4. Wi-Fi Auto-Connect Locations

Q Link Wireless has teamed up with these 50 sponsors to bring you FREE Wi-Fi hotspot connections in over 10 Million locations nationwide. All you need is the My Mobile Account App installed on your smartphone, and we’ll take care of the rest!

A

  • ATT Wi-Fi

B

  • Best Buy
  • Bloomingdales
  • Budget Inn
  • Buffalo Wild Wings

C

  • Chick-fil-A
  • Chuck-E-Cheese
  • Clarion
  • Courtyard

D

  • Days Inn
  • Denny’s
  • Disney Theme Parks

E

  • El Pollo Loco

F

  • Firestone

G

  • Gap

H

  • H&M

I

  • IHOP
  • IKEA
  • Islands Restaurants

K

  • Kaiser Permanente
  • KFC

M

  • Marriott
  • McDonald’s
  • Michael’s

N

  • Nordstrom

O

  • Office Depot

P

  • Panda Express
  • Panera
  • Pizza Hut
  • Planet Fitness
  • Popeyes

R

  • Ralph’s
  • Red Lobster
  • Residence Inn

S

  • Sams Club
  • Sears
  • Sheraton
  • Six Flags
  • Staples
  • Starbucks
  • Super 8

T

  • Taco Bell
  • Target
  • Travel Lodge

U

  • Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure

V

  • Von’s

W

  • Walmart
  • Wendy’s
  • Whole Foods Market

Y

  • Yard House

5. How do I cancel service?

We are sorry to see you go, but the only way to de-enroll or cancel service is to contact customer service at 1-855-754-6543.

6. Do you offer HotSpots?

Well, that depends!

Hotspots (Wi-Fi Auto-connect) vs Hotspot (On a device)

Hotspots are access points where you can connect to FREE internet within our nationwide network. This is referred to as “Wi-Fi Offloading” or “Wi-Fi Auto-connect”, and can be turned with the My Mobile Account app.

We presently have 10 million locations with FREE Wi-Fi available to our customers. If you have the App permissions enabled for My Mobile Account App, we’ll auto-connect you to the nearest available Wi-Fi spot, saving you data & money. Check the My Mobile Account app to find FREE internet hotspots near you! (We also have a convenient list of participating locations here.)

A Hotspot on a phone, however, is the ability to tether your other devices (laptops, phones, and tablets) to your phone’s data connection, allowing those devices to access the Internet. Q Link Wireless currently does not offer ‘Hotspot for devices’ with our plans, but check back soon, as we are constantly improving our network and options!

Security Concerns Related to Hotspots

You should never use a public hotspot to share your personal information with websites (such as credit card or banking information). Criminals can intercept the data and use it for their own personal gain. If you need to share personal information over a public wi-fi network, it is advisable to use a VPN.

Q Link Wireless is not responsible for data breeches or irresponsible data use.

7. How do I transfer my number to Q Link?

For purchased and brought phones alike, this handy guide will make transferring your number to Q Link Wireless a walk in the park.

For this guide, “porting in” and “porting out” refers to transferring your number to and from a carrier.

You’d be “porting in” to Q Link by bringing your number to our network.

You’d be “porting out” of your current carrier by taking your number off their network.

With that cleared up, let’s jump right in!

 

1. Rules for Bringing Your Own Number

For a fast and smooth transfer, please follow these rules:

  • Keep your number active on your current network. Do NOT contact your current provider to deactivate your account before or during the number transfer. This will make your number NOT eligible for transfer.
  • Do NOT have a port initiated with your current provider. If you do, you must call them to cancel it.

You should also wait until you receive your SIM card or phone before attempting a number transfer.

2. Information You’ll Need

You’ll need a few pieces of info from your current carrier before you can transfer your number:

  • Your phone number
  • Account Number
  • Billing information
  • Port-in Password/PIN

If your carrier doesn’t have a port-in password or PIN, check out our guide on how to port out from each carrier.

