Verizon Activating your phone

4G LTE Phones

New Verizon Wireless Customers

Service activation with or without transferring your existing number

  1. Follow the instructions in the owner's manual to insert your new SIM card and battery, and then charge your phone completely.
  2. Turn on your phone.
  3. Activation will begin automatically. If prompted, follow instructions to accept Customer Agreement.

Existing Verizon Wireless Customers (Contract Extensions/Upgrades/Replacement Phones)

Activating your newly upgraded phone

  1. Visit verizonwireless.com/backupassistant.
  2. Click 'How to Get' for instructions on how to download Backup Assistant to your old phone. You may lose your contacts if you do not save them prior to activating your new phone. Note: data charges may apply for Prepaid Customers. Compatible phone required.
  3. Turn off old phone and remove battery.
  4. If you already have a Verizon Wireless 4G LTE SIM card, remove it from your old phone. If you received a new SIM card, remove it from its holder.
  5. Follow the instructions in the owner’s manual to insert your SIM card and battery, and then charge your new phone completely.
  6. Turn on your phone.
  7. Activation will begin automatically. If prompted, follow instructions to accept Customer Agreement.

Activating your new replacement phone

  • Please call Verizon Wireless customer service at 1-800-922-0204.

Standard Phones (non-4G LTE)

New Verizon Wireless Customers

Service activation without transferring your existing number

  1. Before you begin, follow the instructions in the owner's manual to charge your phone's battery.
  2. Turn on your phone.
  3. Dial *228, press "Send," and then press "1" when prompted. You will be notified via the voice prompt when it has been successfully activated.
  4. Return to the Your Account and view your order to retrieve your new phone number. Service activation with transfer of your existing number
  5. Before you begin, follow the instructions in the owner's manual to charge your phone's battery.
  6. Return to the Your Account section to view your order details. Once you've signed in, follow the instructions at the top of your order details to activate your phone.

New individual service plan customers:

  • Turn on your phone. Verizon Wireless will e-mail you when your phone is ready for use (1-5 business days after you submit your request from Your Account in step 2 above). Upon receipt of the email, dial *228 from your new phone to complete the activation. Upon completion of the number transfer, your service with your previous provider will automatically be canceled.

New family service plan customers:

  • We are not able to transfer your numbers for now due to some technical limitations. But if you have signed up for a family account through us, you can still call
  • Verizon Wireless customer service at 1-800-922-0204 to port your numbers (if they are eligible).
  • Existing Verizon Wireless Customers (Contract Extensions/Upgrades/Replacement Phones)

Activating your newly upgraded phone

  1. Before you begin, follow the instructions in the owner's manual to charge your phone's battery.
  2. Turn on your new phone.
  3. Dial *228, press "Send," and then press "1" when prompted. You will be notified via the voice prompt when it has been successfully activated. Your existing service will be canceled automatically once your new service is activated.

Activating your new replacement phone

Charging your new phone

  • Follow the instructions in the owner's manual to charge your phone's battery.

Completing activation

  • Please call Verizon Wireless customer service at 1-800-922-0204 to complete the activation process.
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