First check what happened: was the number rejected, did the app say it sent an SMS that never appeared, or did a code arrive but fail? The next step depends on which problem you see.
You can contact support at any point. If you already tried the relevant checks below, include that in your ticket instead of repeating them.
Start With These Checks #
- Make sure the selected country and service match what you need. For a Single-Service rental, use the app selected at purchase.
- Check the number format. If the app supplies the country code, do not enter it twice.
- Confirm that the one-time countdown or rental is still active. Use an activation control only if your rental shows one; All Services Premium stays active without this step.
MobileSMS receives inbound SMS only. It cannot receive voice calls, send a reply, or approve a request on another person's device. Choose the sender's official SMS option if one is offered.
The App Rejects the Number or Will Not Send #
Read the exact error. An invalid, unsupported, or already-registered number is different from a request that has been sent but is delayed. Platforms control acceptance, and phone numbers can have prior history.
If the registration form is stuck, try a private browser window or another current browser. If you are using a VPN or proxy, temporarily try your own trusted home connection or mobile data where permitted. Keep account information accurate and follow the service's region requirements.
These checks can help diagnose a browser or connection problem; they do not guarantee number acceptance. If the app says to wait, follow its timer rather than cycling numbers or connections to get around it.
If a number is linked to somebody else's account, do not try to access or recover that account. Contact support with the error and mention any charge. An upgrade to another product is not a guaranteed fix.
The App Says It Sent an SMS, but Nothing Appears #
Check the matching number and service in the one-time dashboard or long-term dashboard. Confirm the sender used SMS rather than a call or in-app message.
Follow the sender's waiting period. When it permits another request, try one new code while your number is still active. Avoid repeated requests, which may trigger a sender limit. Changing browsers or IP addresses will not make an already-sent SMS arrive.
Do not keep sending codes to an expired number. If the checks do not resolve the issue, contact support with the approximate time and details below.
Should I Request a Different Number? #
For a one-time number with no SMS received, another number may be an option if the dashboard permits cancellation, replacement, or a new request and the sender allows another attempt. Review any displayed charge first. A replacement or credit is not automatically guaranteed.
If no option appears, or you were charged without receiving a real SMS, ask support to review it. Do not spend again just to fix an incorrect charge.
For a long-term rental or a number linked to account recovery, contact support before discarding it. Losing the number can mean losing future access to that account.
A Code Arrived, but It Is Invalid or Expired #
Check that the code belongs to the matching account and verification request. Follow the sender's expiry and retry instructions; a newer request may invalidate an older code. Request a fresh code only when allowed and while the number remains active.
Use MobileSMS support for a rental or SMS-delivery problem, and the other platform's official support for an account-side rejection. Never share the verification code in a ticket or chat.
The Dashboard Has the SMS, but Forwarding Does Not #
This is a forwarding problem rather than missing SMS reception. Check whether forwarding is enabled and whether the destination still exists. Include a redacted error and approximate time when contacting support, not the webhook URL or the message's code.
What to Send Support #
Open a ticket at help.mobilesms.io with your sign-up email, number type, country and app, approximate time and time zone, the number's last four digits, and the error or checks already tried. Include an order ID if available and mention any incorrect charge.
Remove passwords, SMS codes, API keys, payment-card details, and webhook secrets from screenshots. If you already have a ticket, reply to it so the information stays together.
