Many recipients of Lifeline cell phones have complained to us that they never received a manual or even Quick Start guide for the phone. Considering the number of companies who sign up customers in the streets, this is not unexpected. And even if a user manual was included with the phone, they are easily lost or misplaced.
Without a manual, it’s very difficult to learn about your phone’s functionality. Since these free cell phones are not iphones or Androids that are easy to use with no learning required, but they are generally smaller, harder-to-use models, it’s not at all intuitive to unlock all the features and functions of the device.
So, how to you get your hands on a cell phone manual? The first thing is to try the phone vendor’s website, if they have the manuals available for download. The problem is, not all of the companies have the manuals on their website. For example, amazingly Safelink Wireless, the nation’s biggest and the nation’s original Lifeline cell phone company does not have the manuals on their website for you.
Another problem is that many of you who have picked up their free phone from a street tent, do not remember the name of the phone provider. If this is the case, call 611 from your cell phone and see what customer service operator answers. It should say something like, “thanks for calling so-and-so Wireless…” and you’ll know.
If your company does not have the user guides on their website, then take a look at the manuals we’ve managed to make available on this page. They are not listed by Lifeline carrier, but by phone manufacturer.
Lifeline Phone Carriers with User Guides and Manuals on their Website
Assurance Wireless
They only have the Jax user manual.
http://www.virginmobileusa.com/resources/phones/prepaid/manual/kyocera-aw-jax.pdf
Blue Jay Wireless
http://www.bluejaywireless.com/handset-manuals (update: now broken link)
Assist Wireless
They only have the MXC550 user manual
https://www.accesswireless.com/docs/default-source/Phone-User-Manuals/unimaxmaxruby_550_userguide.pdf?sfvrsn=2&sfvrsn=2
Budget Mobile
http://www.budgetmobile.com/phones/manuals.cfm
Cintex Wireless
not manuals, but info on setup
http://cintexwireless.com/support/phone-setup/
Easy Wireless
http://myeasywireless.com/manuals/ (link no longer working)
Life Wireless
https://www.lifewireless.com/main/manuals
nTelos Wireless
http://www.ntelos.com/device-support
Qlink Wireless
https://qlinkwireless.com/faq/phone-manual/default.aspx
Reachout Wireless
(Sorry, out of business)
StandUp Wireless
http://standupwireless.com/manage_phone_manuals
Tag Mobile
http://www.tagmobile.com/site/PhoneManuals.aspx
Tempo Communications
http://www.mytempo.com/Support/Customer-Support-and-Contact-Info-(3).aspx
Check our List of Manuals
Many vendors do not reveal which phones they provide their Lifeline cell phone customers, so it’s hard to develop a list of phones until someone tells us what they are looking for. We’ll do our best to try and populate this new page with any manuals of Lifeline phones in use that cannot be found on the phone provider’s website,.
If you don’t see your particular phone model below, and you can’t find it at your phone company’s website, please leave a comment with the make and model in a comment below. We will occasionally monitor the comments and add the manual to the page. For example, if you if you have a Kyocera Jax S1360 from Assurance Wireless, just tell us “Can you please add the manual for the Kyocera Jax S1360 from Assurance Wireless.” If you don’t recall your vendor’s name, just the phone make and model is fine.
What if you don’t know your phone model? Your manufacturer name is usually on the phone itself (i.e. Kycoera, LG, Samsung, etc), but the model name or number is more difficult to find. Here are instructions that should help you find it:
- Power off your phone.
- Take off the cover to the battery compartment.
- Remove the battery.
- Look for the sticker under the battery area. It should indicate the model number along with other information such as the serial number.
- Reinsert the battery and replace the cover.
- Turn your phone back on, and you’re done!
This video may help you understand how to find your cell phone model number: