Snapchat is a popular social media app that allows users to share photos, videos, and messages that disappear after viewing. When signing up for Snapchat, users need to verify their account by entering a verification code sent to their phone number. This raises the question – can you get a Snapchat verification code through email instead of a phone number?
The short answer
No, Snapchat currently does not allow verification codes to be sent through email. The only way to get a verification code when creating a new Snapchat account is by entering your phone number and having the code sent via SMS text message.
Why Snapchat requires phone number verification
There are a few key reasons why Snapchat relies on phone number verification:
- To prevent fake accounts – Requiring a phone number helps prevent people from easily creating fake or bot accounts.
- For security – The verification code sent to your phone helps confirm you are the real owner of the account.
- To enable features – Your phone number allows Snapchat to enable certain features like finding friends who have your number in their address book.
By relying on phone numbers rather than email addresses, Snapchat can have greater confidence that each account is tied to a real person. This helps maintain the integrity of the Snapchat community.
Ways people try to get a Snapchat code through email
Although Snapchat does not directly allow email verification, some people still attempt workarounds to try to get a code through email. Some things people try include:
- Using a phone number masking service – These services provide a temporary phone number that can receive SMS messages. This allows people to enter the temporary number when signing up, then view the verification code sent to it through the service’s email integration.
- Forwarding SMS messages to email – On some carriers like Verizon, you can set up text message forwarding to send copies of texts to an email address. People try to use this to forwarded the Snapchat code.
- SIM swapping – This involves switching your cell phone SIM card and phone number temporarily to a different device that can forward messages to email.
It’s important to note these methods frequently don’t work as reliably anymore due to improvements in Snapchat’s security. The app can often detect when a phone number is forwarding texts or coming from an unofficial masking service.
The risks of using email for verification
Trying to get a Snapchat verification code through email carries a few risks, including:
- Account bans – Snapchat frequently bans accounts that try to use masking services or other tricks to get email verification.
- Security issues – Giving access to your messages to third-party services creates major security and privacy risks.
- Unreliable access – These unofficial methods tend to break frequently as Snapchat updates its systems, so you could easily lose access to your account.
In most cases, it’s simply not worth the hassle and risks of trying to get a Snapchat verification code through email. It’s better to just use your actual phone number.
When email verification can be used
In some limited cases, Snapchat does allow using an email address instead of a phone number during the verification process:
- If you don’t have a phone number – When first creating your account, you have the option to say you don’t have a phone number. Snapchat will then allow you to use an email address for verification instead.
- Changing an existing number – If your phone number changes, you can request a verification code through email when updating your account with the new number.
So in these specific situations where you cannot receive SMS messages, Snapchat does provide email as an alternative option for verification purposes.
Conclusion
Getting a Snapchat verification code through email is not normally possible, as the app relies on SMS phone number verification when creating new accounts. While some workarounds exist, they frequently don’t work reliably or could get accounts banned. In a few limited cases like not having a phone, Snapchat may allow email verification, but in general phone numbers are required. For most users, the safest option is simply to use your actual phone number and get the Snapchat code through SMS text messaging.
Question | Answer |
---|---|
Can you get a Snapchat code through email when first signing up? | No, Snapchat requires a phone number to send the verification code when creating a new account. |
Why does Snapchat require phone numbers? | To prevent fake accounts, improve security, and enable certain features. |
What are some ways people try to get the code via email? | Using masking services, forwarding texts to email, or SIM swapping. |
What are the risks of using email verification? | Account bans, security issues, and unreliable access. |
When does Snapchat allow email verification? | If you don’t have a phone, or when changing an existing number. |
Using phone number masking services
One method some try is using a phone number masking or forwarding service that provides a temporary phone number to use when signing up for Snapchat. These services let you enter their number during registration, then get the verification code through their email or dashboard.
However, this tactic carries risks. Snapchat has improved at detecting and banning accounts registered with masking numbers. The services themselves also pose security issues by gaining access to your messages.
Overall, masking services are an unreliable workaround. It’s better to just use your own real phone number.
Forwarding text messages to email
Some try to get the Snapchat code through email by forwarding their texts to an email address. On certain carriers like Verizon, you can set up text message forwarding to automatically send copies of your SMS messages to a chosen email.
However, Snapchat often blocks codes forwarded this way. Their systems can detect when a code is being sent to another destination. So while text forwarding used to work in the past, it is now very unreliable.
SIM card swapping
With a SIM card swap, you temporarily move your phone number and SIM information to a different device. Some use this technique to port their number to a phone that will forward all SMS texts to email.
But like other methods, SIM swapping has become less effective as Snapchat’s security evolves. Unless you do not have a phone at all, it’s better to avoid workarounds and just use your regular phone number.
Using Snapchat without a phone number
The main situation where Snapchat allows email verification is when you do not have access to a mobile phone number.
During signup, Snapchat provides an option to say you don’t have a phone number available. In this case, you can enter an email address to receive the verification code instead.
Without a phone number, certain Snapchat features will be limited. But it does allow you to create an account and use the app’s core functionality.
Changing your Snapchat number
If you already have a Snapchat account set up but need to change your associated phone number, Snapchat also provides email verification.
When you update your account settings to reflect your new phone number, Snapchat will offer to send a verification code to your email to confirm the change.
This ensures you can still access your existing Snapchat account even when changing to a new number. It’s one scenario where email verification is allowed.
Creating a business Snapchat account
Snapchat also permits email verification when creating certain types of business accounts in Snapchat For Business Manager. For example, when making an Ad Account or business profile, email verification may be allowed during the setup process.
So for business reasons, Snapchat may provide an email-based workflow. But for standard personal accounts, phone numbers are still required.
Snapchat alternative apps permitting email verification
While Snapchat itself requires phone verification, some alternative social apps provide similar disappearing message features without this requirement. A few examples include:
- Signal – Offers encrypted messaging where messages vanish after seen. Allows email or phone verification.
- Telegram – A messaging app with self-destructing messages. Can use email verification.
- Wickr – Provides disappearing messages and full email-based signup.
- Confide – Encrypted messaging with self-destructing texts. Permits email address verification.
So if you really want to use this type of ephemeral messaging without providing your phone number, these Snapchat alternatives may be worth considering.
Signing up for Snapchat without a phone number
Here is a summary of how to sign up for Snapchat without a phone number during initial verification:
- Download and open the Snapchat app.
- On the sign up screen, tap the “Sign up with Email” option.
- Enter your email address and create a password.
- On the next screen, select that you don’t have a phone number.
- A verification code will be emailed to you. Enter it to complete signup.
Without a phone number, you won’t be able to use Snapchat features like finding friends. But this process will let you create an account and use Snapchat without SMS verification.
Conclusion
In summary, getting a Snapchat verification code through email instead of SMS text message is not normally possible when first creating an account. Due to security reasons, Snapchat relies on phone numbers for signup verification in most cases.
Some workarounds like phone masking services exist, but frequently don’t work reliably or pose security risks. Very few situations allow for email verification, primarily when initially signing up without a phone number, or when changing your number on an existing account.
For most users, the best option is simply entering your actual mobile phone number and getting the Snapchat verification code through text message. This provides the most straightforward and secure way to verify your account and start using Snapchat.