Are you looking for a carrier that will guarantee value for money? Look no further as Verizon is the ultimate choice for you. This carrier is known to have good nationwide coverage and offers high-speed hotspot data. Besides this, it offers a myriad of plans and phones as well.
It also offers a mix and matches the family plan. Therefore, you will not fail to find the plan that suits your budget. With this in mind, it makes a lot of sense to buy a SIM card from this carrier and then activates it on your device. This is the only way you will be able to enjoy the above-mentioned benefits.
In this article, we shall take a closer look at how you can activate a SIM card from Verizon.
Verify Network Capabilities
Buying a new SIM card from Verizon is one thing. However, this SIM card has to be compatible with your device. This is because if they are not compatible, you might not be able to enjoy all the offers that come with this carrier.
In most cases, if you purchased a new SIM card as well as a new smartphone from this carrier, they should be compatible. However, if you bought a new phone from Verizon and it uses a 5G network, you might have issues activating your older SIM card which already has 4G LTE capabilities. Even if it fits correctly, you will not be immune to these inconveniences.
To avert this problem, you should first block your current SIM card, which might have 4G capabilities and then look for a brand new one. The blocking exercise needs some time. To do this, you can contact your carrier to block it for you. Better still, you can use your IMEI to block it. Here, you will enter the IMEI on your carrier’s website and then it will be blocked successfully.
However, the best option is to contact your carrier to block it for you. Once this is down, you can get new SIM card which has 5G capabilities and you will be good to go. By doing this, you will save yourself the agony of SIM card activation failure and consequently, you will be able to unlock the benefits that come with 5G network connectivity.
Inserting the SIM Card
Once you have verified that your SIM card and your current handset are compatible, the time is ripe for you to insert the Verizon SIM card into your device so that you can activate it. For old phone models, you will note that they normally use a mini-SIM card or a micro-SIM card.
Generally, these SIM cards different in their size but the content present in them is the same. In addition, the process of sliding them is the same. Here, we shall look at how you can insert SIM card for an older phone model and a newer model. For the older model, you will note that the SIM card compartment is normally located under the battery on the back of your phone. Therefore, you need to remove the back cover and the battery first, before you can insert the SIM card.
Here are the steps to follow:
- Power off your phone first and then remove the back cover.
- Once this is done, try to locate the SIM card slot. If there is another SIM card present, remove it first in a gentle manner.
- Slide the new SIM card into the slot. The logo of the SIM card should face up. This way, the gold chip will make contact with the phone’s circuitry.
- Once you have inserted the SIM card, you can now replace the battery and finally, the back cover of your device.
- Power on your device. Once you power on the device, the carrier’s information will appear on the home display.
If you have a new phone model, chances are that you cannot remove the battery, unlike the older models. In this regard, these models are different at they have a small tray on the side of the phone that can be removed at will.
You can remove it and insert your SIM card anytime you want, without removing the battery. For iPhones, the tray is found on the right side of the device. However, for android, this tray can be found on either the side or top of the device.
Here, are the steps that you should follow:
- Power off your smartphone.
- Thereafter, locate the SIM tray on your device and pop it out using a SIM card ejector tool. If you do not have this tool, you can try to use a paperclip or a pushpin instead.
- Pull the SIM card tray out of your device. It is imperative that you take note of how the SIM card tray fits in that slot by checking the direction of the hole. This way, you will be able to reinsert the SIM tray more successfully.
- Set your new SIM card into the tray, with the logo facing up.
- Thereafter, push the SIM tray back into the phone. Ensure that the tray is in the same position as when you removed it. Ideally, it should go in easily. Do not try to force the tray back in if it does not go in easily. Chances are that you have not placed it in the right position.
- Once the new Verizon SIM card is in, you can now power on your device. You should now see the carrier’s information on your home display.
Generally, the process of inserting the new Verizon SIM card is relatively easy and straightforward. As long as you follow the above-mentioned steps, you will be good to go.
How to Activate SIM Card Verizon – Step by Step Guideline
For you to use your new SIM card from Verizon, you have to activate it first. When it comes to SIM card activation, there are many ways that can help you get started.
They include:
- Activate your SIM card online.
- Contact Verizon customer care to activate it for you.
- Use the Verizon app to activate your new SIM card from Verizon.
1. Activate Your SIM Card Online
To activate your SIM card online, you should first visit the Verizon website by visiting. Once you are on this site, sign in to your account by entering your phone number or better still, your User ID and the password in the appropriate fields. Confirm these details and then click ‘Sign in’.
