Tracfone BYOP Guide

Everything you need to know about the Tracfone BYOP Program


tracfone byop
Tracfone BYOP Phone List
Tracfone created an option for consumers to bring their own smartphones to use with Tracfone service. They call this program 'BYOP - Bring Your Own Phone'.

While Tracfone is adding a number of new smartphones that customers can buy directly and use with their network, there are many more unlocked phones available today that can be used with the BYOP program. 

Find all the info you need to get started with Tracfone BYOP in this guide including what phones are compatible, how to get a SIM kit, and how to activate.

Before we get too far, let's start with the top smartphones to use with the Tracfone BYOP program:

Best Unlocked Smartphones for Tracfone BYOP

These are our current picks to use with Tracfone. They offer great performance while not breaking the bank.

Best Unlocked Smartphones (under $500):

best unlocked phones for tracfone
Google Pixel 5a 5G Unlocked
Pixel 5a 5G
The Pixel line of smartphones from Google have been an extremely popular lineup due to their excellent specs and relatively affordable price. The Google Pixel 5a 5G features all the specs of a great phone, including a full HD 6.34" screen, Snapdragon 765G processor, 6 GB RAM, and 128 GB internal storage. It also has a dual rear camera, the latest Android OS (11, with upgrade to 12), and 5G capability. At a price of $450, it is more than many Tracfone customers might want to spend, but compared to $1000 high-end devices it sacrifices very little and is half the price.

Get the Google Pixel 5a 5G on Google $450

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
Newly available in mid-2022, the Galaxy A53 5G is a very competitive mid-level smartphone. It features the impressive Samsung Super AMOLED screen with 120Hz refresh rate, 128 GB internal storage, and solid rear camera setup. The Exynos 1280 processor and 6 GB RAM provide great performance. Tracfone also offers this device, but it is locked to their network. 

Get the unlocked Samsung Galaxy A53 5G on Amazon $350

Moto G Stylus (2022)
A big screen and long battery life are standard for the Moto G line of phones, and the Stylus (2022) offers that plus lots of updated features. It has a 6.8" full HD screen, 128 GB internal storage, 6 GB RAM and triple rear camera setup. The MediaTek Octa-core processor it comes with is good, but a downgrade from the Snapdragon processor in the 2021 model (See the 2021 Stylus below at sub $200 price). For those that like the huge screen (with improved refresh rate), latest Android OS updates, and other new features, the Stylus 2022 is a good option.

Get the Moto G Stylus (2022) on Amazon $299
Get the Moto G stylus (2022) on Motorola $299

Google Pixel 5 $G
The Pixel 5 was released towards he end of 2020, but offers some excellent features at a discounted price. It has a OLED 6" full HD touchscreen, Snapdragon 765 processor, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB internal storage and dual rear camera. While it is a slightly older device, it packs a lot of top tier features for the price, including 5G network compatibility.

Find the Google Pixel 5 on Amazon $299

Moto G Stylus 5G (2021)
The 2021 Moto G Stylus 5G is very similar to the Moto G Stylus 2021 but with the additional 5G network capability. It has a 6.8" screen, Snapdragon 480 processor, 4 GB RAM and 256 GB internal storage. It also has a quad rear camera setup and runs Android 11. If 5G network capability is an important feature, the Stylus 5G is a good option. It is more expensive than the 2022 model, but also features 5G and double the internal storage.

Get the Moto G Stylus 5G (2021) on Amazon $350

Samsung Galaxy A32 5G
The Galaxy A32 is a capable smartphone that offers 5G connectivity at a reasonable price. It has a 6.5" screen, 64 GB internal storage and quad rear camera setup. The MediaTek processor is not the most impressive but gets the job done. For those that like the Samsung experience and desire 5G capability, the Galaxy A32 is a great option under $300

Get the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G on BestBuy $279

Best Budget Unlocked Smartphones (under $200):

best tracfone unlocked smartphone
Motorola Moto G Power 2021

Moto G Power (2021)
Featuring a 6.6" HD touchscreen, 4 GB RAM, 64 GB internal storage and Snapdragon 662 processor, the Moto G Power 2021 is one of the best smartphone under $200 for 2022. Yes, it is odd that this year old device would still be so capable, especially with the Moto G Power 2022 just released, but the 2021 version actually features a more powerful processor, and is less expensive, making it more desirable for the majority of budget shoppers. 

