7 Sure Tips To Fix ‘TextNow SIM Card Not Working’

Last Updated on January 16, 2024 by Ron D. Morgan

If you’ve tried activating the TextNow SIM Card and it’s not working, no need to panic just yet. It’s most likely a minor issue with you need to fix to get the SIM Card working in no time.

But in a nutshell, if your TextNow SIM card is not working, it could be that you’ve not activated the SIM card, or that your phone is not compatible.

This post outlines some of the possible reasons your TextNow SIM Card is not working. Also, you will find quick tips to help you fix the issue in no time.

Why Is My TextNow SIM Card Not Working?

These are some of the most likely reasons why your SIM card is not working.

a. Error In SIM Card Placement

Incorrect SIM Card placement may be the reason why your SIM card is not working. When the SIM Card is not placed correctly, the SIM card can’t connect with the TextNow network. Your TextNow SIM card should be placed to sync with your phone’s internal connectors.

The correct way to place your SIM card depends on the device you are using. For instance, the SIM card placement method for an iPhone is different from that of a Samsung phone or other Android phones. We will provide a quick fix for SIM Card placement in the latter part of this post.

b. SIM Card Not Activated

It could be that you have not completed the activation process, or you have completed the activation process but it didn’t go through. This happens sometimes for no reason. Or it could be that your TexNow SIM card has been deactivated.

To fix this, you need to activate the SIM card again.

c. Device On Flight Mode

Most people are guilty of this. It could be that you mistakenly toggled the airplane or flight mode option on your SIM card. Your phone can’t connect to the network if the device is in flight mode.

That means that you can’t access any of the TextNow services when your device is in flight mode. But you can connect to a wireless network and access the internet on your device.

The solution is to turn off the flight mode option on your device.  

d. Phone Not Compatible

Phone compatibility is very essential to using the TextNow service. Some phones or devices are not compatible with the TextNow service.

If your phone or device falls under the category of devices that are incompatible with the TextNow service, the TextNow SIM card won’t work on the phone.

e. Outdated Phone Software

Another reason could be that the software powering your phone is outdated. The software is known as firmware. It is the software that powers the hardware on your phone or device.

Leaving the software outdated for a long while can affect the functionality of your phone. That includes the SIM Card functionality.

To fix this, you need to check for new firmware updates. Check the latter part of this post on how to update firmware on your phone.

f. Minor Glitch or Bugs On Phone

Minor bugs and glitches can also affect the major functionality of your phone, and that includes the SIM card functionality. The bugs can be caused by leaving many apps and programs running in the background for a long while.

How To Get My TextNow SIM Card To Start Working

These are some of the tips to try to fix the issue in no time. Note that, you may have to implement a couple of tips to resolve the issue, especially, if you don’t know the exact issue with the SIM Card.

a. Check SIM Card Placement

The first fix is to check the SIM Card placement. Open the SIM Card tray on your phone and check the placement. The SIM card should be placed to sync with the internal connectors on your device.

As we mentioned earlier, the SIM card placement will depend solely on the type and model of the device. For most Android phones, the SIM Card should be placed on to face now. But for an iPhone, the SIM card is usually placed face up.

b. Activate Your TextNow SIM Card

Whether you just got a new TextNow SIM card kit or you are trying to transfer the SIM card to another phone, you need to complete the activation process. Follow the steps below to activate your TextNow SIM Card. Check out this tutorial on How To Activate TextNow SIM Card. 

c. Remove Device From Flight Mode

Check to see if your device is in flight mode. To know if your device is in flight mode, check the network signal bars. You will see an Airplane Icon beside the network bars if your device is in flight mode. Follow the below to remove your device from flight mode.

To remove an Android phone from airplane mode, Swipe Down to show the Top Menu. If the airplane/ flight icon is active, tap on the icon to remove the device from airplane mode.

To remove your phone from flight mode on iPhone, open the Top Menu by Swiping down from the top screen. You will see the airplane accord. If the airplane/ flight icon is active, tap on the icon to remove the device from airplane mode.

d. Check For Phone Compatibility

The next tip is to check if your device is compatible with the TextNow service. To do that, go to the TextNow Device Checker, Enter your Phone’s IMEI Code, and Click on Check My Phone.

First, you need to find your phone’s IMEI number. To find the IMEI number on an Android phone, go to Settings> About Phone> Status. To find the IMEI number on the iPhone, go to Settings> General> About.

e. Update Phone Software

To check for and update to the latest firmware version on your phone do this. Connect your phone to a Wireless Network> Go to Settings> Tap on About Phone> Select Check For Updates> Select Install> Wait for some minutes for the installation process to complete

f. Restart Phone

The idea here is to perform a power cycle on your phone to fix minor glitches and bugs on your device. To do this, press the Power Button to turn off your phone. Wait for 30 seconds, and turn on the phone.

g. Contact TextNow Customer Support

If none of the tips have worked so far, it is most like your TextNow SIM card is damaged. Your next option is to contact the TextNow customer support team via their Support page.

Summary

Conclusion

All the tips you need to fix your TextNow SIM card not working have been outlined in detail in this post. Have you tried any of the tips that worked for you, please drop which one in the comment section. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6OpIAtd-84&t=104s

Ron D. Morgan

Hi, I’m Ron D. Morgan. TECODY IS MY BRAINCHILD. I’ve worked in a tech startup in the last 7 years. I decided to branch out and start TECODY as a side project to provide tech troubleshooting tips for readers.

Got my two friends who are Nerd Heads too and here we are. The aim here is to provide readers with accurate info to help them resolve basic troubleshooting issues with Network and devices. You can always reach out to us via our Contact Us Page.