If you have not yet registered, you should click on ‘Register below’ and then enter your 10 digit mobile number given by Verizon. In case, you registered in the past but you happened to forget the User ID or password, click on ‘Forgot your info’ and then follow the prompts that follow. Once you click on ‘Sign in’, click on ‘My Devices’. You will find a tab at the top of the page and by doing this, your current phone will appear. Scroll down and then click on ‘Activating my phone’. Thereafter, click on ‘Verizon Activations’ and then on ‘Activate SIM’. You will find this in the ‘Get started with a new SIM card’ section.
You will see a list of devices if it is an old account or just your current one if at all it is new. After that, click ‘Select Device’. Here, you might be prompted to click on ‘Activate a device on an existing line’. Under the ‘Device Type’ category, choose whether your device is 4G or 5G. By doing this, your device’s IMEI will automatically be filled. Under the SIM Card Number category, you will need to enter your phone number, which is typically the SIM ID number.
You can readily get this information on the Verizon receipt you got once you purchased the SIM card. Thereafter, click on the ‘Check SIM card’ and you will see a list of available plans for you. If you had already registered your plan in the past, the ‘Complete Transaction’ step will be skipped. Finally, Verizon will ask you to choose the phone to send a code to. Enter the code that you have received as an SMS into the field on the website and then click ‘Confirm’. Once you are done, you can now start using your phone as your new SIM card from Verizon will be successfully activated.
2. Contact Verizon Customer Care to Activate it for you
Besides activating your new SIM card from Verizon online, you can now activate it by contacting the customer care team from Verizon. As you purpose this, you should first ensure that you have your SIM receipt. This is because during the activation process, you will be asked to provide information from the receipt.
With details on the SIM receipt at hand, you can now proceed to contact the customer care team of this carrier to activate the SIM for you. It is advisable that you have another phone to contact them so that the other one has the new SIM card that you want to activate. The primary phone should be off momentarily but have the SIM card inserted.
To call the customer care team, you should dial 1-877-807-4646. Follow the voice commands that you will hear from the other end. You have also seen on-screen prompts that will require you to enter the necessary data. Using the information that is present on your new SIM card’s receipts, enter those details correctly.
Turn your primary phone on and you will notice that the 3G/4G/5G functionality will be enabled. Follow a few on-screen setup wizard instructions that you will see on the screen once you enter the PIN. Moments after accepting Verizon Customer Agreement, your SIM card will be fully activated. You can now browse, make calls, and so on.
3. Use the Verizon App to Activate your new SIM Card from Verizon
For you to use this app, you have to ensure that you have connected your device to the internet. Once everything is set, tap on the ‘My Verizon’ app on your smart-phone. Sign in by entering your user ID and password. Thereafter, tap on ‘Add device’. Then tap on ‘Activate a device I already own’. Select your device and its OS in case it does not detect them automatically. After that, enter your device’s ID. Your device will now be activated.
Frequently Asked Questions
When it comes to SIM card activation, you can contact the carrier’s customer care number and then follow the prompts that follow. As you do this, ensure that you have the details of the new SIM card so that it can be activated remotely. Give all the details needed upon request and your SIM card will be activated. If you follow the right steps, this process should not take long. Once the SIM card is activated, you will be able to make calls, send text messages and even browse the internet using cellular data.
In case your SIM card is not activated successfully, you can reach out to your network service provider for assistance. As you purpose to do this, ensure that the SIM ID on the card matches the SIM ID in your account with the service provider. Once your account has been updated, you can insert the SIM card into your phone and restart your device. Follow the prompts you will find after powering your phone and the SIM card activation will be successful.
It is not practically possible. Generally, you should have a valid ID when activating a new SIM card. While you might not necessarily have a physical ID during the activation process, as long as you recall the digits on the ID card, you will be good to go. You can use these details to activate your SIM card.
Your SIM might not work properly because of a number of issues. A good example is when dust gets between the SIM and your phone. This can cause communication issues and might make your SIM not to function optimally. Ideally, you should clean the gold connectors on the SIM with a clean lint-free cloth and see if the SIM card will be recognized once again. If it is not recognized, it might have been damaged and might need immediate replacement.
Final Thoughts
The process of activating a new SIM card from Verizon is not difficult. All you need to do is follow the above-mentioned ideas and you will be good to go. Like we mentioned above, Verizon is known to have fast internet speeds and good network coverage. In addition, there are a plethora of plans to choose from. Activate your new SIM card from this carrier and you will enjoy these benefits on the go.