Get the Moto G Power (2021) on Amazon $179

Moto G Stylus (2021)
While it is last year's model along with the Power above, it does still pack quite the performance with a Snapdragon 678 that outperforms the 2022 model. It also has 128 GB internal storage, 4 GB RAM, quad rear camera setup and 6.8" screen. There's a lot to like about this device and it is also now available at a sale price of just under $200. For just $20 more than the Power, it might be a great option for those that also like the larger screen and extra internal storage.

Get the Moto G Stylus (2021) on Amazon $199

Ultra-Budget Unlocked Phones under $100:

If you're shopping for a device under $100 to use with Tracfone, consider TracFone's locked devices that are often available at subsidized prices to use exclusively with their network. View the Latest List of Tracfone Smartphones to see more options.

TCL A30
The A30 has a 5.5" screen, 32 GB internal storage, 3 GB RAM and Android 11. It is not the most powerful device, with a MediaTek processor and 3,000 mAh battery. But at under $100 there were a lot of corners that had to be cut. For most users, spending a little more, or opting for a Tracfone locked device, may be a better option.

Get the TCL A30 on Amazon $99

What is Tracfone BYOP?

The Tracfone 'Bring Your Own Phone' program is an option for users that allows them to bring many different Android and Apple smartphones to use with Tracfone's prepaid cell phone service.

Tracfone already has many Android and Apple smartphones available for customers to purchase and use (and you can see them on our Cell Phone Reviews page), but phones from Tracfone are locked to their service, and this program opens the door to many more phone possibilities.

Basically Tracfone BYOP is a way for consumers to have access to many more smartphones, compared to what Tracfone offers, while still using Tracfone's inexpensive phone service.

Tracfone's BYOP program includes service for 4G LTE and 5G devices on all their networks. Continue reading to learn more, or you can check out our recent blog post specifically detailing Tracfone BYOP 4G LTE.

Tracfone was recently bought by Verizon, and that will likely lead to Verizon transferring all Tracfone customers over to Verizon's network in the near future.

General Information and Requirements for Tracfone BYOP

At this time, there are some restrictions on which phones will work with Tracfone. If you already have a smartphone and want to see if it will work with Tracfone, visit the Tracfone BYOP page and enter the serial number/MEID to find out.

Almost any unlocked smartphone should work with Tracfone BYOP as long as it is compatible with either GSM or CDMA networks depending on which you intend to use. Many phones are actually compatible with both.

If you don't have a phone already, follow the basic requirements below for finding a phone:

Requirements for Tracfone BYOP:

  • Can be either a 4G LTE CDMA (compatible with Verizon) phone, or a 4G LTE GSM (compatible with AT&T/T-Mobile) phone or also a 5G compatible phone
  • Phone must be unlocked with a clean ESN (cannot be under contract, or reported stolen)
  • iPhone 4 through 13 will work - (must still be either Verizon or AT&T compatible)
  • Activation Kit and Airtime card or Credit/Debit card to purchase airtime card or $9.99 network activation card or Activation Kit
Activating smartphones with Tracfone BYOP has become easier as they have relaxed various restrictions, and become better at activating phones. Typically it takes a few minutes to a few hours.

If you need help, just follow the instructions on the Tracfone website for activating a new BYOP smartphone (follow the link for our new guide).

BYOP Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ

We generally see some of the same questions asked about Tracfone BYOP so we will provide some of the most common questions along with answers for them, and then some additional information below.

tracfone byop gsm 4g lte
Tracfone 4G LTE Activation Kit - $6.99
What do I need to Activate my Smartphone with Tracfone?

Assuming you already have a phone, then you will need an Activation kit (like the one Pictured). You can get this on the Tracfone website or online retailers, visit our post on Getting an Activation Kit for Tracfone BYOP for the link to the page to buy the kit, and to learn more.

You can also just visit the Tracfone BYOP page and begin going through the process and they will prompt you to purchase the SIM card or Activation Kit when you need to. The Activation Kit will include a Network Access Code for your phone.

Additionally, you can find the Tracfone Activation kit on Amazon.

Do BYOP phones come with Triple Minutes?

New SIM kits do not include Triple Minutes for Life. Tracfone is working at phasing out that program, and are not offering it with new phones or SIM kits.

However, if you already have a phone with Triple Minutes for Life you should be able to keep it.

Learn more about all the changes in our Triple Minutes for Life Changes post.

Note, smartphone only airtime cards do not triple.

Can I use Promo Codes with BYOP phones?

Yes! There are promo codes for both regular and smartphone only airtime cards, see them all in our Tracfone Promo Code page.

Will a (certain phone) work?

We see a number of comments asking about specific phones. If the phone meets the requirements, then it should work, but that is no guarantee. See our list below for some of the known phones that will work, but this list is by no means complete. You may want to post a comment with your question, or read some of the other comments.

How do I Check my Airtime Balance?

On older Tracfone devices, the airtime was displayed on the homescreen. But this is not the case on smartphones. You can track your airtime by going on the Tracfone website and visiting your account, or you can download the Tracfone app and use that to check your balance.

See our full post on How to Check your Airtime with Tracfone Smartphones.

How can I tell if I have Verizon or AT&T Coverage in my Area?

AT&T and Verizon are two cell phone service providers that Tracfone contracts through to use their cell towers. AT&T uses GSM technology while Verizon uses CDMA. Most phones can only be used on one or the other, so it is important that you know which kind of phone to get.

You can go on the Tracfone website and type in your Zip code while searching for phones (or on the BYOP page) and see if CDMA or GSM phones show up in your area. If you see phones with a 'C' at the end, you should have good Verizon coverage in your Area. You can also call Tracfone and check directly.

You will need to pay attention to which network you want to use when you buy a phone, and when you activate it.

Information You Should Know about Tracfone BYOP

These are some general points of information we think are pertinent and valuable if you are planning to switch to an Android smartphone with Tracfone.

Triple Minutes is included for smartphones with Tracfone. So when you add a prepaid 60 minute card to your smartphone, you will get 180 talk minutes, 180 texts, and 180mb data.

When transferring your old phone number and minutes to your new smartphone with Tracfone BYOP, some users have reported experiencing some serious problems, ranging from losing their minutes balance, to even losing their phone number. So be aware that not all of the kinks and quirks have been worked out in the system and you may want to activate a new number first. As time goes on, things should get easier and run more smoothly. More recently, many users are reporting a smoother process in activating 4G devices with Tracfone. To be safe, keep some sort of record of your airtime balance before switching phones.

Activation can be done online, but may require you to call customer service if it doesn't go well, so have a phone handy to use for this purpose. You can use this number, 1-800-876-5753, to also check the MEID number to see if your phone will work.

Lastly, to check your minutes balance, there is an app you can download, or you can simply visit the Tracfone website and sign into your account to view your current balance. Your balance won't be displayed on the home screen of the smartphone. See our guide to how to check your airtime.

Hopefully this gives you a better idea of how Tracfone's BYOP program works, and some of the pro's and con's for it. As we get more information, we will add it here.

The goal of this page is to create a resource for information on Tracfone BYOP in order to answer questions and better inform consumers about their options when choosing a phone and carrier.

We have more resources available, including our Cell Phone Reviews page, and Tracfone Promo Codes list.

You can also connect with us on Facebook where we share the latest news and updates!

271 comments :

«Oldest   ‹Older   201 – 271 of 271
Unknown said...

The LG Optimus Fuel L34C is for sale by a number of America Movil (AM) companies. Net10wireless was selling the phones with a Tracfone logo on the back and on startup screen. But while this could be activated on Page Plus Cellular, but not on Tracfone. As all three of these companies are divisions of AM, I can't explain it, but customer support says they can't do anything.

A friend of mine saw the Tracfone logo and bought a Tracfone PIN, but they refuse to activate it or refund her money.

Anonymous said...

I have a Moto X 2013 Edition phone that is working on Tracfone (BYOP) right now. Is it safe to install Cyanogenmod, or will that brick my phone?

Anonymous said...

I just did. Went from a LG L34C to a BLU Life One X.
The LG is CDMA and the BLU is GSM. They lost ALL my minutes, text, & data. Good thing I had pictures of everything to email to them. And after over 3 hours on the phone & some emails. Everything is straightened out now and working great..

Sumeru said...

yes but you will need gsm activation kit

Anonymous said...

TracFone has no way to know who the previous service provider was. Recommend you contact the seller of the phone with your question.

Anonymous said...

My wife's came with lollipop, and mine came with kit kat. Unfortunately tracfone does not seem to send those updates out, so I had to manually flash my device, which worked just fine.

RayW said...

