How to set up Alternative Number

In this article, you will learn how to set up Surfshark's Alternative phone number on your mobile device or web app.

Alternative Number allows you to generate a phone number and protect your regular phone number. You can use it without having an Alternative ID created.

To proceed, you will need an active Surfshark VPN subscription and an Alternative Number subscription. Visit our pricing page to purchase yours.

Visit https://surfshark.com/alternative-id to purchase the upgraded Alternative Number feature.

NOTE: Alternative Number only provides US-based numbers.

We will cover the following:

1. Purchasing Alternative Number
2. Setting up Alternative Number on the Surfshark mobile app

Purchasing Alternative Number 

NOTE: The setup process seen below is done on an iOS device, but the steps are the same on an Android device.

1. On the Surfshark app's home screen, tap Alternative ID and select Number. Proceed by pressing Learn more. If you have the subscription, you can proceed to Setting up Alternative Number on the Surfshark mobile app.
   
   
   
2. On the checkout page, select the country of your Alternative Number alongside the payment method of your choice and complete the purchase.
   
   
   
3. Continue by pressing Start.
   
   
   
4. Press Continue.
   
   
   
5. You have successfully purchased your Alternative Number.
   
   
   

Setting up Alternative Number on the Surfshark mobile app

NOTE: The setup process seen below is done on an iOS device, but the steps are almost the same on an Android device – instead of OK, you'll have to tap Continue or similar.

1. Press Start to set up your Alternative Number.
   
   
   
2. In order to use Alternative Number, you need to allow access of your phone's microphone, notifications, and contact list.
   
   Press OK.
   
   
   
3. In the following pop-up, tap OK as well.
   
   
   
4. A confirmation of your Alternative Number setup completion will appear once you are finished.
   
   
   

Confirm that Alternative Number is working

Your Alternative Number setup is finished. The messages that you receive in your Alternative Number inbox will appear in the Alternative ID Number tab.


When you receive a phone call to your Alternative Number, it will appear as a native phone call to your mobile device, not via the Surfshark app.


If you wish to block, delete, or report certain messages, you can read more about it in our How to use Alternative Number article.

You may be interested in:

• What is Alternative Number?
• How to use Alternative Number
• Alternative Number troubleshooting