Not Receiving SMS Code for Facebook
By Melissa Worcester
To use text messages, also called SMS messages, to update your Facebook profile and receive Facebook notifications, you have to activate your phone with Facebook. Part of that process involves receiving a code to confirm you really own the phone number. Sometimes a glitch occurs and the activation code doesn't get sent, or there may be some other problem you will have to solve to proceed.
How to Activate Mobile Texts
Click on the "Account" tab at the top right corner of your Facebook page and select "Account Settings" from the menu that drops down. Then click on "Mobile" from the list at the left. Follow the steps to set up your Facebook account so it's connected to your individual mobile phone number.
Mobile Carrier Not Listed
Select your country and choose a mobile carrier or cellphone company. The list may not include your cell phone company. Facebook suggests that you contact your carrier and ask the company to participate with Facebook Mobile, but you may find a work-around solution. If you have a carrier that's owned by a larger company, choose the larger company if your carrier is not on the list. For example, Tracfone and Straight Talk are services of Verizon. If you don't know the company and yours isn't listed, try one of the larger companies such as Verizon or AT&T and see if it works.
Activation Code Depends on Country
The activation code depends on what country you live in. There is a list of country codes in the Facebook Help Center (facebook.com/help/?page-821). If you don't see your country's name, use 32665 as the code.
Other Troubleshooting Steps
If you are still having trouble, make sure you have input the correct phone number, including area code. Turn off the signature option if you have it enabled in your text message service. Send "On" or Fb" instead of "f." If you moved your number to a new carrier in the past month, try choosing the old carrier from the list, or wait a few days and try again.
References
Writer Bio
Melissa Worcester is a mom, freelance writer and graphic designer. She has been writing professionally for over 18 years and earning a part-time income writing for various websites since 2007. She writes about technology issues, business and marketing, home improvement, education and family topics and assists in her husband's home remodeling business. Worcester has a Bachelor of Arts in communications and psychology from Syracuse University.