Are you looking to transfer your current Straight Talk service to a new phone or SIM card? In this article, I’ll tell you what you need to do.
This article and video below were originally published in August 2016. and are still very popular in 2020. I’ve updated the article but you can still find the original below.
First, this article is for current Straight Talk customers looking to change to a new phone or SIM card. If you looking for information about how to sign up for Straight Talk, check out How To Sign Up and Use Your iPhone 6 or 6s with Straight Talk Wireless or How To Sign Up And Use Your iPhone SE With Straight Talk Wireless. Both of those articles explain what you need to know to sign up for Straight Talk.
In 2020, you have a lot of choices for prepaid wireless service. You may be able to save $100s per year and get the features you want such as Wi-Fi calling, Mobile Hotspot, and Visual Voicemail. Sound good? to learn more see, Is Straight Talk Your Best Option in 2020?
Transferring Your Current Straight Talk Service
If you want to transfer your current Straight Talk number and remaining service balance to a new phone or SIM. You have two options.
- Move the SIM card from your current phone to your new phone
- Activate your New Phone or SIM from straighttalk.com
Before explaining these two options you need to understand how Straight Talk works. Straight Talk does not own their own cellular towers. They lease service from AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile or Sprint. Your Straight Talk phone uses the towers from one of these four networks.
If you bought an iPhone or Galaxy phone from Straight Talk, chances are it uses the Verizon towers. If you brought your own phone (BYOP) from another carrier, you are likely uses the same towers with Straight Talk. So if you were perviously an AT&T customer and signed up for Straight Talk BYOP, your phone is likely using Straight Talk’s AT&T towers. The same for Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint customers.
If you don’t know which towers, your phone uses, ask Straight Talk. The easiest way to do that is visit straighttalk.com and use the online chat feature. Here is what you should ask…
Hi,
My phone number is (xxx) yyy-zzzz. Can you please tell me if my phone is using your AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint towers?
Moving Your Straight Talk SIM card to your new phone
Sometimes you can just move your SIM card from your current phone to your new phone. Your current SIM card will need to fit into your new phone and your new phone will need to be compatible with the current Straight Talk SIM card you are using. This works pretty welll with Straight Talk’s AT&T and T-Mobile SIM cards. It will also work with Straight Talk Verizon SIM cards but this can cause problems.
This is a great solution if you need to temporarily switch to a new phone. In the long term, you are better off properly activating your new phone or SIM card. To read all the annoying details of moving your Straight Talk SIM card, see Moving Your Straight Talk SIM Card To Your New Phone. I’ll tell you now that just moving a SSIM card has caused some people a lot of pain.
Activating Your Ne Straight Talk phone
I’m updating this section for 2020 because I think this a lot simpler way to transfer your service to your new phone than the old way I described.
If you bought your phone from Straight Talk or Walmart, the phone should already lnclude a SIM card. If you are signing up for Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) or Keep Your Own Phone (BYOP, you’ll need a SIM card. You can order one from straighttalk.com for $1. Order the SIM card for the network you want to use AND is compatible with your new phone. Note, if you want to use Straight Talk’s Verizon towers, you’ll need to check the phone’s serial number (MEID or IMEI) on staighttalk.com to make sure the phone is compatible (eligible).
I haven’t checked Walmart recently, I do not think you can buy just the SIM in the store. They only had kits with both a plan card and a SIM and if you did the math you were paying about $10 for the SIM card.
- If you don’t already have one, create an account for your current phone on straighttalk.com
- Verify you can log into your account, and then log out
- From straighttalk.com, choose Activate
- Choose the Straight Talk Phone or BYOP option
- Choose I have a SIM card
- enter your SIM card number, accept the terms of service, and continue
If you are using a Straight Talk Verizon SIM card, you may need to enter your phone’s MEID or IMEI,
After this, you will eventually be asked if you want a new phone number or to transfer your existing phone number. Choose the option to transfer your current number. After that, Straight talk will realize you are a current customer looking to transfer your service.
Below is my original article and video….
Transferring Your Service From straighttalk.com
If you are unable to move your SIM card from your current phone to your new phone then you’ll need to transfer your service online from straighttalk.com
Creating Your Straight Talk Account
To transfer your service using straighttalk.com, you’ll need an account. If you don’t already have one, now is the time to set one up. Once you have created your straighttalk.com account, you’ll see your current phone listed as an Active Device. Later you’ll be able to transfer your phone number and remaining service balance to your new phone or SIM. You could probably create your account during the transfer process, but I think its better to do it beforehand.