3. What to do if there’s an error

If you encounter an error, it’s usually due to an incorrect PIN or account number.

In that case, check out our guide on learning your correct PIN and Account Number.

If you ever need assistance, get in touch with our expert support team any time at 1-855-754-6543.

9. Can I transfer my number to Q Link Wireless?

Yes, you can now bring your existing number to the Q Link Wireless network.

For the fastest number transfer possible, please have the following information available:

  • Your existing Phone number
  • The account number from your existing provider
  • The account password from your existing provider
  • Billing name and address on your existing provider’s account

Eligibility Guidelines:

  • Keep your number active on your current network. Do NOT contact your current provider to deactivate your account before or during the number transfer or your number will NOT be eligible.
  • Pay any remaining balances with your current provider. Otherwise, you will not be allowed to port even if the number is still active.
  • Your phone needs to be unlocked. Talk to your current provider to make sure your phone is unlocked.
  • Do NOT have a current port initiated with your current provider. If you do, you will have to call them to cancel it.

Your old number and account will get deactivated as soon as your number is approved to transfer to Q Link.

Once you follow these instructions and have the proper information on hand, call us at 1-(855) 754-6543 to get your number transferred!

Looking for help? Check out this FAQ for more assistance with transferring your number.

10. How do I figure out how much data I need?

Q Link Wireless now offers additional monthly data at the lowest rates around! Data can be used for email, web browsing, videos, music, social media, downloads, and more.

But how do you know which data plan is right for you?

Use the Data Calculator to determine exactly how much data you’ll need for the month.

How to use the Data Calculator Tool by Q Link Wireless

First, click this link:  Data Calculator

Next, click the data buttons at the top of the calculator. This illustrates what each amount of data will get you. Once you’ve chosen the data amount, the meters directly below it will display how much activity that data will get you.

You can also manually adjust the volume or frequency (monthly, weekly, or daily) of each category based on your specific needs. The highlighted data button will change depending on your adjustments.

data calculator

To see your results, as well as a suggested plan based on your projected usage, finish adjusting the calculator to match your needs.

At the very bottom of the screen, you can see how we’ve calculated data usage for different activities.

11. Can I forward my calls to a different phone number?

Yes!

Introducing Q Link’s new Find Me, Follow Me feature. Now, you can now forward all calls made to your Q Link phone to a different phone number of your choice. Receive all your calls from any phone you want!

NOTE: Calls CANNOT be forwarded to an international number.

 

How it Works

To Activate Q Link’s Find Me, Follow Me feature:

  1. Dial *72 on your phone.
  2. Enter the area code and phone number you want to forward calls to.
  3. Press “Talk/Send”.
  4. Wait for the confirmation tone. All calls will now be forwarded to the number of your choice.

 

NOTE: While Q Link Find Me, Follow Me is activated, your Q Link phone will NOT ring for incoming calls. All calls will get forwarded, regardless of whether a busy signal or no-answer occurs.

 

To Deactivate Find Me, Follow Me:

  1. Dial *720 and press “Talk/Send” on your phone.
  2. Wait for the confirmation tone. All calls will now go straight to your original phone number.

12. How do I change my account language settings?

You may update your account language settings on the main Q Link Wireless website, the mobile site www.QLinkWireless.co, or on the My Mobile Account app. You only need to make this change using ONE of these methods to successfully update your account.

See instructions for each below.

1. How to change your account language settings on the Q Link Wireless Website

To update your account language settings directly on our main website, login to My Q Link, and on the right click “Account Profile”. Scroll to the “Language Preference” section and click “Change”.

 

The message shown below will appear, and you may choose your preferred language. This will be the language you view the website in, and your Q Link correspondence.

2. How to change your account language settings on the mobile site

To update your account language settings on our mobile site, www.QLinkWireless.co, you will need to go to the site and login to your account before you can make any changes.

You will immediately see Your Account Summary. In the top right corner is a button that will say ‘Español’ if your language is set to English, and it will say ‘English’ if your language is set to Spanish.

