- Purchase phone from Wal-Mart.
- Go to the website corresponding to your service brand (so if you bought the Straight Talk version, go to Straight Talk, not TracFone).
- Click activate and select new line with a physical SIM (each phone should come pre-installed with a physical TracFone SIM).
- You will reach a step asking for your IMEI number. If this step gives you an error, keep reading. If this step passes and it asks for your SIM number, then skip ahead to step 8.
- Open a support chat window (or call) and tell them that it's giving you an error on the IMEI step. They will check and they will tell you that Wal-Mart farked up, and they will tell you to get the phone rescanned at the store. They should also offer you a second option, where you send them proof of purchase and they fix the problem from their end in 1-2 business days. If they don't give you this option, ask for it.
- The support agent will create a ticket number and give you an e-mail address (pop@tracfone.com) to mail the requested information (ticket number, contact information, IMEI number, proof of purchase, and photos of the bar codes on the back of the box).
- After sending in this information, you should get a reply in 1-2 business days saying that you can now activate your phone.
- Purchase the $10 TracFone airtime PIN from eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/284813673959 ... the code took approximately 15 minutes to arrive after completing the purchase.
- Go to TracFone's website (this time, go direct to TF and not the website for the brand you bought) and open a support chat window (or call), and tell them that you have a Straight Talk phone (or whatever brand you bought) that you want to activate on TracFone. They will ask for your IMEI number, SIM number (all should be on the card inside the box), if you want to activate it as a new line (say yes), etc.
- Eventually, the support agent will ask if you have an airtime PIN or if you want to buy a plan with a credit card. Give them the PIN that you bought from eBay.
- Wait for the service to be provisioned. It took about another 20 minutes before my phone got its new phone number.
- Text UNLOCK to 611611 to confirm that you have an unlock date.
Alternative airtime card, if the $10 one is unavailable: https://www.ebay.com/itm/284976384363
To temp unlock it for using with other carriers: (one minor change, I can't find device setup in netguard, I disabled "carrier setup" instead)
Credit to https://xdaforums.com/t/sim-unloc...t-88462425
Remove SIM card from the device. DO NOT INSERT IT UNTIL YOU FINISHED ALL THE LISTED STEPS.
Factory reset phone.
Go through OFFLINE set-up process.
Go to Settings – Apps – See All Apps.
On the three dots on the top right-hand side, tap show system.
Search – Device setup.
Tap Mobile data & Wi-Fi – deactivate Background Data.
Go back – Then "Battery" – Set to Restricted.
Go to home screen and pull screen down.
Press and hold Internet until it opens.
Select the desired Wi-Fi network and connect.
Tap on gear on the right of your connected WIFI.
Tap Network Usage – select "Treat as metered."
Go to the playstore Search "NetGuard", install it
Open NetGuard, give it unrestricted battery permissions (so it can run allways) dont worry its super safe.
Tap the three dots on netguard, settings, advanced options and enable "manage system apps"- exit netguard settings.
on netguerd main screen search "Device Setup" and disable the wifi and data communications by taping the little icons next to it
Go back to home screen and insert SIM card.
Enjoy using your unlocked device.
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Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank simpleliving9
edit: apparently, judging from other straight talk threads, they can be activated on TracFone for $10. total price $110.
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Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank rczrider
edit: apparently, judging from other straight talk threads, they can be activated on TracFone for $10. total price $110.
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