Do i have to call verizon to activate new iphone

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After getting my sister to make the decision to switch to Verizon, I decided to activate the new phone for her.

It had been a long time since I last activated a Verizon phone, so I wanted to see if anything had changed about the process.

The best place to find that out was Verizon’s support website, where I first went.

I also found a few forum posts about getting Verizon phones activated.

After several hours of thorough research, I was able to create this article that once you finish reading, you’ll know how to activate your device on Verizon no matter what the device.

To activate your phone on Verizon’s network, insert the Verizon SIM card and go through the setup wizard to complete the activation process.

Continue reading to find out how you can activate your Android and iOS device, and you’ll also see if you can bring your old phone over to Verizon.

Activating A New Android Phone

The steps to activating an Android and an iOS phone are different and involve their own settings and initial setup.

We’ll first examine how you can activate your new Android phone from Verizon.

To activate your Android on Verizon:

1. Transfer your contacts from your phone to your new one if required. Android phones usually sync your contacts to your Google account.
2. Remove the old SIM card and insert the new one if required.
3. Charge the new phone to at least 50% if it wasn’t done already.
4. Turn the phone on.
5. Follow the steps presented by the Setup Wizard to activate the phone on the network.

After the activation, try making calls and going on to the internet to see if you were successful.

It might take a few minutes for the device to get activated on the network, so try again later if it doesn’t work the first time.

Activating A New iOS Phone

If you switch from an iOS device to an Android or a new iPhone, you’ll need to turn off iMessage on the older phone first.

To turn off iMessage on your iOS device:

1. Go to Settings on your iPhone.
2. Tap Messages.
3. Turn the green slider off.

Once you do this, you’re ready to begin activating your phone.

Android devices can follow the steps given in the earlier section, while iOS users can follow the steps below:

1. Use iCloud or another service to get your contacts on your old phone if necessary.
2. Turn your new phone off.
3. Get the new Verizon SIM into the phone if you haven’t done so already.
4. Turn the phone back on.
5. You will be greeted by a setup wizard with tailored settings for your phone to let you activate it on Verizon’s network.

Once the activation completes, you can try using the cellular services of the phone, like calling and texting, to see if the activation worked.

Activating A Non-Verizon Phone

If you have a new phone you haven’t bought from Verizon, you can use that phone on the Verizon network.

You will need a Verizon SIM card, which you can order for free from the Verizon store website or from a local store.

Your phone must also be compatible with their network, which you can check on Verizon’s Bring Your Own Device webpage.

After confirming that your phone is compatible, get the SIM card and follow the steps below to activate your new phone on the network.

1. Turn the phone off.
2. Insert the new SIM card.
3. Turn the phone back on to see the setup wizard.
4. Follow the steps in the wizard to activate the phone on Verizon’s network.

After getting the phone activated, try making calls and using the data connection to see if you’ve gone through the activation process correctly.

Can I Use My Old Device?

Verizon lets you bring your old phone even if it was under a different carrier earlier, as long as it is compatible.

The Bring Your Own Device program lets you see if your phone is compatible with an online tool, so use it to see if your phone can be used.

Once you get the phone activated, you might not be able to start using the network features since it was previously used with another carrier.

It’ll mostly only take half an hour, but it will happen in less than 72 hours.

Your phone has to be disassociated with the previous carrier and registered to Verizon, which can cause delays in some cases.

Troubleshooting Common Issues During Activation

The number of hardware combinations and software versions that devices these days use will always lead to some issue or the other, so knowing what the most common problems are when you try to activate is really good to have.

Sometimes your phone might not recognize the new Verizon SIM you inserted, so try restarting the phone a few times to see if that fixes the issue.

To be sure that it isn’t an issue with the SIM card, try inserting the card into another phone.

If it works on that phone, then it is a SIM issue that you can quickly fix by getting the card replaced at a store.

If you cannot use any cellular services after completing the activation process, try waiting a bit and trying again.

Verizon might not have activated the service the instant you finish activation, so try waiting.

If you are still waiting 48 hours after activation, contact Verizon and let them know what the issue is.

For any other activation issues, go through Verizon’s activation troubleshooter, where you’ll need to explain the problem.

The troubleshooter will automatically find a solution for you and will direct you to customer support or the nearest store if there isn’t a fix that you can try.

Final Thoughts

While getting your phone activated, keep your phone connected to Wi-Fi if you have it.

You can quickly get to troubleshooting guides like this one with your phone’s Wi-Fi.

If the activation takes too long, you can make calls with a VoIP service like Skype.

They only need internet, which your home Wi-Fi can provide and will tide you over until your Verizon SIM is activated.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I activate a new phone on Verizon Online?

If you get a new phone from Verizon, it will be arriving at your home ready to be activated.

If you bring your own device, inserting the new SIM card will be enough.

Can I call to activate my Verizon phone?

You won’t need to call Verizon anymore to get your phone, new or otherwise, and you only need to go through the setup wizard when you turn the phone on after inserting the Verizon SIM.

Only contact Verizon if you have any questions about getting your device activated on their network.

How long do you have to activate a new phone from Verizon?

Earlier, you had a window of a week to get your phone activated on Verizon’s network, but it isn’t the case now.

You can wait several days before getting your phone activated, but the policy isn’t set in stone, so contact Verizon to see what window you have to activate the phone.

What is the activation fee for Verizon?

Verizon has a $35 activation fee for every device activated or upgraded on the Verizon network, but this is a one-time fee.

This fee is charged when you add a new line of service to your Verizon account.