Tello Mobile Activate | Activating Tello Mobile Service

Step 1: The Online Activation (Required First)

Before you even put the SIM in your phone, you must link it to your account.

Log in to your Tello My Account.
Go to the “My SIM” or “Activation” section.
Physical SIM: Enter the Activation Code (found on the back of the SIM card or the card it was punched out of).
eSIM: If you chose an eSIM, you will see a QR Code in your account dashboard.
Follow the prompts to select your new Tello number (or start the process to port in your old one).

Power off your phone.
Insert the 3-in-1 SIM (Nano, Micro, or Mini) into your device.
Power the phone back on. It should automatically pick up the T-Mobile network (Tello’s carrier partner).

iPhone: Go to Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM and scan the QR code from your Tello dashboard.
Android: Go to Settings > Network & Internet > SIMs > Add+ > Download a SIM instead and scan the QR code.
Make sure you are connected to a stable Wi-Fi network during this step.

Most modern phones will automatically configure the APN settings. If your data or texting isn’t working after 10 minutes:

Android: Go to Settings > Mobile Network > Access Point Names and ensure it is set to fast.t-mobile.com.
iPhone: Most settings are locked and handled by the carrier automatically. Simply restart the phone.

Porting Your Number: You cannot port your number until after you have activated the SIM with a temporary Tello number. Once the SIM is active, go to “Port In” in your dashboard.
US-Only Activation: As of recently, Tello requires you to be within the USA to activate the service for the first time. If you are abroad, users have had success using a VPN and Wi-Fi Calling, but it is officially unsupported.
VoLTE: Ensure “VoLTE” or “HD Calling” is toggled ON in your cellular settings, as Tello relies on this for all calls.