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Lifeline phone service provides free cell phones to America's financially disadvantaged

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I lost my cell phone and can’t remember which company provides my service. How can I figure it out?

There are two different ways depending on whether you have your phone or if it’s been lost or stolen or broken.

If you have your phone: This is the simple one. Just call 6-1-1 on your free government cell phone and you’ll be connected to your service provider’s customer service team.

If your phone has been lost, stolen or broken: This is the more difficult way to figure out who your service provider is. It will take considerably more work on your part.

First, go to our “States” page and click on your state. Here’s a link to that page:

https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states

After clicking on your state, you’ll find a complete list of all the Lifeline free government cell phone service providers in your state. The only way to get your question answered is to click on the top name on the list. Use the contact information found on that page to call customer service and ask if you are a customer of that company. They will know based on information like your name, address, phone number, social security number, etc.

If the first company is not your service provider, call the second one. Then the third one. Then the fourth one. Eventually you’ll hit pay dirt and find your service provider. Hopefully you live in a state with very few service providers, which will make your task much simpler.

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  1. If you are going to ask "how do I get a cell phone?" go here instead.
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Comments

  1. Chase says

    December 4, 2022 at 8:47 pm

    How do I find out what lifeline service I have

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      December 4, 2022 at 8:52 pm

      Have you received your phone? If so, you can call 6-1-1 on that phone.

      Reply
  2. George kunkel says

    April 24, 2022 at 1:04 am

    What if I was useing the free service but someone was stealing My accounts and phone number so I kept losing my service and I finally went out and bought yet another phone so now 4th phone but this Time it was a T-Mobile phone so I have to pay for service but as soon as I got service one day later My phone number is being ported out how do I stop all this from happening

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      April 24, 2022 at 5:58 am

      Identity theft is out of our wheelhouse, George, so we don’t know how to advise you. Have you spoken to the folks at T-Mobile?

      Reply
  3. Jonifer Moore says

    July 23, 2021 at 3:34 pm

    Some stole my phone and I’ve had this phone for 4 years and someone answer it but I need to have it turned off so I can get a new one cause there on my services

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      July 23, 2021 at 6:42 pm

      Contact your service provider and ask them to cancel your service.

      Reply
  4. Hime says

    June 2, 2020 at 6:39 pm

    I have my phone, but when I call 611, I’m met with my own feedback (meaning all I hear is myself, my own echo). What do I do? I need to find out my provider.

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      June 2, 2020 at 7:51 pm

      Strange defect. There a couple other ways to find out, but neither is particularly easy. (1) Go down the list of service providers in each state and call their customer service team. You’ll need to start at the top and call each one until you find your provider. Here’s where you can find all the providers in your state:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states

      Or (2) Visit USAC.org and find ask for its help. This is supposed to be one of the services they offer free of charge.

      Reply
  5. carl clark says

    January 24, 2020 at 2:52 pm

    i had someone say i would be getting a phone but havent gotten it yet

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      January 24, 2020 at 2:59 pm

      Who might “someone” be, Carl?

      Reply
  6. Justin says

    December 18, 2019 at 5:25 pm

    I lost my cell phone and I want to get a replacement phone sent to me but I can’t remember what free government carrier provider was how can I find out the carrier

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      December 18, 2019 at 7:55 pm

      This is an ongoing problem for lots of people, Justin. There is no easy way to figure it out. You may need to go down the list and call each of the free government cell phone service providers in your state to find yours. Here’s where you can find a list of all those companies:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states

      Reply
  7. Jean Peppers says

    September 16, 2019 at 6:10 am

    My cell phone was stolen how can i get it replaced

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      September 16, 2019 at 12:05 pm

      Here’s an article that tells you everything you need to know:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/faq/i-lost-my-phone-how-do-i-get-a-replacement

      Reply
  8. Ally Hill says

    July 3, 2019 at 8:20 am

    Hello, I am writing for my friend. She has a Vortex government phone and we CANNOT find it or HELP ANYWHERE. She is disabled and doesn’t even text well, so I am doing this Ion her behalf. Can you PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE tell us WHO we CONTACT? I have her information but I didn’t write it down before I wrote you. PLEASE, PLEASE HELP. I have searched myself and gotten nowhere. Thank You in Advance 🙏. I/WE will be anxiously waiting.

