Social Account Help · Facebook / Meta

Create a Facebook Account Without a Phone Number

A phone number is not required to sign up for Facebook — an email address works just as well for both signup and account recovery.

Quick Answer

During Facebook signup, the field that asks for "Mobile number or email" accepts either one. Simply enter your email address in that field instead of a phone number, and complete the rest of the signup form as normal — no phone number is required at any point.

Why Skip the Phone Number?

Privacy preferences — not wanting to link a phone number to a social media account
No phone available — signing up from a shared or public computer
Avoiding SMS costs — in regions where verification texts may incur charges
Already have email-based 2FA set up elsewhere — preferring email as the consistent recovery method across accounts

How to Sign Up With Email Only

Go to facebook.comClick "Create new account."
Enter your nameFirst and last name.
In the "Mobile number or email" field, enter your email addressThe field accepts either format — typing a valid email address routes you to the email-based signup path.
Create a passwordUse a strong, unique password.
Enter your birth date and select your genderStandard fields required for all accounts.
Click "Sign Up"This creates your account using email as the primary contact method.
Check your email for a confirmation codeFacebook sends a verification code to confirm your email address is valid and accessible.
Enter the code to verify your accountThis completes the signup process — no phone number is involved.

Tip: If Facebook later prompts you to "add a phone number for security," this is optional — you can dismiss the prompt and continue using email-only recovery.

Account Recovery Without a Phone Number

If you ever forget your password or get locked out, Facebook's recovery process will use your registered email address:

Go to the Facebook login page and click "Forgot password?"This starts the recovery process.
Enter your email address, full name, or usernameFacebook will search for matching accounts.
Select your account and choose "Send code via email"Since no phone is on file, email will be the available option.
Check your email for the reset codeEnter it to proceed.
Create a new passwordChoose something strong and unique.

Important: Since your email address is your primary recovery method, make sure that email account itself is secure — use a strong password and enable two-factor authentication on your email provider as well.

Can I Add a Phone Number Later?

Yes — if you change your mind, go to Settings & Privacy → Settings → Personal and Account Information → Contact Info, and add a mobile number. This can also enable additional 2FA methods like SMS codes, though authenticator apps remain available as a phone-free 2FA option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my Facebook account work the same without a phone number?

Yes. An account created with email only functions identically to one created with a phone number — same features, same ability to add friends, post, and use Messenger. The only difference is which recovery methods are available.

Does Facebook ever require a phone number after signup?

In some cases, particularly if an account is flagged for unusual activity or as part of anti-spam measures, Facebook may request a phone number for additional verification. This isn't universal and depends on account-specific risk signals.

Can I use a temporary email address to sign up?

This isn't recommended. Disposable or temporary email addresses typically expire, which would leave your Facebook account without a usable recovery method. Use an email address you control long-term.

Is email-only signup as secure as phone-based signup?

Security depends more on the strength of your password and whether you enable two-factor authentication (via an authenticator app, which doesn't require a phone number) than on whether you used email or phone during signup.