I successfully activated two Samsung ATIV SE Windows Phone 8.1 phones on Tracfone. These are Verizon Wireless CDMA phones. The process was quick and painless. I purchased SIM kits from Walmart.com for only $3.04 each.

Unknown said...

I tried to activate a droid x2 once and meid no.worked good but wouldn't allow transfer of ph.no.nor activate afterwards.verizon says as its only for Verizon.so I guess the used phone must also be unlocked? thanks

Anonymous said...

Just activated a Samsung Captivate Glide -- it was SUPER EASY to do it online -- under two minutes to get the whole thing done! Now all I have to do is figure out the ins & outs of using a smartphone (this is my first smartphone!)

Unknown said...

Was the captivate glide new or used? Is it unlocked?

Anonymous said...

Recently tried to activate a Sony experia z3v with Tracfones BYOP program.
The phone was bought unlocked from EBAY and was originally made specifically for Verizon...therefore CDMA. Verizon has the best coverage where I live. Purchased a activation kit from Walmart and then started the on line process, an error message directed me to a CSR PHONE#. After abou 1 hour on the phone the CSR was unable to connect me to the network even though I had 3G and 2 bars of signal showing on the phone. This phone was identified on the Tracfone web site as "compatible" per the IMEI #. It still wouldn't connect according to the CSR. Had to send it back, very disappointing experience.

Ultralightpilot said...

This may help someone. Back in November when Walmart was selling the Tracfone LG Sunrise (L15G) for $9, I bought one and activated it with a 120 minute card just as a test to see if an ATT Tracfone would work at my home location. About a month later my wife received as a gift a hand-me-down ATT iPhone 4. I wondered what would happen if I took the SIM from the LG Sunrise and put it in the iPhone. IT WORKED! The Tracfone number originally on the LG registered on the iPhone and it then showed as TFW not ATT. All features worked. Now I only left it this way for two or three weeks before reinstalling the SIM back in the LG Sunrise, so it is possible that at some point TFW might have forced me to use an activation kit. Your mileage may vary.
Ron

budvoss said...

we have a Verizon cdma Samsung galaxy s3 . Bought the kit for BYOP and made a mistake of registering the nano sim card instead of the large sim card. the phone is now registered to tracfone now but will not work. Support say nothing they can do and we have to wait six months for tracfone to drop it out of system.. Now phone is useless for six months

Anonymous said...

For those who might be interested, I've now successfully used the same Tracfone sim card in three different devices ( an LG G2, THL W100, and the band new BLU VIVO XL-an amazing, budget-friendly smartphone). Each time you keep your phone number, voice, text, and data buckets. Gotta love BYOP!!!

Anonymous said...

Does an iPhone have to be AT&T or will any unlocked GSM iPhone work with Tracfone?
Thanks

Anonymous said...

Can anyone tell me if a verizon HTC 4G LTE Windows 8 phone is byop compatiable with tracfone ? If so is there any way I can get the triple minutes on this phone ? Phone currently does not have a sim card, but a friend did use his in my phone to see if unlocked. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

Unknown said...

Transferred a sim card from an LG G2 to the new BLU VIVO XL. Both the phone # and the bucket of texts, data, voice minutes transferred immediately. Love how easy the BYOP process is.

FStew said...

Anonymous:Part 2
Thank you so much for posting this!!! After 2 hours I was told to return my Droid X2 because it wouldn't program. All it needed was the *228 code and then select option 1, rather than the *22890 code I was told to try 20+ times. Thanks for clearing that up, I wish Tracfone customer service representatives knew the correct code.

Jen and Brady Johnson said...

we bought an iphone 4 for verizon from amazon in december. we also bought a BYOP registration kit from shopko. activation took a little time but i was able to do it online. the first step is to register the phone useing the instructions in the activation package. i was able to use the serial number to register it, but when i tried to activate it i kept getting kicked out with some "formatting error" or something. then i tried to activate with the IMEI number and it went right through. apparently the activation process does not recognize the letters in the serial number. since we have had it we have been very happy with it. the text messaging works just like a normal iphone with a regular carrier, as does voicemail. overall we are very pleased with the phone and with tracphone.

Unknown said...

Will a Moto E work ?

Walks Far said...

Hi Lori, I also wish to get the LG V10 phone and bring to Tracfone. Can you get the 1 year card from Tracfone? I rarely make calls or send texts. I want the card for data transfer, and I mainly use WiFi for that.

