Press Start Verification, give a valid mobile number that isn't attached to an existing Discord account, then enter the code Discord sends by SMS. Landline, VOIP and burner numbers can't be used, and a recently used number needs a wait of 24 to 48 hours.
If an error's stopped you partway through, start with the table below. It's drawn from Discord's help article on verifying your account, as of Nov 2026.
Discord verification errors and how to fix them
| Error | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Invalid phone number | The number can't be used. VOIP, burner and landline numbers are all rejected. | Use a valid mobile number. |
| Rate Limit/Recently Used | The number was used recently and it's in a timeout. | Wait 24 to 48 hours, then verify again. |
| Existing account | The number may be tied to an accidental Discord account. | Follow Discord's article, How to Remove a Phone Number From a Discord Account. |
| Captcha | You're stuck on the captcha step. | Contact Discord's support team at dis.gd/contact. |
Two of those are worth a second look. Invalid phone number is the one you can't argue with: a landline, VOIP or burner number won't pass, so there's no point re-entering the same one. You'll need a mobile number.
Existing account catches people out because the number may be sitting on an account you've forgotten making. Discord's fix is to remove the number from that account. Closing the old account altogether is a different job, and deleting a Discord account is covered separately. If you only want to get verified, the number removal is the route Discord points you to.
This isn't the same as a Verified Server
This page is about phone and email verification on your own account. It's not about a Verified Server, which my guide to Verified Server status covers. An age check is separate too: if that's the prompt you've got, you're after verifying your age on Discord. It's easy to land on the wrong instructions, because they all use the same word.
Why you got the Verification Required message
Discord says it may require you to verify your email and phone number as part of its safety system. The Verification Required message is part of that system, and it appears when Discord's systems detect activity that calls for extra information. Discord lists these reasons you might see it:
- You're joining a server that requires verified members.
- You've joined multiple servers in a short time.
- You've messaged a lot of people who aren't your friends.
- You've posted faster than a human can.
- You've used third-party clients or modifications.
Read that list carefully and you'll see it isn't all one thing. The first reason is just a server's own rule, and it has nothing to do with how you've behaved. The next three are about speed and volume, the sort of pattern Discord's systems are watching for. Say you've just joined a pile of servers in one sitting: you'll have tripped the second reason even if you meant nothing by it. The last one's about the software you're using, so if you run a third-party client or a modification, know that it's on Discord's list.
My read on all of this: treat the message as a request for information, because that's how Discord describes it. Doing the verification is the plain way through it.
Verifying by phone, step by step
- Press Start Verification.
- Give a valid mobile number that's not attached to an existing Discord account.
- Wait for the SMS and enter the code.
Check two things about the number before you press anything. It's got to be a real mobile number, and it can't already be on a Discord account. Those two rules sit behind two of the rows in the table above, so a minute's thought here saves you a trip back up there. And don't burn through the same number with repeat attempts, because a recently used number goes into that 24 to 48 hour timeout.
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If you're wary about handing over your number, here's what Discord says it's for: safety and security, plus opt-in features such as Find Your Friends. Opt-in means you choose whether to use those.
If it's your email that needs verifying
Discord may ask for your email to be verified as well as your phone number. If you can't find the original verification email, Discord has a separate article, Resending Verification Email, and that's the one to follow. The main verification article doesn't go further than pointing you to it.
What Discord's article doesn't answer
- What happens if you refuse to verify.
- How long verification lasts.
- How server-level verification levels work, which is a different feature.
- Where the Start Verification button sits in the app, beyond its name.
Quick answers
Why won't Discord accept my phone number?
VOIP, burner and landline numbers can't be used, and the number can't already be attached to an existing Discord account. A recently used number also goes into a timeout.
How long is the Discord phone number timeout?
Discord says to wait 24 to 48 hours before verifying the number again.
Why is Discord asking me to verify my account?
Its systems may have detected activity that calls for extra information, such as joining multiple servers in a short time, or you may be joining a server that requires verified members.
What does Discord use my phone number for?
Safety and security, plus opt-in features such as Find Your Friends.
What if the captcha won't work when I verify?
Contact Discord's support team at dis.gd/contact.
