How to create Gmail account without phone number
If you want to create a new Gmail account without giving away your phone number, we understand. There’s no shortage of reasons—whether you just want to keep your personal number private or you’ve linked too many Gmail addresses to your phone number already.
Thankfully, it’s optional.
Creating a Google account without a phone number is possible if you skip phone number verification. We’ll go over how to do it, whether you’re using your phone or PC, along with some other tips on how to avoid giving away your phone number.
Gmail sign-up without phone number
Android
- Open the settings app.
- Tap “Google.”
- Tap “manage your Google account.”
- Tap “add another account.”
- Tap “create account” in the bottom-left corner.
- Select “for my personal use.”
- Enter your name, date of birth, and gender and then tap “next.”
- Enter a username, create a password, and tap “next.”
- Enter a recovery email address and tap “next.”
- When you’re asked to enter your phone number, tap “skip.”
- Check the account information and confirm to create the Gmail address.
iOS
- Open the settings app.
- Tap “mail.”
- Tap “accounts.”
- Tap “add account” and then “Google.”
- Tap “create account” in the bottom-left corner.
- Enter your name, date of birth, gender, and the username you want to create, then set a strong password.
- Enter a recovery email address and tap “next.”
- When you’re asked to enter your phone number, tap “skip.”
- Check the account information and confirm to create the Gmail address.
Web
- Open Gmail on the browser of your choice.
- Click “create account” in the bottom-left corner.
- Enter your name, date of birth, gender, and the username you want to create, then set a strong password.
- Enter a recovery email address and tap “next.”
- When you’re asked to enter your phone number, tap “skip.”
- Check the account information and confirm to create the Gmail address.
Alternative ways to set up Gmail without your personal phone number
If you want to have a phone number linked to your account but want to keep your personal number private, there are ways.
Here are some options:
- Get another phone number solely for setting up online accounts and 2FA.
- Use a prepaid phone number that you can discard after use. Make sure you don’t have 2FA set up on this number unless you plan to top up and keep the number.
- Set up an eSIM that allows you to receive notifications in an app.
Note: We recommend you steer clear on online SMS services as they are usually less private and can cause privacy and security issues when receiving sensitive information such as 2FA codes or password reset links.
Why you should keep your phone number private
When you use your phone number to manage online accounts, subscriptions, and services, your messaging app can quickly become overrun. In contexts where you prefer to remain anonymous (e.g., forums, online sales platforms), sharing your phone number can also lead to unwanted connections between your online and offline identities.
The more places your phone number is stored on the internet, the more points of entry malicious actors have to your personal information. Your phone number can often be linked to other personal data, such as your email address, home address, and even Social security number. If exposed, this can lead to things like identity theft, increased spam and phishing attacks, and even online harassment and stalking.
Not only do many companies, apps, and online services often share your data but data brokers then make it their business to collect this information, create detailed personal profiles, and sell or publish it online. Some data brokers have even been caught knowingly selling data sets of vulnerable individuals to fraudsters.
Even if legitimate and reputable companies may not sell your phone number and other data, they’re still susceptible to data breaches. So it’s always best to err on the side of caution. Email services are no exception. Yahoo experienced one of the biggest data breaches in history, leaving 3Bn records exposed in 2013.
FAQ
Can I create a Gmail without a phone number?
Yes, you can create a Gmail account without a phone number. Set up a Gmail account as you normally would and use the “skip” button when you get to the stage asking for your phone number.
Can I have 2 Gmail accounts?
Yes, you can have two and more Gmail accounts. When logged in, click on your profile picture in the top-right corner, then “add another account,” then “create account.”
Can you get into Gmail without phone verification?
If you set up your Gmail account without a phone number, you can access the account without phone verification. We recommend you set up another form or two-factor authentication to keep your account secure.
Can I create multiple Gmail accounts with one phone number?
Yes, you can create multiple Gmail accounts with one phone number. However, you’re limited to four accounts per phone number.
Why does Gmail require a phone number?
Gmail requires a phone number to verify you aren’t a bot, verify your identity if you ever lose access to your account, and add extra security in case someone gets a hold of your password.
Can you delete a Gmail account?
Yes, you can delete a Gmail account. Log in to your Google account, click “data & privacy.” Click “data from apps and services you use” > “download or delete your data” > “delete a Google service.” Then enter your password, click the trash can next to “Gmail,” and follow the steps.
For step-by-step instructions, check out our full guide on how to delete your Gmail account.
Does Proton Mail require a phone number?
No, Proton Mail doesn’t require a phone number to set up an account. However, we recommend you use another form of two-factor authentication to protect your account.
