The 2026 LINE registration tutorial for users in mainland China explains why +86 mobile phone numbers cannot be used for new account verification, how to complete registration through Apple ID or Google account, as well as computer version login, data reuse and common failure problems; and provides PurpleMark independent environment and session management solutions.
Let me start with the conclusion: **In 2026, users in mainland China who register new LINE accounts should no longer use the +86 mobile phone number SMS verification as an available path. ** LINE currently only provides mobile phone number registration to users living in Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand; users living in other countries or regions should select their real country or region of residence on the mobile phone, and then continue through Apple ID or Google account.
Mainland China is what the LINE Help Center calls "Other Countries". Therefore, if you don't see +86 on the registration page, don't receive a verification code, or only see "Continue with Apple / Continue with Google", it's usually not that your phone is broken, but that the registration method has been adjusted by region. LINE's [New Account Creation Instructions] (https://help.line.me/line/smartphone/sp?contentId=20001192&lang=en) also clearly states that other countries and regions will stop using mobile phone numbers to create accounts starting from LINE 13.11.0.
This article only introduces the registration and login methods officially provided by LINE. App downloads, service connections, and feature availability may still be affected by app store region, device system, network conditions, and local regulations. If LINE cannot be obtained or used normally in the current environment, it is not recommended to download the modified APK from an unfamiliar website, nor is it recommended to purchase code pickup, account rental, or registration services.
To register LINE in China in 2026, please read this form first
| Your situation | Official new account method | Do you need a SMS verification code | Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live in mainland China | Apple ID or Google account | Usually not required | Select your actual country or region of residence on the mobile phone to continue |
| Live in Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, or Thailand | Local mobile phone number | Required | Via SMS; voice verification code may also be provided in some areas |
| Want to register on Windows, Mac or Chrome | Not supported | Not applicable | The computer can only log in to the account created on the mobile phone |
| Already have LINE and want to open another account | Another set of identity information and another main device are required | Depends on the region | Do not reuse the mobile phone number, Apple ID or Google account that has been bound to the old account |
The most confusing thing here is "location" and "number ownership". LINE requires you to select the country or region where you actually live, rather than changing the region at will just to appear in a certain registration portal. Even if you have a number in another area code, it does not mean it is suitable to register with it.
What do I need to prepare before registering?
Before starting, it is recommended to confirm four things:1. **A mobile phone as the main device. ** A LINE account must be created on the main device first. iPhone, Android phones, and some tablets can be the primary device, but Windows, macOS, and Chrome cannot. 2. **Apple ID or Google account that can be controlled for a long time. **Mainland China belongs to the "Other Countries/Regions" process. Which entrance to use when registering is subject to the current LINE client display. 3. **LINE obtained from official channels. ** Priority is given to using the official app store that comes with the device, or entering the download entrances such as App Store, Google Play, and Desktop from [LINE official website] (https://www.line.me/en/). 4. **A set of identity information that is not occupied by other LINE accounts. ** Mobile phone number, email address, Apple ID and Google account cannot be bound to two LINE accounts at the same time.
The fourth point is particularly important. According to LINE's [Account Data Reuse Instructions] (https://help.line.me/line/smartphone/sp?contentId=20020049&lang=en), after registering the mobile phone number, Apple ID or Google account already used in the old account to the new account, the data will be removed from the old account. If the old account loses all available login information as a result, it may no longer be accessible, and friends, groups, and chat history cannot be restored.
Specific steps for mainland Chinese users to register LINE
The page wording for iPhone and Android may be slightly different, but the main process for users in mainland China is the same.
Step 1: Install and open the official LINE client
Install the latest version of LINE on your phone, open it and click Sign up. If the page only displays login or account transfer options, first confirm that the latest official version is installed, and check whether you entered the old account migration process by mistake.
Step 2: Read the terms and select your real country or region of residence
Confirm the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, then select your actual country or region of residence. When living in mainland China, you should choose according to the real situation and do not fake other regions in order to obtain SMS entrance.
Step 3: Select Apple ID or Google account
Click Continue with Apple or Continue with Google provided on the page, and then log in to an account that is controlled by you for a long time. The services available for different systems, client versions and devices are different. The actual appearance of one or two buttons depends on the current page.
If the system prompts that the Apple ID or Google account has been associated with another LINE account, stop the operation first and confirm whether the old account is still in use. Do not overwrite it directly to continue registration, otherwise it may affect the login of the old account.
Step 4: Set name and avatar
Enter the name you want to appear and set the avatar if desired. It is recommended to use stable and easily identifiable basic information first, and then adjust it in the personal information after successful registration.
Step 5: Create a passwordSet a LINE password as required on the page. Officials currently require passwords to be 8-20 half-width characters in length and combine at least three types of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Don't share passwords with Apple IDs, Google Accounts, or other important services.
Step 6: Decide whether to add friends from the address book
LINE will ask whether to read contacts and automatically add friends. This is not a requirement to complete registration. If you do not want to synchronize your address book immediately, you can turn it off first, and then set it as needed after registration is completed.
Step 7: Confirm information usage options and complete registration
Read the information usage page such as "Regarding Usage of Your Information" and complete the confirmation according to your choice. After entering the LINE homepage, it is recommended to check the account settings immediately to confirm that the Apple ID or Google account has been correctly associated, and record the current primary device.