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      July 3, 2019 at 8:22 am

      If you have her phone number, visit USAC.org and go to the Lifeline customers section. USAC is the organization that governs the Lifeline free government cell phone program and they can help you figure out who your friend’s service provider is.

      Reply
  9. Kiawana Browning says

    April 22, 2019 at 1:59 pm

    My phone has been stolen

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      April 22, 2019 at 3:06 pm

      Here’s an article that was written with exactly that situation in mind:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/faq/i-lost-my-phone-how-do-i-get-a-replacement

      Reply
  10. Jessic Mendoza says

    November 20, 2018 at 2:41 pm

    Why not just call lifeline customer service number for your state??

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      November 20, 2018 at 6:38 pm

      Very few states have a Lifeline customer service phone number, Jessica. We assumed you must be from California because that state does have its own Lifeline organization, so we looked up your IP address. Yup, California. So your suggestion will work in California but not in most other states.

      Reply
  11. Doris Clark says

    October 2, 2018 at 1:56 pm

    It’s been years spence I had free phone.i lost it now need another one.my phone I have now I bought it a couple years ago.now it’s screen is all broken up.really can’t use it.or afford to buy another one.

    Reply
  12. Doris says

    August 14, 2018 at 3:20 pm

    I lost my new cell phone and want you to please you to please turn it off. My name is Doris Simmons and i can be rised at 313 808 **** and my email **********@yahoo.com.

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      August 14, 2018 at 6:22 pm

      No can do, Doris. We are an independent informational website, NOT your service provider. You need to contact the directly.

      Reply
  13. Danell Seary says

    July 28, 2018 at 3:29 am

    My phone was stolen and i want to turn it off. How do i get another cell phone

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      July 28, 2018 at 7:16 am

      Here. Read this article:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/faq/i-lost-my-phone-how-do-i-get-a-replacement

      Reply
  14. Christine cocolotta says

    July 19, 2018 at 7:58 am

    I have cellular phone 442 218 **** that stopped working 7/18/2018. No service available. Don’t know my carrier. Can you please turn my phone back on? Thank you, Christine Cocolotta

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      July 19, 2018 at 8:44 am

      This website is not affiliated with any of the free government cell phone companies, so, no, Christine, we cannot turn your phone back on. Sorry.

      Reply
  15. Connie Shelton says

    June 10, 2018 at 11:52 pm

    My brother is homeless and has been missing for a few days after staying with somebody I don’t know. He checks in with me every day and I haven’t heard from him so I called his cell phone number and somebody else answered his phone and then hung up.I don’t know who he has cell phone service through and I need to get his phone shut off and find him. Can you help me? Please reply ASAP! His number is: (503) 498-2068 PLEASE HELP!!

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      June 11, 2018 at 4:22 am

      Do you know which service provider he used? If so, speak to customer service. Since you are not the account holder, we don’t know if they will be willing to speak to you about his account, but you can give it a try. Good luck.

      Reply
  16. Richard Alvarado says

    March 6, 2018 at 11:48 pm

    I forgot my Obama phone account number how do I get imformation to recover it

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      March 7, 2018 at 7:20 am

      To recover the account number or to recover the phone itself? Start by reading the article above, Richard.

      Reply
  17. Elizabeth Olmos says

    February 26, 2018 at 1:59 am

    I applied for a phone from a access vender,told I couldn’t get one 2/7 .Received letter from lifeline saying I was given one with #.But I never received one.When I told vender he gave me a phone but didn’t ask my name or information “How can I see if phone is in my name???

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      February 26, 2018 at 4:00 pm

      Contact your service provider’s customer service team by calling 6-1-1 on your free government cell phone.

      Reply
  18. Sharon Trahan says

    January 31, 2018 at 10:23 am

    I’ve called all providers n my state still can’t locate provider and am unable to get a free government phone plz help

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      January 31, 2018 at 2:43 pm

      Do you mean that none of them offer service in your area, Sharon? If so, there’s nothing that can be done. Unfortunately, there are some pockets in every state that have no cell towers and signals.

