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I want to upgrade my mom's old phone - she already has a Tracfone plan. How can I buy this and have her start using it without interrupting her service?
I want to upgrade my mom's old phone - she already has a Tracfone plan. How can I buy this and have her start using it without interrupting her service?
In my experience it's pretty easy. When you activate, you have to buy at least a month of service (at a cost of $15 or so) and tell them you want to transfer your mom's phone # instead of getting a new one. NOTE: make sure this is returnable, since it's possible the phone won't activate (even though it's bought from Tracfone).
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from lurch1
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I want to upgrade my mom's old phone - she already has a Tracfone plan. How can I buy this and have her start using it without interrupting her service?
If she has an existing Tracfone plan with service days remaining, it's easy to switch to this new phone. On the Tracfone website in the top banner menu, click on Activate, and select Keep My Number when it appears in the flow. You'll need the existing phone on hand during the process, because they'll send a one-time code to the active phone before proceeding with the phone change.
You should not need to add an additional plan during the process of switching to the new phone. Many phones purchased from Tracfone's website require you to purchase a plan in order to buy the phone, but a phone purchased via Amazon will not have this requirement. If by any chance the process stalls out and tells you you need to add a plan, talk to Customer Service via online Chat or phone call, and have them assist you in making the phone switch.
In my experience it's pretty easy. When you activate, you have to buy at least a month of service (at a cost of $15 or so) and tell them you want to transfer your mom's phone # instead of getting a new one. NOTE: make sure this is returnable, since it's possible the phone won't activate (even though it's bought from Tracfone).
So even though she has a paid monthly auto plan with tracfone already, she can't just transfer phone number to this new phone without buying a second plan of at least one months service?????
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So even though she has a paid monthly auto plan with tracfone already, she can't just transfer phone number to this new phone without buying a second plan of at least one months service?????
Transfer new phone to existing service DOES NOT require buying/adding new service plan UNLESS you intend to unlock it which requires adding at least 60 days plan and wait 365 days for unlocking.
Transfer new phone to existing service DOES NOT require buying/adding new service plan UNLESS you intend to unlock it which requires adding at least 60 days plan and wait 365 days for unlocking.
Wow, that's interesting about the unlocking, good to know!
Transfer new phone to existing service DOES NOT require buying/adding new service plan UNLESS you intend to unlock it which requires adding at least 60 days plan and wait 365 days for unlocking.
Are you sure we have to pay for 60days only? I thought we have to pay for 365 days to unlock
Are you sure we have to pay for 60days only? I thought we have to pay for 365 days to unlock
Correct - the new policy says:
For all cellphones activated on or after January 20, 2026, the cellphone will be unlocked upon request after 365 days of paid and active service.
(Applies to Straight Talk, Total Wireless and Tracfone locked phones)
Especially Lame considering you normally only get a 1 year service plan with the Tracfone cell phones, so they force you to purchase a 30-day service card if you want to get the phone unlocked. I assume the unlocking policy requires the phone to have active service during the unlocking procedure.
Bad deal as this comes with no service yet still locked to Tracfone. for $20 more you can get the identical phone (at $80) with 1 full year of service (1500 min/text and 4500 mb) with Tracfone. (Search slickdeals for the HSN deal as I cannot post a link to it in a reply)
The 365 day unlock changed mid-January for most carriers that pushed back on government requirements. No more 60 day or 180 day unlocks anymore.
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Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank dualityofman
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank jimx200
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank greenhandle
You should not need to add an additional plan during the process of switching to the new phone. Many phones purchased from Tracfone's website require you to purchase a plan in order to buy the phone, but a phone purchased via Amazon will not have this requirement. If by any chance the process stalls out and tells you you need to add a plan, talk to Customer Service via online Chat or phone call, and have them assist you in making the phone switch.
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Transfer new phone to existing service DOES NOT require buying/adding new service plan UNLESS you intend to unlock it which requires adding at least 60 days plan and wait 365 days for unlocking.
Transfer new phone to existing service DOES NOT require buying/adding new service plan UNLESS you intend to unlock it which requires adding at least 60 days plan and wait 365 days for unlocking.
For all cellphones activated on or after January 20, 2026, the cellphone will be unlocked upon request after 365 days of paid and active service.
(Applies to Straight Talk, Total Wireless and Tracfone locked phones)
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
The 365 day unlock changed mid-January for most carriers that pushed back on government requirements. No more 60 day or 180 day unlocks anymore.
Join The Conversation
Share your experience with the Slickdeals community
Share information with the community. Please follow our Community Guidelines and be kind!