Using Zalo App Outside Vietnam

@SteinNebraska its not taking my US passport photo to register. I wonder how you all got registered ?

@SteinNebraska its not taking my US passport photo to register. I wonder how you all got registered ? -@Festertester

Hello Festertester. Welcome to expat.com.

Is your post regarding the Zalo app?

Please give us a little more detail outlining the issue you're having so that we might help you.

@Aidan in HCMC

yes indeed it is related to Zalo app…

yes indeed it is related to Zalo app…
    -@Festertester

Are you trying to open an "OA" (Official Account) ? This OA is intended for use by gov't institutions, businesses, and celebrity users. If either of these apply to you, I suggest you reach out to them at feedback@zalo.me for direction on how to proceed with your identity verification.

I do not believe user identity verification is required for use of the "Social" account.

Please let us know how you fare with this.

@Aidan in HCMC

i use my US cell phone number to set it up and added a contact. Right after adding it said my “account has been disabled, please verify account to continue using zalo”. I was on international roaming with my US cell while traveling. I am no celebrity or govt person etc, i just need a social account…not sure why it disabled my account.

i use my US cell phone number to set it up and added a contact. Right after adding it said my “account has been disabled, please verify account to continue using zalo”. I was on international roaming with my US cell while traveling. I am no celebrity or govt person etc, i just need a social account…not sure why it disabled my account.
  -@Festertester

Hmmm. Odd.

Take a look at post #38 in this thread. (Link)

Click the first link in that post, and scroll down to error #5,

its title "Error temporarily banning using the account".

Have you tried uninstalling the app and reinstalling? Access to another telephone which uses a different carrier to try to install?

Sorry if these suggestions might seem academic. I've not a great deal of experience with Zalo. I'm hoping other members will chime in with their recommendations.

    i use my US cell phone number to set it up and added a contact. Right after adding it said my “account has been disabled, please verify account to continue using zalo”. I was on international roaming with my US cell while traveling. I am no celebrity or govt person etc, i just need a social account…not sure why it disabled my account.   -@Festertester

Hmmm. Odd.
Take a look at post #38 in this thread. (Link)
Click the first link in that post, and scroll down to error #5,
its title "Error temporarily banning using the account".

Have you tried uninstalling the app and reinstalling? Access to another telephone which uses a different carrier to try to install?

Sorry if these suggestions might seem academic. I've not a great deal of experience with Zalo. I'm hoping other members will chime in with their recommendations.
   

    -@Aidan in HCMC

If as you say you dont have a great deal of experience with Zalo, why do you bother commenting then?

If as you say you dont have a great deal of experience with Zalo, why do you bother commenting then?   -@goodolboy

Well now, I do have some experience, just not 'a great deal of experience'. I'm well aware that my (admittedly) limited experience with Zalo might prove to be inadequate.

The reason I responded to Festertester  is that I'm quite curious as to what is causing the issue he's experiencing. I'm a bit nerdy like that. That, and there's also a purely selfish reason for my responding, i.e. I get genuine pleasure from trying to help others.

You're using Zalo after setting it up with a non-VN number. Any idea, or hints/tips you might suggest?

    If as you say you dont have a great deal of experience with Zalo, why do you bother commenting then?   -@goodolboy

Well now, I do have some experience, just not 'a great deal of experience'. I'm well aware that my (admittedly) limited experience with Zalo might prove to be inadequate.
The reason I responded to Festertester  is that I'm quite curious as to what is causing the issue he's experiencing. I'm a bit nerdy like that. That, and there's also a purely selfish reason for my responding, i.e. I get genuine pleasure from trying to help others.

You're using Zalo after setting it up with a non-VN number. Any idea, or hints/tips you might suggest?
   

    -@Aidan in HCMC

Oh god where do I start with this post & my experience for what its worth!!

1…..Zalo is an internet based App & the only time you need the phone number is when you set up your account when it sends a conformation OTP to that number so in actual fact you can set it up with any phone number you have access to (as long as that number is not registered to another Zalo account)

2…..I set up my first Zalo account about 10 years ago & used a UK number (global sim) & after it was set up I cancelled that number but for the next 10 years that was the telephone number registered to my Zalo account & it worked just fine!

3…..About 4 months back I decided to change my Zalo account to my Vietnamese mobile number & it took all of 5 minutes to do the process & get the OTP to my phone & as I remember there was a delay between my old number being deleted & my new number showing in my account.

