2026 LINE Account Registration Guide: How to Register LINE in Mainland China?

LINE is a popular instant messaging app across Asia, with a large user base in Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia and other markets. It has also become an important platform for cross-border sellers to communicate with overseas buyers and carry out marketing.

So how can you register LINE from mainland China, and what do you need to prepare? This 2026 guide explains the process step by step, from preparation to creating an account on your phone.

What to prepare before registering LINE

1. LINE registration requires a mobile phone number

LINE currently requires a mobile phone number for registration. Before you start, make sure the number can receive SMS messages so you can get the verification code sent by LINE.

Note that mainland China phone numbers may sometimes have difficulty receiving international SMS messages. For better reliability, prepare a phone number that can receive international SMS.

2. Use the correct phone number format

When entering your phone number, use the correct international phone number format. For most international services, this means adding the country code before the number—for example, +86 or 0086 for a mainland China number.

Also note that landlines, numbers beginning with “050,” and virtual phone numbers cannot be used for LINE verification. If possible, keep the LINE app and the SIM card receiving the verification code in the same phone to make verification smoother.

3. Try switching network routes or nodes

If your phone number can receive international SMS but the LINE verification code still does not arrive, try switching to a different network route or node and find one that works reliably. Nearby routes, such as nodes in surrounding regions, are usually more dependable because of lower latency and better reachability.

LINE account registration steps

Although LINE offers a PC client similar to WeChat, new users must complete registration on a mobile device. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Download the LINE app

Download LINE on your phone. Android users can get it from Google Play, while iOS users can download it from the App Store. Note that downloading LINE on iOS usually requires an Apple ID from a region outside mainland China.

Step 2: Open the LINE app

After installation, open LINE and tap “Sign up” on the main screen to start creating your account.

Step 3: Enter your mobile number

Enter your phone number as prompted, including the international country code, then request a verification code. If the code does not arrive for a long time, tap “Resend verification code” or try the “Call me instead” option.

Step 4: Complete human verification

After receiving and entering the verification code, complete the anti-bot verification. This usually involves checking “I am not a robot” or completing a simple image-selection task.

Step 5: Create a new account

If LINE says that no account is linked to this phone number, the number has not been associated with an existing LINE account. Tap “Create a new account” at the bottom of the page to continue.

Step 6: Set a profile picture and display name

Next, complete your profile by uploading a profile picture and choosing a display name. It is best to use an easily recognizable image and a memorable name.

Step 7: Create a LINE account password

For account security, set a strong password. LINE requires the password to contain at least one letter, one number and four additional characters. Choose a password that is both secure and easy for you to remember.

Step 8: Set friend-add preferences

Finally, configure how friends can be added: whether LINE can automatically add contacts from your phone book and whether other people can find you by LINE ID or phone number. Once the settings are saved, LINE will synchronize your profile. Registration is complete when the progress finishes.

How to use LINE on a computer after registration

If you usually handle customer messages on a computer, you can use LINE on the web or the desktop client.

Using the LINE web version as a browser extension as an example, the process is simple:

1. Visit the official LINE browser extension page in the Chrome Web Store;
2. Click “Add to Chrome,” then select “Add extension”;
3. After installation, click the LINE icon in the browser’s extensions area;
4. Sign in with the LINE account you just registered.

This lets you send and receive messages and begin marketing work in your browser with just a few clicks, without installing another large desktop application.

How to isolate environments when managing multiple LINE / social accounts

Cross-border and international operation teams often need to manage multiple social accounts on LINE, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and other platforms to reach different customer groups. One issue that is often overlooked is managing accounts and login environments.

If several accounts are repeatedly switched in the same browser over a long period, cookies, cache and login sessions can become mixed. This makes daily management confusing and may also increase the risk that platforms recognize relationships between the accounts. The official LINE app itself also does not support signing in to multiple accounts at the same time.

If you genuinely need to manage multiple accounts you own in a compliant way, a standard approach is to assign separate browser environments to different accounts. Using the PurpleMark web version as an example:

1. One independent environment per account: name and group environments such as “Primary LINE account” and “Facebook account.” Fingerprints, cookies and cache remain separate between environments, preventing data from being mixed;
2. Bind proxies by business region: when logins from different regions are required, configure a proxy matching the relevant region for each environment. Keep proxy settings separate from browser environments so the exit IP can be checked easily;
3. Open the corresponding platform consistently inside each environment: opening an environment takes you directly to the platform for that account, reducing repeated credential entry and login switching;
4. Use groups and bound accounts for centralized management: as the number of accounts grows, names, groups and account bindings help you quickly find the right environment and define responsibilities clearly for team collaboration.

Independent environments are intended to support compliant management of multiple accounts that belong to you, prevent environment data from interfering with each other and reduce operational mistakes. They are not intended to bypass platform rules or create fake accounts. Whether multiple accounts are allowed depends on LINE’s and each platform’s terms of service.

If you need to manage multiple LINE or overseas social accounts over the long term, you can open the PurpleMark web version and create an independent browser environment for one of your accounts first, keeping login and daily management organized from the start.

Frequently asked questions

What is a LINE account?

A LINE account is a personal account registered in the LINE app. It can be used to send messages, make voice and video calls, join groups and use other features, and is usually linked to a phone number or email address.

How do I register a LINE account?

Download and open the LINE app, then follow the prompts to enter a phone number, set a password and complete verification. Some regions also support registration using an email address or Facebook.

Can I register a LINE account without a phone number?

In some regions, LINE supports registration using an email address or Facebook, but in most cases a phone number is still required for verification. If you do not want to use your main number, you can use another number that is able to receive international SMS messages.

Can I log in to a LINE account on a computer?

Yes. You can use LINE’s official Windows or macOS application and log in with “phone number + verification code,” or use QR code login, provided that the account has already been successfully registered on a phone.

Can one phone number register multiple LINE accounts?

The official app does not support signing in to multiple LINE accounts at the same time, and normally one phone number corresponds to one LINE account. If you need to manage multiple accounts, you can log in to them separately in independent browser environments to avoid account association or mixed data.

Why does LINE show “This account cannot be used” during registration?

Possible reasons include the phone number already being registered, an abnormal IP address or a duplicated device fingerprint. You can try changing the network or device and retrying, or register again in a separate environment different from the one used previously.