4 min read
Why McDonald’s asks for a phone number
McDonald’s asks for a phone number to confirm the account, to stop repeated welcome-offer sign-ups and to send order updates. The code arrives by SMS.
Can you skip the phone on McDonald’s?
Some food apps accept email or Google/Apple sign-in and ask for a phone only at checkout.
Your options without a SIM card
Food and loyalty apps often refuse numbers already linked to another account, so free public SMS numbers rarely work.
- Email or Google/Apple sign-in, when the app allows it. Free, and no number at all.
- A second SIM or eSIM. Costs a monthly plan, but the number stays yours.
- A private temporary number from CoveSMS. Only you see the code, and you pay nothing if it doesn’t arrive within 20 minutes.
Step by step: get the McDonald’s code online
- Buy a McDonald’s number in your dashboard.
- In McDonald’s, choose the country and paste the number.
- Ask for the code.
- Enter the code from your dashboard.
If the code doesn’t arrive
- Pick a number from the country where you’ll order: food apps work per country.
- If the number is already in use, cancel for your balance back and buy another.
- No code within 20 minutes means the number closes and the price goes back to your balance.
After you’re in: stop depending on the number
A temporary number is single-use. Set up another way in before it closes:
- Add an email to McDonald’s for logins.
- For deliveries, add a number you can answer so the courier can reach you.