Introduction

IB requires that clients verify their mobile phone in order to receive account and trade related communication directly via SMS.  Clients who fail to verify their phone will be subject to trade restrictions pending completion of this process. Verification is performed online and the steps for doing so are outlined below.
In case your account has been already opened but your mobile number has not been yet verified, please jump directly to KB2552 to complete the verification process.

Phone Verification

When completing your Interactive Brokers Account Application, you will see a blue bar at the top of the page that says "CONFIRM MOBILE NUMBER."

You can click on that bar any time during steps 1-4.   Once you do, you will see this window:

Once you have entered your full number, it will be recognized and a confirmation message is sent immediately.  Validate your phone number by entering the SMS Code received in the Confirmation Code field and click Submit.

If you are unable to do this during the application process, you can always confirm it on the Application Status page

Please consider the following as certain restrictions may apply:

• SMS messages may be blocked if you participate in your Countries NDNC (National Do Not Call) registry.
• Due to fraud prevention measures, virtual number providers may be blocked.
• Some carriers may restrict the Hours of delivery for SMS messages.

1. Always Available: 
Your smartphone is always with you, as well as your tool to grant you secure access to your IBKR account.

2. Convenient:
No additional devices to carry, track and watch out for. In the event of loss or change of phone, IBKR Client Services can assist you to get the app back up and running at a moment’s notice.

3. Quick Activation:
A couple of minutes within the download of the app, you can already use it to authenticate into your account.

4. No Shipping, Delivery or Return:
No delivery delays, no return of devices with depleted batteries. A quick download suffices.

5. Secure, but quick and No-Hassle Login with our Seamless Authentication:
When logging into the Trading Platforms or the Client Portal, you only need to enter your username and password - IBKR will send you a notification and you will use the IB Key protocol to complete the authentication, via your mobile biometrics or PIN, depending on your configuration.

6. Allows for multiple users to authenticate with the same app:
If you have one security device for your personal IBKR account, one for your joint account with your spouse and one for your business account you will be happy to know that you can activate the same app for all those users (and more).

7. Available for every smartphone, everywhere:
IBKR Mobile can be downloaded from the Apple App Store if you have an iPhone. Android phone users can get the app as usual from the Google Play store. Clients in China can obtain the application on both Baidu and the 360.cn stores.

8. Works even Offline:
Should your phone be offline (e.g. when on vacation or with a bad reception), you can still use IBKR Mobile Authentication. Even though Seamless Authentication won't be accessible, the application can generate the codes you need to access your account and trade.

9. Secure delivery for your Password Reset:
With IBKR Mobile installed and the IB Key authentication activated, you can have the IBKR Client Services send you a temporary password to your phone in a secure way without exposing it through text messages and other means of communication.

10. Small footprint:

IBKR Mobile can be downloaded even on the most restrictive data plans and be installed on your smartphone without hogging resources. The application size and its operational use of resources are limited to the absolute minimum, while not compromising on its security.

For a general overview of IBKR Mobile Authentication including installation, activation and operation, please see KB2260.

For Android OS 6.0 (Marshmallow) and higher

1.  Go to your phone's Settings Menu

2.  Below the Phone section, select Applications Application Manager
 
 

3.  Scroll down and select the corresponding IB app which needs to be reset.

 

4.  Tap on Storage

 

5.  Tap on Clear Data OK
   
 

6.  Confirm Data has been cleared.

 

7.  Reboot the phone

8.  Re-Launch app

For Android OS 5.0 (Lollipop) and previous versions

1. Go to your phone Settings Menu
2. Below the Device section, select Apps
   
    
3. Scroll down and select the corresponding IB app which needs to be reset.
     
    
4. Tap on Clear data OK
     
    
5. Confirm Data has been cleared
   
    
6. Reboot Phone
7. Re-Launch app

Note: If after clearing the cache, manually adjusting the permissions and restarting your Android Device, the issue persists, please contact IB Customer Service  for further troubleshooting.

Related Articles:

• For IB Key on Android overview refer to KB2277
• For IB Key Recovery process on Android refer to KB2748

• Log in to Account Management.
• From the side menu, click on Settings and then on User Settings. Click on the configuration gear correspondent to Mobile Number. If you are using the Classic Account Management, this section can be reached from the top menu Manage Account -> Account Information -> Details -> Profile, by clicking on the link "Modify"
  
  

• Click on VERIFY
  

• Open your phone's messages app and you will find the SMS with the Confirm Code we sent to you.
  NOTE: message delivery time may vary and in some circumstances it can take few minutes.
   

• Enter the Confirm Code you have received into the Confirmation Number field, then click CONTINUE.
   

• If the code has been accepted, a green check mark will appear under the column SMS Verified. Click CONTINUE to finalize the procedure.

• If your user does not have an active SLS device, it will be automatically enrolled in SMS for Two-Factor Authentication shortly afterwards. For instructions about login authentication via SMS, please see KB3196.