Your New Phone or SIM card
If you are planning to transfer your Straight Talk service, you’ll need a either a new phone, a new SIM card, or possibly both. If you bought your new phone from straighttalk.com or from Walmart everything you need is in the box.
If you got your new phone somewhere else, you’ll need to by a SIM card for your phone. SIM cards come in three sizes, Standard, Micro, and nano you’ll need the right size SIM card for your phone. You’ll also need to make sure that you order the SIM card for the Straight Talk network you want to use. (AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile). Make sure your new phone is compatible with the Straight Talk network you want to use.
Click here to order online from straighttalk.com
Not sure how to order? See my article and video showing you exactly what to do.
Click Ordering a Straight Talk SIM Card Or Bring Your Own Phone Activation Kit
Your Phone Number and Service Balance
You can transfer your phone number to your new phone and your remaining service balance as long as your new phone is eligible for your current plan. If you are using Straight Talk’s $30 plan you will not be able to transfer your remaining service balance to a smartphone or BYOP phone. Your phone number will transfer, but you’ll need to purchase a new service plan for your new phone.
The last time I transferred my Straight Talk service to a new SIM card, it took only a minute before the new SIM was active. Straight Talk claims the process can take up to 48 hours so make sure you plan your transfer accordingly.
Transferring Your Service
Now, I’m going to show you how to transfer your Straight Talk service. I am currently using Straight Talk’s AT&T network with my iPhone 6s with the $45 BYOP plan. I’m going to transfer my service to a new Straight Talk AT&T nano SIM. When I am done, I’m going to use that SIM in the same iPhone 6s. For most people, when you transfer your service you’ll be transferring your service to a new Straight Talk phone or a BYOP SIM card. If your transferring to a new SIM card, it would usually be a different size SIM or for a different network, otherwise you would just move your SIM.
- Go to straighttalk.com
- From the menu, Click Activation
- Under Bring Your Own Phone or Devices, Click Activate
- Under I HAVE A SIM CARD, Click Select
- Under Enter your SIM card number here, type in your SIM card number. Click Continue
- Under KEEP MY NUMBER, click Select
- Under Please enter the phone number you want to keep here, type in your phone number, Click Continue
- Under We noticed that you are currently an active Straight Talk customer. To continue with this process, please log into your account., Log in with your straighttalk.com account
- Under Information About Your New Device, Make sure your SIM number is correct. The first 5 digits may be missing. That’s OK
- Under Information About Your New Device, Enter a nickname for your new phone or SIM if you want
- Under Information About Your Current Device, check the button to the left of your current phone.
- When ready, Click Submit
How To Sign Up and Use Your iPhone 6 or 6s with Straight Talk Wireless
How To Sign Up And Use Your iPhone SE With Straight Talk Wireless
This was the most time waisting article I have ever read. I just wanted to know the steps to transferring my exsisting service to a new phone. That’s it.
Gee, How selfish of me. I should have wrote an article with only the information YOU wanted, rather than one that answers all the related questions everyone else was asking me too.
I just renewed my service last Friday with the $55 plan. I bought an unlocked Straight talk compatible Verizon Galaxy note 10 and was wanting to know if I could transfer my phone service and number without having to purchase a new plan since I have only had the service plan for 3 days?
You will not need to buy a new service plan to use the new phone.
If your current SIM card fits, you can move it to the new phone to make sure everything is working. If so, you can properly transfer your service from your current phone to your new phone and SIM card.
In 2021, here is how I’d do it. Visit straighttalk.com and order a ST Verizon SIM card. They should ask for the phone’s IMEi/MEID number to make sure the phone is eligible for use. If so, order a SIM card for $1. When you have the SIM, go to straighttalk.com and choose the option to activate your phone. When you choose the option to transfer your number ST will detect that you are currently a customer and transfer your number and service balance. If you don’t have an account on straighttalk.com for your current phone, I’d set that up first.
my phone wont active after i didnt all the steps and pressed submit
Hi,
Try restarting your phone. Other than that, the provided information wouldn’t be enough from to make a suggestion.
I mashed the wrong device under current device because mine didn’t give me a option to mash it, it had a explanation or a alert beside it?? Now straight talk can not get any of my sims to connect to a carrier but when I go on my account it shows that my number is active and they say its provisioned correctly. But I can’t get any service! Finally they made a ticket to their service provider and said that if it don’t start working in 72 hrs to call back??? I’m so aggervated!!!!
