Issues Registering with a Nigeria IP Address or Mobile Number or Receiving SMS

[4adbfa76]

• [x] I have searched open and closed issues for duplicates
• [x] I am submitting a bug report for existing functionality that does not work as intended
• [x] I have read https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android/wiki/Submitting-useful-bug-reports
• [x] This isn't a feature request or a discussion topic

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Bug description

I can't register on Signal with a Nigerian mobile number which starts with +234. I use Signal only and lately it has been hard having people in my country Nigeria to register on Signal, it's like Signal server is either blocking Nigeria IP addresses or mobile number even with a VPN.

Steps to reproduce

• Download Signal from Play Store or official website
• Grant all permissions requested when initializing registration
• Try to register with a Nigeria mobile number or IP address
• Get stuck in endless captcha or whatever.
• Or pass the captchat but can't receive SMS verification code.

Actual result: Endless captcha solving. Expected result: That I am able to use Signal with my registered mobile number.

Screenshots

Device info

Device: Tecno KC8 Android version: 14.0.0 Signal version: 7.28.4

Link to debug log

https://debuglogs.org/android/7.28.4-JW/5bf954fad9cdc884d637e86e31385fb6af48f9d4039c188258c6cae8697af70d

[ghost]

I'm aware of other, credible reports of this.

[4adbfa76]

Yeah. it's frustrating, I can't get people to switch.

I'm only able to use signal myself because i have registration lock, trying with a new number is a always an infinite captcha.

[stale[bot]]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had recent activity. It will be closed if no further activity occurs. Thank you for your contributions.

[4adbfa76]

Why would it be closes when the issue has not been addressed? There is a comfirmation that the issue is real and even I myself have not been able to register on Signal cuz I'm not receiving SMS code and going through the captcha over and over again.

[Olaniyi-Joe]

I have been try to register on the Signal App with my Nigerian phone number (+234....) but it is not working.

[4adbfa76]

I have been try to register on the Signal App with my Nigerian phone number (+234....) but it is not working.

How about now?

[amaechi-ilo]

It's still the same as today, November 2, 2024. When you click on Continue to complete registration after the captcha challenge, an error message is displayed as shown in the screenshot attached. Using a VPN service does not change the outcome.

[4adbfa76]

It's still the same as today, November 2, 2024. When you click on Continue to complete registration after the captcha challenge, an error message is displayed as shown in the screenshot attached. Using a VPN service does not change the outcome.

Same here. I was trying to get a friend to switch to Signal but after trying to get pass the captcha, they end up with the "Check connection and try again" and they even screen share their phone so as to debug the issue but I could not help resolve it.

[4adbfa76]

@amaechi-ilo What network provider are you using?

[amaechi-ilo]

@iabeefe I have tried with both Airtel and MTN lines.

[4adbfa76]

@amaechi-ilo Could you try with GLO? I have someone who was using GLO network and able to register few days ago. If it works then maybe it from the network providers and not Signal.

[amaechi-ilo]

@iabeefe will do. I'll update when I try.

[amaechi-ilo]

@iabeefe I have tried with a Glo line, and the result is the same. Without a proxy, the registration fails. With a proxy, the registration does not send the OTP. When you click on Resend Code, an error message appears seen below.

All of this while connecting to a VPN service.

[Olaniyi-Joe]

I have not tried it recently again after the last atempt I made.

On Wed, Oct 30, 2024 at 10:11 PM Olakunle Savage @.***> wrote:

I have been try to register on the Signal App with my Nigerian phone number (+234....) but it is not working.

How about now?

— Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android/issues/13573#issuecomment-2448389120, or unsubscribe https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/A6ZHL3OX4LTQLPEMIXUQC6TZ6FDOLAVCNFSM6AAAAABIFSPBK6VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZDINBYGM4DSMJSGA . You are receiving this because you commented.Message ID: @.***>

[dibenzepin]

Also having this issue, on first try it throws up a hCaptcha which after solving throws you back to the phone screen, and then if you try and put your number again, it says the "Unable to connect" message.

This happens both with and without a VPN.

My debug logs show a "External service failed to send SMS code temporarily due to providerRejected" so maybe Twilio is tweaking?

There's an open post on the forum here but I haven't tried those steps either (using unofficial apps and moving your backup)

[dibenzepin]

searching in the repo shows this: https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android/blob/aad2624bd551c122a8938c12fe2d2240c950b8f4/libsignal-service/src/main/java/org/whispersystems/signalservice/api/push/exceptions/ExternalServiceFailureException.kt#L5

[4adbfa76]

@

@iabeefe I have tried with a Glo line, and the result is the same. Without a proxy, the registration fails. With a proxy, the registration does not send the OTP. When you click on Resend Code, an error message appears seen below.

All of this while connecting to a VPN service.

It's a Signal Issue then.

[4adbfa76]

@alex-signal Please we need this issue resolved, it's hard getting people to switchover to Signal.

[dibenzepin]

@iabeefe i mean, based on the message it probably isn't their fault directly, it's the bit that does the SMS OTP sending that's just,,,not the best

searching "twilio nigeria" shows me a reddit post from 3 years ago complaining about OTPs not being received, so it's probably from their end

[4adbfa76]

@poopsicles Twilio is a SMS verification provider for Signal, so I believe Signal should contact them about the issue.

This issue has been going on for a very long time, I had to open an issue ticket here hoping it would be resolved. Two months ago it was back to normal, then last month I tried getting someone to switch to SIgnal only to discover that it's no longer the hCaptcha but "Unable to connect" message this time. I'm only able to use Signal because I have registration lock on my number but I have limited people to use it with.

It is so frustrating.

[ferdinaand]

still experiencing this issue, any better luck on your end @iabeefe ?

[Marysule38]

Same issue today

[amaechi-ilo]

Nothing has changed on my end - the authentication process still fails.

[EbenBolu]

Still experiencing the issue

[4adbfa76]

still experiencing this issue, any better luck on your end @iabeefe ?

I'm able to use Signal because I have registration lock on my account without that I don't think I would be able to register.

I have tried for months to get people to register but they can't register or pass the reCaptchat.

[dibenzepin]

@iabeefe sigh, not sure this is getting resolved anytime soon, i even recently tried to use Claude and couldn't register because of phone number problems

time for someone to set up a matrix server and drag everyone along lol

[4adbfa76]

@poopsicles or use SimpleX.

Try the beta version on Play Store too maybe it will help cuz I'm always on the beta version of the app.

[4adbfa76]

Please all of you should add a debug log to you complaints here.

Just click continuously on the "Phone Number" title submit the debug log and drop a link to it here, maybe it will resolved fast with that.

[dibenzepin]

@iabeefe no dice with the beta, though the error message is kinda better

debug log: https://debuglogs.org/android/7.28.4/208a28bd7830e42217603801816c29aec4ba6a19b12e8d0f63f187a600fece62, same thing (External service failed to send SMS code temporarily due to providerRejected)

um, i think the issue should still be kept open, would you reopen it or should i create a new one?

[4adbfa76]

@poopsicles Gosh I did not know that I closed it.