The pop up shown below will appear on your screen, and you may choose the language you’d like set for your account.

 

3. How to change your account language settings in My Mobile Account

To update your account language settings via My Mobile Account, login to your account via the mobile app and go to Menu. A menu will appear, and you should click the “Language” option.

 

The language selection page will appear on your screen and you can then set your account’s language preferences.

 

Be sure that after selecting your language, you see the message indicated on the bottom of the screen. This message confirms that you did successfully change your language settings.

 

How do I change the language view of the Q Link Wireless website?

If you would simply like to change the language you are viewing the website in, use the Language icon in the top right of the screen.

Important Note

This will NOT change your account language setting, including Q Link emails and other correspondence. To change the language you receive communication in, you must login to your Q Link Wireless account (see instructions above).

13. Why does a replacement phone cost $25?

The Q Link mission is to ease your mind and your budget by providing you a high-quality phone.

Unfortunately, the federal government does not reimburse us for the smartphones we provide. But that will never stop Q Link Wireless from providing all Q Link Members versatile smartphones at deeply discounted prices year round!

The smartphone model we send out for replacement orders is a Q Link Wireless Standard Smartphone. It will be packed with tons of upgraded features and has a value of $75.

Lifeline should make your life less stressful, and that is why we are more than happy to offer you a replacement smartphone for a discounted price of $25.

To make this $25 price even more valuable to you, all replacement phones come with 30 days of FREE unlimited Talk and 1GB of free Data.

A discount of $25 allows us to:

  • Maintain our commitment to keeping your mobile phone expenses as low as possible.
  • Maintain our ability to provide you with the free Lifeline service you need!

Q Link Wireless – Connecting America.

This is more than just a slogan. It’s a commitment we take very seriously.

Safe and reliable mobile phone access is a right that everyone deserves, regardless of income.

We know you love and take care of your smartphone, but sometimes accidents happen or can’t be avoided. We, at Q Link Wireless understand want to make sure you can stay connected.

Click here to replace a lost, stolen, or damaged phone today!

14. What is Qlixar?

QLIXAR Rewards is a free app exclusive to Q Link Members.

  • We want to give you unlimited rewards, just for using your phone!
  • Watching fun videos and taking surveys about your favorite topics will earn you coins.
  • Are you interested in Politics and Tech? Food and Health? Gaming and Travel?
  • You name it, we cover it! You get to choose what you want to hear about.

From entertainment videos, the latest news straight from the hottest sources, and interactive surveys… there is no end to the fun you can have with QLIXAR. Plus, we are constantly uploading and adding new content for you to enjoy.

The more you use it, the more QLIXAR COINS you earn! Download QLIXAR here.

 

Why should I download QLIXAR?

QLIXAR coins can easily be redeemed for free minutes and free data.

And that’s not all… there will always be new rewards you can earn, which makes using QLIXAR more exciting than ever!

  • Watch videos
  • Take surveys
  • Check the news
  • Invite your friends
  • Earn unlimited coins
  • GET FREE TALK AND DATA!

Download QLIXAR here.

15. How can I get more data and minutes for free?

Q Link Wireless offers you several ways to get FREE data and minutes added to your Lifeline plan!

Option 1: Uploading Proof Documents within 24 Hours

What better way to welcome you to Q Link Wireless than with FREE data and minutes?

When you register for Q Link Wireless, you must complete an application and upload proof documents that will verify your eligibility for Lifeline services.

We would like to offer you a bonus of 100 MINUTES and 100MB DATA, in addition to your Lifeline plan, when you upload your required proof documents within 24 hours of submitting your Q Link application!

(Click here to learn more about what a proof document is, and how to upload them)

You better hurry and start uploading, so you can start talking!

Option 2: Refer-a-Friend

  1. Spread the word about Q Link Wireless. (Friends, family, media)
  2. Encourage your friends and family to get ‘FREE phone service for life’ so you can all stay in touch!
  3. Earn 100 MINUTES and 100MB DATA!

