Wondering how you can Optus activate SIM without recharge? We can help you with that!
Optus Prepaid is a widespread cellular package offered by the provider that does not include upfront payments or additional fees upon activating the SIM card.
We will guide you through the complete activation procedure of the package and enable you to quickly set up your cellular.
To activate Optus SIM without recharge, sign up for the “Optus Prepaid” subscription and identify the SIM number of your package.
Let’s review the process in further detail!
Can You Activate Optus SIM Card Without Recharge?
Activating an Optus SIM without recharging is called “Prepaid SIM Activation,” where the payment is complete before inserting and activating the SIM.
Your plan allowing activation without recharge is called “Optus Prepaid” and requires identity verification.
The prepaid activation undergoes ultimately online once you’ve received the package and as established, requires no recharging for the SIM to start working.
All you will need is a valid form of ID, such as your driver’s licence or password and the Prepaid Optus SIM.
Let’s explore the prepaid activation process in detail!
Optus Activate SIM Without Recharge – Quick Steps
Alert: Activating an Optus prepaid plan for a teenager under 14 requires parental or legal guardian verification.
This Optus policy is demanded during the SIM setup for prepaid users who do not have a legal identification document.
1. Subscribe for a Prepaid Plan
To avoid extra recharging fees during the activation, you must ensure you’ve subscribed to the Prepaid Optus plan.
The payment for a standard mobile service is typically fulfilled after activating the SIM, but with Optus prepaid, you purchase the package once before delivery.
How to Check if I Am On Optus Prepaid?
- Open the “My Optus app” on your Android or iOS device.
- Tap “Service” at the bottom of the Optus navigation header.
- Scroll to the bottom and check the “Phone Balance” option.
- If the phone balance says “Optus Prepaid,” you will be free of activation recharge.
- If the phone balance says “Optus Mobile” or anything else, you must recharge.
Tip: You can check your balance, SMS and mobile data usage by calling “555” for Optus!
2. Identify the SIM Number
Upon delivery of the prepaid package, you will receive a small yellow letter containing your plan’s identification SIM number.
Upon opening the letter, you will notice a card tucked in that contains information required to activate the Optus prepaid SIM card on your device.
When this is done, keep reading!
3. Insert the Optus SIM Card
The next step is to install the Prepaid Optus SIM into your mobile device to validate it during the activation procedure.
If Optus does not detect that the SIM card is inserted, activating the prepaid SIM card will likely fail and restrict your mobile device from using cellular services.
Follow these steps to install the Optus SIM card on your mobile device:
- Locate the SIM compartment on the side panel of your device.
- Use the provided SIM tool by Optus to pop-open the SIM tray.
- Carefully pull out the tray and insert the Optus SIM on the slot.
- Push the SIM tray back into the mobile device’s compartment.
- Finally, check if the device’s cellular indicator icon will adjust.
Inserting the SIM into your mobile device during the activation is required so Optus can verify your mobile number and provide cellular services.
You will be prompted to insert the SIM card during the activation, so be prepared either way!
4. Start the Identification Procedure
After inserting the Optus SIM card and verifying your prepaid plan is all set up, you can begin the identification procedure of the SIM card.
All you will need is a mobile or computer device and an internet connection to complete the self-serve installation of the Optus Prepaid plan.
Here’s how to start the recharge-free Optus setup:
- Open a web browser on your computer or mobile device.
- Go to the Optus Prepaid Activate and tap “Get Started.”
- On the next page, insert the SIM number acquired earlier.
- Press on “Next” to proceed with the identity verification.
The self-installation setup consists of 5 steps, all displayed along with on-screen instructions for easy user access.
Simply follow the steps to verify your subscriber identity and configure Optus.
5. Identity Verification Requirements
As established earlier, personal identification is required throughout the Optus prepaid plan activation.
You can use one of the following personal documents for verification purposes:
- A valid Medicare card
- A valid driver’s license
- A valid AUS passport
Optus will review and accept one of the following documents as personal identification for the Prepaid installation to set up your account settings.
How to Set Up Optus Teen Prepaid?
If you’re attempting to validate a subscriber below 14, you must identify as a legal parent or guardian of the subscriber.
This is one of Optus’s policies for underage prepaid subscribers since there will be no further requirements for upfront charging or additional fees.
Note: Once you have verified your identity, Optus will notify you that your service will be activated in less than 24 hours.
6. Test the Optus Prepaid SIM Card
After undergoing the complete activation process of the Optus SIM card, it is time to conduct some testing to check whether things are now working.
If the SIM card activation has undergone successfully, all bars on the SIM indicator on the top part of your screen should become filled, indicating proper cellular coverage.
How to Test the Optus Mobile Data and Speed?
To test the mobile data of your Optus service, activate the “Mobile Data” feature in your device’s settings.
To determine what are the download and upload internet speeds, go to speedtest.net.
How to Test the Optus Cellular Calling?
To determine whether the cellular calling of your device is functioning correctly, attempt to dial a number and test the incoming calls.
If your mobile is receiving calls properly, Optus is active!
Alert: For Optus service or activation issues, dial 1300 555 241 for customer support!
Why Optus Prepaid Activation Won’t Work?
If your Optus prepaid SIM activation did not work, your mobile device might be cellular locked or restricted to another carrier.
We’ve covered some of the most common causes for activation issues with the Optus prepaid service to activate the SIM card:
Check for a Carrier-Lock
A carrier-locked mobile device will not comply with Optus’s network and cellular requirements or undergo the activation procedure.
Here’s how to identify if your Optus device is carrier-locked:
- On iPhone, go to “Settings” → “General” → “About” → “Carrier Lock.”
- On Android, go to “Settings” → “Mobile Network” → “Network Operators.”
If no information about an alternative carrier appears in the information tab, your device can securely establish a connection with Optus’s cellular network.
How to Carrier-Unlock a Device?
It is not possible to manually unlock a device towards new carriers.
You must contact your previous carrier or terminate other active mobile plans restricting your mobile device.
Note: A leased mobile device will become unlocked to other carriers after the plan’s expiry!
Re-Adjust the APN Settings
Although the APN is configured automatically upon inserting the Optus SIM card, manually adjusting the configuration will not allow Optus to verify.
Here’s the correct Optus APN setup:
| Correct Optus APN Configuration | |
| Name of APN Setting: | APN Value: |
| Name | Optus MMS |
| Home Page/MMSC | http://mmsc.optus.com.au:8002/ |
| APN | MMS |
| Primary/MMS Proxy | 61.88.190.10 |
| Port | 8070 |
| MCC | 505 |
| MNC | 02 |
| Auth Type | PAP |
| APN Type | mms |
| MMS Protocol (for Android) | WAP 2.0 |
Note: The settings not reflected above are unnecessary for your APN’s configuration!
Set “Optus” As the Default Carrier
You must specify Optus as the “Default Service Carrier”, or your device may not establish a connection to the network automatically.
Let’s learn how this is done on Android and on iOS:
- On Android, go to “Settings” → “More Networks” → “Mobile Networks” → “Network Operators” and select “Optus” as the default network carrier.
- On iOS, go to “Settings” → “Mobile Data” → “Network Selection” and deactivate the “Automatic” setting at the top. After that, choose “Optus” as the default carrier.
Note: Deactivating the “Automatic Network Selection” on iOS allows for manual selection!
Quick Recap:
To undergo Optus activate SIM without recharge, subscribe for a prepaid SIM plan and identify the SIM identification number on the package.
Then, navigate to Optus’s Prepaid SIM activation page, insert the SIM number and verify your personal identity to finalise.
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Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.