Gmail Wants Your Phone Number—What You Need To Know

Google is a great proponent of best practices when it comes to user security, be that the introduction of exciting new identity check features on your Android 15 smartphone, and automatic updates to patch Chrome browser vulnerabilities. When things go wrong, however, such as an inability to recover a hacked Gmail account, then users can get understandably frustrated. And that’s what is happening to a number of Gmail users who have found themselves in the unenviable position of having given Gmail their phone numbers, as requested by Google, and then finding they are being told they cannot be used when the security need is greatest. Here’s what you need to know.

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Gmail Wants Your Phone Number—Here’s Why

Your Google account is the gateway to your Gmail account, break into one and get access to the other. The problem here is that your Gmail account is a true treasure-chest of valuable information for any hacker or cybercriminal who gains such access. Which is why it needs to be protected as best as it can, and that includes handing your phone number over to Google. Yes, I know that there are all sorts of reasons that people balk at the idea, but I’m looking at this purely from the security perspective, and there are way more compelling reasons to comply than deny, in my never humble opinion.

A Gmail recovery phone number is essential when you consider that account compromise attempts have become increasingly more sophisticated over the years. Everything from AI-driven phishing attacks to the use of infostealer malware can be used as part of the account takeover attack methodology. “Extra confirmation by phone helps keep spammers from abusing our systems,” a Google support document said, explaining why it sometimes asks for a verification phone number before you can sign into your Gmail account. Substitute spammers with hackers at your leisure, as the protection applies to both in equal measure. Indeed, a Google spokesperson told me that “adding a recovery phone number to your account is much like putting on your seatbelt when you ride in a car: it drastically improves your safety when you use it."

Which is great until that seatbelt breaks.

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This Gmail Phone Number Cannot Be Used For Verification

One user recently posted their frustrations with the Google phone number account verification process to the Gmail support subreddit complaining they had “tried every phone number I know” and were still facing the same number not used for verification brick wall. The issue here appears to have been suspicious activity detected with the account in question, which triggered the user verification process. This is a good thing, make no mistake: until it’s not. The instructions the user was requested to follow basically wanted that phone number attached to the account to be entered for verification purposes so that a code could be sent by text. The request started a loop of “this phone number cannot be used for verification” that led back to the same request.

According to a Google support page, the solution to the ”this phone number cannot be used for verification” error is, erm, to use a different number. “To protect you from abuse,” the support posting continued, “we limit the number of accounts each phone number can create. You can use a family member or friend's phone number instead. It may also help if you attempt to use a number from a different phone carrier.” All of which is, in my never humble opinion, about as much use as a chocolate teapot when it comes to user-friendly support for a security issue.

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Gmail Working On Something That Might Help

The problem here is that there is no phone number for Gmail or Google support, of course, to have a discussion when trying to resolve a problem like this. All you have is the online support documentation and processes to work with. You can try contacting Google with your problem using an online support form if you are a Google One account holder.

I reached out to my Gmail contacts, and a spokesperson could only inform me that Google is working on something that “intersects with this question and beyond.” That work won’t be clear for a month or so, at the soonest, it would appear. In the meantime, I’d wait a week and try again if this happens to you, as too many attempts can flag security warnings.

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