What’s not to love about the Q Link Wireless Refer-A-Friend program?

Just remember, your friend has to be successfully registered and signed up for Q Link before you can claim your bonus data and minutes.

Click here to learn how to participate in this exciting opportunity!

Option 3: Recycle Rewards

With our Recycle Rewards program, you can earn a FREE Talk and Data Bundle for sending us your used smartphone!

If you have an old phone that you don’t use anymore, why not transform it into extra data and minutes for your current phone?

It’s fast, it’s simple, and best of all, it’s absolutely free.

Just follow these three steps:

  1. Pack it!
    Download your free mailing label. Print it out and affix it to the top right corner of an envelope containing your phone. Be sure to fill in your Q Link phone number!
  1. Mail it!
    Drop the envelope off at the nearest post office or mailbox.
  1. Enjoy more!
    As soon as we receive your phone, you’ll get 1GB of free Data and 1 month of unlimited Talk.

Recycle program

We’ll either donate your old phone to someone who needs one, or just recycle it!

Isn’t it nice to know your old phone is moving on to greater things?

Option 4: QLIXAR – Rewards are just a click away!

Download QLIXAR today, exclusive to Q Link Members!

QLIXAR is an easy way to get exciting rewards. Watch fun videos and take surveys on topics you choose, and you’ll earn free minutes and free data. We’re constantly adding new content and rewards!

Click here to learn how you can start collecting your rewards with QLIXAR today.

16. Can I bring my own phone to Q Link Wireless?

Yes, you can!

With Q Link’s Bring Your Own Phone program, we‘re bringing our network to the phone of your choice. Just follow these three easy steps to get started:

      1. Check Your Phone’s Compatibility
        1. To see if your phone is eligible for the BYOP program, enter your IMEI/ESN/MEID at www.qlinkwireless.com/BYOP.aspx
        2. To find your phone’s ID, take a look at our guide to finding your IMEI/MEID/ESN on your Android Phone or finding your IMEI/MEID/ESN on your iPhone.
          For a list of phones most likely to work with our network, check out our Masterlist of Compatible Phones.
      2. Q Link Setup
        Once you confirm your phone’s compatibility, we’ll let you know if you need a SIM card kit.
        -If you do, we’ll ship it to you for FREE.
        -If you don’t need a SIM card, we’ll activate your phone right away!
      3. Activate Your Phone
        1. To ensure that your phone is now activated on the Q Link Wireless network, you will need to follow these instructions.
          Be sure to check out our guide on how to back up your phone before performing any form of reset.

And now, you can transfer your number to Q Link as well!

A phone number is a super personal part of your identity. It’s what you give to people when you want to stay connected to them, and now you can easily bring it to our network.

To transfer your number or learn more about the process, just give us a call with your IMEI number at 1-855-754-6543 and we’ll check to see if your number is eligible!

17. How do I get my phone to work after bringing it to Q Link Wireless?

In order to connect to the Q Link Wireless Network, you will have to follow the steps below after first making sure that your phone is compatible with our network:

To Perform an iPhone Update

  1. From your home screen, tap the green phone icon.
  2. Dial ##873283#
  3. Tap the green phone icon and then “Ok” to start the service update.
  4. After the update is completed, tap “Ok”.
  5. Dial 305-260-6232 to perform a test call and confirm that your phone is activated.
  6. If the test call fails, you will need to perform a network reset.

To Perform an iPhone Network Reset

  1. First, ensure that Mobile Data is on by going to Settings > select Cellular > tap Cellular Data to turn the button green.
  2. Next, to perform a network reset, Go to Settings> General > Scroll down and tap Reset > then tap Network Reset Settings. Resetting your network settings will NOT result in any loss of information from your phone.
  3. If prompted, enter your iPhone password.
  4. From your home screen, tap the green phone icon.
  5. Dial ##25327# and tap the green phone icon again.
  6. Tap “Ok” to start a service update. After it finishes, tap “Ok”.
  7. Place a test call to 305-260-6232 to verify that your phone is activated.