Also State Farm Insurance is now offering their Drive Safe and Save Mobile discount program, which I want to get on. Let the phone connect to the Bluetooth device in the car, and then use WiFi to send the data to State Farm.

Thanks Lori,
Stephen

Walks Far said...

Hi Lori,

Can you use the 1 year data card with the LG V10?

I don't text, only make emergency phone calls, and use WiFi for data. I like the 1 year Tracfone card with the rollover.

Best,
Stephen.

Anonymous said...

Hi Howard –
Have you tried doing any data downloading while in ‘Mobile Data’ mode (e.g. getting directions from a map program while on the road)? For me this has NOT worked; even though phone calls and Wifi downloads appear to be doing fine. I’m trying to find out if this mobile data is just an issue with my own phone/SIM card, or if it’s a problem with all unlocked Galaxy S5 connections. Anyone else with similar issues, please comment. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Just activated a BRAND NEW personalized Motorola Moto X Pure Edition I bought directly from Motorola. I used an activation kit that had both the CDMA and GSM SIM cards along with added 60 min card I bought from Walmart. The Moto X is NOT locked to any specific phone provider so I was able to choose between using CDMA or GSM. After checking around to see which should give me the best coverage for my area I chose to activate the CDMA SIM. Using the Tracfone BYOP website I transferred my number over. I did have to contact Tracfone via chat to make sure I got my minutes transferred, which did take some time. Overall it took approx 2hrs to now be completely switched over (from the time I activated my phone on the Internet to chatting with the tracfone rep). I'm VERY happy! :) Figured I would add my experience into the mix since I have been watching this page and debating whether or not to try to upgrade to a REAL smartphone (my previous phone was a Tracfone branded LGL39C I bought in 2014). Hope this helps somebody out there. Thanks so much for this website and everyone else's input!!!

Unknown said...

Can anyone tell me how to get my LG306G phone to display name from contacts when called by that person ? Only displays number now. Old phone automatically displayed name of those ppl in contacts when calling me.

Anonymous said...

Just to let you all know I was able to activate my new galaxy s7 SM-G930FD (GSM) without any problems. I purchase the activation kit from Best buy for a $1.00 and follow the instructions. My phone updated everything and all my apps from my LG Ultimate 2 was transferred over include all contacts and whatnot. I also have T-Mobile as my second SIM and that's working as well. I chose this phone because we travel outside of OCONUS a lot so I wanted a phone with channels that can cover most countries frequencies. Now that you know if you purchase s7 unlocked from Amazon the Byod program will work. Good luck if you decide to go this route.

Anonymous said...

Just bought my husband an unlocked BLU Bold Advance 5.0 Smart phone from Amazon for $60. and it works as a Tracfone with Tranfone sim.

Unknown said...

I purchased a Nexus6 as you advised that it was compatible with the TracPhone BYOP program. After a week of calling with over 8 different Customer Service personnel they informed me that model was not compatible with TracPhone service

Mike and Karen - Italy 2017 said...

I am going to buy a new iPhone 6. I intend to use the iPhone 6 in Europe. I realize the Tracfone SIM won't work there. So I'd have to buy a local SIM. Am I correct in assuming that when I swap an Italian SIM for Tracfone's, that the iPhone now knows nothing about Tracfone and I can call out, or use the Browser just like any other Italian (or Brit, etc) might in their home country?

When I return to the US I just swap back in the Tracfone SIM and I would be back to using my Tracfone.

Any other issues or glitches I need to know?

Patient said...

I'm using theSamsung Galaxy Note 5 will it work with the byop program?

Anonymous said...

I just transfered my number to a Blu life one x. Its a gsm unlocked phone I bought from amazon. Awesome phone if anybody is looking for a nice byop phone that wont break the bank.

Gran Puba said...

Does anyone know if the Samsung note 4 or 5 will work on CDMA

Anonymous said...

Yes. I have an Verizon S6 Edge that I connected to TracFone. TracFone will send you a new SIM card when you try to activate the phone with the SIM card you purchase in the store.

Unknown said...

has anyone had luck with the iphone se on a gsm network yet?

krautdog said...

Are there any Tracfone plans to add the new Reeko Android smartphone flip phones to their store?

Unknown said...

Activated Blu Studio5 unlocked GPS phone in under ten minutes.

Anonymous said...

Nexus 6p works with BYOP GSM.

