How to Activate Your Visible Phone Service

Alissa Bird Staff Writer

Updated 03 April 2025

Contents

In this guide:

Before activation
Activating with a SIM
Activating with an eSIM
Transfer Visible to a new phone
Having activation issues

Need help getting your Visible service up and running? Afraid you’re going to lose your number or miss an important call in the process? Activating service with a new carrier can be spooky. Let me demystify the process for you.

I activated Visible service myself, and while porting my phone number from another carrier was a little tricky, the rest of the steps were straightforward. From prepping your phone for activation to choosing a SIM, I’ll walk you through the process.

Before activation: Creating your Visible account

You’ve made the switch to Visible. Smart move! Switching to Visible means saving big bucks on your phone plan while remaining on Verizon's award-winning 4G and 5G LTE networks. I like the carrier so much that I made the switch myself.

Visible likes to keep things simple, including its activation process. But before tying the knot, you need to create your Visible account. This process includes picking a phone plan, choosing a SIM, bringing your number or getting a new one, and preparing your phone for activation.

Why I switched to Visible

I am a long-time fan of MVNOs—small carriers that boast generous savings. After four years with Google Fi, an MVNO running on T-Mobile’s network, I decided to move to Visible. My decision was two-fold. For one, Visible’s base unlimited plan was half the price of Google Fi’s cheapest unlimited plan, and secondly, Verizon had better service in my area. You can hear more about why I switched over at our full Visible review.

Pick a Visible plan

Creating your Visible account includes picking a phone plan. Visible keeps it simple with their unlimited plans:

$25/month Visible base plan
$35/month Visible+ plan, with more perks like unlimited premium data
$45/month Visible+ Pro plan with unlimited premium data and international benefits

I opted for the $25/month plan because I wanted a cheap plan with unlimited talk, text, and data. Since I am not a big data user, and use Wi-Fi for most of my internet needs, I stuck with the base plan as opposed to the Visible+ and +Pro plans that guarantee unlimited premium data every month. You can learn more about all of Visible’s options on our in-depth Visible plan guide.

#1	Visible	Visible $25 Visible Plan Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data Verizon 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices Unlimited mobile hotspot data $25.00/mo Taxes & Fees included View Plan	$25.00/mo Taxes & Fees included	View Plan
#2	Visible	Visible $35 Visible+ Plan Unlimited 5G Ultra Wideband and 4G LTE/ 5G speeds Verizon 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices Unlimited mobile hotspot data $35.00/mo Taxes & Fees included View Plan	$35.00/mo Taxes & Fees included	View Plan
#3	Visible	Visible $45 Visible+ Pro Plan Unlimited 5G Ultra Wideband and 4G LTE/ 5G speeds Verizon 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices Unlimited mobile hotspot data $45.00/mo Taxes & Fees included View Plan	$45.00/mo Taxes & Fees included	View Plan

Choose a physical SIM or eSIM

A SIM card is a personal identification code that connects you and your device to a cellular network. When you set up your Visible account, you can activate your service using a physical SIM card or an eSIM.

While most people are likely familiar with SIM cards, those teeny tiny microchips you slip into that secret tray in your phone, others may be less acquainted with eSIMs. With newer smartphones, eSIMs (Embedded Subscriber Identity Modules) come digitally built in. With an eSIM, you can switch carriers without waiting for a SIM card to arrive in the mail.

When choosing between a SIM and an eSIM, first check that your phone is eSIM compatible. At the end of the day, we can show you how to activate your Visible service using a physical SIM or eSIM. (More on this later).

Bring your number or get a new one

During the activation process, you can bring your current phone number to Visible—also known as “porting”—or accept a new one. Visible will walk you through the porting process (as will I), but you can better prepare by having some basic information from your current carrier. Visible will want your:

Account number
PIN
Zip code

Instructions for finding this information vary by carrier; in my experience, I had to contact customer service.

Prepare your phone for activation

After picking a plan, a SIM, and a phone number, these final steps will ensure a smoother activation process later on.

If you haven't already done so, update your phone with the most current software to make sure you’re on the latest version of iOS or Android.
Ensure your device is compatible with Visible’s network and that it is unlocked.
Download the Visible app.
Have your phone ready by:
1. Making sure it’s charged.
2. Connecting to Wi-Fi (ensure your connection is solid).

Be sure to check out our guide on switching to Visible for more details on this process.

Can I activate the Visible service without the app?

You can’t currently activate your Visible plan without the Visible app. While you can create your Visible account on a desktop computer, you will need the app to complete the activation process. Be sure to download the Visible app for iOS or Android if you haven’t already done so.

Activate Visible with a SIM card

If you decide to activate your Visible service using a physical SIM card, Visible will mail you one. While it can take 3-5 business days for your SIM to arrive, most Reddit users say they got theirs within 24-48 hours.

With your SIM in hand, you are ready to start the activation process. Both Android and iPhone users can follow these instructions:

Insert your SIM card. For instructions on how to do this, follow our guide.
Log in to your Visible app and select Go to Activation.
Review your selected phone plan and your preferred payment method, making any changes as necessary.
Tap Activate and follow the steps outlined—this includes porting your current phone number if you choose to do so.

Completing these steps will activate your Visible service, but don’t be surprised if you don’t have service immediately. It can take up to 30 minutes to get a solid connection. (It took only about 5 minutes for me.)

Activate Visible with an eSIM

Whether you have an iPhone or Android phone, activating Visible using an eSIM is just a couple of taps away. The best part is that there's no waiting for a SIM to come in the mail!

The process differs slightly based on which phone type you have—we’ll run through the instructions for both below.

Activating your Visible eSIM with an iPhone

I went through the eSIM activation process myself using an iPhone. Here’s what you do:

Log in to your Visible app. Visible will automatically pick up where you left off during your account setup.

Your Visible app will pick up where you left off during setup.
Image: Alissa Bird
Follow the instructions to activate your Visible service, which include:
- Verifying your email address.
- Confirming your device by its IMEI number.
- Updating your personal information.
- Choosing to keep or create your phone number.
  1. Note: If you choose to keep your number, you will still create a new temporary one while Visible requests access to your current number. Rest assured, you can transfer your current number when everything is said and done.
  2. Complete your plan purchase. From here, follow the prompts to remove your old SIM and activate your new eSIM.
  3. With activation almost complete, you can transfer your old phone number if you want to keep it. When you see the screen reading Almost Done, select the box Transfer your number. You will need the Account number and PIN associated with your now-previous cell carrier.

Alissa Bird

Staff Writer

Alissa is an essayist turned tech writer committed to translating the wireless world for the everyday reader. When she’s not researching cell phone plans, Alissa enjoys reading, playing with her toddler, and visiting the best restaurants around San Diego.

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