Note: If after following these steps your phone is still failing to connect, give us a call at 1-855-754-6543 and we’ll help you out!

To Perform an Android Network Reset (Automatically)

  1. From the home screen, tap the Phone icon.
  2. Dial ##72786#
  3. Tap “Yes“.
  4. Your phone should power off and back on again and start to configure itself.
  5. If prompted, tap “Yes” to accept any updates.
  6. Your phone will restart again once it has the latest updates.
  7. Dial 305-260-6232 to perform a test call and confirm that your phone is activated.
  8. If the test call fails, you will need to perform a Manual Update.

To Perform an Android Network Reset (Manually)

  1. First, ensure that Mobile Data is enabled by going to Settings and locating Mobile Data. This will vary depending on your Android phone. You may find it under Mobile networks, Data usage, or More.
  2. Tap the switch OFF and then back ON. The color should change to Green.
  3. Next, go to Settings > Scroll down to System Updates > Tap Update Profile and wait for the process to complete. Tap YES to any updates if prompted. Your phone will now restart.
  4. Place a test call to 305-260-6230 to verify your phone’s activation.

Note: If after following these steps your phone is still failing to connect, give us a call at 1-855-754-6543 and we’ll help you out!

18. How do I activate my phone with a Q Link Wireless SIM card?

If your phone is compatible with Q Link Wireless, you are eligible to Bring Your Own Phone to our network! If you need a SIM card, we will be happy to send you one at no cost.

The SIM kit you receive should include your Q Link SIM card, 3 SIM card adapters, and a SIM card-eject tool.

First, you will need to turn off your phone and remove the SIM card currently in your phone.

You can do so by using the SIM card-eject tool in your Q Link kit, and pushing it into the small hole next to the tray. If you happen to misplace your eject tool, a paper clip will also work.

After removing your old SIM card, take out your Q Link SIM card.

If you look closely there are 3 cut-out sizes of the SIM card

Compare your old SIM card to the Q Link card to determine which of 3 cut-out SIM cards will be the correct size for your phone. Once determined, punch out the appropriate size.

If you do not have a SIM card at all, you can search online to see which size SIM will fit your phone.

When you have figured out the correct SIM card size, place it into your phone and turn it on.

Your SIM card is now installed!

Now that you have a Q Link SIM, you will need to perform a Network Reset to activate it.

19. Will I need a new SIM card for my phone if I bring it to Q Link?

If you already have a SIM card in the smartphone you plan to bring to Q Link, you’ll have to enter its last 4 digits to see if it’s compatible with our network. If you can’t find the SIM number, check out our guides on finding your Android’s SIM card number or finding your iPhone’s SIM card number.

If your current SIM card is compatible, you just need to activate your phone to start enjoying free service for life!

If your current SIM card is not compatible, you’ll need to verify your address so we can send you a free SIM card kit without any shipping or activation fees!

After you receive the kit, just follow our instructions on inserting the new card into your smartphone and then get your phone activated!

20. Where can I find the SIM card number on my iPhone?

Your SIM card number, also called the ICCID (Integrated Circuit Card Identifier), is imprinted on the card and can be found in different locations based on the type of smartphone you have. There are 2 different ways to locate your SIM number or ICCID:

  1. Display the SIM number in the Settings screen: Go to Settings > General> About. Then scroll down and locate the ICCID number.
    sim card for iphone
  2. Or, eject the SIM card: Insert a paper clip or a SIM-eject tool into the hole beside the tray and eject the tray then remove the SIM card and locate the SIM number on the card.
    sim card number

21. Where can I find the SIM card number on an Android?

Your SIM card number, also called the ICCID (Integrated Circuit Card Identifier), is imprinted on the card and can be found in different locations based on the type of smartphone you have. There are 3 different ways to locate your SIM number:

  1. Display the SIM number on the screen: Go to Settings > About Phone > Status then scroll down and locate the ICCID number.
    find sim card number in android
  2. Eject the SIMcard: Insert a paper clip or a SIM-eject tool into the hole beside the tray and eject the tray then remove the SIM card and locate the SIM number on the card.
    sim card number
  3. Remove the back cover and the battery then slide out the SIM card and locate the SIM number on the card.
    sim card number in andrid

22. Where can I find the IMEI/MEID/ESN number on my iPhone?

There are 3 different ways to find your IMEI/MEID/ESN number on your iPhone. Try any of them.

