Signal Needs a Phone Number. Keep It Off Your Personal SIM.
Signal is the most private messaging app on earth — but it still requires a phone number to register, one that Google Voice and VoIP services cannot reliably receive. Get a dedicated US real-SIM number so Signal verification actually works, without tying the account to your personal carrier.
- Real-SIM US number that receives Signal's shortcode verification SMS
- Keep your personal number off Signal entirely
- Long-term rental — keep the same number for device reinstalls and re-verifications
- Shared inbox for newsrooms and organizations using a team Signal account
Why Google Voice and VoIP numbers fail for Signal registration
Signal sends registration codes via SMS shortcodes — a delivery method that many VoIP providers, including Google Voice, cannot receive. Signal's own support documentation states that “Google Voice and similar services are unreliable for Signal.” There is no visible error: the code simply never arrives, the rate limit fires, and the account is stuck.
- •Google Voice cannot receive shortcode SMS — this is a documented, longstanding limitation (GitHub issue open since 2013)
- •MySudo, Twilio consumer numbers, and enterprise VoIP lines have the same shortcode incompatibility
- •Signal's "voice call" verification fallback also fails on most VoIP services
- •Free online SMS services use shared public inboxes — anyone can see your code
- •Temporary OTP number services have 5–10 minute windows; if shortcode delivery is delayed, the window expires
Signal tells users directly: “try a different phone number, preferably one that is not linked to a VoIP service.” A real-SIM number from a US carrier is the solution Signal is pointing toward.
How JoltSMS solves Signal verification
JoltSMS provides real carrier SIM numbers from US mobile networks — not VoIP, not virtual, not a shared pool. Real-SIM numbers are routed through the same carrier infrastructure as normal mobile phones, which means they receive shortcode SMS that VoIP providers cannot. Your Signal account stays linked to a number you actually control, month after month.
- Real-SIM classification: mobile, not VoIP — receives shortcode SMS from Signal
- Dedicated to you alone during your rental period
- Permanent account stability: keep the same number for new device installs
- Your personal phone number never appears on Signal
- Shared inbox for team Signal accounts in newsrooms and organizations
Who uses JoltSMS for Signal registration?
Journalists and privacy professionals
Reporters, lawyers, and security researchers who need Signal for sensitive communications. Registering on a dedicated number keeps the account separate from their personal carrier identity — and out of subpoena reach.
Activists and high-risk individuals
Human rights workers, political organizers, and domestic violence survivors who need Signal's privacy guarantees to actually hold. A separate registration number ensures the account cannot be traced back to their personal phone.
Newsrooms and advocacy organizations
Organizations that need a Signal account for secure tip intake or team communication — but cannot tie it to one employee's personal phone. When staff change, the Signal number stays with the organization.
How to register Signal with a JoltSMS number
Get your JoltSMS number
Sign up and get a dedicated US Real-SIM number at $50/month
Open Signal and tap Register
Download Signal and start the registration flow
Enter your JoltSMS number
Input the JoltSMS US number when Signal prompts for a phone number
Receive the code in your inbox
Signal sends a 6-digit shortcode SMS. It arrives in your JoltSMS dashboard instantly.
Enter the code in Signal
Type the code to complete registration. Your Signal account is now live.
Keep the number active
Renew monthly — Signal re-verifies the number when you reinstall on a new device
Running a team or organizational Signal account?
Newsrooms, nonprofits, and advocacy organizations often need a Signal number that belongs to the organization — not a single staff member's personal phone. When that employee leaves, the Signal account leaves with them. A JoltSMS number fixes the handoff problem.
- Route Signal verification codes to Slack or email so any authorized team member can complete re-verification
- No single point of failure — account access does not depend on one person's personal phone being available
- Role-based access: grant inbox access to team members without sharing your personal number
- Signal reinstalls trigger a new verification code — a shared inbox handles this without disruption
Important notes
Not affiliated with Signal Messenger or the Signal Foundation. JoltSMS provides phone numbers for legitimate account registration. Use in accordance with Signal's Terms of Service.
Best practices:
- Keep your JoltSMS number active month-to-month — Signal re-verifies the number when you reinstall on a new device or transfer to a new phone
- JoltSMS numbers are inbound-only: if Signal offers a voice call instead of SMS, choose SMS
- Signal's February 2024 username feature hides your number from contacts but does not eliminate the registration number — the underlying number still matters for account recovery
- Also using Telegram or WhatsApp? A single JoltSMS number can receive verification codes from multiple messaging platforms.
Signal verification FAQ
JoltSMS provides real-SIM, non-VoIP US numbers from major US carriers. These numbers receive shortcode SMS — the delivery method Signal uses for verification — which most VoIP and virtual numbers cannot. We cannot guarantee acceptance on any specific platform, but real-SIM numbers directly address the shortcode incompatibility that causes Google Voice and VoIP failures.
Register Signal without exposing your personal number
Get a dedicated Real-SIM US number that receives Signal's shortcode verification SMS. Private. Permanent. $50/month.