You are trying to create a simple Facebook account. Maybe it’s for a game. Maybe it’s to stalk your ex (no judgment). Or maybe you just don’t want Mark Zuckerberg having your personal cell number.
But every time you hit “Sign Up,” it demands digits. “Please enter your mobile number.”
It drives me crazy. Why does a social network need to know where I live and who my carrier is just so I can look at memes?
If you search for this on Google, you get 50 articles telling you to use “TempSMS” websites. Do not do that. Those public numbers are flagged. If you use one, Facebook will lock your account in 30 seconds and ask for a video selfie. (I tried this last Tuesday and I’m still locked out).
Here is how you actually dodge the phone number requirement in 2026.
1. The “Email Only” Button (It’s Hiding)
Facebook tries to trick you. On the mobile app, the “Sign Up with Email” button is tiny. They make the “Phone Number” box huge and blue.
Do not use the App. The app reads your phone’s SIM card data. It knows you have a number. Go to your Desktop Browser (Chrome/Edge) or use “Incognito Mode” on your phone browser.
-
Go to
facebook.com. -
Click Create New Account.
-
Look closely. Under the phone number box, there is a small link: “Sign up with email instead.”
-
Click that.
Crucial Step: You cannot use a “TempMail” (like Mailinator). Facebook isn’t stupid. They ban those domains instantly. You need a Fresh Gmail or Outlook. Spend 2 minutes creating a new [email protected]. It works 99% of the time because Google is a “trusted” domain.
2. The “Google Voice” Loophole (If They Force You)
Sometimes, Facebook is just in a bad mood. Even if you use email, they might trigger a “Suspicious Activity” flag and demand a number anyway.
If this happens, do not give them your real number. Use Google Voice.
-
Why: Most “fake number” apps (TextNow, Burner) use VoIP lines that Facebook blocks.
-
The Secret: Google Voice numbers register as “Landlines” or legitimate mobile numbers in the US. Facebook usually accepts them without blinking.
(I have three “burner” Facebook accounts connected to one Google Voice number. Don’t ask why).
How to do it:
-
Download the Google Voice app.
-
Claim a free number.
-
Put that number into Facebook.
-
Get the SMS code.
-
Once you are in, go to Settings > Mobile and Delete the number. (Always delete it after verification).
3. The “M.Facebook” Trick
If the desktop site is blocking you, try the “Old School” site. Go to mbasic.facebook.com on your phone.
This is the super-ugly, text-only version of Facebook designed for flip phones from 2005. Because it’s so old, it often skips the modern “AI Security Checks.”
-
Sign up there.
-
It usually only asks for Email.
-
Once the account is created, log in on the normal app.
The “Tangent” (My Warning)
Be careful with the name. If you name yourself “Spiderman 2099,” you are going to get flagged. Facebook’s AI looks for fake names. Use a boring name. “John Miller.” “Sarah Jenkins.” Once the account is 30 days old, then you can change it to “Spiderman.”
The Bottom Line: Use a fresh Gmail. Use a browser (not the app). And if you absolutely must use a number, use Google Voice. Keep your real digits for your real friends.
