topic Re: Activating without an app in Get Support

Activating without an app

JB32 — Sat, 09 Aug 2025 17:41:13 GMT

I'm currently in the process of starting up Public Mobile subscriptions for my kids. I would prefer not to download the app on their phones since I don't want them to be able to buy extra data, etc. on my credit card. Is there a way to activate the SIM card without having the app installed on the phone? I have my own Public Mobile account and would happily use that app to activate the SIMs if that would work.

Re: Activating without an app

hairbag1 — Sat, 09 Aug 2025 17:49:48 GMT

@JB32

you can download the app to each new cell and after successful activation on each...just delete the app from their cellphones. You need a payment card on each file to ensure renewals are successful too.

Re: Activating without an app

Dunkman — Sat, 09 Aug 2025 18:16:00 GMT

@JB32

Technically speaking, if you are activating a physical SIM card, you could activate on your own phone/APP. Need to logout of your PM app from your account, start a new account/SIM card and then you can logout of the app afterwards. Or as mentioned, you could download app on the kid's phone and then delete afterwards.

FYI, Public mobile does send promo texts to phones to either change plans or add data add ons (if running low). Your children just needs to answer back to the text to get automatically to accept offer. You might want to warn your children to not answer to any of these promo texts. Some parents unfortunately have gotten surprise bills when their kids have texted back to these promo texts.

Re: Activating without an app

umnikke8 — Sat, 09 Aug 2025 18:17:10 GMT

Be aware that Public will sometimes send offers via text message that are accepted via replying to them. So plan changes and add-ons may be purchased accidentally like that.

Re: Activating without an app

hairbag1 — Sat, 09 Aug 2025 18:19:54 GMT

@Dunkman wrote:
@JB32
Technically speaking, if you are activating a physical SIM card, you could activate on your own phone/APP. Need to logout of your PM app from your account, start a new account/SIM card and then you can logout of the app afterwards. Or as mentioned, you could download app on the kid's phone and then delete afterwards.
FYI, Public mobile does send promo texts to phones to either change plans or add data add ons (if running low). Your children just needs to answer back to the text to get automatically to accept offer. You might want to warn your children to not answer to any of these promo texts. Some parents unfortunately have gotten surprise bills when their kids have texted back to these promo texts.

Is it possible to disable "Offers" sent randomly to PM clients such as change plan or buy data offers ?

Re: Activating without an app

Dunkman — Sat, 09 Aug 2025 18:28:43 GMT

@hairbag1 wrote:
Is it possible to disable "Offers" sent randomly to PM clients such as change plan or buy data offers ?

@hairbag1

Unfortunately, at the present time, unable to stop these system generated texts. Customers can opt out of marketing texts, but not these texts. PM management is aware of this issue and looking at potential fixes.

Re: Activating without an app

JB32 — Sat, 09 Aug 2025 18:51:32 GMT

Thanks!

Re: Activating without an app

JB32 — Sat, 09 Aug 2025 18:52:09 GMT

That’s unfortunate. I will warn the kids to ignore them.