      Reply
  19. Brandi morris says

    July 17, 2017 at 3:22 am

    I was robbed my cell phone stolen can you please stop my service asap and can I get all my account activity asap my phone number of the phone stolen the number was 530552**** my message number is 530501**** Brandi morris I don’t no what obama company my phone is my zip code is 95932

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      July 17, 2017 at 4:18 am

      We can’t stop your service because we are not your service provider, Brandi. This is an independent informational website that’s NOT affiliated with any free government cell phone company. You need to contact your service provider’s customer service team directly.

      Reply
  20. Rick Harjo says

    July 14, 2017 at 7:48 am

    My daughter had her government assisted phone stolen, we do not know the carrier as they have closed their office with no forwarding address information. We don’t think the phone is being used or not. When we call the number it goes straight to voice mail.

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      July 14, 2017 at 12:08 pm

      Here’s what you need to do to figure out who her service provider was. It’s a bit of work, but the only way. Go to our “States” page and click on your state. You’ll find a complete list of free government cell phones in your state. You’ll need to start at the top of the list and call each one in order to ask if they are your service provider. They will know based on your name, address, social security number, phone number, etc. Keep working your way down the list until you find her service provider. Here’s where you can find that list:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states

      This is the only time we can think of when it’s better to have fewer companies serving your state.

      Reply
  21. Imelda Hartley says

    July 13, 2017 at 11:21 pm

    What if I can not call *611 due to the fact I dont have service on my government phone? Then what do I do?

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      July 14, 2017 at 5:11 am

      You look your service provider up on our “Providers” page to get one of their other phone numbers. But we assume you’ll need to borrow someone else’s phone to do it.

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/free-cell-phone-providers

      Reply
      • Imelda Hartley says

        July 14, 2017 at 8:47 am

        Thank you

        Reply
        • Free Government Cell Phones says

          July 14, 2017 at 12:08 pm

          You’re certainly welcome, Imelda.

          Reply
      • Imelda Hartley says

        July 14, 2017 at 8:50 am

        Will it work even if they have their own company? Like lets say my husband has a contract with Cricket even if I call 611 wouldn’t his company answer or a machine?

        Reply
        • Imelda Hartley says

          July 14, 2017 at 8:52 am

          Oops never mind I understand now thank you for your help but where do I find the “providers” section?

          Reply
          • Free Government Cell Phones says

            July 14, 2017 at 12:10 pm

            Right up at the top of the page, Imelda. But here’s a link to make if easier:

            https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/free-cell-phone-providers

        • Free Government Cell Phones says

          July 14, 2017 at 12:09 pm

          It only works on your own phone, Imelda. Each company has its own 6-1-1 service, so if you called 6-1-1 on your husband’s phone, Cricket would answer. And that, of course, won’t do you any good.

          Reply
  22. Connie kelsey says

    July 4, 2017 at 10:33 am

    My phone was stolen and i dont know the carrier what do i do

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      July 4, 2017 at 1:53 pm

      The only way you can find your service provider is to go to our list of all the service providers in your state. Start at the top of the list and contact each company to ask if it is your service provider. They will know based on your name, address, SSN, telephone number, etc. If the first company is not your service provider, contact customer service at the second company. Repeat until you find your company. Here’s where you can find a list of all the free government cell phone companies in your state:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states

      Reply
  23. toni shugart says

    June 13, 2017 at 4:17 pm

    if you just call 611 from your cell phone it will answer with the carrier name!

    Reply
  24. Shawn pattillo says

    June 4, 2017 at 10:51 pm

    Dont know my phone no. Or company name forgot

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      June 5, 2017 at 2:29 am

      You only have one option, Shawn, and it requires some homework on your part. You can find a complete list of free government cell phone companies in your state at this link:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states

      Start at the top of the list and call each company’s customer service team until you find the one that says, “Yes, you’re our customer.” They’ll know based on information only you will know — your name, address, social security number, etc.

      Reply
    • toni shugart says

      June 13, 2017 at 4:18 pm

      call 611and the carrier of your phone will answer with recorded message then u just hang up and you’ll know who ur carrier is!

      Reply
  25. Kimberly Snell says

    February 10, 2017 at 5:01 pm

    I need to cancel my phone service. cant find the phone and deleted the number from any contact i had for it. the chip is being used. the person that has it showed me there on messenger. i need to void thst phone. please contact me at 619-456-**** soon as possible please. