Do you need a phone number for Blizzard?

To answer the question directly, yes, a phone number is required for some Blizzard games, including Overwatch 2, as part of the company’s SMS Protect system designed to verify legitimate phone numbers and prevent instances of fraud or scams. However, existing Overwatch players with a connected Battle.net account who have played the game since June 9, 2021, are exempt from this requirement.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

1. Is Blizzard removing the phone number requirement?: Blizzard has removed phone number requirements for a majority of existing Overwatch players, but new players still need to provide a phone number to play Overwatch 2.
2. Can you play Overwatch 2 without a phone number?: Only gamers who have played the first Overwatch game after 6/9/2021 can play without a phone number, and the only way to get around the phone number requirement is to sign up for a burner phone service.
3. Will Blizzard sell my phone number?: Blizzard takes your privacy very seriously and does not sell your personal information.

Phone Number Requirements

4. Why won’t Blizzard accept my phone number?: Make sure you enter the number correctly, and the country registered on your Battle.net account is correct and matches your phone number.
5. Can I use the same phone number for Blizzard account?: A phone number can only be added to a single Battle.net Account, and Customer Support cannot bypass this limitation.
6. Why does Blizzard need my phone number for Overwatch 2?: Blizzard needs your phone number to verify legitimate phone numbers and exclude instances of fraud or scams through their SMS Protect system.

Overwatch 2 Specific Questions

7. Do you still need a phone number to play Overwatch 2 2023?: Acknowledging the issues, Blizzard has amended this policy so existing players with a connected Battle.net account who had played Overwatch anytime since 9th June 2021 will no longer be required to add a phone number to play Overwatch 2.
8. Do you need a phone number to play Overwatch 2?: Yes, you need a phone number to play Overwatch 2, unless you also played the first game, as the Overwatch 2 phone number requirement only applies to new players.

Account and Security Questions

9. Why does Overwatch 2 require phone number reddit?: The requirement is part of Blizzard’s effort to enhance account security and prevent cheating, although some speculate it could be used for advertising purposes.
10. Can I use the same phone number for two Overwatch 2 accounts?: A phone number can only be added to a single Battle.net Account, and Customer Support cannot bypass this limitation.
11. How do I set up a 2 phone number in Overwatch?: You can add a phone number to your Battle.net account through the Account Details tab on the Battle.net website.

Additional Information

12. Why does Blizzard want a phone number?: Adding a phone number will allow Blizzard Entertainment to send you notifications when important changes are made to your account.
13. Why do I need a postpaid phone number for Overwatch 2?: Although the postpaid number requirement was meant to block cheaters, it also kept innocent players from trying the game, but Blizzard has since lifted this restriction for prepaid phones.
14. How do I get around my ow2 phone number?: The only way to get around the phone number requirement is to sign up for a burner phone service, considering services such as Dingtone or MobileSMS.
15. Does Overwatch 2 still require SMS?: If you’ve ever played the game on PC or on console since the introduction of cross-play in June 2021, you’ll no longer need to add a phone number to your account to play Overwatch 2.