# Tracfone 'SIM card rejected' message?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracfone-sim-card-rejected-message/669817>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 27, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracfone-sim-card-rejected-message/669817 "2013-09-27T17:31:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracfone-sim-card-rejected-message/669817/1 "2013-09-27T17:31:25Z")

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The SO bought a new Tracfone. She put the SIM card from her old Tracfone in it, and it said ‘SIM card rejected’. When I replaced my AT&T phone, all I had to do was put in my old SIM card and I was good to go.

What’s the deal?

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**Author:** ![ricksummon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ricksummon/32/3333_2.png) [@ricksummon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricksummon)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracfone-sim-card-rejected-message/669817/2 "2013-09-27T20:02:46Z")

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Tracfone doesn’t work that way. You’ll need to keep the new phone’s SIM card with the new phone, then go to [http://www.tracfone.com/](http://www.tracfone.com/) and select Activate Phone-\>Transfer Number. This should allow you to transfer your phone number and existing minutes to the new phone.

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**Author:** ![Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Backwater_Under_Duck)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2013, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracfone-sim-card-rejected-message/669817/3 "2013-09-28T00:23:53Z")

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It happens to me several times a week. I usually, as in, if I remember, turn my phone off every night. In the morning, it either starts right up, or I get that message. I turn the phone off and turn it right back on and it’s fine.