Get more from your phone with the SafeLink Bring Your Own Phone program. Switch to SafeLink and bring your existing phone to our network to enjoy free monthly data, minutes, and texts.
SafeLink Wireless is a Tracfone brand and a major provider of Lifeline and ACP participants. The company provides free government phones to eligible low-income households under these government assistance programs to help them get access to free or discounted internet.
SafeLink also offers the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program that allows you to bring your device to SafeLink and use its services if your device is functional with Tracfone’s network.
However, bring your own device facility is available to only those households who qualify for free phone services under the SafeLink Lifeline and ACP programs.
If you are a Lifeline or ACP beneficiary and wish to bring your own device to the SafeLink network, please go on reading our post, “SafeLink Bring Your Own Phone-How it works.”
This article will provide a detailed guide on bringing your device to SafeLink, including eligibility, the application process, SafeLink-compatible phones, and more.
So, without further delay, let’s begin.
How am I eligible for Safelink Wireless BYOP?
As mentioned, to be eligible to apply for SafeLink wireless government phones and to bring your phone to SafeLink, you must participate and qualify for the Lifeline and ACP programs since this carrier is one the main providers of Lifeline and ACP benefits.
You can qualify for Lifeline and ACP programs if you fulfill the eligibility requirements for these programs.
The primary conditions to apply for these programs are :
- You should be 18.
- You must be a state resident where the SafeLink Lifeline and ACP program is functional.
You may check further eligibility for these programs if you are eligible for these two conditions.
Income eligibility
You can qualify for the SafeLink Lifeline program on an income basis if your annual income is at or below 135% of your state’s federal poverty guidelines.
Program eligibility
If you do not qualify via income criteria, you can qualify on a program basis if you or any family member are beneficiaries of any government programs listed below.
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit
If you belong to Tribal-land, you may qualify for the SafeLink Lifeline program on the following program participation basis.
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
- Tribal Head Start (Only households or individuals who meet the much-needed income qualifying standard are eligible)
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF)
Please note that you must fulfill any one eligibility requirement to qualify for the SafeLink Lifeline program to be able to get SafeLink Bring Your Own Phone service.
To qualify for the SafeLink ACP program, your annual household income must be at or below 200% of your state’s federal poverty guidelines limit.
If you do not meet income conditions, you can qualify for SafeLink ACP if you are a beneficiary of one of the government-aided programs listed above.
SafeLink Bring Your Own Phone Compatibility
SafeLink Bring Your Own Phone service requires you to fulfill certain eligibility for SafeLink services.
Your device must be unlocked
The device you are bringing to SafeLink must be carrier unlocked. If your device says, “Contact service provider,” “Restricted,” or it does not allow you to access your phone book or make calls, then there exists a possibility that it is locked.
Therefore, you can contact your previous service provider and request them to unlock your phone, and in the future, if you decide to move from Safelink, it also offers a similar Safelink phone unlocking procedure
Functional with SafeLink network
The device you bring should be compatible with the SafeLink network.
The eligibility of your device is checked during the application process. Unlike other carriers, SafeLink does not have a particular page on its website to check the compatibility of your device with its network.
Rather, this is done at the time of application.
You can check your device compatibility online at the time of application, or you can visit the nearest SafeLink store to learn about your device compatibility with SafeLink.
You can locate the nearest SafeLink retailer store by visiting safelink.com/wps/portal/home/retailers.
If you want to check your device compatibility online during the application, it is done after you submit the application form.
When your phone is eligible for SafeLink Bring Your Own Phone service, you will be notified within a couple of days, and then you can apply for a SafeLink activation kit.
What is Safelink Bring Your Own Phone
SafeLink BYOP means bringing your current phone from another carrier to the SafeLink network to use its services.
Normally, phone providers offer a locked phone with their SIM card to work only on their network. If you bring your phone to SafeLink, you switch your current carrier to SafeLink wireless.
However, your previous carrier must unlock the phone you are bringing. If your phone gets stolen or lost, you can upgrade your SafeLink phone to get the SafeLink services.
Moreover, you can buy a replacement phone from SafeLink or a replacement SIM card to work with your unlocked phone.
Safelink Bring Your Own Phone – Application process
Before you begin your application, please ensure you have all the necessary documentation, like ID, tax report, or Social Security number.
You must also ensure that you are not participating in the Lifeline Assistance program with another carrier to complete your application successfully.
Please keep in mind this is also the same procedure to apply for a Safelink Wireless free tablet.
The steps to achieve Safelink Bring Your Own Phone are as under.
- The first step is to visit SafeLink Wireless’s official website at https://www.safelinkwireless.com.