Sorry. I don’t follow. I don’t no what you mean by “mashed”
I have an iPhone 6S but now I bought an iPhone 11. I purchased both from Straight Talk. Which option is better?…. Should I transfer my service to the new SIM card that came with the iPhone 11 or take the SIM card out of my 6s and put it into the 11?
It’s better to activate the new SIM. Both your old and new phone are most likely using ST’s Verizon towers. Moving the SIM will work, but can cause problems. Activating the new SIM is more work, but is more reliable in the long term. If you haven’t already. Go to straighttalk.com and create an online account.
Follow the activation instructions on the homepage of straighttalk.com. When it comes time to get a new number or keep your current number, choose the option to keep your number. Once strsighttalk sees your number is activated with their service, they will transfer the the number and balance.
I lost my phone and had to replace it. I can’t do a side by side to transfer my data to my new Android stylo 5. What I’m I to do? I can’t retrieve my contacts or pictures.
Unless you backed up your photos and contacts to Google you are pretty much out of luck. You could try Google find my device and see if that helps locate your old phone
I’m a straight talk customer. I had to get a new phone. Yesterday I went thru the steps to transfer my services to my new phone. My old phone is still active
What do I need to do?
I’d log in to my account on straight talk.com and see if both phones are listed as my devices and see which shows activate. See if there are any steps to complete. Restart both phones. If I was unable to resolve it there I’d contact customer service by online chat and ask them to complete the transfer.
The phone I’m switching from doesn’t have a SIM card and it’s asking for a four digit number tried the MEI OR MIE.. WAT EVR ITS CALLED AND ITS SAYING INCORRECT NUMBER SO TRIED HIS PIN, TRIED THE MEI # AND NOTHING IS WORKING, IT IS A CRAPPY FLIP PHONE WITHOUT A SIM IF THAT HELPS AND TRYING TO SWITCH TO AN IPHONE!?
Sorry, I don’t really understand. What phone is asking for a four digit number and at when? And in what part of the transfer process?
So i had an existing straight talk iphone6s it was not charging correctly so i purchased a new iphone6s for straight talk. I transferred my service using the my account app. I moved the sim card. The service shows my new phone as active and remaining balance was transferred.
However i cannot make texts or calls and cellular data will not work.
I transferred everything about 17 hours ago.
why do i not have a working phone
That is really more of a question for Straight Talk customer support. Sounds like you are using the SIM from the previous phone, maybe that is it. You can always try going into Settings – > General -> Reset and try a network reset
I’m trying to see if I can use my old Sims card in my new phone if its the same or similar to my old phone
Take a look at the article again, there is a link to another one that discusses that topic.
What if my service is off for straight talk and I just want to see my old data on another phone?
I don’t know what you mean by “see my old data”.
I need to transfer current voicemails from old phone to new phone. Is that possible?
if you are simply upgrading to a new phone and staying on the same towers your voicemails should remain on Straight Talk’s Voicemail system. If the voicemails are important see if you phone has a way to export voicemails to audio files and backup appropriately.
I already have straight talk and I am purchasing a new unlocked phone from Apple. Do I just put my existing SIM card from my old phone in the new phone? The old phone is also an iPhone just an older version
I explained that it the article. Not sure which part wasn’t clear. Here was my response to a similar question… See Transferring Your Straight Talk Verizon Service to a New Phone
I had a straight talk phone and I wanted to switch my service to an unlocked phone. I had to use the att compatible Sim and now my service is awful. Should I switch to the tmobile sim?
Which unlocked phone did you buy? It’s possible service on the T-Mobile network but if you why didn’t you switch to the Verizon towers?
Ok. I don’t know whether or not their t-mobile towers will work better where you use your phone, that’s going to be different depending on your location. Also, as you did not share what phone you are using, So you said your phone isn’t compatible with Verizon, I assume it compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile. Some phones have better t-mobile compatibility that others.
If the coverage on AT&T is that bad, you may as well just try switching to the T-Mobile towers. It will cost you a dollar for the SIM and some time. I’d also ask around see how many people use AT&T to T-Mobile that you know in your area. You could try your ATT SIM in a friends iPhone to see if the problem is really the ATT coverage.
