Cricket Wireless is a U.S.-based wireless service provider, owned by AT&T. It was founded in 1999 and has over 10 million subscribers. The carrier offers high-quality mobile devices, versatile plans, affordable prepaid rates, no annual contracts, nationwide coverage, and more. They also offer customers the possibility to bring their own devices and allow them to put their Cricket SIM cards in other non-Cricket phones. Show
How to Know if I Can Change My Phone Through CricketWhen it comes to mobile devices, Cricket Wireless offers two options. One is to purchase a cell phone directly through them (online or in-store) and the second is to bring your own phone (BYOP). If you wish to purchase a mobile device directly from Cricket Wireless, you can simply visit their website at https://www.cricketwireless.com/, go to the main menu and press ‘Shop’, and select ‘Phones’. You will get a list of all available mobile devices. Once you pick the one that best fits your needs, simply place it into the cart and finish the purchase. On the other hand, if you already have a phone that you love and wish to bring to Cricket Wireless, you must make sure your phone is compatible with their network and services. But how do you know if it is? Well knowing whether your phone is GSM or CDMA would give you a big clue. GSM and CDMA are two different radio technologies. While Sprint and Verizon use CDMA phones and technologies, T-Mobile, AT&T, and their MVNOs (including Cricket) use GSM technology and phones. As Cricket is a GSM network, it is easy to transfer information and service from an old phone to a new one. GSM is a global service and it requires each phone to have a SIM card, which is compatible with other GSM phones. In case you are just switching to Cricket Wireless or if you are already an existing customer and perhaps your original Cricket phone got irreparably damaged and you are required to switch to a new one, you have two options – to buy a new Cricket phone or to put your Cricket SIM card into another phone you may own. If you decide to buy a new Cricket phone or if you get one for free due to warranty or insurance, you won’t have any problem whatsoever using your old activated Cricket SIM card in another Cricket phone. Simply make sure the SIM card is the right size to fit your new Cricket phone’s SIM slot, insert your SIM card into the new device, and continue using your service. Can I Put My Cricket SIM Card in Another Carrier Phone?Assuming that you have the SIM card size that fits your phone’s SIM card slot, you can always put your Cricket SIM card in another phone, regardless of the carrier and where the device was purchased. However, whether or not the SIM card will work on another carrier’s phone, depends on several factors. In order for a Cricket SIM card to work in another carrier’s phone, the phone must be:
In case you also need information Cricket SIM Card Replacement Guide How Do I Switch My Cricket SIM Card to Another Cricket Phone and Another Carrier Phone?If you already have a Cricket SIM card, you can switch it to another Cricket phone or another carrier’s phone relatively quickly and painlessly, by following the few simple steps below.
If your Cricket SIM card doesn’t fit your phone’s SIM card slot/port, there is no need to worry. You can simply order a new Cricket SIM card of the correct size online or in-store.
How Do I Transfer Everything From My Old Cricket Phone to My New Cricket Phone?Cricket Wireless is a strictly prepaid service provider. As such, customers don’t have to sign any contracts or deal with any fine prints regarding the phone upgrade and transfer possibilities. Therefore, transferring Cricket service to another Cricket (or BYOP) device is a quick and simple process that doesn’t come with any legal or financial obligations. To successfully transfer your Cricket phone service to another phone, simply follow the easy steps below.
Which Phones Are Compatible With a Cricket SIM Card?To activate a phone on Cricket’s network, you will need an HD voice-capable smartphone (or basic phone) that is compatible with the Cricket HD voice network. Below, you can see a list of HD Voice-capable phones sold by Cricket.
