This article explains how to use a landline phone to sign up for a WhatsApp account. It also covers an alternative method if you want a dedicated WhatsApp phone number.

How to Use WhatsApp With a Landline Number

When you first sign up for WhatsApp, it appears as though you need a cell phone that supports texting. Really, though, any number should work because you can receive the verification code through a call.

Follow these steps when prompted to enter your phone number:

1. Ensure the correct country is selected, then enter your landline phone number and tap Next. Y If prompted, confirm the number by selecting Yes.

2. Select Need help getting a code? and then tap Voice call > Continue in the pop-up.

   Don’t see these options? You might need to wait for the timer to run down.

3. Answer the phone call from WhatsApp. You may need to press a specific number to obtain the code (our instruction was to press 4).

4. Enter the six-digit verification code into the designated fields in the app.

5. That’s it! You’ve set up WhatsApp without needing a mobile phone number.

How to Use WhatsApp With a TextNow Phone Number

Lots of apps are available that can serve as a virtual phone number. Most are easy to use and give out a completely free phone number you can use for WhatsApp.

For this demonstration, we have chosen TextNow, but you can use other second phone number apps if preferred. Here’s how it works:

1. Download TextNow. It’s available on iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS.

2. Tap Sign Up and then pick how you want to make your account. You can log in with a Google or Facebook account or enter your email address and create a password.

3. Select Use Wi-Fi Only For Now > Select Phone Number.

4. Tap Use my location and then follow your phone’s location permission prompt if you want a local phone number.

5. Pick a number from the list and tap Continue.

   If you wait 60 seconds, you’ll get a new set of numbers to choose from. You can also tap Change area code to see phone numbers local to a different area.

6. Tap Personal since you’re really just using this number to make a WhatsApp account.

7. Select Set Up if you’d like TextNow to handle all your texts and calls, otherwise choose Not Now > SKIP.

8. You can now use your new TextNow phone number when you sign up for WhatsApp.

   If you ever forget your TextNow number, tap the three lines at the top of the app to see it. Know, however, that free numbers like this one expire if you don’t use them frequently.

Can You Use WhatsApp Without a Phone Number?

Technically, no. However, while you do need to input a phone number of some kind to sign up for WhatsApp, it doesn’t have to be your personal number. You can use an alternative number including a landline, or set up a fake WhatsApp number with a third-party app. 

Privacy is a key reason you might not want to share your regular phone number on WhatsApp. For instance, if you’re dating and don’t want to get pestered by people after just one date, or simply because you like to keep different parts of your life separate.

Fortunately, there are ways of signing into WhatsApp without using the number connected to your SIM card or even without a SIM card at all.