This is unfortunate. I try to educate people about this very issue. The use three different networks which is great when you are on the one with coverage, a problem when you are on the wrong one.
The other option is to get a phone that is compatible with Verizon, your best bet. I started this phone to tell people about unlocked phones and prepaid service, unfortunately a lot of the unlocked phones for sale from companies other than Apple don’t work with Verizon, some but not a lot.
Will fb and my other things be transferred as well
you need to transfer your Apps, photos, and other info yourself. This is just about transferring your service to a new phone. If you are moving to iPhone apple has very good support for setting all that up on your new phone. Apple even has app to move from android to iPhone, https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apple.movetoios&hl=en_US
f you are moving from and Android phone to a new Android phone you could try Straight Talk’s app
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tracfone.mobiletransfer&hl=en_US
Note as I only use iPhones I haven’t used these apps myself.
Just purchased two J3oribit phones… I have one ready and in use. The other husband doesn’t want the phone as we were confused at Walmart which phone was which… first phone in line up the fella said it was a J3 Orbit
turns out it was not. It was the J7Crown.. So I came home and ordered on line the j3 orbit..
I am settling for the one J3.. He’ll go get the J7crown… I need to send back the second J3 Orbit. box it back up and take? to a Fed Ex location to ship back?
I don’t know. Returning the phone is a question best answered by Straight Talk customer service.
I did the activation setup to transfer my number to my new phone i activated the new phone through the straight talk website the phone activated I later went and did the number transfer because when i inserted the sim it said invalid sim network locked. Both are straight talk phones one is a s3 or s4 the new one is the j7 crown I even inserted the new sim and tried to make a call but it sent me to verizon for some reason and then told me i was roaming and needed to purchase a new card or time. I have active time on my current sim i do the 45$ month plan went back to the website and it only shows my old phone sim number and asks me to activate it again and doesnt show new phone anymore and when i go to activate the new phone again it says it cant be completed. At one point it did say that my transfer was in progress,. But seeing as customer service is down and they dont open til 11 in the morning does that mean that my account wont be active or be processed for activation until then ?
I have to admit I am not completely following your description. You had a Straight Talk galaxy S3 or S4 and want to transfer your service to a new Straight Talk J7 crown. I am not sure what you mean by you activated the J7 without transferring your number. When you activated the new phone, you should have used the new SIM card and transferred your number. I would not assume your transfer is in progress if you don’t see the new phone in your account.
I’d suggest you call Straight Talk Executive Resolution at (800) 876-5753 ext 3324. When you speak with them remain calm and polite. It may talk a little while for them to sort it out.
I read through most of the comments but didn’t see transfering your contact info and such from an older iphone % to a new iphone 7….Both are Straight Talk phones…..I know the sim card won’t work and a new one should be provided. So the question is when to do the icloud restore/transfer…..> Before or after getting the new sim card set up…..?
Thank You
Brian
The article is about setting up the SIM, not transferring your iPhone data. You can do that before or after. Transferring that info is independent of using Straight Talk,
I’d do it before. I assume you have an iPhone 5. Try starting the setup process for the 7 with the 5 next to it. Quick start should move everything for you. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201269
I bought a iPhone with a SIM card from straightalk and now I want a new phone that’s a unlocked Samsung phone that is not with straighttalk. Can I just transfer the current sim I have in my iPhone into that Samsung phone? Also, can I put another sim into my iPhone from another carrier like at&t and give it to a friend?
Moving Your Straight Talk SIM Card To Your New Phone
see downsides… https://smartphonematters.com/buying-your-apple-iphone-samsung-galaxy-or-other-smartphone-from-straight-talk/
My wife recently cracked her iphone se so I bought her a new one in June from Walmart. When I got to the part to insert sim card I looked for one but didnt see one not knowing at the time that it was supposed to come with one. Even when you look whercontesays contents in this box it doesnt mention it. Anyway i put my wifes old sim card into the new phone. So today I went to activate the new phone for service on website and everything went thru but of course it wasnt. I contacted straight talk and they say take the phone back to Walmart and get sim card. Im like I cant because I purcJuned this phone in June. Boy did I learn a valuable lesson. Is there anything I can do or is this phone just no good now except for wifi use? Thanks for your time.
Your new phone is still good.
The SIM card should have come in a little envelope on taped to the back of the package. You could go back to Walmart with the phone and receipt and ask them for the SIM. Worst case, they say no. You could order a BYOP SIM from Straight Talk, you need a nano SIM it costs a dollar.. Most likely for Straight Talk’s Verizon towers. You could also tell Straight Talk customer service you lost the SIM and ask them if you can order a new one and see what they say. I’d do it over online chat.
