The short answer
- 1'Invalid phone number' almost always means the phone number format, not the number.
- 2Choose the country your number belongs to, then type the rest without a leading 0.
- 3No 00 or 011 in front, and no second 1 after +1.
In this article
What the message means
Telegram checks the number before it sends any code. If the number cannot exist in the country you picked, you see one of these:
| Message | Where | What it points to |
|---|---|---|
| "Invalid phone number. Please check the number and try again." | Android | The digits after the country code |
| "Invalid phone number, please try again." | iPhone | The digits after the country code |
| "Invalid phone number. Please try again." | Telegram Desktop | The digits after the country code |
| "Invalid country code" | All apps | The number after the plus sign |
In almost every case the number itself is fine and the way it was typed is not. Nothing is wrong with your account, and no code has been sent yet, so trying again with the right format costs nothing.
The two fields on the login screen
The phone number screen has two parts: the country, which fills in the code after the plus sign, and the number. Telegram guesses the country from your SIM card or your connection, which is wrong more often than people expect: when you are travelling, using a VPN, or signing up with a number from another country.
- Country — check it; Telegram guesses from your SIM or connection
- Phone number — the number that will receive the code
- Sync Contacts — decide now; it can be changed later in Privacy settings
- Next — tap only when the number is right
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- Tap the country and pick the one your number belongs to, not the one you are in. On Telegram Desktop and the web version you can also type the code straight after the plus sign.
- In the number field, type only the rest of the number. Do not type the country code a second time.
Drop the leading zero
Many countries write mobile numbers with a 0 at the start when you dial inside the country. That 0 is not part of the international number, and it is the single most common reason for "Invalid phone number".
| Country | Written at home | Typed into Telegram |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 07700 900123 | +44 7700 900123 |
| Germany | 015x xxxxxxxx | +49 15x xxxxxxxx |
| Australia | 04xx xxx xxx | +61 4xx xxx xxx |
| India | 0 9xxxx xxxxx | +91 9xxxx xxxxx |
| United States, Canada | (555) 010-0199 | +1 555 010 0199 |
Not every country uses a leading zero. Numbers in the United States and Canada have none to drop, so the common slip there is the opposite one: typing the 1 again after choosing the country, which turns +1 into +1 1.
Other slips that trigger the error
- "00" or "011" in front. Those are the dialling prefixes for calling abroad from a landline. In Telegram the plus sign replaces them: 0044 7700 900123 becomes +44 7700 900123.
- A number pasted from somewhere else. Pasting can bring the country code along with it, or invisible spaces and dashes. If it fails, clear the field and type the digits.
- A digit missing or one too many. Read the number back slowly. The app groups the digits as you type; if the grouping looks odd, a digit is usually wrong.
- A landline number. Telegram's FAQ says accounts can only be connected to a mobile number. Fixed lines are not supported.
When the format is right and it still says invalid
If you have checked the country, removed the zero and typed the number by hand, the problem is probably the number rather than the typing:
- Online and virtual numbers from apps and websites are often refused at sign-up. See signing up with a virtual or foreign number.
- "This phone number is banned" is a different message with a different cause. See a banned phone number.
- A brand-new number may not be recognised everywhere straight away. Make sure it can receive an ordinary SMS from a friend first.
Once the number is accepted, the next screen tells you where the code went; a code that is not arriving covers what to do if nothing comes. Next step: 'This phone number is banned': what it means and what to do.
FAQ
Why does Telegram say my phone number is invalid?
Usually the format: the wrong country is selected, a leading 0 is left in, or the country code is typed twice.
Should I include the 0 at the start of my number in Telegram?
No. Drop the 0 you use when dialling at home. A UK number 07700 900123 becomes +44 7700 900123.
Can I use a landline for Telegram?
No. Telegram's FAQ says accounts can only be connected to a mobile number.
Sources
At a glance
- 1Country
The country of the number, not where you are.
- 2Number
Drop the leading 0; do not repeat the country code.
- 3Still invalid
Virtual and landline numbers are often refused.
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