Here, you can see a list of BYOP devices compatible with Cricket’s services (not including Cricket-sold devices, which are listed above):
What Carriers Are Compatible With Cricket WirelessCricket Wireless is AT&T’s mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) and GSM carrier, therefore it will most likely be compatible with other GSM carriers and accept phones that work on GSM networks. GSM networks in America include:
AT&T’s MVNOs include:
T-Mobile’s MVNOs include:
However, some of their devices may not be compatible with Cricket’s services. To make sure whether or not your phone will work on Cricket, make sure to check its compatibility at cricketwireless.com/cell-phones/bring-your-phone. What Network Towers Does Cricket Wireless Use?Prior to Cricket’s acquisition by AT&T, Cricket used Sprint’s CDMA network and towers. Since Cricket’s acquisition by AT&T in 2014, Cricket uses AT&T’s network towers and network. AT&T (and thus Cricket) offers a reliable nationwide network that connects 99% of the entire U.S. population. You can see Cricket’s nationwide coverage and check if the network is available in your area at cricketwireless.com/map.html by entering your address or ZIP code. What Kind of Phone Technology Does Cricket Use – GSM or CDMA?Since Cricket’s acquisition by AT&T in 2014, Cricket uses AT&T’s GSM phone technology and sells devices that use AT&T’s 3G, 4G, and 4G LTE networks. Before 2014, Cricket used Sprint’s CDMA phone technology. Cricket’s old CDMA service was terminated by September 2015 and most devices sold before the merger weren’t compatible with Cricket’s services, therefore had to be replaced. FAQDo I Need to Back Up My Phone Before Switching to Cricket SIM?Yes, it is always a good idea to back your phone and files before beginning any kind of transfer. Does Cricket SIM Card Unlock?Cricket’s SIM card can only offer Cricket’s services, as that is its sole purpose. As such, it cannot be unlocked to offer other services. However, most other carrier’s phones can be unlocked and brought to Cricket’s network. Cricket phones, on the other hand, can also be unlocked and taken to other networks. However, to unlock the device, you have to meet certain unlocking requirements. Learn more about unlocking Cricket’s devices at cricketwireless.com/legal-info/device-unlock-policy.html. How Do I Activate Cricket Wireless SIM Card?In case you ordered your Cricket service online on their official website, you must activate the service online. To do so, simply insert your SIM card into your phone, find your order number and phone number (in the order confirmation email and on your packing slip), visit cricketwireless.com/activate.html, and follow the on-screen instructions. You will be required to provide your 4-digit Cricket Account PIN. In case you have forgotten it, you can contact Cricket’s support service. In case you ordered your phone or SIM card from a non-Cricket retailer, you can use another activation process. Learn more at cricketwireless.com/support/orders-and-activations/retailer-and-sim-card-activation.html. Are Cricket Phones Unlocked?No, Cricket’s phones are locked to Cricket’s services. They can be unlocked if they meet certain unlocking requirements. Find out how to unlock your Cricket phone at cricketwireless.com/legal-info/device-unlock-policy.html. What to Do if Your Phone Won’t Work With Cricket SIM Bring Your Own Phone?First, check if the phone you wish to use your Cricket SIM and services with is compatible with Cricket’s network. You can do so at cricketwireless.com/cell-phones/bring-your-phone. If the device is indeed compatible, try to activate it by following one of the methods provided in the previous question. If the device still won’t work, contact Cricket’s customer support service. You can do so by chat on their official website or by phone at 1-800-CRICKET (274-2538) or 611 from your phone. Can I Use a Cricket SIM Card in Any Unlocked iPhone?Your Cricket SIM card may not work with any unlocked iPhone, however, it should work with most of them. You can check if your iPhone model is compatible with Cricket’s service in the section ‘Which Phones Are Compatible With a Cricket SIM Card?’ or at cricketwireless.com/cell-phones/bring-your-phone. What Phones Are Free When You Switch to Cricket?Cricket Wireless is known for offering many special deals for new customers when they switch to Cricket, including discounted and free devices. Phones that new customers may currently get completely free of charge when switching to Cricket are Motorola moto g play, Samsung Galaxy A01, and Nokia C2 Tava. Can I Buy a Used Phone and Bring It to Cricket?Yes, both new and used phones that are unlocked and compatible with Cricket’s services are eligible for their BYOP program. Check the phone’s compatibility at cricketwireless.com/cell-phones/bring-your-phone. Can I Transfer My Remaining Service Balance to a New Phone?Yes, when transferring your service to a new phone, the phone number and remaining benefits (if you have any) will be transferred to the new phone. Do You Lose Everything When You Change Cricket SIM Cards?No. Some data may be stored in your SIM card, however, other data is stored on your phone and in a cloud. In addition, Cricket can transfer both your service and most of your data to a new SIM card. Simply contact Cricket’s customer service and ask them to help you. This way you won’t lose any data. Can I Move My Cell Phone Service Just by Moving My SIM to a New Phone?Yes, if you have an original Cricket or compatible BYOP device, the service can be transferred by simply moving your SIM card to a new phone, as the SIM card already contains all the necessary data. However, if the service isn’t transferred automatically, follow the steps provided in the section ‘How Do I Transfer Everything From My Old Cricket Phone To My New Cricket Phone?’. Can You Use an AT&T Phone on Cricket Wireless?As Cricket is AT&T’s MVNO and it uses AT&T’s network and GSM technology, it is generally possible to use an AT&T phone on Cricket Wireless. However, just to make sure, check your phone’s compatibility at cricketwireless.com/cell-phones/bring-your-phone. Can I transfer my Cricket phone number?We make it easy to bring your number to Cricket. Whether you're a new customer or you want to add a line to your existing Cricket account, we make it simple to transfer your number. Just remember to keep your current service active until you receive your Cricket device or SIM in the mail.
How do I switch my phone number to a new phone?If you upgrade your phone and need a new SIM card, your mobile phone company should transfer your number over on request when you activate your new SIM. This is sometimes referred to as a SIM swap. Take a look on your phone company's website to see its process for doing this or give it a call.
Can I move my cricket SIM card to another phone?9 replies. Yes, as long as the SIM cards are the same size. Just switch them out and you should be good to go. It will work but be advised, they will lock your new phone to Cricket even if you did not buy it from them.
How do I switch phones on Cricket Wireless?Just log in or use the apps on your new device to make the transfer. If you need assistance, visit a local Cricket store or chat with us. Whether you're moving to the same operating system or a different one, the best solution is to check your phone's user manual.
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