Do you need to give Cricket the IMEI of the phone when changing it?

[gandroidx95]

I am under my dad's family plan (5 lines for $100). Every one of us have BYOD phones (unlocked phones we bought online). I want to change my phone with another unlocked phone I just purchased. The cricket rep (LIVE CHAT) said that they need the IMEI for the new phone. I thought Cricket was just like a regular GSM carrier where you can just swap sims in different phones. Anyone know more about this or can clarify? Thanks.

[SMMC]

I am under my dad's family plan (5 lines for $100). Every one of us have BYOD phones (unlocked phones we bought online). I want to change my phone with another unlocked phone I just purchased. The cricket rep (LIVE CHAT) said that they need the IMEI for the new phone. I thought Cricket was just like a regular GSM carrier where you can just swap sims in different phones. Anyone know more about this or can clarify? Thanks.

No you do not need the IMEI. Take your sim out of your previous phone & put it in your current phone. Eventually the network will update your account with your new IMEI. If you give it to Cricket before it updates automatically, that's ok. It will update your account to make sure you're getting all the features that are compatible with your phone that Cricket allows.

Sent from my SM-G930U using HoFo mobile app

[AutoOnion]

Not thats unique to metropcs

[gandroidx95]

Thank you both for your help and clarifying this I greatly appreciate it!

[zapjb]

I always refuse to give IMEI to any GSM carrier/MVNO I've dealt with.

In some instances the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is up to.
So I won't provide it just in case.

[ecs0013]

Cricket, like AT&T will put the IMEI onto your account to "detect" the device - a rep can do it or it will get picked up shortly after using your new device. This is for both the system that polices unauthorized devices on plans (hotspots, cellular modems) or to provision additional features that some devices get (iPhone visual voicemail, hotspot, etc.)

[seiyafan]

Will the phone automatically update it's APN settings?

[Mandelstamm1]

Will the phone automatically update it's APN settings?

It should but I have had to manually update APN at times on Cricket and T-mobile. Never on native AT&T.


Sent from my SHT-W09 using HoFo mobile app

[dafone]

I am under my dad's family plan (5 lines for $100). Every one of us have BYOD phones (unlocked phones we bought online). I want to change my phone with another unlocked phone I just purchased. The cricket rep (LIVE CHAT) said that they need the IMEI for the new phone. I thought Cricket was just like a regular GSM carrier where you can just swap sims in different phones. Anyone know more about this or can clarify? Thanks.

I've popped SIMs from phone to phone for various testing and such. Never called CS and never had an issue. The system automatically recognizes it and does the right thing.

[mtr999]

I just moved my nano SIM from 7 plus (sold) to iPhone XR last week without calling anybody, the XR works like normal, LTE shows up the minute I pop the SIM in. Everything works , so I don’t know why you have to call and give imei . Been doing this way when changing phone for like 2 1/2 years

[blacksurfer]

iPhones APN update automatically and some androids needs to be updated manually to get data and mms