LINE Account in 2026: How to Create, Secure, Transfer and Recover a LINE Account and Understand Premium and Official Accounts

LINE is the main messaging app in Japan, Taiwan and Thailand and is widely used across parts of Asia. A LINE account is more than a chat login: it connects friends, groups, payments in some regions, official brand accounts, stamps, news and customer service. People who search for “LINE account” usually need one of a few things: how to create it, how to move it to a new phone, how to change the phone number, how to recover it or how to run a business presence. This hub guide covers all of them in one place and links to the right next steps. It reflects the official help pages and public information available in October 2026. Features and prices differ by country, so check the in-app screens for your region. For a beginner walkthrough with screenshots, read our LINE sign up guide.

What a LINE account is tied to

A personal LINE account is tied to a phone number, and you can optionally add an email address and a password. The phone number is used for registration and for verifying that you are the owner when you move to a new device. Each LINE account can be active on only one smartphone at a time, although you can also use the desktop app and, on some devices, a tablet. Your friend list, chat history and settings belong to the account, but chat history is stored mainly on your device, which is why a backup matters.

How to create a LINE account

1. Install LINE from the Apple App Store or Google Play, not from a link in a message.
2. Open the app and tap Sign up or Start. Enter your phone number with the country code.
3. Enter the verification code that LINE sends by SMS, or request a voice call if the SMS does not arrive.
4. Choose whether to allow friends to find you by phone number. This controls whether people who have your number can add you automatically.
5. Enter a display name and choose a profile picture.
6. Set a password and register an email address so that you can log in on a computer and recover the account later.
7. Confirm your age if the service asks for it. In some countries, features such as searching by LINE ID depend on age verification through your mobile carrier.

LINE ID, display name and privacy

Your display name can be changed any time. A LINE ID is a unique handle that lets others find you without your phone number, and it can usually be set only once. If you do not want strangers to find you, leave ID search off, and keep the setting that blocks friend suggestions from your phone contacts if you prefer privacy. Review who can see your profile, status and Timeline posts, and decide whether messages from strangers should be filtered.

Account types compared

Different goals need different accounts. A personal account is for individuals. Businesses use the LINE Official Account system to send messages, run coupons and answer customers. Advertisers use LINE Ads for paid placements. Several countries also offer a Premium subscription with extra features.

Security settings to turn on

Turn on Letter Sealing, which enables end-to-end encryption for messages. Set a passcode or biometric lock for the app, and enable the option that prevents login on other devices without confirmation. Register an email and password, because it simplifies recovery. Never give the verification code to anyone, even a friend, because scammers take over accounts by asking people to forward codes and then message the victim’s contacts asking for money or gift cards.

Backing up and moving to a new phone

Before moving to a new phone, back up your chats. The standard backup saves text messages and is stored in your Google Drive on Android or iCloud on iPhone. A Premium backup in supported regions can also save photos, videos, files and voice messages and can transfer between Android and iPhone. Ahead of the move, make sure that you know your phone number, email and password, enable the option to allow account transfer on the old device, and then log in on the new device within the time limit. After a transfer, some settings are locked for a short time, for example the phone number cannot be changed for 24 hours. Without a backup, old chat history cannot be restored.

Changing your phone number

Change the number on your main device through the account settings, verify the new number by SMS or call and keep the old SIM until the change is confirmed. If your old number is gone and you did not register an email or password, recovery is difficult, so update the number while you still can.

Recovering a locked or lost account

If you lose your phone, log in on a new device with your phone number and verification code, or with your email and password if you set them up. If someone has taken over the account, contact LINE support through the official help center and explain what happened. Do not follow instructions from people who contact you offering to recover the account for a fee.

Official accounts and advertising

Businesses and creators can apply for a LINE Official Account in their country. Verified and premium badges depend on review and are not for sale by third parties. Advertising is handled in a separate ads system, where you create an advertiser account, set a budget and pay by the available methods in your region. Account sellers who promise verified badges or large friend lists are scams, and accounts bought this way can be removed.

Premium and paid features

LINE Premium is available in some countries, such as Taiwan and Thailand, with a monthly subscription and often a first-month trial. Japan has its own paid plan, with prices that can differ between the web and the app. Paid features include backup storage, stamps and themes. Check the price in the app, and cancel subscriptions in the store where you bought them.

Official sources versus unofficial offers

When you search for help with LINE, you will find both official pages and third-party offers. The comparison below shows why it pays to stay with official channels.

Quick recap checklist

Before you finish, confirm the essentials for LINE:

• You are using the official website or app.
• Your password is unique and two-step verification is on.
• Recovery email and phone are current.
• Privacy settings match what you are comfortable sharing.
• You know the price, renewal date and how to cancel if money is involved.
• You saved receipts, confirmation emails and backup codes in a safe place.
• You know where to find the official help center.

Keeping up with changes

Features, prices and rules around LINE change more often than most people expect. Follow the official blog, release notes or help center, and read the emails you receive about policy updates instead of deleting them. When a guide such as this one gives a number or a menu name, treat it as a starting point and confirm it on the official site. If a change affects you negatively, you can usually adjust your plan, settings or usage, so act early rather than waiting for a problem.

