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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. Hey, Transferring Your Current Straight Talk ServiceIf you want to transfer your current Straight Talk number and remaining service balance to a new phone or SIM. You have two options.
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… Moving Your Straight Talk SIM card to your new phoneSometimes 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 phoneI’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 are using a Straight Talk Verizon SIM card, you may need to enter your phone’s MEID or IMEI, Below is my original article and video…. Transferring Your Service From straighttalk.comIf 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 AccountTo 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 cardIf 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. Your Phone Number and Service BalanceYou 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 ServiceNow, 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.
Can I switch from Straight Talk to AT&T?You need to port your number. You can order a prepaid SIM card and port your number online (pick the Bring Your Own Device option) but best to go to an ATT store. If you bought your phone from Straight Talk, you may need to get it unlocked to work on ATT.
Can you switch from Straight Talk to TYes, it is possible to keep the number you already have from another wireless or landline carrier. First, check if your existing number is eligible for transfer to T-Mobile. If it is, simply follow the on-screen instructions displayed during check-out to authorize the transfer. We'll do the rest.
How long does it take to switch from Straight Talk to TThe transfer process could take as long as 2 business days, but in most cases it only takes a few hours. Transfers for landline numbers may take longer. If your Straight Talk service remains inactive over 30 days, you will lose your telephone number.
Will a Straight Talk iphone work on AT&T?No problem! You would need to purchase an AT&T SIM card and check to make sure your number can be transferred. You can purchase a device from Apple and bring it over as well.
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