Setting up a Zalo account is easy just follow the setup steps & if I can do it anyone can & thats why I despair when I see long winded posts getting no where like this one on the forum.

• @onyekacelestine47

@onyekacelestine47 You can not setup Zalo account with a Nigerian phone number. 190 countries on the list. 

    @onyekacelestine47 You can not setup Zalo account with a Nigerian phone number. 190 countries on the list. 
   

    -@Vaneric

Hummmm there must be a reason, I wonder why that is??

@karim saad I'm having the same issue. Upon sending verification code it keeps saying to try again in 24 hrs as I have exceeded some kind of limit. I tried again in 24, 36, 48 and 72 hours. Even tried everyday for two weeks. After I gave up, uninstalled and now trying to convince my friends to use Whatsapp. But they are having trouble registering with Whatsapp with a Vietnamese phone number. It's not accepting their phone number. So if you have found a solution with Zalo please tell me!!!

Hi, I'm in the US.  I've been trying to create a new zalo account on my iphone Zalo app.  It keeps faiing to get the verification code.  I've been trying everyday for a week now.  Btw, it also happens to another phone.  The zalo app has been deleted and downloaded a latest version. 

Have anyone seen this error before/recently?  Thanks.

In the dialog:

Enter your verification code

Enter the 6-digit sequence sent to the phone number (+1) xxx xxx xxxx

Unable to receive the verification code automatically at this time.  Please try again after 24 hours. (1000016)

    Hi, I'm in the US.  I've been trying to create a new zalo account on my iphone Zalo app.  It keeps faiing to get the verification code.  I've been trying everyday for a week now.  Btw, it also happens to another phone.  The zalo app has been deleted and downloaded a latest version. 
Have anyone seen this error before/recently?  Thanks.

In the dialog:
Enter your verification code
Enter the 6-digit sequence sent to the phone number (+1) xxx xxx xxxx

Unable to receive the verification code automatically at this time.  Please try again after 24 hours. (1000016)
   

    -@mysec2015

It could very well be a problem with Zalo and your phone service provider not playing well with each other.

Or, if you are attempting to use a VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) number such as one provided through Google Voice, SKYPE or a similar service.

Maybe check with your phone service provider and see if they might be automatically blocking messages from a company based in Vietnam.

Good luck 🤞

I was chatting w/ ATT tech support for a while.  Finally, he enabled "all type of verification codes from ATT end".  About 6 hours later, I try again and I'm able to receive the text message w/ the verification code from Zalo. 

Thank you OceanBeach92107 for your excellent suggestion !!!  Hopefully this info will also help someone else in the future.   

Nope. I switched on my proton VPN while in Vietnam - it selected a Japanese server.

Next time I loaded Zalo, it demaded my passport!!

No joke, my partner wouldn't believe me - apps don't do that.

This one does!!

I could no longer use Zalo without a new SIM

The app thinks I am either a bot or... simply wants all my details because it is actually gov.t run

My wife is presently in VN for her mother's funeral.   She asked me to contact her on Zalo but I can't get past the registration steps.   I change the phone prefix to +1 and add in my number.  It spaces incorrectly but that shouldn't matter.  When I try to get the text for the code, it never comes and is followed by the try again in 24 hrs message that others received.   Could it be that Zalo is useable outside of VN but only if you register within the country?

Thankfully her T-Mobile phone seems to be able to both send and receive texts to mine in Hawaii.  It may be incurring additional charges though.   We will see later.

Thankfully her T-Mobile phone seems to be able to both send and receive texts to mine in Hawaii.  It may be incurring additional charges though.   We will see later.
    -@THIGV

Most T-Mobile plans cover some international use and Vietnam is on the list of approved countries.

Texting to/from USA numbers is free & unlimited.

Normal phone calls are .20¢ a minute but I avoid those charges by using "WiFi calling" on my end here in Vietnam.

Some older phones might not be set up for WiFi calling.

Also, T-Mobile gives free international data, but the top speed isn't very great. That speed is eventually throttled down if you use too much.

How to enter a US phone number for registration a new Zalo account

The entry text field showed +1 1234 5678 90 should be +1 123 456 7890

    How to enter a US phone number for registration a new Zalo account
The entry text field showed +1 1234 5678 90 should be +1 123 456 7890
   

    -@cnb789

You enter the 10 digit phone number

Don't include the 1 country code.

It's added by default by Zalo