Account security basics for LINE

Protect your LINE account before anything else. Use a long, unique password stored in a password manager, turn on two-step verification, and make sure the recovery email and phone number are ones you control. Review the list of devices and active sessions every few months and sign out of any you do not recognize. Never share one-time codes, even with someone who claims to work for support, because genuine support teams never ask for them. If you sign in on a shared or public computer, log out afterwards and avoid saving passwords in the browser.

Devices, apps and browsers

Use the latest version of the official app or a modern browser when working with LINE. Keep your operating system updated, install security patches and avoid rooted or modified devices, which weaken protection. Browser extensions can read pages you visit, so remove those you do not trust. On mobile, download apps only from official stores, review the permissions they ask for and turn off those that are not needed. Lock your device with a PIN or biometrics so that a lost phone does not become a lost account.

When to contact official support

Contact support when you have tried the basic fixes and the problem remains, when you see an unexpected charge, when you suspect your account was accessed by someone else or when you are locked out. Prepare the account email, the date and time of the problem, the exact message you saw and screenshots. Describe what you did step by step and what you expected to happen. Use only the contact methods listed on the official site and ignore anyone who offers to fix things for a fee through social media or private messages.

Privacy and personal data

Before you enter personal information anywhere, ask what is really required. Use only the details that LINE needs, review the privacy settings after setup and limit who can see your profile, activity and contact information. Avoid posting documents, addresses, financial data or photos that reveal your location. Check which third-party apps are connected to your account and remove those you no longer use. If you work with client or company data, follow your organization’s policy and do not mix it with personal accounts.

Troubleshooting checklist

If something does not work as expected with LINE, go through the basics in order before contacting anyone:

1. Check your internet connection and try again on a different network.
2. Update the app or refresh the page, then restart the device.
3. Clear the cache or try a private browser window without extensions.
4. Confirm that you are signed in with the correct account and email.
5. Look for the exact error message and search the official help center for it.
6. Wait a short time before repeating an action, since repeated attempts can trigger temporary limits.
7. If nothing helps, collect screenshots and contact official support.

A monthly review habit

Set a reminder once a month to review your LINE setup. Check your security settings, payment method, connected apps and notification preferences. If you pay for anything, compare the charge with what you actually used and decide whether to keep, change or cancel. Update your recovery details if you changed phone number or email. Delete old data you no longer need. Ten minutes a month prevents most surprises and keeps your costs and risks under control.

Helping family members and colleagues

If you are setting up LINE for someone else, such as a parent, a teenager or a coworker, guide them rather than doing everything silently. Explain why strong passwords and two-step verification matter, show them how to recognize suspicious messages and agree on who to ask before they click or pay for anything. For minors, follow age requirements and use the available parental or family controls. For teams, document who owns the account, who can approve spending and what to do when someone leaves.

Common mistakes to avoid with LINE

Most problems come from a handful of avoidable habits. People reuse the same password across several services, ignore security notices, click links in unexpected messages, install unofficial apps that promise extra features, or buy accounts and access from resellers. Others skip reading the terms, which leads to restrictions they did not expect, or forget to write down renewal dates and recovery details. Spend a few minutes reading the official help pages, keep your details up to date and treat anything that sounds too good to be true as a warning sign.

Recognizing scams and fake offers

Scammers often imitate well-known brands such as LINE. Typical signs are urgent messages, requests for passwords or verification codes, links to look-alike websites, promises of free upgrades or guaranteed results, and payment requests through unusual channels. Always type the official address yourself or use a saved bookmark, check the sender of every email and never pay through a link sent by a stranger. If you think you were tricked, change your password, review recent activity, contact your bank if money was involved and report the message to the platform.

Using LINE for work and groups

Many people now use LINE for work, school and community groups. Keep personal and work conversations separate where possible, and agree on rules in each group, such as who can add members and what may be shared. Use the Keep and Notes features for documents instead of scrolling through chat, and pin important announcements. If you manage a large group, assign more than one admin so that the group survives if one person loses access, and remind members never to click unexpected links, even from known contacts.

What to do when a friend’s account is hacked

If a contact suddenly asks for money, gift cards or a verification code, assume the account was taken over. Do not reply with codes or payment. Call the person by another method, tell them to secure their account and ask them to warn their contacts. Report the account through the in-app function, and block it if the messages continue. Reporting quickly protects other people in the same groups and helps LINE restore the original owner’s access.

Frequently asked questions

Can I create a LINE account without a phone number?

In normal cases a phone number is needed to register, and the verification code goes to that number.

Can I use LINE on two phones at once?

No. One account is active on one smartphone, but you can also use the desktop app.

What is a LINE ID?

A unique handle that lets others find you without your phone number. It is usually set once.

How do I move LINE to a new phone?

Back up chats, allow the transfer on the old phone, install LINE on the new phone and log in with your number or email.

Will my chat history transfer?

Only if you made a backup. The standard backup saves text, and a Premium backup can include media.

Can I change my number?

Yes, in the account settings on your main device, with SMS or call verification.

What should I do if someone asks me for a verification code?

Never share it. It is a common scam.

How do I get an official account?

Apply through the official LINE business pages and complete the review.

Is it safe to buy a LINE account?

No. Sold accounts can be reclaimed and often come with scams.

Is LINE Premium available everywhere?

No. It depends on the country and the plan on offer.

Summary

Create the account with your own number, add an email and password, turn on Letter Sealing, back up before changing phones and use only official channels for business features.