PayPal verification code not received?
First check whether PayPal is sending codes at all. Below is a live count of PayPal codes reaching our public numbers, then the fixes that usually work.
Is PayPal sending codes right now?
PayPal sends too few codes to our numbers to judge the last hour. The counts below are the best guide.
- Numbers that got codes (7 days)
- 826
This counts PayPal codes reaching our public numbers. If PayPal is delivering here but not to your phone, the problem is most likely the number, your phone or your carrier. Work through the steps below.
What to try
- Check the number format: pick the right country and drop the leading 0 (07700 900123 becomes +44 7700 900123).
- Wait a full minute before pressing resend. With many apps only the newest code works, so resending too early can cancel the first one.
- Stop after two or three requests. PayPal limits how many codes it sends and may stop sending for a while without telling you.
- Look for another way to get the code: a phone call, an email, or the code shown in the app on a device where you are already signed in.
- On your own phone: check your signal, turn airplane mode on and off, and look in your spam or unknown-sender filters.
- On a free number: pick one that received a PayPal code recently, and switch numbers instead of retrying one that failed.
PayPal tips
- Do not add a public number to a PayPal account. Use your own mobile number.
- Turn on two-step verification with an authenticator app in PayPal's security settings.
- If a public number is already on your PayPal account, replace it with your own and change your password today.
Free numbers that recently received PayPal codes
Frequently asked questions
Why is my PayPal verification code not coming?
Usually the number was entered in the wrong format, the code is delayed or rate-limited after several requests, or PayPal won't send to that number. Check the live status above first: if PayPal is delivering normally, the problem is on the receiving side.
How long does a PayPal code take to arrive?
Usually a few seconds. Delays of a minute or two happen, so wait a full minute before asking for a new code.
Can I get a PayPal code without my own phone number?
Sometimes. The free numbers on our PayPal page received PayPal codes recently, but they are public: anyone can read the code, so use them only for throwaway accounts.