How to sign up for Zalo without your own number

Zalo is the most popular messaging app in Vietnam. People use it to chat, make calls, share files and contact shops and businesses there. It also works on computers, and many people in Vietnam use it for work groups as well as family chats.

Like other messaging apps, Zalo builds your account around a phone number and sends a code to confirm it. If you work with Vietnamese partners, are visiting Vietnam or simply want to keep your main number separate, a separate number for Zalo keeps your personal one private.

You don't need a Vietnamese SIM card or a second phone. Have these ready:

• A kartesim account with a little balance, topped up by card or crypto.
• The official Zalo app on your phone.
• A few minutes, plus a password you will remember for the account.

The steps are the same as for most messaging apps. Have Zalo and your order page open at the same time, so you can copy the number and the code quickly.

• On kartesim, choose Zalo and a country that has numbers available, then buy a number.
• Open Zalo, tap to create an account and select the same country code.
• Enter the number exactly as shown, without an extra 0 at the start.
• Request the code and wait. It appears on the kartesim page as soon as the SMS arrives.
• Type the code into Zalo, set your password and finish your profile.

Zalo decides how and when to send a code. If nothing shows up, these are the usual reasons. Most problems come from the number format or from asking too often.

You only pay for a code that arrives. If nothing comes, cancel the order or let it end, and the amount goes back to your wallet automatically. Then try a number from another country.

• Check the country code. Zalo often starts with +84, the code for Vietnam.
• If Zalo offers to call you with the code, choose SMS instead. These numbers receive SMS only, not calls.
• Don't request many codes in a row. Zalo may make you wait before sending another.

The number is for this one verification and is not rented to you long term. Zalo may ask for a code again when you log in on a new phone. Set a strong password, write it down somewhere safe and turn on any extra security options in the app's settings.

It also helps to stay logged in on a second device, such as Zalo on your computer, so you can still reach your chats if the phone changes. If Zalo lets you change the linked number, switch it to one you will keep.