Receive verification code via phone call (when adding a new number to Apple ID)

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12 points

Receive verification code via phone call (when adding a new number to Apple ID)

My phone number is on Fongo (a Canada-based VOIP app), hence, I cannot receive text messages from Short Code numbers, including Apple. (More info: https://support.fongo.com/hc/en-us/articles/212434926-SMS-short-codes-activation s-and-verifications)

I want to add my phone number to my Apple ID, so that others can find me on iMessage and FaceTime using my phone number. When adding a new phone number, Apple sends a verification code via text message. Since I cannot receive a text message from Apple on Fongo, this fails.

Is there anyway I can receive the verification code via a phone call, instead of a text message? (Google has both options available, for example.)

iPhone 7, iOS 11.2.5

Posted on Apr 28, 2018 8:41 PM

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Answer 1

May 4, 2018 9:24 PM in response to smndnv

Yes, if you mean you are using Two-Factor Authentication, you can include phone numbers that can only receive voice messages:

You would go to your Apple ID (easiest to go to Apple - My Apple ID via a computer), click EDIT in the Security section, click Add a Trusted Phone Number, type in your number, and then select the Phone Call option instead of the Text Message option. You can do this with any phone number whether it is capable of receiving a text message or not. You can also use any trusted phone number (your Mom's, for example), that you have access to. One of my trusted numbers is a landline.

Best,

GB

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Answer 2

May 6, 2018 2:20 PM in response to smndnv

It doesn't seem to be an issue for most people. I'd say that your unique situation is what makes it a bit weird, but that was not the intent for those numbers to my knowledge.

Best,

GB

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Answer 3

smndnv Author

Level 1

12 points

May 4, 2018 9:33 PM in response to gail from maine

Hi, Gail.

Thank you for your response.

Let me clarify something. I want to add a phone number to “Reachable at” (“Contactable at”), not “Trusted phone numbers”.

- On computer: When you login to Apple ID, under Account, “Reachable at”.

- On iPhone: In Settings, under Apple ID, under “Name, Phone Numbers, Email”, “Contactable at”

My phone number already is among the Trusted Phone Numbers (under “Security”), because there, as you mentioned, there is an option to receive phone calls to verify the phone number. However, when adding a new phone number to the “Reachable at” (“Contactable at”), the only verification method is via text messages.

Any thoughts?

Thanks again.

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Answer 4

smndnv Author

Level 1

12 points

May 7, 2018 6:22 PM in response to gail from maine

Hi, Gail.

Thanks for following up on this.

I moved my cell number to Fongo from my old carrier last year. VOIP gives me more flexibility when I travel, and saves me some money. I understand that I am among a minority in that regard, but I can't see why Apple would go out of its way to not allow verification via a phone call for “reachable/contactable at” numbers, while it allows that for “trusted phone numbers”.

This is pretty much my only phone number, and I use it to send and receive calls and text messages, but because of this limitation in verification methods, I can't add it to my Apple account; hence I can't send/receive iMessage messages and FaceTime calls from my number.

I assume Apple can easily fix this, if they decide that my case is reasonable. And if for some reason they need to only allow verification via text, they can send the verification texts from a regular phone number (as opposed to short codes) or work out a solution with Fongo, like Google does. I can receive verification text messages from Google on my Fongo number.

Do you know how I can propose this to Apple's staff?

Best,

Saman

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