Do you know which towers her old phone was using? Does your wife’s service still work with the SIM in the cracket phone? What happens when you put her current SIM in the new phone?
Took phone back to Walmart but since its passed 30 days theres nothing they would do. My wifes old phone used Verizon towers and so will new phone. I currently have had her old sims card in new phone since June. I bought service and activated her new phone online on Friday with the old sim not knowing it wouldnt work. Her old phone still works somewhat with the old sim its just phone is cracked and hard to get it what you want it to do. Im still gonna contact straight talk and see what they say if I tell them I lost original sim. If nothing else could i put old sim card back in old phone and purchase service for it and then transfer it to new phone? Thanks for your time.
I’d try asking them to sell you a SIM or just order a BYOP SIM.
So I bought a ST iPhone 8 from Walmart and it came with a Verizon sim that I activated it with. Come to find out some areas I work at only have ATT service. Can I buy a new ATT sim from straight talk and activate it in my phone and be on ATT?
Yes. But… Straight Talk will tell you no. I will tell you it will work. Buy a Straight Talk AT&T online for $1. Transfer your service from the iPhone 8 to the ST ATT SIM. Your number and balance will transfer over.
Transferring Your Existing Straight Talk Service to a New Straight Talk Phone or SIM
But… Keep in mind your iPhone 8 is currently locked to Straight Talk. You’ll need to use have it active on Straight Talk for 12 months before they will unlock it for you. After that you could use it with another carrier. I don’t know if they will unlock for you after 12 months if you switch to the ST ATT SIM.
And there are some differences….
Also you may be currently able to use Visual Voicemail. When you switch to the ATT network they only have regular voice mail. However, you might find that you get Wi-Fi calling on the ST ATT network.
Thanks. I will try it. I was pretty sure it would work even though ST told me it wouldn’t. The iPhone 8 I have is the model that is both GSM and CDMA compatable.
I had a iPhone 5s on Straight talk using AT&T and the visual voice mail seemed to work.
So right now I have a zte max duo and I wanna switch to a Samsung Galaxy Mega 2 G750a Unlocked GSM 6-inch 4G LTE Smartphone – Black (Certified Refurbished) will I need a new SIM card and can I keep my same number? I have a straight talk Verizon.
The G750a is an AT&T phone. It will work on Straight Talk’s ATT network. You can keep your number, you’ll need a ST ATT SIM. When you are done, you phone will be on the ATT network. If the ATT network works well in your area, then you should b ok, it not find s Verizon phone.
I had a ST iphone 5s. I bought a iphone 7 from them. I took the sim card out of the 5s and put it in the 7. My new phone works but sometimes my old phone works too. Even though it has no SIM card in it, it will ring when someone calls me instead of my new phone. Or my son can text on it (I gave it to him to play games on). How do I get it to stop working? Maybe because it’s connected to the same icloud account?
Hi Sarah, see my reply here iPhone Still Receives Phone Calls Even Without a SIM Card
I’m currently using a phone from at&t but it’s set up on the byop kit . Now i wanna buy a phone from st but I’m worried my sim won’t work
To use your current AT&T SIM in your new phone, the SIM card from the current phone needs to fit in the new phone. If the current SIM card is too small, you can use an adapter so the SIM will fit. If the current SIM is too big you’ll need to transfer your service to the appropriate sized SIM.
I bought a Straight Talk iPhone SE last year and it came with a Straight Talk Verizon SIM card. My Straight Talk BYOP SIM card works in the phone. I don’t think you’ll have a issue. Before you order your phone, contact Straight Talk customer service and ask them which towers the phone uses for your Zip code. Most likely it will be the Verizon or AT&T towers.
If the phone ships with the AT&T SIM card, you can use your existing SIM or transfer the service to the new SIM. If it ships with the Verizon SIM, you couls transfer the service to the new SIM but then you’d be on the Verizon network. You’ll need to decide if Verizon has acceptable coverage for you.
Your AT&T SIM should work. The only downside I can think of is that if you do not activate the phone with the included SIM, you may not beable to unlock the phone after using it for 12 months. You’d only need to unlock the phone to use it with another wireless company.
Ihope this helps.
