Instagram or Facebook codes stopped arriving and my phone has no service. What should I do?
The short answer
A SIM swap moves your number to someone else’s SIM or eSIM. Missing codes alone do not prove this, but unexplained loss of cellular service or a transfer notice warrants an urgent check with your mobile provider. Wi-Fi can still work while the number is compromised.
What this answer is based onWhat to do
Ask your provider about account protection against SIM changes and number transfers. Where available, prepare a non-SMS sign-in method and store recovery codes privately.
- Contact your mobile provider using its known website, app or a number from your bill, from another phone if needed. Ask it to check for an unauthorised SIM change or number transfer and recover the number. Do not use contact details in a suspicious message.
- Keep a trusted working Instagram or Facebook session available. If you need to sign in, use an already configured alternative offered by the official app, such as an authenticator or backup code. Do not keep requesting texts to a number you may no longer control.
- While the provider investigates, use a trustworthy device and existing non-SMS access to secure accessible email and social accounts: change compromised passwords and review sessions and recovery contacts. Do not send codes to a number you may no longer control. After recovering the number, also secure the mobile-provider account and recheck affected accounts. If contacts changed or access is lost, follow hacked-account recovery.
The situation
You can browse Instagram over Wi-Fi, but calls and texts stopped after an unexpected notice about a new SIM. Treat the mobile number as potentially compromised, not just the app.
The situation and an improvement
Keep requesting SMS codes without checking the phone service.
Check control of the number and then secure affected accounts.
More examples
The carrier confirms an outage
Calls and texts stopped, but the provider finds no SIM change or number transfer.
What to do
Follow the provider’s outage advice. Missing service alone is not proof of account theft; separately investigate any unfamiliar social-account activity.
The number is back, but a session is unfamiliar
Your mobile service works again, yet Instagram or Facebook still shows a device you do not recognise.
What to do
From a trustworthy device, compare the device and time with your activity. End an unauthorised session and review the password and recovery contacts; restoring the number does not itself revoke social-account access.
What this answer is based on
Canadian Centre for Cyber Security · Security considerations for SIMswww.cyber.gc.caFTC · SIM Swap Scams: How to Protect YourselfMeta · Keeping Instagram Safe and SecureGuide based on Meta’s materialReview details
Source reviewed:
We read the official source listed for this topic. Other Meta rules are reviewed separately.
Read the full Canadian Cyber Centre guidance (updated 16 February 2026), FTC SIM-swap advice and Meta’s 2021 security announcement on 6 November 2026. The triage sequence is ClearRules advice, not a carrier or Meta recovery guarantee. No carrier account or current authenticated app interface was tested.
Include the guide link, language and wording that needs checking. Add an official source link if you have one. Do not send passwords, login codes or photos of identity documents.
Examples are made up to explain the guidance. Meta decides individual account and content cases.
Sources and related topicsPolicy Graph · Demo in development