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# Signal Will Let You Sign Up Without a Phone Number — For $3
- URL: https://itsfoss.com/news/signal-numberless-registration/
- Published: 2026-09-22T11:49:07.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T11:49:07.000Z
- Description: The feature is currently in testing on Android, with iOS support still a bit far away.
- Author: Sourav Rudra
- Tags: News

Signal is an end-to-end encrypted messenger that doesn't really need an introduction in this age of authoritarian overreach. Since the beginning, it has required a phone number at signup, even after it gained [username support](https://signal.org/blog/phone-number-privacy-usernames/?ref=itsfoss.com).

It's been quite weird to see, given that other privacy-focused messengers like Session and Matrix have never required a phone number to get started.

The beta release of [Signal 8.28](https://community.signalusers.org/t/beta-feedback-for-the-upcoming-android-8-28-release/76457?ref=itsfoss.com) for Android changes that with **Signal Login**, an optional registration path that skips the phone number requirement entirely. The existing flow remains in place for anyone who wants to stick with the standard registration method.

## How numberless logins work

![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2026/09/signal-numberless-registration-1.jpg)

![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2026/09/signal-numberless-registration-2.jpg)

**The pricing shown changes according to your device's region.*

Instead of asking for your mobile number, **Signal will ask you to pay a one-time $2.99 fee via Google Pay**, and the exact pricing depends on your device's region.

I say that because even with an active VPN connection that was pointing to the United States, Signal still showed me pricing in INR instead of USD.

And if you are **worried about Google's involvement** in this, [Greyson Parrelli](https://community.signalusers.org/u/greyson-signal/summary?ref=itsfoss.com) of the Signal team points out that the payment runs through the same zero-knowledge proof setup it uses for [donations](https://signal.org/donate/?ref=itsfoss.com). 

*This way, no link is created between the purchase and the new account.*

Once payment completes, Signal generates two keys. A 32-character *Account ID* and a 64-character *Recovery Key* replace the phone number as the account's identity. Keep in mind that Signal doesn't have a recovery mechanism for these if either is lost.

Two-factor authentication via TOTP can be added after registration as extra protection, and passkey support, including hardware keys, has been confirmed. 

If you were looking for **the details on iOS support**, then know that Signal Login won't be arriving on that platform anytime soon.

## The Play Services caveat

The feature currently requires [Google Play Services](https://developers.google.com/android/guides/overview?ref=itsfoss.com), as payments run through the Play Store, making it such that **devices without Play Services cannot access it**. If you are running [a de-Googled smartphone](https://itsfoss.com/news/murena-fairphone-6-plus/), then you will have to wait as more payment methods are planned.

While the [support documentation](https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/articles/11197884108826-Phone-Numberless-Registration-for-Android?ref=itsfoss.com) for this feature lists Apple Pay alongside Google Pay as a payment option, this contradicts what I saw in the beta app, as well as what Greyson has written in the Signal forum.

## You can test it now

The latest packages in the 8.28.x beta series can be downloaded from Signal's [GitHub releases page](https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android/releases?ref=itsfoss.com). To sideload it on your Android device, follow these instructions:

1. Find the latest version in the 8.28.x series and download the `universal-release` APK file from the "*Assets*" dropdown.
2. Install it on your Android device; you might need to *allow installs from unknown sources* to get this done.
3. Open Signal, tap "*Continue*", then select "*Register Without Phone Number*."
4. Complete the $2.99 purchase via Google Pay.
5. Save your *Account ID* and *Recovery Key* on a notepad or [a password manager](https://itsfoss.com/open-source-password-managers/) before proceeding.