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Activating Your New or Certified Pre-owned Verizon Wireless Smartphone

This guide is for both new and existing Verizon Wireless customers who have purchased a new or Certified Pre-Owned 4G LTE smartphone and have a Verizon 4G LTE SIM card.

Choose the type of smartphone you want to activate. Then follow the steps on your old phone to back up your contacts before you activate your new or certified pre-owned smartphone.

Activate new or certified pre-owned Android smartphone

    Note: If you're upgrading from an iPhone to an Android phone, you should turn off iMessage® before activating your new phone.

    Step 1: Back up contacts and content from your old phone

    Note: If you've already backed up your contacts and other media (e.g., photos and videos), go to Step 2: Insert your 4G LTE SIM card.

    Back up and transfer your contacts and other media using Verizon Cloud, the Content Transfer app or other means.

    For more information about backing up your content, go to our Content Transfer Center.

    Step 2: Insert your 4G LTE SIM card

    Note: If your new smartphone came with a Verizon Wireless SIM card already inserted (typical for most phones purchased from Verizon), go to Step 3: Set up and activate your new or certified pre-owned smartphone.

    If you're using a Verizon 4G LTE SIM card that came in your shipment:

    1. Snap the SIM card out of its holder without touching the gold electrical contacts.
    2. Insert the SIM card into your new phone.

    If you're reusing your old smartphone's Verizon Wireless 4G LTE SIM card:

    1. Remove the SIM card from your old phone without touching the gold electrical contacts.
    2. Make sure the SIM card is the correct size for your new phone.
    3. Insert the SIM card into your new phone.

    Note: The location and position of SIM cards varies by device, so for information specific to your device, select the Interactive Simulator for your device, click Getting Started and then click Inserting and Removing the SIM Card.

    Step 3: Set up and activate your new or certified pre-owned smartphone

    1. If your battery was not preinstalled, insert the battery and replace the battery cover.
    2. Charge your phone.
    3. Turn it on.
    4. Follow the onscreen instructions to activate and set up your phone.
      • If you're on a standard monthly plan: Activation will begin immediately.
      • If you're on a prepaid plan: You'll be prompted to purchase a data plan during initial setup. Activation will begin shortly after signing up for service.

      Note: It may take a few minutes to complete activation.

    Step 4: Restore your content

    If you backed up contacts and media from your old phone, restore it to your new phone. Refer to our Content Transfer Center to learn how.

    Note: For some newer Android phones, you can view step-by-step instructions for many of your phone's features with our Interactive Simulators. Just select your phone from the list on the main page. If you plan to return your old Verizon phone to us, refer to our Device Return Instructions page to learn how.

Activate new or certified pre-owned Apple iPhone

    Step 1: Back up contacts and content from your old phone

    Note: If you've already backed up your contacts and other media (e.g., photos and videos), go to Step 2: Insert your 4G LTE SIM card.

    Back up and transfer your contacts and other media using Verizon Cloud, the Content Transfer app, or other means.

    For more information about backing up your content, go to our Content Transfer Center. Or, if you use iCloud or iTunes, go to Apple's support site for details on backing up your content.

    Step 2: Insert your 4G LTE SIM card

    Note: If your new iPhone came with a Verizon Wireless SIM card already inserted (typical for most phones purchased from Verizon), go to Step 3: Set up and activate your new or certified pre-owned iPhone.

    If you're using a Verizon 4G LTE SIM card that came in your shipment:

    1. Snap the SIM card out of its holder without touching the gold electrical contacts.
    2. Insert the SIM card into your new iPhone.

    If you're reusing your old smartphone's Verizon Wireless 4G LTE SIM card:

    1. Remove the SIM card from your old phone without touching the gold electrical contacts.
    2. Make sure the SIM card is the correct size for your new iPhone.
    3. Insert the SIM card into your new iPhone.

    Note: The location and position of SIM cards varies by device, so for information specific to your device, select the Interactive Simulator for your device, click Getting Started and then click Inserting and Removing the SIM Card.

    Step 3: Set up and activate your new or certified pre-owned iPhone

    If you're on a standard monthly plan, we recommend you activate your iPhone using the mobile network, but you can also use Wi-Fi if necessary:

    1. Turn on your iPhone.
    2. Follow the onscreen instructions to set up your iPhone.

      3. Note: If you're already a Verizon customer, you may be prompted to enter the last 4 digits of the account owner's Social Security number or the 4-digit account PIN.

    3. To activate over the mobile network, when you reach the Wi-Fi Networks screen in the Setup Assistant, tap Use Cellular Connection. (To activate over Wi-Fi, select your Wi-Fi network instead and enter the Wi-Fi password when prompted.)
    4. If you're a new Verizon customer, activation will begin automatically.

      5. Note: It may take a few minutes to complete activation.

    5. Continue to follow the onscreen instructions to complete setup.

    Note: If you're unable to access the mobile network or Wi-Fi, you can activate using iTunes with your iPhone tethered to your computer.

    If you're on a prepaid plan, we recommend that you activate using a Wi-Fi connection:

    1. Turn on your iPhone.
    2. Follow the onscreen instructions to set up your iPhone.
    3. When you reach the Wi-Fi Networks screen in the Setup Assistant, select the Wi-Fi network you want to use and enter the password if required.
    4. Continue following the onscreen instructions to complete setup.
    5. Sign up for mobile data:
      1. From the Home screen, tap Settings.
      2. Tap Cellular Data.

        3. Note: Cellular Data must be turned ON in order to continue.

      3. Tap View Account.
      4. Tap Set Up New Account, then tap Continue.
      5. You'll be directed to a screen where you can purchase a data plan. Activation will begin shortly after signing up for service.

    If you're unable to access Wi-Fi, you can activate using iTunes with your iPhone tethered to your computer.
     

    Step 4: Restore your content

    If you backed up your contacts and media from your old phone, restore it to your new iPhone. Refer to our Content Transfer Center, or if you use iCloud or iTunes, go to Apple's Support site to learn how.

    Note: For some newer iPhones, you can view step-by-step instructions for many of your phone's features with our Interactive Simulators. Just select your phone from the list on the main page. If you plan to return your old Verizon phone to us, refer to our Device Return Instructions page to learn how.

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Apple, iPhone, iCloud, iMessage and iTunes are registered trademarks of Apple Inc.