I currently have a galaxy s4 on att straight talk and bought a lg v20 that says tmobile when you turn it on. The sim cards are different sizes and will have to buy a nano sim, how do I transfer info onto the nano sim if I can. ? Ty
I’ll give you a longer reply soon. For now, you need to find out if that lg V20 is locked. The easiest way to check that out is to borrow an AT&T nano SIM from a friend and put it in the V20. If you can make a phone call with that SIM in the phone, then the phone is unlocked.
Does your old phone or phone you a re transferring minutes/number from need to be turned off before activation?
No. Your current phone will stop working. Your new phone will start working. You should turn your new phone off and on again after transferring the SIM or service.
Thanks Bob. Unfortunately I have tried this 3 times with 2 different Verizon compatible SIM cards and my “new” phone will not activate. I purchased a Verizon branded S6, used from eBay. After 2.5 hrs on the phone w/ST tech support they sent me another SIM card. That card or attempt ended the same way. I suppose now I am stuck switching to Verizon prepaid service. I appreciate your site and sharing of knowledge!! \m/
If you haven’t switched yet try wiping the cache on the “new” phone and see if it activates…
http://smartphonematters.com/help-setting-up-straight-talk-data-and-mms-on-the-samsung-galaxy-s4-running-android-4/comment-page-1/#comment-99873
Also Verizon prepaid is very good. If you sign up at walmart you’ll get an extra 1GB per month on your plan
https://www.walmart.com/cp/8041328%20
Exactly what happened to me.
I’m broke my unlocked phone that had the bigger straight talk att SIM in it. I bought a straight talk phone. Bc it is a straight talk phone that can hold a nano SIM do I need to buy an nano SIM to transfer my number and service to it or do I not need one bc it’s a straight talk phone?
I bought a used straight talk phone.
You’ll need a new nano SIM. You’ll be able to transfer your service. Do you know which ST network you are currently using? ATT, Verizon, T-Mobile?
Tried this and somehow my number got switched to a different carrier so now I have two useless phones.
Call executive resolution and get your number back.
Apologies. The link may have not be visable in my response.
http://smartphonematters.com/problems-with-straight-talk-wireless-verizon-network
What if my old phone broke and I got a new phone. I don’t have AT&T network or a Verizon network of a T-Mobile network. How do I activate my new phone?
You just need to follow the instructions and transfer your service from your current phone to the new phone. You may want to make sure your new phone will use same Straight Talk network as your current phone or you may notice a difference in service in your area.
I bought a lg fiesta lte and used the sum in the phone before i had straight talk AT&T now I don’t have as good as service as before what can I do can I use my old sim with new phone to get my good service back ?
which model LG fiesta, the L64VL or the L63BL? Did the SIM with the LG come attached to a plastic card? what color was that card?
I’ve got current service with straight talk. Have an Iphone 6plus and want to change it to an android device. I think I need to change the IMEI number to permit the phone to work proper on the network. Looking for a way to expedite the process and dont see anything in the straight talk site to accomplish any ideas??? Im going to be using same SIM Is this permitted?
I outlined the steps in the article and video. Were you able to follow it?
Before publishing anything else, please read up on the difference between the words “your” and “you’re”.
Thank you.
Your Welcom
I bought a 55 dollar unlimited straight talk card and a Rca voyager 111 tablet. I was told there would no charge to activate and 1 dollar for Sim card mailed to me I cannot get customer service now. Please e mail or call me so I can order the correct Sim card. And activate. My tablet
Com
OT THANK YOU
Com
Your best bet is to order A 1 dollar sim online. The $55 kit is phones, not tablets. I can’t call or emIl you because I don’t work for straight talk so I can’t provide customer service.
Hello. I am sure my question has already been answered but I didn’t see anything specific to my issue. I have ST. It was a BYOP with a Galaxy S3 and used my # from that phone which is from Alaska. I did this while living in Texas which is where I still live. I moved the sim card to a newer LG phone due to problems with S3. Just moved the SIM and worked great. Fast forward to now and a friend gave me a ZTE Max Duo LTE. Great little phone. Chatted with ST to get service and # transferred over cause it is a smaller SIM in the ZTE. Was trying to see if I could do it using the old SIM from the ZTE. They say I can do it but will need to change my number. Which I don’t want to do. Their excuse is CDMA is not available in Alaska. That is BS. I know Alaska has it,with ST up there. They have had up there since 2013. I tried to follow this article but When I Click Submit it acts like it will work but just darkens the screen and stays that way. Any advice or help on what I can do or say to them to help me keep my number? TYVM
OK, I assume the ZTE is a Straight Talk phone. Did your friend already use this phone? When you say you want to use the old SIM, I assume you mean you want to use the SIM that was in the ZTE already.
