Assurance Wireless lets you bring your own phone to its free Lifeline plan. The phone must be unlocked and compatible with the T-Mobile network, and you get an Assurance SIM card or eSIM. Outside California, where Assurance no longer gives a free phone, bringing your own is usually the cheapest way to start.
This guide covers Assurance’s requirements, how to check whether your phone is compatible, unlocking, keeping your number, and setup. For bringing a phone to any Lifeline company, see bring your own phone to Lifeline. For the company overview, see our Assurance Wireless review.
Assurance Wireless BYOD requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Unlocked | The phone must be unlocked. Assurance’s compatibility check does not tell you if a phone is locked, so confirm with the carrier it came from |
| Compatible | Must work on T-Mobile’s network |
| Wi-Fi capable | Required (Assurance says this is an FCC requirement) |
| SIM | New Assurance SIM card or eSIM |
| Cost | No BYOD fee is listed; if your phone is not compatible, Assurance’s low-cost phones start at about $25 plus tax |
To keep your old number, you also need your previous carrier’s name, account number, account PIN and the number itself.
Is my phone compatible with Assurance Wireless?
Assurance does not publish a fixed list of compatible phones. Instead, it checks each phone by its IMEI, a 15-digit number unique to your device. Assurance’s BYOD page says most phones are compatible with a basic SIM or eSIM swap, but the check is the only way to know for sure.
Check your phone
- Dial *#06# (or look in Settings) to find your IMEI.
- Enter it in the compatibility check on Assurance’s BYOD page.
- Confirm the phone is unlocked with the carrier you bought it from. If it came from another Lifeline company, see can you unlock a free government phone.
- Check whether your phone supports eSIM, so you can set up faster.
If *#06# does not work, Assurance gives these menu paths:
| Phone | Where to find the IMEI |
|---|---|
| Android | Settings, then About Phone, then Status, then scroll to IMEI |
| iPhone | Settings, then General, then About, then scroll to IMEI |
| Windows phone | Windows key, then Settings, then Network and Internet, then Cellular, then Advanced Options |
Some phones show two IMEI numbers, one for each SIM slot. If the checker rejects one, call customer care before buying anything.
How to tell if your phone is locked
A locked phone only works with the carrier that sold it. Assurance’s checker will not flag this, so check before you order a SIM:
- Ask the original carrier. Call or check its website. Assurance says unlocking may require paying off any balance and usually takes several days.
- Try another carrier’s SIM. If you have a friend’s SIM from a different company, put it in. A “SIM not supported” message means the phone is locked.
- Look in Settings on an iPhone. Go to Settings, then General, then About. Apple says that if “No SIM restrictions” appears next to Carrier Lock, the iPhone is unlocked.
Phones from Lifeline companies are usually locked at first. Assurance’s own rule is that its phones can be unlocked after 12 months of active service; other companies set their own timelines.
Keep your phone number
To move your existing number to Assurance, have your previous carrier’s name, your account number and your account PIN ready, then call 1-888-321-5880. Assurance says you may have service on both carriers for up to 24 hours while the number moves. Do not cancel your old service before the move is done.
The full order Assurance gives:
- Collect your old carrier’s account number and port-out PIN. The number must still be active there.
- Back up contacts, voicemail and texts.
- Put the Assurance SIM in the phone.
- Call 1-888-321-5880 from a different phone to start the transfer.
- Wait for the confirmation text before canceling your old service.
If your old carrier was another Lifeline company, your discount moves too. Only one Lifeline discount is allowed per household, so the old company’s discount ends once Assurance’s starts; see the one-per-household rule.
Set up your own phone with Assurance
- Apply and get approved; see how to apply for Assurance Wireless. Choose bring your own phone when asked.
- Receive your SIM card or eSIM details.
- Insert the SIM, or add the eSIM over Wi-Fi.
- Follow the Assurance Wireless activation guide.
- Make a test call and send a text.
Existing customers switching to a phone they own can do it in My Account under Swap/Update Phone with the new IMEI.
