How to Fix Phone Errors on Discord: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Fix phone verification errors on Discord's mobile app and website

Co-authored by Megaera Lorenz, PhD Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: September 30, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Number Unable to Be Associated
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• Invalid Phone Number
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• Verify by Phone

|Show more |Show less

Discord phone verification errors are aggravating and, often, confusing. If you’ve gotten an error like “This phone number is unable to be associated with this account” or “Invalid Phone Number,” don’t worry. We’re here to explain what they mean and how to fix them. Read on to learn more about the most common Discord phone errors.

Common Discord Phone Errors

• “This phone number is unable to be associated with this account”: Your number is linked to another Discord account.
• “An existing Discord account is already using this number”: Your number has already been linked to another account.
• “Invalid Phone Number”: Your number is formatted incorrectly, or it’s not a valid mobile phone number.
• “Please Verify by Phone”: Discord has detected suspicious activity and wants you to verify your account by text message.

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

“Number Is Unable to Be Associated” Error

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   This error means your phone number is already registered. One of the more common phone verification errors you might get on Discord is “This phone number is unable to be associated with this account.” If you see this error, it means, rightly or wrongly, that Discord thinks you’ve already used this phone number for another Discord account.

   • You might see this error when you first set up your account or when you try to change the number linked to your account. If you didn’t initially verify your account with a phone number, you might also see this when you try to add a number.
   • You might also see an error message that says something like “An existing Discord account is already using this number” or “Existing account.”
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   Remove the number from your other account if possible. If you have other Discord accounts, check them to see if you might have already added this number to one of them. If so, you’ll need to remove it before you can add that number to another account. Here’s how:

   • Click the cogwheel icon next to your username in the bottom left corner of Discord. Or, if you’re on the mobile app, tap your profile picture at the bottom right side of the screen, then tap the cogwheel at the top right.
   • Next to your phone number, click Remove. If you’re in the mobile app, tap Account > Phone > Remove Phone Number.
   • You may be prompted to verify your choice by entering your password.
   • Once you’ve removed the number, you can add a new one if you like.
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   Check if you created an “accidental account” with the phone number. According to Discord support, it’s possible to accidentally create a new account with your phone number when you intended to add it to an existing account. Doing so could result in the “unable to be associated” error. If you suspect you might have made an accidental account, here’s how to fix it:

   • In an incognito browser window, navigate to discord.gg/login.
   • Enter your phone number in the Email or Phone Number text field.
   • Click Forgot your password?
   • Wait for a text message on your phone with a reset code. When you get it, enter the code into the Discord login page.
   • Enter a new password, then click Change Password.
   • Navigate to discord.com/login and enter your phone number and the password you just created.
   • Click the cogwheel next to your username to access the User Settings page.
   • Click Add next to the email field. Add an email address, then follow the instructions in your verification email.
   • Once you add an email address, you’ll see a Remove option next to your phone number. Follow the prompts to finish removing the number. You should now be able to use that number with another account!
   • If you want, you can now delete your accidental account. Go to User Settings > My Account and scroll to the bottom of the page. Click Delete Account. Enter your password when prompted, then click Delete Account again.
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   Contact Discord Support if all else fails. If these options don’t work, or if you can’t find another account with your phone number attached, Discord Support may be able to help. Go to support.discord.com/hc/en-us/requests/new to submit a help request. Use the dropdown menus to select the type of issue you’re having (Help & Support > Account Verification & Credentials > Phone Verification > Error: “An existing Discord account is already using this number” or Error: “This phone number is unable to be associated with this account” or Error: “This phone number was recently used on a different account”).

   • You’ll also need to provide information like your email address, phone number, and a general description of the problem.
   • If you like, you can upload screenshots showing the error and any additional information that might be helpful.
   • When you’re done, click Submit.
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Section 2 of 3:

“Invalid Phone Number” Error

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1. 
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   This error might mean your number is formatted incorrectly. Double-check that the phone number you’re using is formatted correctly for your country or region.

   • You may need to click or tap the country code at the beginning of the Phone number field and select the correct country code for your number.
   • Make sure you don’t accidentally enter the country code again when you’re typing in your number! You only need to input the numbers that come after the country code.
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   Entering a landline or VoIP number will also trigger this error. You can’t use landline or VoIP numbers with Discord. Make sure you’re using a valid mobile phone number.

   • You might also see an error that says something like “Please use a valid mobile phone number, not a VoIP or landline number.”
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   Contact Discord Support if you’re still having trouble. If you know the number you’re using is valid and you’re still getting an error message, submit a support ticket. Go to support.discord.com/hc/en-us/requests/new. Use the dropdown menus to select the type of issue you’re having (Help & Support > Account Verification & Credentials > Phone Verification > Error: “Invalid Phone Number” or Error: “Please use a valid mobile phone number, not a VoIP or landline number”).

   • You’ll also need to provide information like your email address, phone number, and a general description of the problem.
   • If you like, you can upload screenshots showing the error and any additional information that might be helpful.
   • When you’re done, click Submit.
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Section 3 of 3:

“Please Verify by Phone”/“Verification Required” Error

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1. 
   1
   This error may be triggered by unusual activity from your account or IP address. Occasionally, Discord requests additional verification steps even if you have a pre-existing, established account. This is a security measure designed to protect you and other users from spam and abuse. You might see an error that says something like “Please Verify by Phone,” “Verification Required,” or “Something Is Going On Here.” Possible reasons you are seeing these errors include:

   • You are trying to join a server that requires account verification.
   • You joined too many servers in a short period of time.
   • You sent DMs to multiple users who are not on your friends list.
   • Discord’s security software thinks you are posting or sending messages too quickly (indicating bot activity).
   • You are using unapproved mods or third-party clients with Discord.
   • There’s a problem on Discord’s end (in which case, you just have to wait for the issue to be resolved).
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   Enter a valid phone number that’s not linked to another account. If you get a “Please Verify by Phone” error, you’ll need to enter a mobile phone number. Click or tap Start Verification, then enter your number. You should get a text message at the number you entered containing a verification code. Follow the instructions in the text to enter the code into Discord and complete the verification process.
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   Try these fixes to troubleshoot the phone verification process. If Discord requires you to verify by phone, there are a few potential problems you might run into:

   • “Invalid Phone Number”: This error means that your phone number was formatted incorrectly or that you tried to use a landline or VoIP number. Make sure you’re using a valid mobile phone number. See the “Invalid Phone Number” section for more information on how to deal with this error.
   • “Rate Limit/Recently Used”: You might see this error if you recently used this same number to verify your account. Use a different number, or wait 24-48 hours and try again.
   • “Existing account”: You may be trying to use a phone number that is already linked to a different Discord account. If you don’t know of any other accounts using your number, it’s possible that you linked it to an “accidental account.” See the “Number is Unable to Be Associated” section for more information on this error and how to fix it.
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   Contact Discord Support for additional help. If you’re unable to verify your account, Discord Support may be able to help. To submit a request, go to support.discord.com/hc/en-us/requests/new. Use the dropdown menus to select the type of issue you’re having (Help & Support > Account Verification & Credentials > Phone Verification). Select the error that’s most similar to the one you’re seeing, or choose Other.

   • You’ll also need to provide information like your email address, phone number, and a general description of the problem.
   • If you like, you can upload screenshots showing the error and any additional information that might be helpful.
   • When you’re done, click Submit.
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