The WhatsApp 6-digit code is a one-time registration code that WhatsApp sends to your phone number by SMS or a voice call when you set up or re-register your number. You type it into the app to prove the number is yours. Never share it with anyone, because whoever has it can register your number on their phone.
There's a second 6-digit number in WhatsApp that people mix up with it: the two-step verification PIN, which you choose yourself. They look alike but do different jobs, and knowing the difference is the best protection you have against the most common WhatsApp scam.
Here's how the two compare, what to do if a code turns up that you didn't ask for, and how to fix a code that won't arrive.
The two different 6-digit numbers
| Registration code | Two-step verification PIN | |
|---|---|---|
| Who makes it | WhatsApp, a new one each time | You, when you turn on two-step verification |
| How it reaches you | SMS or voice call to your number, and sometimes another device or email you've set up | It doesn't arrive. You remember it |
| When WhatsApp asks for it | When you register or re-register your number on a phone | When your number is registered again on a phone |
| How long it lasts | One use, then it expires | Until you change it |
| Who should ever see it | Nobody but you | Nobody but you |
In short, the registration code gets a phone through the front door, and the PIN is the second lock on that door. If someone had both, they'd be in. If they only have one, they usually aren't.
When you'll see a registration code
You'll get one when you install WhatsApp on a new phone, when you move your number to a different phone, or when you log back in after a reset. WhatsApp asks for your phone number, sends the code, and you enter it on the verification screen. The code is meant for the phone you're holding at that moment.
That's why a code arriving out of nowhere matters. If you aren't setting up WhatsApp and you get a code, someone may be trying to register your number. The next section covers that.
"I got a code I didn't ask for"
This is the situation that catches people out. A message arrives with a WhatsApp code, and a moment later a friend, a relative or someone claiming to be from support asks you to send it to them. They usually have a story: they typed the wrong number, they need it for a delivery, they're locked out and need your help.
Don't send it. The sender isn't a friend who has made a mistake. It's a scam, and the code is the last thing they need to take over your account. Once your number is registered on their phone, they can message your contacts pretending to be you.
- Never read out or forward a WhatsApp code, not even to someone you know. A real friend can use their own phone number.
- WhatsApp support will never ask you for your code. Anyone who does isn't from WhatsApp.
- If a friend's account suddenly asks you for a code, it may already have been taken over. Contact them by phone or in person, not through that chat.
- Turn on two-step verification. If a scammer somehow gets the registration code, the PIN stops them registering your number.
Turn on two-step verification
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings.
- Tap Account, then Two-step verification.
- Tap Turn on and choose your 6-digit PIN.
- Confirm it and add an email address, so you can reset the PIN if you forget it.
Write the PIN somewhere safe that isn't a chat. Menu names change between versions, so if yours looks different, search the settings for "two-step". If you want to know more about warnings inside WhatsApp, read my explanation of the WhatsApp security code changed message, which is a different thing again.
A simple habit helps. Before you type a code anywhere, ask yourself whether you started the setup on your own phone a minute ago. If the answer is no, the code isn't for you to pass on, and the safest move is to ignore it and carry on with your day.
If the code isn't arriving
Codes can take a while, and sometimes they don't turn up at all. Work through these in order.
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- Check the phone number and country code on the screen. One wrong digit sends the code somewhere else.
- Check you have a signal and that SMS works on that SIM. Move near a window if you're indoors.
- Wait for the timer on the screen to finish. Pressing the button again straight away doesn't speed it up.
- Choose the call option when it appears. WhatsApp will phone you and read the code out loud, which works well if SMS is blocked.
- Check for a full inbox or a message filter that hides unknown senders, and look in any spam folder.
If you see a message saying you've asked too many times, stop trying and wait. Repeated requests make the wait longer. Come back later and try once.
Using WhatsApp modifications
Some people try a modified version of WhatsApp and are asked for the same code. I'd be careful there, because you're handing your number and chats to an app WhatsApp didn't make. Before you install anything like that, read whether WhatsApp Plus is safe.
If someone took over your account
If you've lost access because someone registered your number, you can register again with a fresh code sent to your SIM. That signs the other person out. If you set up two-step verification, they may be locked out entirely. Tell your contacts the account was compromised so they don't answer odd messages.
Your chats are a separate question. They live in your backups, and what you can restore depends on whether a backup exists. Our guide on recovering WhatsApp messages without a backup explains what's possible.
Frequently asked questions
What is the WhatsApp 6 digit code for?
It proves that you own the phone number when you register WhatsApp on a phone. WhatsApp sends it by SMS or a voice call and you type it into the app.
Is it safe to share my WhatsApp code?
No. Never share it with anyone. Whoever has the code can register your number on their phone and pretend to be you. WhatsApp support never asks for it.
Is the registration code the same as the two-step verification PIN?
No. The registration code is sent to you by WhatsApp each time. The PIN is a 6-digit number you choose yourself, and WhatsApp asks for it when your number is registered again.
Why did I get a WhatsApp code I didn't ask for?
Someone may have typed your number while trying to register it, or a scammer is trying to take over your account. Don't share the code, and turn on two-step verification.
What should I do if the WhatsApp code isn't arriving?
Check the number and country code, make sure you have signal, wait for the timer, then try the call option. If you've asked too many times, wait before trying again.
