam filters.

Code not received on temporary number

If you don’t see a verification code within a few minutes, it’s often due to message delivery delays or the provider’s connection to Telegram’s servers.

Try these steps:

• Double-check you selected Telegram as the service before buying the number.
• Refresh your SMS inbox on the provider’s page.
• If still empty after 5 minutes, release and buy another number. The issue is usually specific to that one line.
• Avoid reusing a number that’s been used for multiple accounts. Telegram may silently block code delivery to it.

Telegram is blocking temporary numbers. How to resolve it safely

Telegram occasionally blacklists numbers from free or suspicious services that show signs of automated use.

Safe bypass tips:

1. Choose paid, private temporary numbers with unique line assignments (like SMSFAST). These have much lower ban rates.
2. Avoid public or shared SMS websites; these are almost always blocked.
3. Don’t attempt to mass-create accounts; even legitimate numbers can get flagged.
4. Once registered, enable two-step verification under Settings → Privacy and Security. This adds an extra password layer, preventing future login issues.

Conclusion

Registering for Telegram without a phone number is now easier, safer, and more practical than ever. Temporary numbers, eSIMs, and secondary SIMs all provide legitimate pathways to create an account while keeping your real identity hidden. By pairing these tools with Telegram’s built-in privacy settings, such as hiding your number and sharing only usernames, you can enjoy full control over who sees and contacts you. 

In 2025, the most effective approach is to use a trusted temporary number service such as SMSFAST, combined with Telegram’s built-in privacy tools. This ensures secure registration, anonymous communication, and long-term control over your account visibility.

FAQ

Can you create a Telegram account without a mobile number?

Not entirely. Telegram still needs a number for the initial verification. However, it doesn’t have to be your real SIM. You can use a temporary number, eSIM, or secondary SIM to register and then hide the number in privacy settings.

How to get a free virtual number for Telegram?

Free “receive SMS” sites often recycle public numbers that Telegram blocks quickly. For a working solution, use a trusted temporary number platform like SMSFAST, which provides private one-time numbers that securely receive Telegram verification codes without risking bans.

Can I make a Telegram account with an email?

No, Telegram doesn’t support email-only registration. You must verify with a number first.

How can I use Telegram without showing my phone number?

After signing up, go to Settings → Privacy and Security → Phone Number, and set “Nobody” under Who can see my number. You can then share your account via username or QR code instead of your number.

Is Telegram safer than WhatsApp?

Both use encryption, but their models differ. Telegram’s Secret Chats use end-to-end encryption (E2EE), while regular chats are stored encrypted in the cloud. WhatsApp uses E2EE by default for all chats, but Meta, its owner, collects metadata. For anonymity and privacy, Telegram offers greater flexibility.

Can you have two Telegram accounts?

Yes. Telegram officially supports multiple accounts on one device. You can add a second account with another SIM, eSIM, or temporary number directly through Settings → Add Account.