The short answer: a number is always required
At sign-up Telegram asks for a phone number and sends a verification code to it. This is the only way to create an account, and it has been that way since launch. The number anchors the account: it is how Telegram limits mass bot registrations and how your contacts can find you.
So the real question is not “how to register without a number”, but “which number to use if you do not want to expose your own”.
Popular workarounds that do not work
- Sign up with email. Telegram has no email registration. Email can only be added later, for login recovery on an existing account.
- A landline number. Telegram does not support voice-call verification for new accounts in most regions, and landlines cannot receive SMS.
- A “skip” button or modded apps. Modified clients that promise registration without a number either fail at the server check or steal your session. Avoid them.
- Someone else’s number. Works once, but that person can reset your account at any time — the number owner effectively owns the account.
What actually works: a virtual number
A virtual number for Telegram is a real number that receives the SMS code in a web dashboard instead of a handset. Telegram treats it like any other number: you enter it at sign-up, receive the code, and the account is created.
After registration, set a two-factor authentication password in Telegram settings. Then the account stays yours even after the virtual number expires. The full process with screenshots of each decision point is in the guide on how to receive SMS online.
If you care about the account long-term
For a throwaway profile a one-time number is enough. For an account you plan to keep — a channel admin profile, a work account — consider renting the number. Telegram occasionally asks to re-verify when you log in from a new device, and without access to the number that becomes a problem. Details are in the one-time vs rental comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Can I create a Telegram account with email only?
No. Telegram requires a phone number for every new account — there is no email-only registration. Email can be added later to an existing account as a recovery option, but never as the primary sign-up method.
Will Telegram know I used a virtual number?
Telegram sees the number but does not treat virtual numbers as a violation by itself. Accounts get restricted for spam-like behavior after sign-up, not for the number type. Set a 2FA password right away to protect the account.
Is it possible to hide my number from other Telegram users?
Yes. In Settings → Privacy → Phone Number you can hide the number from everyone and limit who can find you by it. Hiding works for any number — personal or virtual.
Can I move my existing Telegram account to a new number?
Yes. Settings → Edit profile → Change Number migrates the account — with all chats, contacts and groups — to a different number, including a virtual one. The old number stops being linked to the account.