How can i get my verizon iphone to work on straight talk

Using a Verizon iPhone 5 with Straight Talk Wireless

In today’s article a reader asks what she needs to do to use her Verizon iPhone 5 with Straight Talk Wireless.

A reader, Katie, asks..

I have a Verizon iPhone 5 that I want to switch over to Straight talk. I already have the micro sims card and an activated iPhone 4s though Straight talk. I have called numerous times and I keep being told I can’t switch it over, but reading these posts make me believe I can. So how do I do it? Is there specific steps I have to do or what. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Yes, you can use your Verizon iPhone 5 with Straight Talk Wireless. Let me try to explain clearly.

Your Verizon iPhone 5 has a SIM slot on the side and you can use either Straight Talk’s AT&T network-compatible SIM or Straight’s Talk T-Mobile network-compatible SIM. In most cases, Straight Talk’s AT&T network-compatible SIM is the better choice, as long as you check to see if the AT&T network has reasonable service where you live, work, or use your phone most. You can check the AT&T web site for coverage maps, but I also recommend you ask family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues if they are using AT&T and if it works well in your area.

You mentioned you already have some micro SIMs. The iPhone 5 uses a nano SIM. Your micro SIMs are too big fit in your phone. You can either buy a nano SIM, or cut the micro SIM to fit. For more details about the SIM, see:

You mentioned that you already have a iPhone 4s with Straight Talk. It’s not clear to me if you simply want to upgrade from the 4s to the iPhone 5. If that is the case, you can either cut the SIM to fit the iPhone 5 or transfer the service from your current micro SIM to a new nano SIM. You can buy the SIM on the Straight Talk website for $7. If you buy the BYOP activation kit in Walmart its $60, but it includes a $45 30 day service card. If you are setting up a new account, not just replacing the iPhone 4s, let me know and I can share a few other tips. You can transfer your service from the old SIM to the new SIM from your account on the Straight Talk website. I’ve done it before, it was pretty quick and easy.

Your iPhone 5 with work with a Straight Talk SIM, but you will only get a 4G data connection, and your phone’s status bar will only display a 3G indicator. If you are using this phone with Verizon, you may notice you are getting a 4G LTE data connection. You won’t get LTE with the SIM because this model iPhone 5 is only compatible with Verizon’s 4G LTE network, not ATT’s or TMobile’s LTE network. The data speeds will be similar to your iPhone 4s. Your iPhone will display a 3G indicator because they removed the 4G indicator from the phone with a software update last year. See I Updated My iPhone to Net10 & Straight Talk Carrier Update TFW 15.7 and Now My 4G Is Only 3G!

If you are comfortable buying and selling on Craig’s List or eBay, you could sell your iPhone 5 and buy an ATT or unlocked GSM iPhone 5 and then you would get LTE. Depending the price you sell your phone for, and the price of the phone you buy, you might be able to break even on the deal.

The reason Straight Talk is telling you can’t switch your iPhone 5 over is because its a Verizon iPhone. In addition to leasing airtime ATT and TMobile network, Straight Talk also leases time on the Verizon network. Their business arrangement with Verizon prevents them from activating your iPhone 5 on Straight Talk’s Verizon network. Their technical support team is either unaware that you can use the phone with Straight Talk’s AT&T network-compatible SIM or Straight’s Talk T-Mobile network-compatible SIM or they just avoid the issue. Even if you could use your iPhone 5 on Straight Talk’s verizon network, you would only get a 3G data connection. Verizon does not allow any of the prepaid wireless companies to use their 4G LTE network at this time. Straight Talk even sells iPhone 5, it uses their Verizon network and it only gets 3G data.

I hope this helps, let me know if you have more questions.

Are you still looking for more about using your Verizon iPhone with Straight Talk Wireless? Read my latest and most up to date articles