A few tips:
-When tracfone site asks for last four digits of serial#, its asking for the SIM serial#.
-If transferring from non-smartphone you may have to ask for them to transfer your remaining minutes from pay-as-you-go rollover before you can actually use your phone. It will be split into new voice/texts/data "buckets" instead of universal minutes.
-Dial *777*1# to view remaining balance if app does not work.

It took my phone about three hours and a few restarts before service transferred.

Anonymous said...

I nee3d to know if there are any phones on tracfone or byop you can use with tracfone that do not have google on them? ive had real bad luck on two of my phones in past using google and gmail.thank you..

Robert Koenig said...

I bought an LG G3 Unlocked with Verizon. Activated it with the 4G LTE Verizon SIM Card and haven't had a problem with it. I've been using it for about a month.

Red Dragon said...

Will the HTC One M8 work with Tracfone?

Anonymous said...

Just added a Moto G4 to TracFone. Did everything on line. Was effortless and finished in under 10 minutes. I used the 1 dollar sim kit from Best Buy with the CDMA card and transferred my old phone number to the new phone. A big step up from a ZTE Valet.

Ben said...

Will an unlocked moto g4 work with a lte byop kit from tracfone and will I be able to transfer service drom my lg power?

Anonymous said...

I wanted to upgrade my tracfone LG840G to a true smart phone for the addition apps I could use and larger screen size. I was very surprised to see an LG Rebel LV44VL listed for my zip code.
I called tracfone c/s dept with trepidation as to getting the correct answer to my question: will the cdma phone work in what I understood to be a gsm zip code area. The answer I got was yes. I asked a couple of times to be sure that the rep understood my question and it remained yes. I bought a LG Rebel Lte from Best Buy for $50. On the back of the tracfone box. It read, To learn more about this phone, text LGL44VL to 611611. I don't really know how to effectively use a smart phone but I am able to text and make phone calls yesterday and today, Mon.

Doug said...

I got the Blu Advance Prime addition activated with a GSM sim card. Easy. Great phone.

Anonymous said...

You can add the Nexus 5X 32GB to the list. I activated this as a BYOP on December 29th, 2015 via tracfone on the Verizon (CDMA) network. It was very bumpy to say the least to get it activated..took 12 days in total and had to talk eventually to the engineering staff (many support levels prior to that) due to activation process errors. I would assume they have plugged the bugs since. I'm guessing I was the first one to attempt a nexus 5x activation.

Ty Hayward said...

Can I bring an iphone that is compatible with sprint?

Anonymous said...

Hello. I successfully activated a new unlocked Moto G Play (4th gen) using a CDMA 4G LTE SIM, transferring my service from an LG Ultimate 2. The BYOP process on Tracfone's site was befuddling, but the actual service transfer was quick, and all of the phone's features have been working extremely well during this past week of testing. The Moto G Play is a very high-value phone and I strongly recommend it as an alternative to any of Tracfone's budget 4G models.

Mike and Karen - Italy 2017 said...

I want to use my iPhone in the US, but when I go to Europe I want to remove the Tracfone SIM and buy a foreign SIM, like for Italy or France, etc. I assume once I remove the Tracfone SIM and insert the foreign SIM that the phone then works as any other Smartphone in that country would.

John said...

I want to get a SIM Free Moto X Pure from Motorola and use it on TracFone. Would you please tell me how you got it done? I want to use it on the CDMA.

Roma said...

I have a Samsung Galaxy gt - i8552. Will I be able to use tracfone byop activation kit. Thanks

Roma said...

Hi can I use tracfone byop kit for my Samsung Galaxy gt - i8552

TheLanMan said...

Anyone get the Moto G4 Plus to work for Tracfone with CDMA (Verizon)? I can't get this blog post to show comments newer than December 2015, and the G4 phones are newer than that...

John said...

I was able to get a new Moto X Pure Edition onto TracFone's BYOP service (using the CDMA sim card from their kit) successfully by calling their technical support. I also had her transfer minutes and data and the phone number from an older Tracfone successfully to the new Moto X. It was painless.

Unknown said...

How to block a call on a Alcatel phone

Unknown said...

I have an L G from tracphone and want to up grade to a different model but because most phones are either those flip phone's I was told I can not have an android or a smart phone. Greaaat . So when I see the list as to what was covered under the place it narrowed the list down to basically nill. It seems that the government controls as to what style phone and what features it has. That is what most of the mfg's are selling and there should be no reason as to why I am not allowed to have something a little nicer for a change instead of these bare-bone's phones. Its either data or whatever they say YOU can not have. It's like seriously?? All I want to to is change to a different style. What is wrong with that?? SMH!!!

