# phone_number_not_usable

- HTTP status: 422
- Retry: No
- Execution: not started
- Admin needed: yes

**Phone number cannot be used for this call.** The `phone_number_id` names a number in your workspace, but it cannot be used as the caller number for this agent: it does not support outbound calls, or it is not connected for calling.

## What it means

The API returns HTTP 422 with `error.code` set to `phone_number_not_usable`. The default message is: "This phone number cannot place outbound calls for this agent."

## Common causes

- The number is inbound only.
- The number is not connected for calling yet.

## How to identify it

Check the response status (`422`) and `error.code` (`phone_number_not_usable`). Branch on `error.code`, not on the message text: messages can be reworded, codes do not change within v1. Log `error.request_id` (also sent as the `X-Request-Id` header) so support can find the request.

## How to fix it

- Pick a number whose `capabilities.outbound` is true, or omit `phone_number_id` to use the agent's outbound number.

## Retry guidance

Sending the request unchanged fails the same way. Fix the cause first (see How to fix it), then send it again.

## Did anything happen?

This request was refused before any call was placed and before anything was charged.

## Idempotency

Nothing was done and the refusal is not stored under the Idempotency-Key. Fix the cause, then send the same request (with the same key if you sent one).

## Who can fix it

A workspace administrator usually has to act, in the RelationsAI console.

## When to contact support

If the error persists after the steps above, contact [support@relationsai.com](mailto:support@relationsai.com). See [Support](/resources/support) for what to include (the `request_id`, the time in UTC, the operation, and whether you used a test or live key) and what never to send (API keys, Authorization headers, webhook signing secrets, recording links, transcripts or customer data).

## Example error response

```json
{
  "error": {
    "code": "phone_number_not_usable",
    "message": "This phone number cannot place outbound calls for this agent.",
    "details": {
      "phone_number_id": "pn_5Lq8Xc2Rk9TzW3mBv7Np4d"
    },
    "request_id": "req_sg7b4vcijdoiigjq5ao6xjs4",
    "retry": "no",
    "doc_url": "https://docs.relationsai.com/errors/phone_number_not_usable"
  }
}
```

## Incorrect and corrected request

Incorrect: The pinned number is inbound only (capabilities.outbound is false).

```http
POST /v1/calls

{
  "agent_id": "agent_3hT9kQ2mVx7RbN4pLc8Wz1",
  "to": "+919000000001",
  "phone_number_id": "pn_7Qw2Er4Ty6Ui8Op1As3Df5"
}
```

Corrected: Pins a number whose capabilities.outbound is true and that lists the agent in outbound_agent_ids (or omits phone_number_id).

```http
POST /v1/calls

{
  "agent_id": "agent_3hT9kQ2mVx7RbN4pLc8Wz1",
  "to": "+919000000001",
  "phone_number_id": "pn_5Lq8Xc2Rk9TzW3mBv7Np4d"
}
```

## Operations that can return this error

- [`POST /calls`](/api/calls#place-a-call): Place a call

See all codes in the [error-code reference](/fundamentals/error-codes).