These instructions are for activating a new or upgraded basic feature phone or hotspot with AT&T services. Technology Services will order the phone and depending on the situation, AT&T may ship the phone directly to you.
Instructions Apply To
These instructions are for basic feature phones, not for smartphones. Smartphones must be activated "hands-on" by Technology Services. If you have received a smartphone directly from AT&T please set up an appointment with DoTS to set the phone up with you. These instructions do also apply to hotspots and USB LTE modems.
Overview of the Activation Process
The activation process is done solely with an AT&T website. That website may change slightly from these instructions. The basic premise of the instructions include
- unpacking the device and identifying the assigned telephone number in the documentation
- setting your device phone to airplane mode, if you are upgrading a phone
- visiting the AT&T activation website and following the prompts to activate the device
- waiting for about 5 minutes
- turning on your new device
The equipment to transfer phone numbers from one phone to another is ever changing and very expensive. You will need to manually transfer your numbers from your old phone to your new phone. You can access your old phone since it is on airplane mode and see your old phone books. There are no AT&T stores in our area on contract to do the transfer for you.
Step by Step Process to Activate the New Device
- Unpack your new device and obtain the paperwork inside the box
- If upgrading, set your old device on airplane mode or turn it off
- Visit on your computer the website: www.att.com/checkmyorder/activations/activateDevice.rt
- Click on Activate your device (blue button) on the left
- Enter in your wireless number. This should be found on the packing slip in the box.
- Enter in the shipping zip code. This also should be included on the packing slip.
- Press Continue
- After a few seconds, a confirmation process will appear. You will be asked to verify the IMEI and the ICCID/SIM information which is printed on the side of the device's white and orange box. If the information is wrong, STOP and contact Technology Services before proceeding.
- If this is an upgrade, this is where, if you proceed, the old device will stop to function and the new device will be activated.
- DO VERIFY the information before you press YES to continue.
- You will be asked one more time if you are ready to proceed. Press Submit to start the activation.
- After a few seconds, the "activating your devices" screen will appear and then a confirmation will appear. You should see "Your device is now activated! Give us some time while we add it to our network. In the meantime, turn your new device off and on. You can keep using your old device until this one is ready."
- At this time, if there are any additional instructions on the screen you should follow those; if not you are set.
- Wait five minutes, insert the battery into the new device and then turn on your new device.
Please send your old devices to DoTS via campus mail for eWaste recycling. Include a note to help us determine whose phone we receive that includes the phone number, the person's name and the ticket number.
Something Went Wrong?
If something went wrong, please contact Technology Services. Do not contact AT&T directly and do not go to an AT&T store. (Those are for consumers, not government entities.)
- An error message occurred (document the message for DoTS)
- You are being asked to log into the Premiere website
- The new device is not working