SIM Card GSM Activation Guide For Android

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If you're looking to activate an Android device with your new TextNow GSM SIM card, here's a handy guide to help you through the process. (You can also check our Video Tutorials page for more help with activation.)

1. Ensure the SIM card has been inserted and you have a wifi network active and available to use.




2. Next, open TextNow, log into your account, and connect to your wifi network.

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3. After connecting to wifi, it's time to pick a phone plan! Tap on Choose a Plan...

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4. ...and choose from one of our affordable phone plans!

5. Use your current credit card on your account for future payments, or use a new credit card or gift card!

6. You're almost there! Tap on Connect To The Network...

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7. ... and follow the instructions. You can also get the APN settings you'll need from our APN article here.

8. You're all set! Time to start using your TextNow phone!

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Comments

  • Avatar
    Valeria TextNow+Support

    Hey Melvin!

    I'm afraid that we do not have a return or refund policy for our SIM cards.

    In your case, however, we may be able to look into it, if you could please reach out to one of our live chat representatives on the bottom right-hand side of this page!

  • Avatar
    Mi Ling Ling

    My phone is now activated by text now anf i have service but it says i cant send a message

  • Avatar
    Erin TextNow Support

    Hi Mi,

    Make sure that you're using the TextNow application when sending messages. If you're trying to use the Messaging application that you're probably seeing on your home page you will get an error message stating messages are not supported - or something along those lines. Make sure that you open the TextNow application first and then from there you will have the option to send your texts successfully. Take a look at our support article here for specific details if necessary!

    Edited by Erin TextNow Support
  • Avatar
    J J

    I need my some card puk number please.
    Thank you

  • Avatar
    J J

    Hello my name is Joseph and I ordered a simple card but it sYstems I need the puk code

  • Avatar
    J J

    Yes I need the puk number for my SIM card thanks

  • Avatar
    Valeria TextNow+Support

    Hey J J!

    If you locked the SIM card, and it is now asking for a PUK code, we most likely will need to replace the SIM card altogether.
    Please reach out to one of our live chat representatives on textnow.com/wireless for further assistance with that!

  • Avatar
    Roger Pack

    The instructions are a bit "off" for BYOD phones with marshallow FWIW. It should be settings -> other -> cellular networks in marshmallow apparently. Also it would nice if somehow it had another screen at the end notifying BYOD folk to "use the textnow app for making calls" since normal calls/texts don't work there. Cheers!

  • Avatar
    Yuuji Maroon

    I can't activate my Sims card

  • Avatar
    Erin TextNow Support

    Hi Yuuji,

    Please reach out to our live chat support team (bottom right corner of this page) so we can get the details of the device you're trying to activate to make sure you've ordered the correct type of SIM card and we can walk through the activation process with you.

  • Avatar
    Lola Babb

    I received my Sim card and have done all the steps to activate it but it keeps saying that it's failing. I sent a couple emails to the support team and I haven't received anything back. I am getting impatient. I payed good money for this service and I would like it to work. Please help me.

  • Avatar
    Valeria TextNow+Support

    Hey Lola! It seems like the activation may have gone through after all, as you are using up some data.

    Please let us know if you're still experiencing issues by heading to our live chat support on the bottom right-hand side of this page :)

  • Avatar
    Chase Wright

    I cant activate my phone its a lg treasure

  • Avatar
    Erin TextNow Support

    Hi Chase,

    We'd like to grab some information about your phone to determine if the phone is compatible with the SIM card you received, and help you get it properly activated. Please reach out to out live chat support team (bottom right corner of this page) so we can assist you in real time. Our live chat team is available until 9pm EST tonight.

  • Avatar
    Cobbra Moore

    I still haven't received my sim card package in the mail yet and it's been over the time they told...

    What's really going on..???!!!

  • Avatar
    Erin TextNow Support

    Hi Cobbra,

    I've taken a look at your SIM card tracking information and it looks like the SIM card was delivered to your mailbox yesterday (Nov 7). Please check to see if you have received it, and check with anyone else in your household to see if they may have picked it up for you.

  • Avatar
    Jmw2552

    I bought one of your sim cards but when I try to activate it says there was an error

  • Avatar
    Felisha Finney

    I just received my sim card and followed the steps and it says my aim card activation failed

  • Avatar
    Valeria TextNow+Support

    Hey @Jmw2552- looks like you ordered a CDMA SIM card specific to a device. We'd need to check out your phone's IMEI number to be able to ascertain the exact reason for the error. Please head over to our live chat support on textnow.com/wireless to be able to complete these steps :)

    @Felisha- looks like you were able to determine the reason for your failed activation, so whenever you're ready to try your secondary device, please reach back out :)

  • Avatar
    Gregory Christensen

    I am having an activation issue where even after I've done everything required, my phone won't activate.

  • Avatar
    Valeria TextNow+Support

    Hey Gregory! We'd probably need to look at your phone's specifications individually to be able to resolve this, so please head over to our live chat support on textnow.com/wireless for further support with one of our live agents :)

  • Avatar
    Amanda M. Wilson

    Cannot program my apn. My phone is running off of a sprint apn i didn't put in.

  • Avatar
    Valeria TextNow+Support

    Hi Amanda! These APN instructions are only for users who activated their own devices with one of our GSM SIM cards. If you're having data connections issues with your TextNow phone, please try these SCRTN instructions :)

    Edited by Valeria TextNow+Support
  • Avatar
    Mary Ellis

    Can I take the sim card out of a TextNow powered phone and put it in another phone with the same plan??

  • Avatar
    Valeria TextNow+Support

    Hi Mary! I'm afraid that the CDMA SIM cards in our own phones are not compatible to be used with any other phone. If you do have another eligible phone, feel free to contact us at textnow.com/wireless (live chat support) so we can confirm which SIM card you would need for it.

  • Avatar
    Mike Mosby

    I can't get to apn on my phone. All it says is turn mobile data on. And where it says apn it doesn't let me add the apn

  • Avatar
    Valeria TextNow+Support

    Hey Mike! That sounds like your phone is either a CDMA device and not compatible with GSM SIM cards, or that it's not carrier unlocked.

    We can look into that in more detail for you, if you would not mind heading over to our live chat support at textnow.com/wireless to speak with a live chat representative and verify your phone's information!

  • Avatar
    Thypence Jenkins

    I can't activate my device was already an active CDMA device on my account and the SIM I'm trying to activate is for the GSM network.

  • Avatar
    Erin TextNow Support

    Hi there,

    If you are trying to swap from a CDMA device to a GSM device we will need to help you with the device swap. Please reach out to our live chat support team for assistance with this. We will be available until 9pm EST tonight to assist you.

  • Avatar
    Brittany&GREG Walsh

    I ordered a 3gb plan got my sim did everything exactly double checked my info I put in. And nothing I then called and they had me double-check everything again for them and everything was right they then asked for my IMEI # and started to do something then I lost connection