‘Phone Number Already in Use’ in Overwatch 2? Here’s what to do

Overwatch 2 just released on PC and consoles, but players have been plagued with a myriad of issues since its launch. Whether it’s long queue times, disconnecting from servers, or verification issues preventing players from entering the game at all, the experience has been anything but smooth for those trying to play the game.

One of the most common errors seen thus far in Overwatch 2 is a screen that reads ‘Phone Number Already in Use.’ This is connected to the new SMS Protect requirement, which is part of developer Blizzard Entertainment’s new Defense Matrix anti-toxicity initiative. If you’ve been struggling to play because of this error message, we’ve found a few ways you can try to fix your game to improve your experience.

How to fix ‘Phone Number Already in Use’ in Overwatch 2

It’s important to note that as of Friday, Oct. 7, Blizzard is changing the SMS Protect program that involves phone numbers. After Oct. 7, only players with brand-new accounts and those who haven’t connected their account to Battle.net yet will need to add a phone number. This should significantly cut down on the amount of people experiencing the error, as the majority of existing Overwatch players should no longer have to put in a phone number at all.

If you’re still getting the error, there are few components that could be causing it. It could mean that your phone number is already tied to another Battle.net account; it could also mean that the inputted number is not valid. In both cases, open your Battle.net account and check the phone number attached to the account. If the listed number and the number you’re trying to add are different, you’ll receive the error. If the number you’re trying to use is no longer in service, you may also receive this error.

Players using numbers connected to prepaid phone plans have also reported problems. SMS Protect does not officially support prepaid or VOIP phone numbers, so players using those types of numbers will not be able to connect them to their account.

If you are unable to find where your desired phone number is attached and confirm that your phone number is valid, contact Blizzard’s customer support and submit a ticket to address your specific issue.