Option 1:

  • Dial *#06# and the IMEI /MEID/ESN will show on the screen.
    imei in iphone

Option 2:

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Tap General
  3. Tap About
  4. Scroll down and locate the IMEI/MEID/ESN number.
    find imei in iphone

Option 3:

  1. Insert a paper clip or a SIM-eject tool into the hole beside the tray
  2. Eject the tray
  3. Then view the IMEI number on the tray.
    find imei

24. What phones will work with the Bring Your Own Phone program?

While the easiest way to figure out your phone’s eligibility is to enter its ESN/IMEI/MEID, we’ve also compiled a list of the phones most commonly compatible with Q Link’s network.

 

Apple iPhone

iPhone 5c (Sprint, Boost, Virgin Mobile, or Verizon only)

iPhone 5s (Sprint, Boost, Virgin Mobile, or Verizon only)

iPhone 6

iPhone 6 Plus

iPhone 6s

iPhone 6s Plus

iPhone 7 (RED)

iPhone 7 Plus (RED)

iPhone 7 (Sprint, Boost, Virgin Mobile, or Verizon only)

iPhone 7 Plus (Sprint, Boost, Virgin Mobile, or Verizon only)

iPhone 8

iPhone 8 Plus

iPhone SE

iPhone X

 

Samsung

Galaxy S7 Special Edition

Galaxy S7 Edge Special Edition

Galaxy S8

Galaxy S8+

Galaxy S8 Special Edition

Galaxy S8+ Special Edition

Galaxy Note 8

Galaxy Note 8 Special Edition

 

Google

Google Nexus 5

Google Nexus 5X

Google Nexus 6

Nexus 6P

Pixel

Pixel XL

Pixel 2

Pixel 2 XL

 

Motorola

Moto E4

Moto E4 Plus

Moto G4

Moto G4 Play

Moto G4 Plus

Moto G5 Plus

Moto G5S Plus

Moto X Pure Edition

Moto X4

Moto Z2 Play

 

LG

X Charge (Amazon only)

 

Alcatel

Alcatel iDOLTM 5s

 

BLU

S1/Vivo S

 

Essential

Essential Phone

 

Orbic

Wonder

 

Keep in mind that even if your phone appears on the list above, it is not guaranteed to be eligible. This is simply a list of phones that have the highest chance of being compatible with our network.

 

ELIGIBILITY RULES

  • Service must be ended for 60 days or more for phones used with Virgin Mobile, Boost Mobile or Sprint.
  • If it is a Virgin Mobile or Boost Mobile phone, it must be active on the appropriate prepaid account for 12 months before it can be eligible for Q Link.
  • All contractual and financial obligations must be met with Sprint before a phone can be eligible.
  • If the phone is flagged as lost or stolen, it is ineligible. You must call Sprint to unflag the phone.
  • Leased phones are ineligible.

25. Where can I find the IMEI/MEID/ESN number on my Android phone?

There are different ways to find the IMEI/MEID/ESN number on your Android Phone.

Option 1:

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Tap About Phone
  3. Tap Status
  4. Scroll down and locate the IMEI/MEID/ESN number.

Option 2:

  1. Dial *#06# to have your IMEI/MEID/ESN show up on your screen.

Option 3:

  1. Remove the back cover and the battery to view the IMEI/MEID/ESN number.
    find imei in android from Q Link Wireless

26. What is IMEI/MEID/ESN?

The IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity), the MEID (Mobile Equipment Identifier), or ESN (Electronic Serial Number) is a specific number that identifies a cell phone in the United States. Cell phone networks use this identifier to provide service to the phone. Your phone may not have an ESN, then it will show as the IMEI or MEID.

