Are you a new Google Fi Wireless user in the United States having an issue when activating your service? We can help! Click the button below to use our troubleshooter:
This article helps with Google Fi activation issues like SIM issues, iPhone setup, and self-service error codes and messages.
How to fix SIM card issues for Google Fi
- Double-check that you have a Google Fi SIM card.
- Make sure your device is carrier-unlocked and compatible with Google Fi .
- If you insert your SIM card and your phone displays “No SIM card:”
- Remove the SIM.
- Make sure the SIM is clean.
- Place it correctly in the tray.
- Restart your device.
- To restart your device, for at least 30 seconds, press and hold the Powerbutton.
- Make sure that the tray closes completely.
- For transfers from another carrier:
- Insert your previous SIM card.
- If your phone recognizes your previous card but not your Google Fi SIM, your phone might be carrier-locked.
- Contact your previous carrier for more information.
How to fix network issues after you transfer iPhone service to Google Fi
If your new iPhone is on, but you don’t have service:
- On your old iPhone, remove Google Fi SIMs. Learn how to delete your eSIMs and pSIMs .
- On your new iPhone, remove Google Fi SIMs. Learn how to delete your eSIMs and pSIMs
.
- If you have the Google Fi app on your new iPhone, delete the app. You can keep the Google Fi app on your old iPhone.
- Download eSIM to your new iPhone.
- Follow instructions at fi.google.com .
- Under "To transfer an eSIM," complete steps 2–5
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Tip:The inability to update network settings results in no connection
- Download the Google Fi app to your new iPhone.
Tip:When you download the app again from the App Store on your new iPhone, it guides you through the correct steps for eSIM activation. This includes port-in instructions and voicemail setup. Complete all steps of in-app activation .
How to check self-service error codes & messages in Google Fi
Learn why Google Fi doesn't support your device- To use Google Fi, you need an unlocked phone that's compatible with Google Fi. Check your phone's compatibility .
- If you bought your Google Fi phone through Google Fi or the Google Store, your device is unlocked.
- If you brought your own device to Google Fi, to make sure your phone is unlocked, contact your carrier.
- Make sure you don't owe any payments on your device. To unlock your device, your carrier can also ask you to take other steps.
Make sure that your phone is compatible with Google Fi. Check your phone's compatibility . Then, make sure you properly install your SIM card .
If you have a Pixel 2 and up, you can remove your physical SIM card and start your eSIM activation.
If you contact support because of unexpected SIM notifications or your device shows 2 active Google Fi SIMs, you must take the following steps:
- Remove any Google Fi physical SIM cards.
- Download the Google Fi app
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- To activate or reactivate with an eSIM, complete the steps.
- If unexpected SIM behavior persists after the physical SIM card is removed and reactivation is completed, reboot the device.
Check your device’s eligibility and go through the sign-up flow . Make sure to use the same Google Account that you use to sign up for Google Fi.
For full connectivity, update your Google Fi app to the latest version.
- On your device, open the Play Store app.
- At the top right, tap your Profile picture or Initial Manage apps & data Updates available.
- On the list, select the Google Fi app
- Tap Update.
- If you find "Open" instead of "Update" next to the app, the app is already up to date.
Check if your device can activate with eSIM. Check your phone's compatibility .
If compatible, you can remove your physical SIM card and start your eSIM activation.
If your device can’t use eSIM and you must replace your SIM card, order a replacement on your Google Fi account.
- On your device, sign in to Google Fi.
- Select Order SIM card.
To activate Google Fi talk and text service, follow the instructions in the:
- Google Fi app
- Setup Wizard flow on Android
Tip:Do not download the Google Fi app on devices intended for data-only SIM use. You can’t activate Google Fi service with a data-only SIM card or eSIM. Learn how data-only SIMs work .
If you get this error code, the instructions should pop up on your device:
“To get Google Fi service on this device, first, remove the current SIM card, and replace it with one supported for this device. What SIMs are supported? If you ordered this device from Google Fi, use the SIM that we sent along with this device.”
If you don’t have the newest version of the SIM, pick one up at an authorized third-party provider or order a SIM card .
Your sign up process is incomplete. To complete the process:
- On your device’s browser, go to fi.google.com/signup .
- Complete the sign-up flow.
Tip:After you sign up, the browser redirects to the "Account Management" page.
If you try to activate Google Fi too many times, as a security measure to protect your account, we temporarily block the process. You can try again in a few days.
Before you use Google Fi internationally, activate it within the US.
We grant exceptions for:
- Active or reserve military who serve abroad.
- State Department employees who serve abroad.
- Dependents who are part of the same group plan.
Learn about military & state department exceptions .
If this applies to you, verify your government status . After SheerID verifies you, you can activate Google Fi outside the US.
Turn off your virtual private network (VPN) and try the activation steps again. After we activate your service, you can turn the VPN back on. Learn how to turn the VPN on or off .
Your phone can't be activated at this time. For assistance, contact the person or location where you purchased the device.
