Verizon SIM Card Not Activating? Quick Fix Guide

Is your Verizon SIM card not activating? Are you a new Verizon customer and you’re not entirely sure why you can’t get your new SIM to work?

In this guide, we’ll be going about teaching you some of the reasons why your Verizon SIM card is failing activation.

To give you a good and complete walkthrough, we’ll not just give you the resolution to the problem, but we will also enumerate the common reasons as to why this is happening!

If you find your Verizon SIM card not working, check the SIM card and if it has already been on the system. Then, ensure that you’re at a location where the Verizon service is currently active. Replace or install the new card to your device, and then perform a power cycle of your phone.

Before solving why your Verizon SIM card is not working in an unlocked phone, let us first try to unearth the few and most common reasons why this is happening.

Common Reasons Why Verizon SIM Card Doesn’t Activate

The most common misconception that people have is that it’s their device at fault. When, actually, that’s not always what the case is.

There are far more reasons than just hardware problems, and some of the most common include:

• The SIM card hasn’t been listed yet
• Your location does not have Verizon services available
• You’re installing the SIM card incorrectly
• Network outage
• Hardware problems (SIM card or phone)

The reasons are many, yes, and that is the reason why it will be challenging to get to the root cause of this particular concern.

How do we fix it if we’re not able to find the actual culprit? Is there a way to fix it without knowing what makes the activation process fail?

Yes, there is! You’re lucky, because, in this tutorial, we’ll be solving this problem using an approach that would try to address this problem completely and comprehensively. With this guide, there’s no need for you to find out what the cause is!

So, if you find your Verizon SIM card not working on iPhone, this guide will be all you need!

Fix Verizon SIM Card Not Activating

Whether you’re using an iPhone, an Android device, or any other type of platform or operating system, this guide will be applicable to you!

Step #1: Check the SIM For Damages

The first step you need to do is to check for any damages on the SIM card.

Check if it’s chipped or if there are any scratches on the contacts of the card, which could be the one that’s causing it not to work.

Once that you’re sure there’s nothing wrong with the hardware, you can go to the next step, which is…

Step #2: Is it Listed On the System?

Not all SIM cards would be recognized by the system immediately. Therefore, you need to check if yours is already listed on the system.

For devices that are 3G-enabled, here’s how you can check if it’s activated:

1. On your phone’s keypad where the SIM card is, dial *228.
2. When you receive the prompt, press 1.
3. Wait for two (2) to three (3) minutes until the network initializes.

If you’re operating on a 4G-enabled device, the SIM card should automatically activate when it’s properly inserted into the SIM card tray.

Step #3: Does Your Location Have Verizon Services?

What you have to consider next is your location. Are you getting Verizon services properly? Are you at a spot where there’s appropriate reception?

Some of the things to avoid while activating your new SIM card include:

• Radioactive equipment and appliances
• Basements
• Elevators

Being around these things or being in these locations could hinder your device from properly connecting to the network and activating your device.

Step #4: Check For Network Outages

After making sure that you’re at a location where there’s proper reception, what you need to consider would be network outages.

It could be untimely, but it’s possible. What you have to do is to check if you’re currently experiencing any problems with the Verizon network.

Contact them and ask if there’s a current outage happening. 

Step #5: Double-Check the Device

Before anything else, is the device unlocked? If so, are you using a new device or an old one?

Chances are, if you’re using an old device, it could be the one at fault. To check this, try inserting a different SIM card onto the tray of the device.

If it’s not working, then it could be the sensors of the SIM card tray. Otherwise, it could be from Verizon’s end.

NOTE: For this SIM card test, test the one that’ll be usable on unlocked phones and devices.

Step #6: Power Cycle the Phone

Next is to power cycle or to perform a reboot of the smartphone. Regardless of the smartphone you use, power cycling is simple:

1. Turn the smartphone off for about 30 seconds to one (1) full minute.
2. Activate and turn the smartphone on again.

Step #7: Factory Reset the Device

The last step is to factory reset the device. If you’re using an old smartphone or a second-hand device, there’s a chance that there are leftover corrupted files that could be the ones hindering the activation.

So, it will be better to start fresh by factory resetting or doing a clean wipe of the device. To proceed with a factory reset, follow these steps:

Factory Resetting an iPhone

1. Access Settings > General > Reset.
2. You’ll be asked to enter the passcode manually.
3. Wait for the device to automatically turn off.

Factory Resetting an Android Device 

1. Access Settings > General Management > Reset.
2. You’ll be given a list of options, select Factory Data Reset.
3. Wait for the device to turn off and reboot automatically.

Once you’re done with the process, expect that you’ll be able to activate and have access to the Verizon network using your new SIM card!

After five (5) full minutes of the SIM card being inserted into the phone, and it is turned on, you should already see reception being transmitted to your device!

Verizon SIM Card is Still Not Active, What Should I Do?

So, you followed the process carefully and you’re still not able to activate it, what should the next step be? Do you immediately ask for a SIM replacement?

If this is what the case is, the next thing you want to do is to contact Verizon’s customer support team and tell them about your SIM card not activating.

They’ll ask you to do the same troubleshooting steps we outlined above, so, to save time and to get to a resolution faster, let them know that you’ve already accomplished it.

After they progress to their technical troubleshooting, they’ll be able to determine what the results are and can direct you to the right path.

Read Next: How to Fix Verizon Mobile Data Not Working?

Final Verdict

Unlike other guides, we won’t just tell you to power cycle your device. In fact, we made it so comprehensive that you don’t have to look for it some place else!

The next time you find that your Verizon SIM card is not activating, you can go back to this guide and have the problem solved swiftly!