- The next step includes entering your ZIP code in the box next to the “Apply Now.”
- After entering your code, click on the “Start” icon.
- You will see a page containing the Lifeline assistance program details.
- We recommend you carefully read the complete instructions before clicking “Continue.”
- After reading, start the application process by clicking “continue.”
The SafeLink Bring Your Own Phone application form has the following steps to fill up.
- Fill up your personal information.
- Provide your current address.
- Confirm your eligibility for SafeLink BYOP service.
- Provide the device details you wish to bring to SafeLink.
- Finally, revise your application form and submit it.
- Your application for SadeLink Bring Your Own Phone is completed.
The Safelink Wireless team will examine your application and respond within a couple of days. If your phone is compatible with SafeLink carrier, you can apply for the Safelink SIM activation kit.
SafeLink SIM Activation Kit
You must apply for the SafeLink SIM activation kit after successfully completing the SafeLink Bring Your Own Phone application process.
This SIM activation kit is functional with CDMA phones with nano, micro, or standard SIM cards.
SafeLink SIM activation kit is free of charge and provided to you at your mail address within a couple of days after you submit the application form.
You need to install the SIM card in your phone immediately after you receive the SafeLink SIM card.
To get help with the SIM card installation, you can call the SafeLink technical support team at
1-800-378-1684 and request to guide through the SIM installation process. Once you install your SIM card, you must activate it on the SafeLink wireless network.
What Phones Are Compatible With Safelink
To successfully achieve SafeLink Bring Your Own Phone service, you must have a phone functional with the SafeLink network.
Several Android, iPhone, and Flip models are compatible with the SafeLink network.
Here, we have provided a list of phones compatible with the SafeLink Wireless network.
SafeLink-compatible Android Phone
- Google Pixel 4 XL
- Samsung Galaxy
- Samsung Galaxy Fold
- S20 Samsung Galaxy Note10 Lte
- Moto G8 Power
- TCL 10 Pro
SafeLink-compatible iPhones
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Max Pro
- iPhone SE (2nd Generation-2020)
SafeLink-compatible Flip Phone
- LG 221C
- LG 410G
- LG 420G
- LG 235C
- LG 221C
- LG 430G
How Do You Identify What Network Is Your Phone
If you are unsure about your phone’s network, you can contact your current provider to get all the details for your device and network.
Generally, the phones purchased from the provider display their logo during startup. But if you need help identifying your network, please get help from your current provider.
Also, you must ensure your device compatibility with the Tracfone network in case you wish to switch to SafeLink.
To do the same, you can contact SafeLink or text “BYOD” to 611611 to verify if your phone is functional with the SafeLink network.
What Benefits Do I Get If I Bring My Own Phone To Safelink Wireless?
You are entitled to the following benefits if you bring your phone to SafeLink wireless.
- Unlimited talk
- 350 voice minutes
- 4.5GB of monthly data
- Free SIM card
- Voicemail services
- Free access to 911
- 3-way calling
- Caller ID
- 411 directory Assistance at no extra cost
- Nationwide coverage on America’s best network
The citizens of California are entitled to the following benefits with SafeLink Bring Your Own Phone service.
- Unlimited voice minutes
- Free access to 911
- Free SIM card
- 3-way calling
- Unlimited texts
- 6GB of mobile data monthly
- Voicemail services
- 411 directory Assistance at no added cost
- Caller ID
Frequently Asked Questions
How often can I get a new phone with SafeLink?
If your Safelink Wireless phone is lost or stolen, you can get a replacement once every 12 months.
How much does a BYOP SIM card kit cost?
BYOP SIM card kit is free of charge as long as you are qualified for the SafeLink services.
How can I check the SafeLink BYOP IMEI number?
SafeLink BYOP IMEI number is your phone’s IMEI number that you need to check before you bring your phone to the SafeLink network.
To know your device IMEI, please dial *#06# with your device. You will get a 15-digit number on your screen, your phone’s IMEI number.
To get the IMEI number on your iPhone, the steps are as follows:
- Open “settings” on your device.
- Select the “general” option.
- Choose the “About” option.
- Scroll down to see your phone’s IMEI number.
Can I keep my old phone number when I get the SafeLink BYOP service?
Yes. As long as you are eligible for SafeLink services, you can port your existing phone number to SafeLink services. For this, apply for the SIM activation kit.
Once you get it, don’t hesitate to get in touch with SafeLink customer support at
1-800-378-1684 and tell them you wish to port your existing phone number. The SafeLink representative will help you in the process.
Does SafeLink provide WIFI calling?
Yes. SafeLink provides wifi calling only in specific localities and on a few handsets.
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