Do you know what to do if you get a Visible IMEI not available error? Don’t worry! This post will serve as a guide to help you troubleshoot the issue.
When Visible does not accept your IMEI number, there’s usually something wrong with your phone or with your carrier.
It can get quite frustrating so we’ll help you find out the exact cause of the issue and fix it.
What should you do if the Visible IMEI is not available? Read on to find out.
To fix your unavailable IMEI problem, first, confirm your phone’s compatibility with Visible. Then, make sure you enabled location services on your phone. If the issue persists, try entering the APN settings manually. And, as a last resort, restore your phone to its factory settings.
Before we discuss the above solutions in detail, let us enumerate the possible reasons your Visible eSIM IMEI is not available.
Why Is My Visible eSIM IMEI Not Available?
Are you having issues with your Visible eSIM? There are several reasons why you can’t find the IMEI number on your Android phone.
This post will break down all the possible causes and offer you a step-by-step guide to get it working in no time.
Phone Is Not Compatible With Visible
The first possible reason could be that your phone is not compatible with the eSIM.
Either your phone does not have eSIM capability or you forgot to enable this feature.
Using the Wrong Imei Number
If your phone supports eSIM, there will be two IMEI numbers listed. One is for your physical SIM and the other is for your eSIM.
You’ll know you’re using the wrong number if you can’t make or receive calls and texts.
The phone Needs to Be Unlocked
Maybe your device is locked to another network. It can’t work with Visible network unless you get it unlocked.
Visible Esim Malfunction
There may be bugs or glitches that cause your eSIM to stop working. While they offer security and are reprogrammable, they are not without flaws.
These are the possible causes of Visible eSIM not available.
Now, let’s move on to some of the easy troubleshooting steps you can take to solve the problem.
Easy Fixes for Visible IMEI Not Available
When you see Visible the IMEI you entered is not available, there’s no need to worry.
Find out what’s causing the issue and you’ll be able to solve the problem. But, first, let’s discuss where you can find your IMEI number.
You can find your IMEI number in various places. It can be written on the silver sticker at the back of your phone, under the battery pack, or with the box, your device came in.
On your iPhone, you can go to Settings and look for the About option and you’ll find your device’s IMEI number there.
For Android, all you need to do is dial *#06# and the IMEI number will pop up.
Solution #1: Confirm Your Phone’s Compatibility with Visible
If you’ve tried to activate your Visible’s eSIM and got the error that says your IMEI is not available, you want to make sure that your phone is compatible with Visible’s network.
Your phone needs to be able to connect to Visible’s network, but also needs to be cleared if you’re bringing your own device.
The most reliable way to know if your device can connect to the Visible network, activate your eSIM, and clear the IMEI is by checking its compatibility.
Here’s how to check if you can use your phone with Visible:
- Go to visible.com/shop/compatibility to access their Compatibility page.
- Select your phone’s platform.
- Choose your phone model from the list.
- Enter your phone’s IMEI number.
- Wait for the results to come up.
Pro Tip: You want to enter the IMEI of your device that’s marked as IMEI1 or Primary IMEI.
Solution #2: Activate Location Services on Your Phone
Making sure that your phone’s location services are on is an important step you need to take before activating your eSIM.
Although it’s not a requirement, there are instances when errors such as this one from Visible can occur.
Here’s how to activate location services on your phone:
On iPhone:
- Go to your phone’s Settings.
- Select Privacy and Security.
- Choose Location Services.
- Toggle the switch to the On position.
On Android:
- Open your phone’s Settings.
- Go to Connections.
- Select Location.
- Move the switch to the On position.
Solution #3: Use Your eSIM’s IMEI Not Your Phone’s
If your phone has an eSIM, it’s likely that it has multiple IMEI numbers.
Your device is one, and an eSIM will have its own identification number that Visible needs to activate it.
During the activation process, Visible will ask you to enter an IMEI number.
Make sure that you’re typing in the one for your eSIM so it will activate it and allow it to connect to the network.
Here’s how to find your eSIM’s IMEI on your phone:
On iPhone:
- Open your phone’s Settings.
- Scroll down and select General.
- Choose the About option.
- Navigate to the eSIM section.
- Find the IMEI number under eSIM.
On Android:
- Open the Phone app on your phone.
- Choose the Numpad option.
- Dial *#06# on the Numpad.
- Your IMEI number will be displayed.
- Take note of the IMEI2 value.
Note: Write down or take a picture of the IMEI number since you’re going to be typing this in to successfully activate your eSIM.
Solution #4: Enter the Visible APN Settings Manually
Visible’s IMEI not available error can also be linked to not having the correct settings for your network.
It’s not really much of a problem most of the time, but there are instances when it checks the settings on your phone and fails to identify it.
You’re going to need to enter Visible’s APN settings manually on your phone and check if it will accept your eSIMs IMEI.
Here’s how to enter the APN settings manually:
On iPhone:
- Open your phone’s Settings.
- Go to Cellular, then Cellular Data Network.
- Tap on each field in the APN settings.
- Type the correct value for each field.
On Android:
- Go to your phone’s Settings.
- Select Mobile Networks, then Access Point Names.
- Tap on the Menu button.
- Select New APN.
- Tap on each field and enter the correct value.
Visible APN Settings:
- Name: Visible Internet
- APN: vzwinternet
- MMSC: http://mms.vtext.com/servlets/mms
- MMS Port: 80
- MCC: 311
- MNC: 480
- APN type: default,dun,supl
- APN protocol: IPv4/IPv6
- APN roaming protocol: IPv4
Note: Leave the Username and Password fields blank.
Solution #5: Reset Your Phone’s Network Settings
If you’re having issues with your Visible eSIM activation process and it doesn’t accept your device’s IMEI, you can consider resetting your phone’s network settings to refresh your connection.
This will allow your phone to reconnect to Visible and try activating your eSIM again.
Here’s how to reset your phone’s network settings:
On iPhone:
- Open your phone’s Settings.
- Go to General, then Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Choose Reset.
- Tap on Reset Network Settings on the menu that pops up.
On Android:
- Go to your phone’s Settings app.
- Select System, then Advanced.
- Choose Reset Options.
- Tap on Reset Network Settings.
- Tap Reset to confirm
Solution #6: Get a Physical SIM Kit then Activate Your eSIM
If all else fails, it means that your phone is unable to connect to the Visible network by itself.
It’s going to need a bit of help where you’ll need to use a physical SIM to get it connected.
It doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to use your eSIM. You’re going to use this step to push it in the right direction so you can successfully activate your eSIM.
Here’s how to use a physical SIM to activate your eSIM:
- Get a physical SIM kit from Visible.
- After it arrives, insert it into your phone’s SIM tray.
- Use the SIM to allow your phone to connect to Visible.
- Once it’s connected, set up your eSIM again by adding a new profile.
- Activate your eSIM.
Note: After successfully activating your eSIM, you can now remove the physical SIM on your phone.
These solutions should help you resolve the IMEI not available error you get while activating your SIM.
If none of these steps work, there are still some last-resort steps that you can try like updating your phone’s software to the latest version.
You can also back up your phone and restore it to factory settings before activating your Visible eSIM.
Read Next: How to Fix Visible eSIM Activation Error?
Bottom Line
If you’re getting the Visible IMEI not available error, their solutions will help you resolve it in no time.
It’s a tricky and frustrating error to get. Working with eSIMs can be difficult.
However, once it works, it will give you the freedom to connect to different networks quickly.
Kevin has over five years of experience working in various Tech startups and providing Technical solutions. He has contributed to many Tech publications and websites. Check out more about him here.