Anonymous said...

Thanks to everyone on this forum who gives reports of their experiences with Tracfone. I thought I'd report on a successful transfer of my Tracfone service through their Bring Your Own Phone plan. Summary: I successfully transferred my Tracfone service from a LG840G Tracfone to a Microsoft Lumia 650 Windows 10 phone.

* I purchased an unlocked GSM Lumia 650 Windows 10 Phone online from the MicrosoftStore.com.

* I purchased a nano sim kit online from TracfoneBYOP.com and a $25 Smartphone-only airtime card (adds 60 days of service, 500 minutes, 1000 texts, and 500 MB of data).

* When my sim card and phone both had arrived, I put the sim card in the back of the phone along with a microSD card I had, and I used the WiFi at the public library to set up the phone. I logged in with my Windows account on the phone, set up apps, and I familiarized myself with the phone and updated its software first before transferring the Tracfone service.

* Once I had the phone set up how I wanted and I was familiar with how it worked, I then transferred my Tracfone service at a home computer. My old phone was a LG840G locked to Tracfone. I used my desktop computer with Internet and logged in to my Tracfone.com account and used the "Activate" selection on my account page to make selections to transfer my existing number. Key information is the OLD serial and IMEI number and the NEW IMEI number. Transfer completed within 5 minutes.

* Before the transfer, I had 355 minutes on my LG840G and a service date of 6/28/2017. Directly after the transfer (before adding the airtime card), on the Lumia 650 phone, I had 355 Minutes, 355 Texts, 355 MB of data, and a service date of 6/28/2017 (Note that the service date transferred in its entirety and the number of minutes translated into the same number in each of the three "buckets"). Then I added the $25 Smartphone-only airtime card and it added the 60 days of service, 500 minutes, 1000 texts, and 500 MB on top of all that. The current phone balances for minutes, texts, data, and service date are available through a link on my Tracfone online account page. On the phone, you can call *777*1# for balances (I put that number on speed dial).
I'm very satisfied with how this transfer worked.

I'm extremely satisfied with the BYOP option, and very happy to have a Windows 10 phone up and working with Tracfone!

--JD

Anonymous said...

You can add Moto G (4th Gen) Play 16 GB to the Tracfone BYOP 3G and 4G LTE CDMA (Verizon) Phone List.
I successfully activated two of these unlocked phones.

Ruly said...

I got 2 Motorola Moto X Pure Edition phones to work with BYOP no problems. I used the CDMA SIM card in the Tracfone kit. Did not use the GSM SIM card.

This is the phone:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0178Q8PUK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Teentitanbg said...

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ plus GSM (Carrier AT&T) unlocked factory by B&H is fine and work.
MMS and 4G is work too after APN setting.

Tom said...

I presently own a Galaxy Centura (Tracfone) and I am looking into buying an unlocked Samsung Samsung S6 or S7 or an iPhone using Tracfone's BYOP.
In order to complete the BYOP and assure that it works I must enter the phone's Ser # or MEID. I haven't bought the phone yet but want to be assured that I'll be able to use the new phone with Tracfone. If I haven't bought the phone yet then I don't have its Ser # or MEID. How can I otherwise be assured that the phone will work with Tracfone???

Anonymous said...

I can't seem to use my S7 Edge (Verizon). Can anyone else use there's?

Anonymous said...

I purchased my Moto G4 Play (unlocked)from B&H when they had it on sale in white. I wanted 16GB instead the usual 8GB I had in the past. I got the Tracfone sim kit from BB for $l.00 and slipped the CDMA card without a problem. I did everything online and took about 5 to 10 minutes and all my minutes transferred from my LG Treasure without a hitch. Very happy with the phone. I like the BYOP program but I did lots of research and reading before I made my decision. I'm always reading TracfoneReviewer, very informative.

Ganeyvim said...

Just purchased a brand new unlocked MOTO G4 play from B&H.
Have tried to get an answer from the Idiots at the Tracfone Chat support to no avail.
If anyone has a clue, it would be greatly appreciated.
Here are the questions.
1, The Tracfone sim kit contains Verizon (CDMA) as Well as GSM .
is that an AT&T or T-MOBILE (which I prefer) SIM?
2. Can I start out with a GSM sim (anyone) , and if Data or Voice reception are bad, then change to CDMA with relative ease?
3. Any experiences or horror stories with one of the above?

