Facebook says to check the mobile number you entered, resend the text, or confirm with your email address instead. If what you're waiting for is a login security code, Facebook lists five ways to get one, and a text message is only one of them.
The reason this is confusing is that "confirmation code" covers three different codes on Facebook, and each has its own Help article with its own fixes. Work out which one you're stuck on first, and the right fix gets much shorter.
Three codes that look the same
- A code to confirm your mobile number or email address, usually when you sign up or add contact details.
- A code to finish setting up Facebook texts, the feature that lets you use Facebook by text message.
- A login security code, which you'll see if you've turned on two-factor authentication or login alerts.
If you're not sure, ask yourself what you were doing when Facebook asked for it. Signing up or adding a number points to the first. Logging in on a new device points to the third.
Confirming a phone number or email
Facebook's Help gives three things to try, in this order, as of Nov 2026:
- Check the number. Look at the mobile number you entered. If it's wrong, click Update contact info, enter the right number and click Add.
- Resend it. Click Send SMS again.
- Use email instead. Click Update contact info, enter your email address and click Add, then confirm your account by email. If that code doesn't arrive either, click Send email again.
Switching to email is the one people overlook. If texts aren't reaching you for any reason, an email code sidesteps the whole problem. Check your spam folder too; Facebook lists that in its general advice on codes.
When the text never lands
Facebook's Help article on texted set-up codes has some fixes you wouldn't guess:
- If you recently moved your number from a different mobile provider, you may not be able to receive the code at all.
- Remove any signature you've set to appear at the end of your text messages. Facebook says signatures can stop it receiving your texts.
- Contact your mobile provider to make sure you're texting the right number.
- Facebook's Help lists texting On or Fb to 32665 (FBOOK). That's what Help gives as of Nov 2026; I wouldn't assume it works in every country.
- Wait 24 hours in case of a delivery delay, then report a problem if you're still stuck.
Facebook's broader advice on codes adds more. If you've asked for several codes already, wait a day before trying again. Check your phone's blocked messages, because your phone may be screening or blocking confirmation texts. Check your signal, check your phone has enough space to receive an SMS, and try restarting it. Facebook also says your mobile plan can affect which messages you can receive, so your network provider is worth a call.
Two-factor login codes: five routes in
If you've turned on two-factor authentication, Facebook lists these ways to get a security code or approve a login:
- A 6-digit code sent by text message to your mobile.
- Tapping your security key on a compatible device.
- A code from a third-party authentication app linked to your account.
- Approving the login from a device Facebook already recognises.
- One of your printed recovery codes.
So if the text isn't coming, you're not locked out yet. Grab your other logged-in phone or laptop and approve from there, or open your authentication app. Facebook says you can get ten recovery codes when two-factor is on, each one working once; here's how Facebook recovery codes work. If you haven't set two-factor up yet, turning on two-factor authentication has its own guide.
Why Facebook asks for a code at every login
This one drives people mad. Facebook's Help explains it: with two-factor authentication or alerts for unrecognised logins, Facebook needs to remember your computer and browser so it knows you next time. Some browser features stop that.
If you use private browsing, or your browser clears its history every time it closes, Facebook says you might have to enter a security code each time you log in. Incognito or private mode usually causes it once you close the window. The fix is to log in from a normal browser window that keeps its history.
The number rule nobody mentions
Facebook says that for security, you can't use the same number you use for two-factor authentication to reset your password. You need a different mobile number or an email address on the account for that.
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That matters if your only contact detail is the phone you get codes on. Add an email address too, so you've got a second way back in. If you need to swap the number itself, changing your phone number on Facebook walks through it.
Facebook also says a number added for two-factor is used to help you log in and keep the account safe, while numbers added elsewhere, such as on your profile or Marketplace, may be used for other things, including friend suggestions and ads.
Which code, which fix
| Which code | What Facebook says to try | Help article |
|---|---|---|
| Confirming a mobile number | Check the number, Send SMS again, or switch to email | I didn't receive the code to confirm my mobile phone number |
| A set-up code requested by text | Remove text signatures, check provider moves, wait 24 hours | I didn't receive a confirmation code to finish setting up texts |
| Login security code with two-factor | Use a security key, authentication app, recognised device or recovery code | Get security code for two-factor authentication |
| A code at every single login | Stop using private browsing or auto-clearing history | Why you may need to enter a security code |
My verdict
I'd start by switching to email if a confirmation code won't arrive by text, because it removes the phone from the problem in one step. For login codes, skip the resend button after the second try and approve from a device Facebook already knows, or use an authentication app. And add an email address to your account today, because your two-factor number can't reset your password on its own.
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Frequently asked questions
Why am I not getting my Facebook confirmation code?
Facebook says to check the number you entered, resend the text, and check your spam folder and blocked messages. A text signature or a recent move to a new mobile provider can also stop codes arriving.
Can I get a Facebook code by email instead?
Yes. Facebook says to click Update contact info, add your email address and confirm your account by email instead of a mobile number.
How long should I wait for a Facebook code?
Facebook's Help suggests waiting 24 hours for a delayed text, and if you've asked for several codes, it says to wait a day before trying again.
Why does Facebook ask for a code every time I log in?
Facebook says private browsing or a browser that clears its history on close stops it remembering your device, so it asks for a security code each time.
Can I use my two-factor number to reset my password?
No. Facebook says you need a different mobile number or an email address on the account to reset your password.
