Alex Ruben
How To Resolve the Issue When Verification Code Cannot Be Sent to Your Phone Number
If you’re running into that annoying message — “Verification code cannot be sent to this phone number at this time, please try again later” — whenever trying to set up a new Apple ID, you’re not alone. It’s one of those weird glitches that pop up more often than you’d like, especially if your phone number is locked behind VPNs, region mismatches, or really strict settings. The goal here is to get that verification code to land successfully so you can finish setting up your account, and honestly, it’s not always straightforward. But don’t worry, a few tweaks here and there usually do the trick.
These steps are about troubleshooting common culprits — stuff like region settings, VPNs, or restrictions — because Apple sometimes gets picky with where you’re trying to verify from. If you follow these, expect to see fewer hiccups, or at least get a better idea of what’s going wrong. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of resetting a setting or disabling a VPN. Other times, you’ll want to try creating the ID via a browser instead of the device. Either way, this should help you get past that verification roadblock.
How to Fix ‘Verification Code Cannot Be Sent to This Phone Number’
Ensure Your Device’s Language and Region Are Correct
This is kinda weird, but having your region set wrong can mess with how Apple sends verification codes. It’s like, if your phone thinks you’re in one country but you’re actually somewhere else, it might block the number or send the code to an incorrect region server.
- Open Settings and go to General.
- Tap on Language & Region.
- Check that your region matches your actual location — usually set it to United States or your country if you haven’t already.
This step applies if your verification always fails or if your region is mismatched. Expect fewer region-related hiccups after doing this. Sometimes, on some setups, this won’t trigger any immediate change, but it’s worth making sure.
Turn Off VPNs or Proxy Connections
If you’re on a VPN (and who isn’t these days? Turn off that proxy if you can), Apple might block that verification request from going through properly. VPNs can trick the network into thinking you’re somewhere else, and Apple is pretty strict about verifying phone numbers tied to your actual location.
- Head into Settings > VPN & Device Management.
- If a VPN is active, toggle it off.
Sometimes, even if you’re not actively using a VPN, a VPN app might still be running in the background or stuck. If that’s the case, disable it, restart your device, and try again. On one machine, this failed the first time, then after turning off VPN and rebooting, the verification code came through like a charm. Go figure.
Reset All Settings (But No Data Loss)
This is a classic troubleshooting move — resets a lot of things like Wi-Fi passwords, display preferences, and other magic system settings that could be interfering. It’s strange, but sometimes the system just gets weird permissions or configuration corruptions.
- In Settings, go to General.
- Select Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap on Reset > Reset All Settings.
This won’t delete your photos or apps, just resets system stuff. Expect to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords, but that’s about it. After this, try to request the verification code again. On some systems, this fixes the problem unexpectedly. On others, no dice — but worth a shot.
Double-Check Screen Time Restrictions
In some cases, restriction settings in Screen Time can block certain numbers or limit verification requests. If you’re running any restrictions, it might be the culprit.
- Open Settings > Screen Time.
- Tap on Content & Privacy Restrictions.
- Make sure the toggle is off, or review the settings to see if something blocking your phone number is enabled.
If restrictions are on, turn them off and give it another shot. Weird but true, this can sometimes block verification SMSs or calls.
Try Creating an Apple ID Using a Web Browser
Not sure why, but sometimes using your browser instead of the phone simplifies this whole mess. If the verification code isn’t going through on the device, head to the Apple ID site.
- Open your favorite browser, whether it’s Chrome, Safari, or Firefox.
- Visit https://id.apple.com.
- Follow the prompts to create a new Apple ID. Sometimes doing this straight through the website bypasses whatever weird thing Apple’s phone verification is doing.
Extra Tips & Common Troubleshooting Ideas
Because of course, Apple has to make things complicated sometimes. Make sure your device is running the latest iOS version (check in Settings > General > Software Update), and double-check your phone number for typos or formatting errors. If you can, try swapping to a different number — sometimes one number just doesn’t work for unknown reasons. Also, make sure your carrier isn’t blocking SMS messages from Apple comparatively or has some restrictions.
Wrap-up
This isn’t always straightforward, but these tweaks usually help. It really depends on what’s causing the problem — whether it’s regional settings, network issues, or account restrictions. The key is to rule out VPN interference, verify your region, and possibly reset some settings. If none of this works, reaching out to Apple Support might be the next step, but hopefully, one of these methods gets you through.
Summary
- Check and set correct Language & Region.
- Turn off any active VPN.
- Reset all Settings without deleting data.
- Review and disable Screen Time restrictions.
- Try creating the ID via Apple’s website.
Final Thoughts
Dealing with verification stuff can be one of those irritating things that feel like a never-ending game of whack-a-mole. But with a little patience and some toggling, most issues clear up. Fingers crossed this helps — and rescue your setup from that annoying verification roadblock.