Anonymous said...

I made the switch to tracfone 2 years ago because I use my cell phone so rarely, I already have over 2,000 unused minutes built up. A family member recently upgraded and gave me their old iPhone 6s, so I decided to see whether I could use Tracfone's BYOP program to switch my existing Tracfone service over to it.

Even though it was originally a Verizon iPhone, I still had to buy a Tracfone SIM card kit -- which cost all of $1 at my local Best Buy. After installing the new SIM card (which took about 30 seconds), I was able to use my tracfone on-line account to enter the new SIM card numbers, and about 15 minutes later, my existing service had been automatically transferred, activated on the iPhone, and ready for use! All 2,000+ buildup minutes automatically transferred as well.

I considered my $7/month tracfone service a great value before, but now, with the iPhone 6, it's fantastic! The reception is clearer, and it offers so much more functionality.

Reading through the other comments here, it seems more than a few have experienced some difficulties, and I'm not really sure why. I had no problems at all, and felt the process involved couldn't have been easier.

cloud9 said...

I recently activated an LG G5 BYOF on TracFone. Purchased it from Upward Mobile and it came with a TracFone sim card kit. Was kind of nervous about activating it, since that can sometimes be a real headache with TracFone when it comes to getting ALL of your minutes transferred to a new device, but the process was surprisingly streamlined and easy. Happily, there was no need to call Customer Service. The G5 was ready to go in about 20 minutes, balance intact. But I would recommend making a screen print of your balance before you attempt to activate any phone--just in case you need proof if your minutes disappear. It's so nice having a phone with 32 gigs of internal storage and a really great camera and STILL keep my TracFone account. BYOF is definitely the way to go.

Unknown said...

I purchased a used Galaxy S7 and with the Tracfone BYOP SIM card, have it working with Tracfone using AT&T towers.It's great!

If I were to buy a used GSM "Samsung Galaxy S6, G920P Unlocked" phone as a backup in case the S7 died, can I just move the S7's SIM card to the S6 and would it instantly work with Tracfone keeping my days, minutes, texts, and MB?

Anonymous said...

I am a little confused about the term "unlocked" I am shopping for a Iphone 5 that will work with Verizon towers as they have best coverage here. . When I bought my Iphone 4 I purchased a Verizon phone that only could be used on Verizon. Can I buy any unlocked (I think this means Jailbroke) phone and use it on Verizon? Selection is way better for used Iphones if this is the case. Or should I play it safe and only buy a Verizon (locked on Verizon only) phone. Yes I know I am hard to follow. The term locked, unlocked, jailbroke, icloud locked all have me confused. And most of the time the meid is not available on mail order phones in advance.

Anonymous said...

I currently have a govt. lg safelink/track phone super old school flip phone n I want to transfer my govt phone to a smartphone. Can I use a T-Mobile phone that was given to me. Its a samsung galaxy avant,but like i said it is a tmobil phone, origenally. Can i switch my safe link track phone over. Or are there specific phones(or phone companies)that I have to get in order to change my trackphone over to.

LadyRyda said...

Good day..wanted to bring an unlocked vortex beat 8 to tpbyop..do u accept this phone? Thx..

Anonymous said...

Have been running a Moto G4 Plus with 64 meg of ram for 9 months. Works just fine. Transferred 1000 carry over minutes from my old phone (Lg G2) to the new without any problems, Cost used was 129.00 with free shipping. Do wish Motorola would upgrade android to 8.0 but it isn't going to happen.

nancy45 said...

I don't know if every brand of phone connected with BYOP is the same, but I'm using an unlocked LG Stylo 4 which I purchased new last year. I set up the voicemail without a problem and assumed it worked. After talking with someone who left a message and whose call I didn't return I went to my voicemail and realized there was no message. I did an online chat with Tracfone and the representative told me that Tracfone DOES NOT SUPPORT VOICEMAIL on my phone. I got the impression that voicemail is only supported if you have a Tracfone branded phone. If this is an across the board policy people should be aware of it before they buy an unlocked phone to connect to Tracfone. Everything else on the phone works perfectly, by the way, and it was very easy to set up. Now that Tracfone is offering phones with more storage, my next phone will be a Tracfone!

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