To locate your IMEI/MEID/ESN number, take a look at our guide to finding your IMEI/MEID/ESN on your Android Phone or finding your IMEI/MEID/ESN on your iPhone. Once it is located you can check if your phone is compatible with the Bring Your Own Phone program.

 

27. What is a SIM Card?

The SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card is a small smart card identified by its integrated circuit card identifier (ICCID) that connects you to a network. The card is inserted into your smartphone and stores all your data.

If your smartphone uses a SIM card, you will need to enter that SIM card’s number so Q Link can verify it. To find that number, check out our guides on how to find your SIM card number on your iPhone or Android

If your smartphone needs a new SIM card, Q Link will send you a free Q Link card kit, ready to use. Just insert it into your smartphone.

If your smartphone does not use a SIM and the phone is compatible, just follow these steps to get your smartphone activated.

28. What is Auto-Refill?

Q Link Wireless now offers convenient monthly refills at a discounted rate on our already low-cost bundle plans! Here’s how it works:

  1. Click here to check out the different options for extra bundle plans.
  2. When you choose your plan, make sure to check the box to allow auto-refills & save up to 20% every month!
  3. Your plan will refill every 30 days at the discounted rate, so you’ll keep saving, month after month.

Plus, you can change your payment method, adjust your refill date, or cancel your refills any time. Login to your My Q Link account at qlinkwireless.com. Once there, click “Manage Auto-Refill” and select from the drop-down menu next to the Refill plan you want to change.

29. How do I download free apps to my Android smartphone?

You can download free apps to your Q Link Android smartphone using the Play Store app, which comes pre-installed on your Q Link smartphone, so you can access it right away. To download your free apps, you’ll just need to sign into the Play Store with a free account.

If you already have an email address ending in ‘@gmail.com’, you can use that to sign in on the Play Store app. Simply open the Play Store app and sign in using your email address and the same password you use to check your email.

If you don’t have an ‘@gmail.com’ email address, follow these steps to set up your free account on the Play Store:

  1. Open the Play Store app on your Q Link phone.
  2. When you’re prompted to add a Google Account, select “NEW”.
  3. Provide your first and last name, and then create a username and password for your new account.
    Note: This will also create a new email account with Gmail, where you’ll get emails regarding your Play Store downloads.
  4. Accept the Terms & Conditions, and you’re all set! If you don’t have a credit card to enter, don’t worry. You can skip that step and still download free apps to your phone.

That’s it! Now you can browse the Google Play store and download free apps to your Q Link phone. Don’t forget to connect to Wi-Fi before you download apps to your phone, so you don’t use up your data on downloads.

30. How can I get the most out of my free minutes and data?

Follow these 4 easy steps to get the most from your Q Link service by saving your minutes and data!

1. Get More with Wi-Fi

Connecting your Q Link phone to Wi-Fi is the most important thing you can do to make sure you keep your free minutes & data for when you need them.

When your phone is connected to Wi-Fi, you can…

  • Make calls with app-to-app services like WhatsApp and Viber
  • Download movies & music to play and listen on your Q Link phone, without using up your data streaming them
  • Surf the web for homework, health information, job searches, and more
  • Send & receive emails to get updates from your child’s school, hear about job offers, and get help from Q Link Wireless’s friendly support team
  • Check social media to share special moments and keep in touch with family and friends near and far
  • Plus… GPS, games, calendars, and more!

 

2.    Save Minutes with FREE App Calling

Why use your free minutes for calling when you can connect to Wi-Fi and use free apps to make calls without using your minutes OR data?  Save your free minutes & data for when you’re on the go by using free apps like WhatsApp and Viber. Here’s how:

  • Download WhatsApp or Viber at no cost
  • Sign up for a free account & login through the app
  • Allow the app to access your contacts so you can see who has the app

You can make FREE calls to friends and family who also use these apps, anywhere!

