Why Does Meta Ask Me to Verify My Phone Number?

Meta says new advertisers may be asked to verify a phone number before they can publish ads. Its stated reasons are to help comply with regulatory requirements and to support platform safety. You choose to receive a code by text message, phone call or WhatsApp and type it in. This entry follows Meta’s help pages, as checked on 2 Oct 2026.

Who may be asked to verify a phone number?

Meta’s list of factors that decide whether you must verify includes the age of your ad account. Advertisers with newly created ad accounts may be required to verify their phone numbers in order to publish ads. Meta also says select markets may require advertisers to verify a phone number before publishing ads.

Meta adds that advertisers who create and manage ads through its API must verify their phone number using one of the tools below.

What you can do: if Meta has asked you to verify a phone number on a new account, finish that first, because Meta says it may be required before you can publish ads. See why you can’t create ads for other causes.

Where can you start phone verification?

• Meta Business Suite: users with full control of eligible ad accounts can start from the Authorizations and verifications tab, then select Phone number verification and Start verification, at any time.
• Ads Manager (desktop and app): you may be prompted from Account overview, within Campaign manager or when you create a new ad.
• Facebook, Instagram, Messenger or WhatsApp: you may be prompted when you create a new ad.

How do the three code methods differ?

Once you’ve accessed phone verification, provide a phone number and pick a method.

Method	What you do	Code detail
Text message (SMS)	Click Text message (SMS), then check your texts for a code from Meta	Sent to the number on your screen
Phone call	Click Phone call, then answer the call	The call gives you the code
WhatsApp	Click WhatsApp, then find the code in your chats	A 5-digit code; you need to receive WhatsApp messages on that number

With any method, enter the code on the confirmation screen, click Submit, then click Done.

What if the code does not arrive?

For SMS, Meta says that if you don’t receive the code within a few minutes, you should check that the phone number is correct and click Resend to try again. Make sure you can receive texts at the number shown on the confirmation screen.

Meta also says confirmation codes expire after 30 minutes. If yours expires, click Resend code to receive a new one.

Is phone verification the same as advertiser verification?

No. Advertiser verification confirms who an ad is for and who pays for it, and can involve a government-issued ID or business documents. Meta notes that in some cases you may also be asked to verify a phone number or complete a captcha before or after uploading your ID. See what advertiser verification is.

FAQ

Do I have to verify my phone number?

Not every advertiser does. Meta says verification may be required before publishing ads, and lists the age of your ad account and select markets among the factors. If it is required, you need to finish it before you can publish. Check the prompt in Ads Manager or the Authorizations and verifications tab.

How long does the confirmation code last?

Meta says confirmation codes expire after 30 minutes, whether you chose SMS, phone call or WhatsApp. If your code expires, click Resend code to receive a new one, then enter the new code on the confirmation screen before you click Submit.

Can I get the code without a text message?

Yes. Meta also offers a phone call and WhatsApp. For a call, make sure you can answer the number on the confirmation screen. For WhatsApp, make sure you can receive WhatsApp messages for that number, then look for the 5-digit code in your chats.