Verify a number
How a number bought through OMAI is verified with WhatsApp: a spoken code delivered by phone call, read automatically from the recording, with a manual 6-digit fallback. What to do when the code does not arrive, and the limits on retrying.
- Who
- Owners and admins
- Plan
- Applies to numbers bought through OMAI
- Role
- Owner or Admin
- Takes
- Usually a few minutes
Before you start
- A number purchase that has already been paid for and provisioned
Every number has to prove to WhatsApp that whoever is registering it controls the line. For a number you bought through OMAI, that proof is a phone call: WhatsApp rings the new number and reads out a 6-digit code. OMAI answers that call for you, records it, reads the code and completes the registration. This is the Activation step of the purchase wizard.
This article is about numbers rented from OMAI. A number you already own is verified inside Meta’s own sign-in window instead — see Connect your number with Embedded Signup.
How verification runs
- OMAI asks WhatsApp to place a verification call to the new number.
- WhatsApp calls the number and speaks the 6-digit code.
- OMAI answers, records up to 45 seconds of the call and has the recording transcribed.
- The code is read from the transcript. It is accepted when at least two readings agree, or when only one possible code was found.
- OMAI submits the code to WhatsApp and registers the number.
- The connection flips to Connected and your assistant starts answering on it.
Voice, not SMS
Numbers bought through OMAI are always verified by voice call. There is no SMS option, and the wizard never offers one. Two things make that a hard rule rather than a preference: the number-picking step filters out any line that cannot receive a voice call, and Israeli lines from the carrier cannot receive inbound SMS at all — a call is the only route to them.
OMAI always asks WhatsApp to place the call in English, because the recording is transcribed as English. That is what makes the code readable without a human listening to it.
How long each part takes
| Stage | Timing |
|---|---|
| The call itself | Placed within seconds of the purchase completing. |
| Recording | Up to 45 seconds of the call, which captures the code being repeated. |
| Transcription | Becomes available a few minutes after the call ends. |
| Checking for the result | The activation screen re-checks every 8 seconds. |
| How long the screen waits | Up to 7 minutes, then it offers Check again. |
While it waits, the screen shows four rows in order: Bought your new number, WhatsApp is calling your new number now, Reading the verification code from the call, and Activating the number and connecting your assistant. Leaving the page is safe — reopening the wizard resumes from wherever it stopped.
When the code cannot be read
If the transcript is unreadable, the screen switches to One small step left with a 6-digit input. Nothing is lost at this point — the number is bought and reserved for you.
Step 1 Choose Listen to the call recording.
- The link only appears when a recording was actually captured.
You should see: The recording opens in a new tab. Play it and write down the six digits.
Step 2 Type the digits into Verification code (6 digits) and choose Confirm and activate.
- The field accepts digits only and stops at six. Anything shorter is refused with “The code must be exactly 6 digits.”
- A code WhatsApp rejects shows “That code wasn’t accepted. Check it and try again.”
You should see: The button reads Checking the code…, then the connection completes.
Step 3 If the recording has no code in it, choose Call me again.
- The button disables itself once the call budget for this number is used up.
- Do not press it repeatedly — each press spends one of a small number of calls.
You should see: A fresh call is placed to the number and the screen goes back to waiting.
Step 4 If a second call also fails, stop and write to us.
- Send the phone number shown on the screen and roughly when you tried. Open Technical details on the error card and include what it says — it names the exact step that failed.
You should see: Support finishes the registration from our side.
Limits on retrying
WhatsApp limits how often a single number may be poked, and OMAI stays well under that ceiling. The limits are per number, not per person, so several people in the team retrying share the same budget.
| Budget | Allowance | When it resets |
|---|---|---|
| Verification calls (Call me again) | 3 per number | Within 72 hours |
| Code submissions | 3 per number | Within 72 hours |
| Automatic re-checks while you wait | Every 8 seconds for up to 7 minutes | Reopening the page starts a fresh window |
When a budget is spent, the screen says so plainly — “You’ve used all the verification calls for this number. The limit resets within 72 hours” — and the button stops working. Waiting is a valid answer here; so is asking support to finish it.
What each message means
| What you see | What happened | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Pending verification on the connection card | The call has been requested and the code has not been read yet. | Open the WhatsApp page — the activation widget resumes automatically. |
| One small step left with a code box | The recording could not be read. | Listen to the recording, type the six digits, or ask for another call. |
| “That code wasn’t accepted.” | WhatsApp rejected the digits you typed. | Check them against the recording and submit again. You get three tries. |
| “You’ve used all the verification attempts for this number.” | All three code submissions are spent. | Wait for the reset within 72 hours, or write to us and we finish the setup. |
| “Your number is bought and reserved for you, but WhatsApp activation stalled.” | The final registration with WhatsApp failed. | Write to us. The number stays reserved for you in the meantime. |
| “This is taking a little longer than usual.” | The 7-minute window elapsed with no result. | Choose Check again, or come back to the page later. |
When it succeeds you see Your new number is connected and live! and the connection card shows Connected. Your assistant is already answering messages sent to that number — there is no further switch to turn replies on, so send it a message from another phone and read what comes back.
Can I ask for the code by SMS instead?
No. Numbers bought through OMAI are verified by voice call only, and the wizard filters out any number that cannot receive one.
My phone did not ring. Is something wrong?
No — it should not ring. The call is placed to the newly bought number, which lives with the carrier and is answered by OMAI, not by any device you hold.
The recording is silence or a menu. What now?
Choose Call me again for a fresh call. If a second call sounds the same, write to us with the number and the time, rather than spending the rest of the call budget.
Do I lose the number if verification never completes?
No. The line is bought and stays reserved for your organization, and it counts against your plan’s number limit until it is released. Support can finish the registration.