Out of minutes? You can also use these apps to make calls using your data when you’re out of minutes. Or, if you’re out of minutes and data, make calls with these apps by connecting your phone to Wi-Fi!

As always, you can also add more minutes at our super low rates by clicking here. Adding minutes is easy, and check out our low-cost bundles to get unlimited minutes, unlimited text and picture messaging, plus your choice of data. Click Here to see our bundles.

3.    Save Data by Adjusting App Settings

Apps like Facebook and Instagram automatically use extra data to load and play videos that come up in your news feeds. But you can change these settings so your apps only load what you want to see, instead of automatically loading every single video (Taking up your precious data for videos you may not even want to watch).

Facebook

If you’re using Facebook, you can change your settings so the Facebook app won’t automatically play videos in your feed. Videos take up a lot more data! Here’s how to do that:

  1. Open the Facebook app on your phone and tap “More” in the lower right corner.
  2. Scroll to the very bottom, and tap “Settings”.
  3. Select “Account Settings” from the menu.
  4. Choose “Videos and Photos” on the settings menu, and then tap “Autoplay”.
  5. You can select to autoplay videos only if you’re connected to Wi-Fi, or you can choose “Never Autoplay Videos”.

 

Hint: If you connect to any Wi-Fi signal that limits the amount of data you’re allowed to use each month, you’ll want to choose “Never Autoplay Videos”.

Instagram

You can also change your Instagram settings to use less data.

  1. Click on the Settings icon in the upper right-hand corner of your personal profile.
  2. Scroll down to the “Settings” section and tap “Cellular Data Use”.
  3. You should now see a switch. Make sure that switch is activated by switching it to the right (you’ll see the left-hand side of the switch turn blue).

save data with instagram settings

Once activated, Instagram won’t pre-load videos on your feed, saving you data!

For other apps that you use often, check the settings sections. Many popular apps (like Netflix, Snapchat, YouTube, and others) include settings to help you reduce your data use, and unless you have unlimited data, adjusting app settings is well worth the couple of minutes you’ll spend on it.

  

4.    Save Data by Adjusting Phone Settings

When you’re at home, you don’t keep your lights on all over the house if you’re only using one room. Imagine the electric bill! Data is no different. The apps that you have on your phone can be running in the background, even when you aren’t using them. That means they’re using your data up, when you aren’t even using the app!

Here’s how to fix that problem in just two easy steps:

Control How & When Apps Use Data

To stop an app from burning through data in the background on your Android phone, follow these 3 steps:

  1. Open up Settings and then tap “Data usage” If you don’t see “Data usage” you may need to tap “More”.
  2. Scroll down, and you’ll see a list of apps on your phone, arranged by how much data they’ve used.
  3. Tap on the app you want to prevent from using data, and select “Restrict background data” Click “OK” on the pop-up.

The app will still use data when it’s open and you’re using it, but by following these steps, you’ll make sure it doesn’t waste data you need for other tasks.

Disable Automatic Syncing and Updates

To make sure apps aren’t downloading huge updates while you’re away from home and using mobile data, follow these easy steps:

  1. Open up the Google Play Store and tap “Play Store” in the upper left-hand corner to open the Google Play Store menu.
  2. Scroll down the menu and tap on “Settings”.
  3. Make sure that under “Auto-update apps”, it says “Auto-update apps over Wi-Fi only”. If it doesn’t, tap that section to change the setting.

 

Need more data? Adding extra data to your Q Link phone is super easy, and with our new minutes & data bundles, you can get unlimited minutes, unlimited text & picture messaging, and your choice of data, at super low prices! Click here to find the bundle that works best for you.

Need a smartphone? If you have a basic handset and you’d like to upgrade it with a smartphone, click here.
For a small fee of only $25, you’ll receive:

  • A replacement Q Link phone with an upgrade to a smartphone
  • BONUS: We’ll throw in 30 FREE days of unlimited minutes + an extra 1GB data!

Click here to order your replacement phone and get a smartphone upgrade at no extra cost!