Why can’t the +86 mobile phone number receive the LINE verification code?
The most common reason is not that the text message is intercepted, but that +86 no longer belongs to the mobile phone number registration range for new LINE accounts. Currently, mobile phone number registration is only available to users living in Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. Mainland Chinese users use Apple ID or Google account procedures, so repeatedly switching SMS applications, turning off the interception function, or continuously resending verification codes usually cannot solve the problem that the portal itself does not support it.
Don't "solve" verification codes by:
- Purchase a one-time number for the public access code platform;
- Borrowing a friend’s overseas mobile phone number without considering subsequent account retrieval;
- Purchase a LINE account that has been registered by the seller;
- Bypass the registration page through modified client, unknown APK or script;
- Feel free to switch countries or regions and fill in information that is inconsistent with the actual situation.
These practices may not only violate platform rules, but also put account control in the hands of number providers or sellers. When encountering subsequent login verification, device replacement, or account retrieval, you may not be able to prove account ownership.
Can I register directly for the PC version of LINE?
Can't. LINE's [Computer Version Help] (https://help.line.me/line/smartphone/sp?contentId=50001182&lang=en) clearly states: New accounts cannot be created on the computer side, and only LINE accounts that have been created on the main device can be logged in.
The correct order is:
- First complete the LINE account registration on your mobile phone;
- Turn on Allow login in the account settings of the main device;
- Install the Windows or Mac client from the LINE official website, or use the Chrome version;
- Log in via QR code, biometrics or email and password;
- After logging in for the first time or reinstalling, follow the prompts on the mobile phone to complete the verification code confirmation.LINE refers to your phone as the primary device and Windows, macOS, and Chrome as secondary devices. The official [Multi-Device Rules] (https://help.line.me/line/smartphone/sp?contentId=20000132&lang=en) shows that the computer cannot manage mobile phone numbers, email addresses and passwords, nor can it perform main device operations such as account transfer or chat backup. So even if you mainly chat on your computer, keep your main phone working.
6 common questions during the registration process
1. There is no +86 on the registration page, what should I do?
Don’t keep looking for hidden text message portals. After confirming that you belong to "Other Countries/Regions", use the Apple ID or Google Account process provided on the page.
2. Why do I only see Continue with Apple or Continue with Google?
This is part of the current regional process and does not equate to an error on the page. Choose an identity account that you can control for a long time and that is not bound to other LINE accounts to continue.
3. What should I do if "Welcome back" and a stranger's name appear?
This usually means that the current identity has been associated with another LINE account. Do not confirm to enter an unfamiliar account. In areas where mobile phone number registration is supported, officials recommend selecting No, that's not me; during the Apple ID or Google account process, you should first log out and check the existing binding status of the identity account.
4. Can I register multiple LINE accounts on one mobile phone?
The official design of LINE is that one main device corresponds to one account. Multiple accounts require different registration information and different main devices. Repeatedly uninstalling, switching identity profiles, or overwriting bindings is not a reliable multi-account solution.
5. After successful registration, can it be used on mobile phones and computers at the same time?
Can. First enable login on the main phone, and then log in with the computer as a secondary device. However, some account management, transfer, backup and purchase functions can still only be completed on the main device.
6. LINE cannot be found in the official store, should I download the APK?
First check the device store region, system compatibility, and whether the official LINE website provides an official entrance suitable for the current device. Even if the official website provides Android installation packages, only official sources should be used. If the service cannot be obtained or used normally in your area, do not install from third-party images, group chat files or unfamiliar network disks, let alone try to circumvent local restrictions.
After successful registration, do these 5 checks immediately
- Confirm that it is the Apple ID or Google account that you have used for a long time; -Set an independent and strong LINE password;
- Check whether secondary device login is allowed. If you do not need the computer version, you can close it first;
- Set address book permissions, automatic addition of friends and privacy options as needed;
- Read the account transfer and chat backup instructions before changing your phone, and do not clear the old device directly.After successful LINE registration, subsequent troubles usually come from repeated logins and team handovers. When you need to use the LINE web page or related business background for a long time, you can reserve a fixed environment for the account in [PurpleMark web version] (https://app.purplemark.net/), and put the login page, cookies, language and actual network configuration together. The next time you enter, you can directly open the corresponding environment without having to repeatedly log out of other accounts in a normal browser.
If the account is handed over to customer service or operations staff, the environment authorization and person in charge should be adjusted at the same time instead of sending verification codes, cookies or recovery data to the group chat.
Summary
To register LINE in mainland China in 2026, the key is not to find a +86 mobile phone number that can receive the verification code, but to follow the official process corresponding to the region: **Create a main account on the mobile phone, select your real country or region of residence, and then use your Apple ID or Google account to continue. ** The computer can only be logged in as a secondary device after registration is completed.
If the official entrance cannot be provided by the current app store, device or network conditions, stop the operation first and check regional availability. Stick to identity information and official clients that you can control for a long time. Although the steps may seem more conservative, you can avoid more troublesome problems such as overwriting of old accounts, loss of control of numbers, and subsequent inability to retrieve them.
