Services
Virtual number for Google
Google asks for a phone number at several points — most often when you create a new Google account (Gmail) or when a sign-in looks unusual. A virtual number can receive that verification code online, but it is worth being honest up front: Google is stricter than most services about which numbers it accepts, so a retry with another country is sometimes part of the process.
When Google asks for a phone number
- New account creation. Gmail sign-up very often includes an SMS verification step, though for some users it remains optional.
- Unusual sign-in. Logging in from a new device, browser or country can trigger a phone check.
- Account recovery. A recovery phone is one of the main ways to reset a forgotten password.
- Extra features. Some services, like verifying a YouTube channel, ask for a number separately.
How to verify a Google account with a virtual number
The activation itself is the same as for any other service — the SMS code appears in your VirtualSIM dashboard. The difference is that Google filters numbers more aggressively, so treat the first attempt as one try, not a guaranteed outcome.
- 01Choose the country of the number — a US number is a common starting point.
- 02Select Google as the target service in VirtualSIM and pay for the activation.
- 03Enter the number on the Google sign-up or verification screen and request the code.
- 04Wait for the SMS in the VirtualSIM dashboard and enter the code.
- 05If Google answers “This phone number cannot be used for verification”, release the number — you are not charged for undelivered SMS — and try another country or a different number.
Why Google rejects some numbers
Google maintains its own risk scoring and limits how many accounts can be verified with the same number. Ranges that have been heavily used for registrations — especially publicly listed free numbers — are often refused before an SMS is even sent. This is one of the cases where free public numbers perform noticeably worse than private paid ones.
A refusal says nothing about you personally; it is a property of the number range. In most cases switching the country or simply taking a fresh number resolves it.
One number, several accounts?
Google restricts number reuse, and the exact threshold is not published and changes over time. If you need more than one account, plan on one number per account — reusing a single number for many registrations is precisely what triggers the “cannot be used” error.
Countries for this service
Frequently asked questions
Is a phone number mandatory for creating a Google account?
It depends. For some sign-ups Google allows skipping the phone step, for others — based on region, device and risk signals — verification is required and cannot be bypassed. If the field is marked as required, a number must be provided.
What does “This phone number cannot be used for verification” mean?
Google has either seen too many accounts verified with that number or flagged the entire number range. The fix is practical: release the number and try one from a different country or operator.
Do free virtual numbers work for Google?
Rarely. Publicly listed numbers have usually been used for many registrations already, so Google refuses them almost immediately. Private paid numbers have a noticeably better chance, though no number can be guaranteed.
Can I use one number for several Google accounts?
Only within a limit that Google does not disclose. For multiple accounts, the reliable approach is one virtual number per account.
Should I keep the number for account recovery later?
If the account matters to you, consider renting the number instead of a one-time activation: recovery codes and unusual sign-in checks are sent to the number on file, and an expired number cannot receive them.
Need a number right now?
Pick a country and a service on VirtualSIM — the SMS code arrives in your dashboard.