Why PayPal Requires Phone Verification

PayPal uses phone verification to confirm account ownership, enable two-factor authentication, and meet financial compliance requirements. Without a verified phone number, your PayPal account may have sending and withdrawal limits.

Users creating PayPal accounts in countries where the service has limited support, businesses needing multiple verified accounts, and privacy-conscious users all benefit from using a temp number — a real, working number for PayPal verification that isn't linked to your personal SIM.

What Is a Temp Number (Virtual Phone Number)?

A temp number is a real number hosted online that receives SMS codes just like a standard mobile number. Two types are available on CodesSender:

SMS Activation — one-time temp number. Best for initial account verification.
Phone Rental (7–30 days) — a real number you keep long-term. Best for ongoing 2FA and account recovery.

What You Need Before Starting

A CodesSender account
A small balance to purchase a temp or rental number
PayPal open in your browser

Step-by-Step: How to Verify PayPal Without Your Personal Number

Step 1 — Open PayPal and navigate to phone verification

Go to paypal.com. Create a new account or go to Settings → Security → Phone. When PayPal asks for a phone number, stop here.

Step 2 — Open CodesSender Activation page

Open codessender.com/activation in a new tab.

Step 3 — Select PayPal as the service

Search for "PayPal" and select it, or visit the PayPal activation page. For PayPal, temp numbers from the United States and United Kingdom have the highest success rates — PayPal is stricter than most platforms.

Step 4 — Purchase and copy your number

Activate the temp number and copy it to clipboard.

Step 5 — Enter the number into PayPal

Paste your temp number with the correct country code and click Send Code.

Step 6 — Get your code

Click "Get SMS" in CodesSender. Enter the code into PayPal to complete verification.

Best Countries for PayPal Verification

United States — highest acceptance for PayPal
United Kingdom — reliable option
Germany — good success rate
France — solid choice
Australia — works well

Common Issues and How to Fix Them

"We can't use this phone number"

PayPal has flagged the temp number. Request a new one — US or UK real numbers work best for PayPal specifically.

PayPal asking for a call instead of SMS

Some PayPal accounts trigger a voice call for verification. If this happens, try a different temp number or switch to a UK number.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal to use a temp number for PayPal?

Yes. Virtual and temporary phone numbers are legitimate tools. Ensure your use complies with PayPal's Terms of Service.

Should I use SMS Activation or Phone Rental for PayPal?

Use Phone Rental if you want to keep a real number active for future PayPal logins and account recovery. For a one-time setup, a temp number via SMS Activation is sufficient.

Do I need a VPN?

No VPN required.

Conclusion

Verifying PayPal without your personal number takes minutes with a temp number from CodesSender.

Get your PayPal temp number now and complete verification in under 5 minutes.