Not sure why they say your can’t transfer your number to this phone. Were you able to add this phone to your ST online account?
You are correct on info.The ZTE is a ST phone. She used it already with the sim. And yes, I was going to try to use the sim that she had in it, but try to transfer my current number to it. I was able to add the phone to my account but not active.
My guess is they don’t want to activate the previously used SIM with a transferred number. I’ve seen them do the same thing to people with AT&T sims too. If it were me, I’d try contacting support by chat. Tell them you have that phone, but no SIM. See if they will send you a fresh Verizon SIM. With a fresh SIM, I’d bet you could activate the phone.
Alternatively, you could contact their second tier support called Executive Resolution. You’ll find the contact info here: Problems with Straight Talk Wireless’ Verizon Network
The chat is who I went through for this. I will try to call them in the morning to see what I can do. TY for your help.
I was suggesting chat but tell them you need a sim for that phone, not you want to use the old one. My guess is Executive resolution will tell you you need a new SIM to transfer your number to that phone.
Can I transfer my existing minutes from straightalk phone to a new attached go phone
Seriously? The phones are from competitors.
I have 5 accounts with straight talk. I bought a straight talk phone in WV. I bought a new phone is MS yesterday. How can I transfer remaining minutes to new phone? Customer service says I cannot do this. I don’t care about the number on my old phone. I just want my remaining balance transfered to new phone. If this cannot be resolved, I will take all 5 accounts to new cellular provider.
Thank you.
Hi Hannah,
You should be able to transfer your Straight Talk service from your current phone to your new phone if your new phone is eligible for the same plan as your current phone. What phone and plan are you currently using? What phone did you buy for your new phone?
How long will my old phone stay active once i transfer to my new phone?
Anywhere from 10 minutes to several hours. I think I mentioned it in the article
Both of the s5s were at&t as well if it meakes a difference
you may need to set your APN. See Setting Your Straight Talk Wireless’ APN on your Google Nexus 5 with Android 5 (Lollipop)
The screens will be a little different. Also make sure you see a cellular data connection in your status bar.
Let me know how it goes.
I was hoping you could help me a bit. I currently have a samsung galaxy s5 on the 55 dollar straight talk plan. The phone is 4 years old and is trashed reguardless. So i bought a used galaxy s5 from a friend i. From what i read on the article swapping the sim card into the new phone was all that i needed to do? The new phone will reviece and send calls and texts. But my mobile data will not work on the new phone. Did i miss a step in the transfer process?
I see this article is about iPhone, but I have an Android related question. If I have an unlocked T-mobile Samsung s5, can i use AT&T networks with my device, or is it strictly T-Mobile only? I would hate to have to buy another device because T-Mobile service is awful where I live but AT&T works fine.
If it’s unlocked it should work on the AT&T network.
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I think you typed your question in the wrong box. Want to ask again?
Ok so simliar situation to the top, I had a hauwei pronto with sim card and it went swimming with me the other day and now doesn’t work, yaay. A friend of mine gave me a straighttalk phone he wasn’t using anymore, ZTE majesty, it doesn’t take a sim card and I’m trying to transfer my data over but when I try to add the ZTE to my account its telling me that the serial number is incorrect and I’ve put it in multiple times, basically I want to know if the reason it won’t transfer is because maybe I have to transfer to a phone that takes a sim card? My last payment was 6/27/16 and it’s saying the pronto is inactive what do I do??
Not sure which situation you are referring to but…
The ZTE probably uses the Straight Talk Verizon network. You should be able add the phone to your account if your friend removed it from his. It might require an email to ST support.
Once the phone is on your account, you should be able to transfer your service to it if the new phone is eligible for the plan you are currently usingr se.
Not sure why straighttalk.com says the serial number is invalid. Did you dial *#06# to get the serial number.
You should be able to transfer your service, from one network to the other but depending on where you live, you may not be happy with the service on the new network.
What’s more of a concern is that straighttalk.com says your majesty is inactive. If somehow something went wrong trying to transfer, you may have some how lost your service.
