First check whether WhatsApp is sending codes at all. Below is a live count of WhatsApp codes reaching our public numbers, then the fixes that usually work.
Is WhatsApp sending codes right now?
Yes. WhatsApp codes are reaching our numbers at the usual rate.
Codes (last hour)
122
Codes (24 hours)
3,686
Last code
Numbers that got codes (7 days)
2,017
WhatsApp codes per hour, last 24 hours
23 hours agothis hour
WhatsApp codes per hour, last 24 hours
23 hours ago
165
22 hours ago
156
21 hours ago
130
20 hours ago
141
19 hours ago
143
18 hours ago
156
17 hours ago
166
16 hours ago
161
15 hours ago
144
14 hours ago
135
13 hours ago
169
12 hours ago
146
11 hours ago
164
10 hours ago
201
9 hours ago
125
8 hours ago
154
7 hours ago
159
6 hours ago
142
5 hours ago
147
4 hours ago
155
3 hours ago
192
2 hours ago
150
1 hour ago
163
this hour
122
This counts WhatsApp codes reaching our public numbers. If WhatsApp 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. WhatsApp 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 WhatsApp code recently, and switch numbers instead of retrying one that failed.
WhatsApp tips
Wait for the SMS timer to run out before asking again. The call option cannot reach an SMS-only inbox.
Turn on two-step verification under Settings, Account, so whoever uses this number next has a harder time registering it.
Choose a number with a recent WhatsApp code on this page: it shows WhatsApp was still sending to it.
Usually the number was entered in the wrong format, the code is delayed or rate-limited after several requests, or WhatsApp won't send to that number. Check the live status above first: if WhatsApp is delivering normally, the problem is on the receiving side.
How long does a WhatsApp 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 WhatsApp code without my own phone number?
Sometimes. The free numbers on our WhatsApp page received WhatsApp codes recently, but they are public: anyone can read the code, so use them only for throwaway accounts.
