Codex phone verification: upgrade first or verify first?

Start with the conclusion

• Hitting phone verification when signing in to Codex / the ChatGPT app does not mean you must buy a ready-made account.
• If you were already planning to upgrade to Plus / Pro, upgrade on your own account first, confirm it took effect, then sign in to the client.
• If verification is still required after upgrading, contact our support to arrange an SMS code at ¥10 per use.
• One verification only covers that attempt; it does not guarantee verification will not come up again.

Why do free accounts get asked to verify?

From what we see in practice, free accounts hitting phone verification when signing in to the Codex desktop client is common — accounts using Gmail and other overseas mailboxes included. It cannot simply be blamed on Chinese mailboxes.

When you see the prompt, avoid two things:

• Registering new accounts repeatedly and retrying sign-in, which can trigger temporary limits;
• Buying a "verified" account of unknown origin after a single prompt.

If you are only trialling, first confirm whether you actually need Codex. Plus / Pro is not a service that exempts you from phone verification, so do not buy a subscription just to skip it.

Already planning to upgrade: upgrade first, then sign in

If you were already planning a Plus / Pro subscription, follow this order:

1. Confirm account ownership

   The mailbox is yours, receives mail normally and can sign in to ChatGPT. Do not buy a new account just to get an overseas mailbox.

2. Upgrade on the original account

   Complete the planned upgrade on the account you use long-term, so the top-up and the sign-in do not end up on two different accounts.

3. Confirm the subscription is active

   Check the signed-in email and subscription status in ChatGPT and confirm the upgrade took effect.

4. Then sign in to the desktop client

   Start the sign-in again and authorise in the browser using the account's original method (Google, Microsoft or Apple).

5. If verification is still required, contact support

   Say it is Codex / ChatGPT phone verification and that you need an SMS code; it is arranged at ¥10 per use.

Based on user reports, most people no longer see the original prompt after the subscription is active and they sign in again. That is not an official promise and does not apply to every account — the prompt shown by your account at the time is what counts.

Still verifying after upgrading: check first, then request a code

Do not jump straight to an SMS code. Confirm the following first:

Ordinary sign-in problems are also worth checking for browser cache, extensions and the sign-in method. Repeated failures can trigger temporary limits, so pause before retrying and do not register new accounts over and over.

If it is confirmed to be phone verification, contact support with the prompt on screen. SMS codes are charged per use:

How verification works

1. Contact support and explain

   State the platform, the current prompt and when you need it handled. Support will confirm it is phone verification so that sign-in-method or network issues are not mistaken for it.

2. Confirm the per-use fee and timing

   Verification is ¥10 per use; confirm before it is arranged. Never pay strangers outside this site, and do not submit twice.

3. Start verification as instructed

   Follow support's instructions on the page that asks for a phone number and wait for the code. Do not tap resend repeatedly, which can trigger new limits.

4. Complete this attempt

   Enter the code and continue signing in. After it succeeds, we recommend enabling MFA in ChatGPT to reduce the chance of SMS verification later. The result applies to this attempt only; if it still fails, send support the error and the time so we can judge whether to retry.

After a successful verification: enable ChatGPT MFA

Once verification passes, enable multi-factor authentication (MFA, also called two-step verification) on the ChatGPT account. Later sign-ins can prefer an authenticator app, reducing the chance of SMS verification.

1. Open security settings

   Sign in to chatgpt.com on a stable network, open account "Settings" and go to "Security".

2. Enable MFA

   Find the MFA entry and follow the prompt. Names differ slightly between versions and regions.

3. Bind your own authenticator app

   Use an authenticator you control long-term, such as Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator or 1Password, and scan the QR code or enter the key. Never bind MFA to a temporary verification number.

4. Save the recovery codes

   Keep the codes offline, somewhere only you can access. They let you recover the account if you change phones or lose the authenticator.

FAQ

The most common questions about phone verification.

Do free accounts always need phone verification for Codex?

From what we see, free accounts hitting phone verification when signing in to the Codex client is common; what your account shows at the time is authoritative. If you are only trying it out, there is no need to buy a ready-made account or a subscription just to skip verification.

Will verification stop after upgrading to Plus?

Not guaranteed. Most reports say the original prompt no longer appears once the subscription is active, but that is service experience, not an official promise, and does not apply to every account. If verification is still required, support can arrange an SMS code at ¥10 per use.

Is it because I used a Chinese mailbox?

No. Free accounts using Gmail and other overseas mailboxes also hit phone verification; it cannot simply be attributed to the mail provider.

Upgrade first or verify first?

If you were already planning to use Plus / Pro, upgrade your own account first, confirm it is active, then sign in to the client; if verification is still required, contact support. If you are only trialling, there is no need to buy a subscription purely to avoid verification.

How is verification charged, and what if it fails?

¥10 per use, arranged by support; this is a verification service fee and does not include a Plus / Pro subscription. Whether the number works and verification passes depends on that attempt. If it fails, send support the error, client version and time — do not retry repeatedly or pay strangers outside this site.

Should I enable MFA after verification succeeds?

Yes. After verification, bind your own authenticator in ChatGPT under "Settings → Security" and save the recovery codes. Later sign-ins can prefer the authenticator, reducing the chance of SMS verification. Results vary by account and environment and are not guaranteed.

Is buying a "verified" ready-made account easier?

Not reliably. One verification only covers that attempt; if the recovery email or phone number stays with the seller, you may not be able to handle the next verification yourself. Accounts of unknown origin also risk being reclaimed, re-verified or banned.

After-sales and notes

• SMS verification is arranged manually per use at ¥10; we do not promise it will pass or that the number stays usable.
• A successful verification only completes that attempt; verification may come up again.
• This site is a third-party service with no official authorisation or partnership with OpenAI. Follow platform rules and do not use accounts for prohibited purposes.
• See the Privacy policy for how order data is handled, and Warranty and after-sales for other delivery questions.