Use Your Computer as a Temp Phone for Verification Codes
Your computer can work as a temp phone when you don't have a phone handy or would rather not use yours. You type a public number into the signup form, read the incoming text in another browser window, and paste the code back.
All it takes is a web browser. Below is the desktop workflow step by step, plus what a computer can and can't do in place of a phone.
Free numbers available now
Click a number to open its public inbox, enter the number on the signup form, then press Update Messages on the number's page to fetch the code.
Set up your screen
Two windows side by side make the process faster, because you never lose your place in the signup form.
- Open the site you're signing up for in one browser window.
- Open a second window and choose a number from the list. Loading the number page first shows you what was already there before you asked for a code.
- Place the windows next to each other. On Windows, drag a window to the left or right edge of the screen to snap it to half the screen. On a Mac, hold the pointer over the green button in the window's top-left corner to see tiling options.
On a small laptop screen, two tabs in the same window work fine too.
Request and copy the code
- Copy the number from its page and paste it into the form. Check the country code; the number format guide covers the usual mistakes.
- Request the code once, then switch to the number page.
- Press Update Messages. It fetches new messages live and takes about 20 seconds.
- Find the text from the service you're joining, sent after your request. Select only the code, copy it with Ctrl+C (Cmd+C on a Mac) and paste it with Ctrl+V (Cmd+V).
When you select the code, try not to grab the space or word next to it. Some forms reject a pasted code with a stray space, and the error message rarely says why.
What your computer can and can't do as a temp phone
| Task | On your computer |
|---|---|
| Read incoming texts | Yes, on the number page |
| Copy and paste a code | Yes |
| Reply to a text | No, the numbers are receive-only |
| Answer a verification call | No, voice calls aren't supported |
| Keep the number for months | No, numbers drop off when their provider takes them offline |
| Verify a bank or payment app | No, the inbox is public, so use your own number |
Shortcuts that speed things up
- Double-click the code to select it in one go. This works for a code without spaces or dashes; for split codes, drag across the whole thing.
- Ctrl+F (Cmd+F on a Mac), then type the service's name, to jump to its message on a busy number page.
- Alt+Tab on Windows switches between windows. On a Mac, Cmd+Tab switches between apps, and Cmd+` moves between windows of the same browser.
Tips for a smooth session
- Keep the number page open until you've finished signing up. Some sites send a second code a minute later.
- Press Update Messages once and let it finish before checking again. The inbox also refreshes on its own every 5 to 15 minutes.
- If nothing arrives after a couple of tries, use a different number. The troubleshooting guide covers specific errors.
- On a shared or public computer, use a private browsing window so the new account doesn't stay signed in for the next person.
- Need to do this on a phone instead? The mobile guide walks through switching between apps.
Questions
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