If you have problems with the activation of your device under the TracFone network and need perfect solutions then I think you come to the right place. There are many common TracFone activation problems that you can solve with your own efforts.
In this article I discuss the activation problems with the TracFone device and their solutions. Any of these solutions may be helpful for you. Let’s know about these in detail.
The Common TracFone Activation Problems That You Probably Face
Here are some common TracFone activation problems with their solutions. After reading the whole article you will get a clear vision why your device does not activate properly on the TracFone network and how you can fix these problems easily.
- No Network Coverage: Though the TracFone network has nationwide coverage , there are still some locations that are outside their network coverage. If you are staying in such a location, then you cannot access the network, and hence cannot activate your Phone or SIM card.
- Incompatible And Locked Phone: Your phone can be incompatible with the TracFone phone requirements or can be locked to any specific carrier. So, it cannot be activated on the TracFone network.
- Incomplete Transfer Process: If you transfer your number from another network to TracFone, you need to complete the transfer process first. You are only able to transfer the number to TracFone after the completion of the transfer process. An incomplete transfer process also hampers the activation process.
- SIM Card Issue: The SIM card itself could be sometimes the issue. Your device may not be compatible with the SIM card or, it is also possible that your device cannot recognize the SIM card.
The above are the possible issues for why your Phone or SIM card is not activated to the TracFone network.
How To Fix TracFone Activation Problems
Almost all activation problems of TracFone have solutions. In most of the cases , the solutions are in your hands. Let’s know about the solutions.
1. Make Sure That You Are Within The Coverage Area:
The first thing you need to check is that you are in the TracFone network coverage area. For that, you have to check the coverage map on the TracFone website, or contact customer care to know about it. If you are outside the coverage area, then try to go to a place where the TracFone network is available. Then try to go through the activation process.
2. Make Sure That Your Phone Is Compatible With The Network And That It Is Unlocked
Make sure that your phone is compatible with the TracFone network and that it is unlocked when you take the BYOP service. Most phones are not activated for these two reasons. You should visit their website to check the compatibility of your BYOP phone and unlock it by the previous carrier if it is locked.
3. Check The SIM Card Or SIM Slot
Check the SIM card, especially for cracks or damages on the side with the chip. Also, check the SIM slot for damages too. If the SIM card or SIM slot seems to be okay, then insert the SIM card into another compatible unlocked phone. If it works, then there is a possibility that the issue may be with the mobile phone.
4. Confirm Service Transfer Completion
If you transfer service from another carrier to TracFone, then you have to confirm that the transfer process is completed with the previous carrier. Check the transfer PIN, name, billing address, and account number are correct. Contact the previous carrier to help you with the transfer process to be completed with your new network.
Please Note: Do not cancel the service with the previous carrier until the transfer process is completed. If you cancel the service, then you are not able to complete the transfer process. Remember, when your transfer process is completed, the service with the previous carrier is automatically canceled.
5. Update Firmware On Your Smartphone
Always update Firmware to the latest version on your device. Sometimes, updating the device to the latest version of the Firmware can be a nice solution to device activation problems. Firmware is actually the software that helps your phone’s hardware to work. Regular updates are released from the phone company to help your Firmware to work properly.
So, ensure that your device is running on the latest Firmware version. If you want to update the Firmware, you can do it in the following way:
- First connect your device to a wireless network.
- Then go to “Settings” and “About Phone”.
- If there is a software update available, then you will see the option “Update”.
- Select “Update” and “Install System Software”.
- Wait for some time to install and update the software on your device.
6. Clear Cache On Your Phone
Your phone’s minor glitches are resolved and the performance of your phone is enhanced by clearing the cache on your phone. Sometimes this process can also resolve the activation issue. Follow these steps to clear the cache on your mobile phone.
- Switch off your mobile device.
- Press and hold the ‘Power’ and ‘Volume down’ buttons together on your device.
- When you see the device logo, release the ‘Power’ button, while still holding the ‘Volume down’ button.
- On the ‘Android System Recovery’ page, scroll to the ‘Wipe cache partition’ option by using the ‘Volume’ button and select this option using the ‘Power’ button.
- Now, select the ‘Reboot System Now’ option to power on the device.
This will clear the cache on your device.
7. Perform The TracFone Activation Process Again
If your TracFone activation process failed, then you can retry to activate it again. Follow these steps to complete the TracFone activation process:
There are two methods to activate your TracFone SIM card. The first method is by contacting their customer support, and the second method is via their website.
- Activate your SIM card via Customer Care: This method is easy and simple. But it takes several minutes to complete. You can call their customer care at 1-800-867-7183. Talk to a support person about the activation of your TracFone SIM card or service. Follow the instructions and complete the process.
- Activate TracFone SIM card via the website: Follow these steps to activate your TracFone SIM card via TracFone’s website:
- Insert the SIM card into your device. Make sure that the SIM card is properly placed in the SIM Slot.
- Now, connect your device to a wireless network.
- Go to TracFone’s website and in the site on the main menu, click on ‘Activate’.
- There you find two options. If you bring your own phone, then choose the option, “I’m Bringing My Own Device”, otherwise choose the ’TracFone Device’ option as you purchase it from TracFone.
- Enter your SIM card number and other information as required in the respective fields. Follow all the instructions to complete the process.
- Wait for some time to let the provider activate your SIM card. If your SIM card is successfully activated, then you will receive a confirmation message that your SIM card is activated.
If all the attempts failed then try this last option.
8. Reset Your Device To Factory Reset
The last thing you can do is to reset your device to factory reset. The factory reset clears all data on your device. In other words, we can say that ‘Factory Reset’ reverts the device to its default factory settings.
For factory reset, go to: Settings > General or General Management > Reset > Reset All Settings.
9. Contact TracFone Customer Support
If you tried all the processes described in the article and failed to activate your device on TracFone wireless, then you can contact TracFone customer Support at : 1-800-867-7183.
I hope the solutions explained in this article help you to fix your TracFone activation-related problems and you can activate your device in a hassle free and effortless way.