I’d try my SIM in someone else’s phone to see if it is still active. Assuming the Pronto was using ST AT&T or T-Mobile you’d need to find someone with a phone from one of those networks that uses the same size SIM card.
So, my friend purchased a new phone and gave me his old one. When I went to switch my service from my cheap $15 phine to this used ZTE the website stated that I couldn’t do it because either the service was still active (which its not) or it was linked to another account. How do I switch my number to this phone? Do I have to get a new sim card and register it and then switch? Please help.
Sounds like this ZTE may be on the ST Verizon network. I’d guess your friend would need to delete the phone from is straighttalk.com account and then might be able to use it. If it doesn’t work ater that, have your friens email ST and ask to remove it from his / her account.
Keep in mind, you may need to upgrade your plan to use the ZTE, if its a smartphone.
If both phones use SIM cards, and the SIM is the same size, you could try moving it an see if it works.
I am currently on straight talks Byop with a iPhone 6s Plus Sim free with a AT&T SIM card. What I would like to do is transfer my service from my current Sim card to a new CDMA Verizon Sim card. How would I go about this process?
Your iPhone 6 must be eligible.
Checking If You Can Use Your Verizon Smartphone with Straight Talk Wireless
then follow the steps in this article (the one you commented on).
Transferring Your Existing Straight Talk Service to a New Straight Talk Phone or SIM
I did the byod a few mths back and my phone is verizon. I got a new phone but it’s att. How can I transfer my current number from my straight talk verizon phone to my new straight talk att
follow the instructions in the article 🙂
Need help: I waited to transfer my number from my cheap phone/$30 plan to a smart phone/$45 plan until I had one day left in my old service, knowing that I have to have the unlimited plan, obviously because it cant transfer the balance of the limited plan.
So I do it online and it asks me for the unlimited service pin. I type it in, the phone becomes active and everything works great. I didnt get a text from ST but later I did get a message saying my service ended after tomorrow. I ignored it because I know sometimes they are sent out in error.
Well, it worked for one more day and now I have no service and ST says it has been deactivated. I dont understand how it “could take 48 hours” when it DID activate it, yet it only worked until the service end date of the OLD $30 balance. I tried the service pin again and of course it says its been used. Before I call them Im wondering if this normal???
Hey, so i need to get a new phone because my screen is realy cracked, its with straight talk, but its the same phone as the one i have, will i be able to switch over my minutes and everything on to it
yes. These directions should work for you.
I am currently with Straight Talk but I want to purchase a new iPhone 6s with 64GB memory which Straight Talk doesn’t sell. If I buy one from Apple how difficult will it be to move my service from my old iPhone 5c phone to the new one?
If you are using Straight Talk’s AT&T or T-Mobile network, you just need to move the SIM card. If you are using the Straight Talk Verizon network, the new phone needs to be eligible, which it should be, you’d follow the steps on this page. Do you know which network you are using.
HI! I have a question, too. I transferred my old Straight Talk number to a replacement LG phone since ST is getting rid of the old phones. A representative helped me online. He did say it would take from a few hours to up to two business days. My new phone is charged and has a new SIM card in it. It says it’s fully charged, but I cannot get it to turn on. Is that because it’s not activated/transferred yet? Or is something wrong? Thanks for your input!
I’d say if the phone isn’t turning on, it’s a separate issue. I’d think the phone would turn on and say no service if its isn’t active. Is your current phone active still? I’d check the manual to make sure you are turning it on correctly too.
Hi! Yes, the current phone is still active. I’ve turned the new phone on several times before the number was transferred. Dang. 🙁
Okay, it just turned on. Maybe I was doing something wrong, or maybe it was a glitch. Thanks. 🙂 Now I just have to wait for the number to transfer.
I realize this is an old thread, but my wife bought an unlocked phone that has already been used on straight talk. Since its already been used in straight talk can she just transfer the number straight over or will she have to buy an access code?
If you planning to use it with the Straight Talk AT&T or T-Mobile network, you’ll need a SIM. If it’s a Verizon LTE phone you may have trouble registering it if the phone is still associated with someone else’s account. What network do you plan to use the phone on?
Straight talk’s Verizon towers. She didn’t listen and did the auto-prompt transfer number. About an hour later the unlocked phone started working with the number of the previous owner, AND her phone is still working with her number. It’s the damndest thing I’ve ever seen. Not sure what’s going to happen but I’ll keep you posted.
I heard this before. I think you need to have the previous owner delete the inactive phone from their account before trying to use it.