If you reach the maximum of 6 members on your plan, you can’t add another one in the current billing cycle. Even if a previous member is removed, to add a different member, you need to wait until the end of the billing cycle.
Number lock is turned on.
You need to turn off "Number lock" to successfully activate. Once fully activated, you can turn it back on.
- On your device, sign in to your Google Fi account.
- Under "Phone settings," select Privacy & security.
- Under "Number lock," select Sign in to manage Number lock.
- Re-enter your account credentials.
- Turn off Number lock.
You may be trying to activate a permanently inactive or deactivated physical SIM card. If your device:
- Is eSIM-compatible:
- Isn’t eSIM-compatible:
- Order a SIM card .
- Try to activate with a new SIM card.
Your eSIM is likely unusable.
- For activation to work, use a SIM card or a different device.
- If you don’t have a SIM card, order a SIM card .
This error code indicates an eSIM activation issue.
- Update your device OS.
- Retry the eSIM activation steps.
- If the activation is unsuccessful:
- If your device has a physical SIM card slot:
- To activate, use a Google Fi SIM card. You can order a SIM card at fi.google.com/ordersim
.
- This can apply to most recent Pixel and Samsung devices that support both eSIMs and SIM cards.
- This doesn’t apply to Pixel 10 devices in the US, which support eSIMs only.
- To activate, use a Google Fi SIM card. You can order a SIM card at fi.google.com/ordersim
.
- If your device is eSIM-only, like Pixel 10:
- Purchased from Google Fi or Google Store: Contact Google Fi support to request a replacement device.
- Purchased from a third-party retailer:Switch to a different device.
- If your device has a physical SIM card slot:
Make sure your device has a Wi-Fi connection and try again. If the problem continues, contact Google Fi Support .
Close and reopen the Google Fi app.
- Restart your phone.
- Retry the activation process.
- For physical SIM card errors, insert the SIM card firmly. If this doesn’t work:
- If the device is eSIM-compatible, activate with eSIM .
- To rule out SIM hardware issues, test the SIM card with another phone.
- Get a new SIM card .
If you encounter this error with eSIM activation, the device may have eSIM hardware issues. Try a physical SIM card.
If your phone can't connect to the internet, we can't turn on your Google Fi service. Check your internet connection and try again.
Update your device:
- On your device, go to the Play Store.
- Select the Google Fi app
- Install any available updates.
Troubleshoot the issue:
- Confirm that your device has a Wi-Fi connection.
- Try the activation process again.
- Confirm that your Google Fi app and Android don’t need any updates.
- If they do, install any available updates.
- Restart your phone.
Turn off airplane mode:
- On your device, open Settings.
- Select Network & Internet.
- Turn off Airplane mode.
- When the switch is to the left and appears gray, “Airplane mode” is off.
- Open the Google Fi app.
- Try the activation steps again.
If a different Wi-Fi connection is available, try to connect to it.
When you connect to Wi-Fi:
- Open the Google Fi app.
- Try the activation steps again.
If the problem continues, contact support.
Turn on mobile data:
- On your device, open Settings.
- Select Network & Internet Mobile network.
- Turn on Mobile data.
- When the switch is to the right, “Mobile data” is on.
- Open the Google Fi app.
- Try the activation steps again.
This error code shows when you can’t activate the physical SIM card.
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Restart your device.
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Retry the activation steps.
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If it doesn't work:
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In your account, order a replacement SIM card .
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If your device is eSIM compatible, activate with eSIM .
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These error codes indicate an eSIM activation error.
- Check updates for Android OS and the Google Fi app
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Restart your device.
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Connect your device to a stable Wi-Fi network.
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Retry the activation steps.
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If your device has a physical SIM card slot, try a SIM card.
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If you don’t have a SIM card, order a SIM card .
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Restart your device and retry the activation process. If the problem continues, contact Google Fi support .
This is an internal error.
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Confirm that your device is supported on Google Fi.
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Confirm that you installed all available OS updates for your device.
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On your device, open Settings.
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Tap About phone System updates Check for updates.
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Make sure that you don’t use any third-party apps.
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To check all permissions of Google Play services:
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On your device, open Settings.
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Tap Apps notifications Google Play Services Permissions.
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Restart the device.
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Remove your SIM card.
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Clear Google Fi app data.
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Reinsert your SIM card.
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To manually switch to T-Mobile, use the dialer code:
*#*#FITMO#*#*or*#*#34866#*#* -
In your Google Fi account, order a replacement SIM card .
This error indicates that you tried eSIM activation on a locked carrier device.
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Upgrade your device to the latest OS version.
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Retry the activation steps.
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If the issue persists and you also can’t activate your device with a physical SIM card:
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For Bring Your Own Device (BYOD):To request an unlock, contact the carrier where you previously purchased your device.
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For Pixel devices purchased from a carrier channel:This includes purchases made from the Google Store where you selected a specific carrier, like Verizon. The device may be locked to that carrier in accordance with the carrier’s policies.
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If you still have issues or can’t find your error code here, contact Google Fi support .