SIM card or eSIM: which to choose
| Physical SIM | eSIM | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A small card you insert in the SIM tray | A digital SIM downloaded to the phone |
| What you need | A tray tool (Assurance includes one) | Wi-Fi and an eSIM-capable phone |
| Speed | Arrives by mail, then minutes to activate | Minutes over Wi-Fi |
| Best for | Older phones and phones without eSIM | Newer iPhones, Pixels, Samsungs and Motorolas |
For eSIM, a notification usually appears when your Assurance eSIM is ready. On an iPhone the manual path is Settings, then Cellular, then Add eSIM. Other brands are listed in the activation guide.
What works (and what may not) on your own phone
Calls, texts and data work on a compatible phone. Assurance’s BYOD page warns that some services, such as MMS (picture and group messages), may not work with Assurance on every phone. If picture messages matter to you, test them right after setup and call customer care if they fail.
Hotspot is included within your data allowance if your phone supports it.
Why bring your own phone to Assurance
- Skip the phone cost outside California.
- Use a better phone, including an iPhone, with the 10 GB free plan (12 GB in California and on Tribal lands).
- Use hotspot within your data allowance if the phone supports it.
Here is what the free plan gives you on your own device, per Assurance’s plans page:
| Plan | Data | Talk and text | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifeline, most states | 10 GB high-speed | Unlimited | $0 |
| California LifeLine | 12 GB high-speed | Unlimited | $0 |
| Tribal lands | 12 GB high-speed | Unlimited | $0 |
| Data Peace of Mind add-on | 15 GB (18 GB on Tribal lands) | Unlimited | $1 a month or $10 a year |
After the high-speed data runs out, speeds drop to about 600 kbps with no extra charge.
When bringing your own phone does not make sense
- The phone fails the IMEI check. No setting will fix that; you need a different phone.
- The old carrier will not unlock it yet. Assurance says unlocking can require paying off a balance and takes several days. If you need service now, a low-cost store phone may be faster.
- You live in California. Eligible California customers can get a phone at no cost from Assurance’s vendors, so bringing your own only helps if you prefer your current phone.
- Picture messages are a must and your phone cannot send them on Assurance. Test MMS early and ask customer care before you give up your old service.
Compatible phones for sale
If your phone fails the check, you do not have to guess which phone to buy. Phones sold in Assurance’s own online store, run by Quality One Wireless, are already compatible. The BYOD page mentions low-cost phones from about $25 plus tax; the store’s September 2026 list started at $55 (BLU X5+), with iPhones from $209. Stock changes, so check both.
If you buy a used phone elsewhere, make sure it is unlocked, not reported lost or stolen, and passes Assurance’s IMEI check before you pay.
If your phone does not pass the check, see Assurance Wireless phones and prices for low-cost options, or compare other companies’ networks in our Lifeline providers guide. Moving from another Lifeline company? A Lifeline transfer brings your benefit with you.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my own phone with Assurance Wireless? Yes. It must be unlocked, work on T-Mobile’s network, and have Wi-Fi. You get a free Assurance SIM or eSIM.
Is there an Assurance Wireless compatible phones list? No fixed list is published. Assurance checks each phone by IMEI on its BYOD page.
Will my iPhone work with Assurance Wireless? If it is unlocked and passes the IMEI check, yes. Newer iPhones can use an eSIM.
Does Assurance charge to bring your own phone? No BYOD fee is listed. The SIM or eSIM comes with your service.
What is the Assurance Wireless phone number for BYOD help? Call 1-888-321-5880, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central, every day. See Assurance Wireless customer service for other contacts.
Can I bring a phone from another Lifeline company? Yes, once it is unlocked and passes the check. Ask the old company about its unlock rules first.
For the program basics behind every free government phone, see how to apply for Lifeline. You qualify through income or programs such as SNAP.
Sources: Assurance Wireless: Bring your own device, Assurance Wireless: Switch service to another phone, Assurance Wireless: eSIM activation, Assurance Wireless: Plans, Assurance Wireless: Unlock, Assurance Wireless: Keep your current number, Assurance Wireless: SIM activation, Assurance Wireless: Phone options, Quality One Wireless: Assurance store, Apple: Unlock your iPhone for a different carrier, Assurance Wireless: Home.