When trying to set up the mobile authenticator, I am able to log into my account and then it asks for some more information to verify my account. It asks for the phone number and a verification code that is texted to my phone number. I enter my phone number and it keeps saying invalid phone number please try again in a few minutes.
Since it won’t let me link a phone number to my account since I have prepaid, I can’t use that in the authenticator it seems. I just want to be able to protect my account.
Blizzard Phone Notifications is a good additional service to add when setting up an authenticator but it is not required to use the Authenticator.
You should be able to attach the Blizzard Authenticator even if you don’t have a valid phone number.
https://account.blizzard.com/security
Edit: I’ve received some new info and am going to investigate.
Edit 2: This workflow is only present on the mobile app, because we would like to encourage users to setup Blizzard Phone Notifications as well because it makes managing the account settings a little easier.
You should be able to go through setup on the website instead and skip phone setup if it isn’t available for your number. (linked above)
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So I tried this and it asks for the authenticator serial number. I assume this is found in the app. When I go to the app it won’t let me get past the phone number part. So I am still stuck. I tried taking a screenshot of this but the app wouldn’t let me. I would really just like to get the mobile authenticator set up but there is no way to get past that phone number screen.
It is asking for the phone number after I log into the app. There isn’t a place I can bypass it. I am sorry, I know you are trying to help it is just frustrating that the app wouldn’t have an option to click to by pass the phone number. I don’t know how else I am supposed to get the serial number?
Try uninstalling the app and then reinstalling it. There is usually an option in the top right (three dots on top of each other) where the first option in that dropdown is the serial and restore codes.
I probably needed to specify that this is andriod. Does that make a difference?
I am not seeing three dots anywhere on the screen, either before it asks for my username and password or after.
That is a screenshot of what it is saying.
Thank you for the information and feedback Alunando. This was a recent change in the behavior of the mobile authenticator setup process. I’m going to pass this feedback along.
Is there any solution until that time? The reason I need a mobile authenticator is my cat broke my other one, I was successful at removing it but haven’t been successful at adding a mobile one. You guys don’t sell the hard key fobs anymore that I am aware of. I don’t like not having this security in place. Is there any way to escalate this ticket or to provide a work around until a patch can be deployed?
There is currently no workaround.
So a purposeful change that requires a mobile number be linked to your account to set up a mobile authenticator was thought to be a good idea when you have users who use prepaid services but you are the only major company in existence that doesn’t let your users register a prepaid number on their account. Even a number that I have had for 7 years.
This tells me that there is only one solution, that I need to have a post paid number to access two factor authentication. As an IT professional this is really a shame, you are setting up your customer base to fail and then blame them for not having two factor authentication. I know this isn’t your fault @Kalviery. Please pass along this feedback to your software developers, and to the managers who made this dumb decision.
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Well, this explains some of the posts I have seen recently on the Blizz app forums and such complaining about it. The incompatibility of MANY phone numbers with SMS Protect has been known for years.
This was not a wise choice to do. Cricket, and a bunch of other numbers are considered “pre paid” or VOIP so not eligible.
P.S. A lot of COD players who have to use the Blizzard app also complain about not being able to enter a phone number. Apparently that is required for them? Not sure of the whole story, just that there are a lot of posts. Might be related decision wise?
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I shouldn’t need SMS protect to have access to two factor authentication. Even with that I don’t understand the not letting people who have a prepaid number sign up for SMS protect. Like Blizzard is one of the only companies in the world that requires postpaid for their mobile security options, almost makes me think they get money from it but I will leave the tin foil hat in the drawer.
It is just so frustrating because I have cricket mobile, who is wholly owned by ATT, and can’t sign up for two factor authentication because my cell phone company isn’t good enough. It is a completely bad decision.
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Yikes. This is a really awful decision on Blizzard’s part I have to say.
And I really hope they reverse it as someone who has not and if I can help it will not be giving out my phone number for these purposes.
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I’m on Cricket and get the same invalid number. It’s unfortunate that they thought this was a good idea. As this is the only game I get this error. Blizzard please re think this. The community has suffered enough and the subscriber numbers don’t lie, from a business standpoint this was absolutely foolish to make this decision and it needs to be fixed.
AT LEAST GIVE US EMAIL 2FA!!!
If you’d like to see a change in how the systems work, you’ll have to post in the appropriate forum for the right people to see it. I would also recommend not presuming to speak for everyone in said posts.
https://us.forums.blizzard.com/en/blizzard/c/mobile-authenticator-feedback-discussion/21
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Well, got a link to those numbers? Got a list of what everyone in the community take on this? If not, it’s best not to make statments that you can’t back up.
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I’m not entirely certain where you are seeing those subscription numbers. The overall data is simply not available nor is why someone may or may not have stopped playing.
Now, if you have feedback on any changes you’d like to see to the current system, Shoulderdog, please post in the Discussion forum that Ekon linked. Remember, you can only speak for yourself, so take it from that point of view. Valid feedback is valid feedback, coming from one person or one thousand.
Since there is little more that can be accomplished in this thread I’m going to close it up. Thanks, all.
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