Why Does Tracfone Say No Service But Has Minutes & How To Fix It?

Does Tracfone say No Service but has minutes? You can see it having balance on voice minutes? Get to know why this happens and how to fix this.

Tracfone is a mobile network service provider, apart from that they offer 20 other mobile services. They offer affordable prepaid mobile recharge plans. People can purchase without signing a contract with them. 

Tracfone offers different types of plan indifference with the number of minutes, their plans range from 100 minute talk per month  to unlimited talktime. We can also opt for data and text with their plans. 

Why Does Tracfone Say ‘No Service’ But Has Minutes?

There are a few reasons for tracfone failing to provide service but it has minutes. Here are a few of the reasons listed.

1. Phone Not Activated Correctly

Not activating your phone properly does not provide you with a network. So, you will face your device saying ‘No service’ .

2. No Network registration Due To Improper SIM placement

Not placing the Tracfone SIM card on the SIM tray on your device results in the SIM card not being able to be read by your device. This can cause no service even though you have minutes of service plan left.

3. Expired Service Days

Tracfone services are not only dependent on your minutes but also the number of service days. If your service days have expired, your phone will show ‘No Service,’ even if there are remaining minutes.

4. Being In No Service Area

If you are in an area where there is no or poor network, you will not be able to use Tracfone services. This will also result in `No Service’. Thus, you will not be able to call, text or use the internet.

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5. No Service Due To Storm or Accident

If a storm or any other accident happens you will experience “No Service” for a period of time, temporarily until they repair or restore the affected area network. 

6. Issues With Your Device

If there are any hardware, software or firmware issues, it can cause ‘No Service’ and other issues on your device. 

What To Do If TracFone Says No Service But Has Minutes

1. Turn On And Off Airplane Mode 

Turning on your airplane mode can prevent your device from connecting with the network, then turning off enables your device to establish a fresh connection with the Tracfone network.

To turn on and off ‘Airplane Mode’ on android,

  • Swipe down to gain access to quick settings menu
  • Select Airplane mode icon
  • Select it again after 30-40 seconds to turn off airplane mode


For iPhone,

  • Swipe down from the upper right corner to gain access to control center
  • Select ‘Airplane Mode’ icon
  • Select it again after 30-40 seconds to turn off airplane mode

This may help you to solve the ‘No Service’ issue on tracfone.

2. Restart Your Device When It Says No Service’

A Simple restart can help to fix ‘No Service’ if there are minor bugs on your device. Try restarting your device, when ‘No Service’ error msg occurs. 

To Restart android mobile,

  • Press Power button
  • Hold it 5 to 10 seconds
  • A pop-up menu will appear, select ‘Restart’ 

To restart  iPhone,

  • Press The volume and power button for a few second
  • A power off slider will appear, drag it and wait for 30 seconds for the mobile to power off
  • Then, press and hold the side button on your right side of the device
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These may help you to solve the ‘No Service’ issue.

3. Check The Tracfone’s Network Coverage On Your Area 

If a Storm or accident happens in the area, this can cause ‘No Service’ for a temporary period of time. Or if you are in an area where there are no or poor network connections, this can also cause ‘No Service’ issues. 

It is important to remember that Tracfone does not have their own carrier, it uses AT&T, Vorizone and T-Mobile as their carrier.

To check the Network coverage of your area,

  • Go to Tracfone Network coverage website
  • Enter the Zip code of your area
  • Select the appropriate option for the details they ask
  • Now you will be able check the network coverage

If they are undergoing any technical issue with the map, contact 1-877-430-CELL(2355) to know if your area has network coverage or not.

If any storm or accident happens, type ‘MIGRANT’ to 611611 to know the current changes of your network.

4. Activate Your Device On tracfone

Activating your device on tracfone will help the ‘No Service’ issue, if you have not properly activated or your device might get deactivated due to certain reasons.

To activate,

  • Go to Tracfone Website
  • Select ‘Activate’ on the top options of the page
  • Select ‘Keep Your Own Phone’
  • Select ‘Activate’ 
  • Wait until the process gets finished

4.  Reinsert Your Mobile SIM Card

Reinserting the Tracfone SIM card properly can solve the previous misplacement of the SIM. So, Try removing and reinserting your SIM card from your Mobile.

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To reinserting SIM card,

  • Locate SIM tray on your mobile phone
  • Remove the SIM tray with the help SIM ejector
  • Remove your SIM from it
  • Clean the SIM card and SIM tray with a tissue gently
  • Place  the SIM card properly on the SIM tray
  • Insert the SIM tray on your phone

This can help you to solve the issue ‘No Service’ On Tracfone.

5. Update Your Device OS 

Sometimes, firmware and software updates are released as ‘Software Update’ on your respective device. Firmware can cause ‘No Service’ issues because it is an application that aligns the software and hardware of a device. Hence, updating your device OS will help you to resolve the “No Service” issue.

To update your Mobile Software On Android,

  • Go to Settings
  • Go to System
  • Select ‘System Update’
  • Install the ‘update’

To update software on iPhone,

  • Go to Settings
  • Go to General
  • Go to Software Updates
  • Select ‘Download and Install’ or ‘Instal Now’

6. Contact Tracfone for Support For ‘No Service’ Issue

Try contacting Tracfone Support for solving “No Service’ issue occurring even though you have minutes left in your plan.

Contact Tracfone for assistance, to conduct tracfone 1-800-867-7183.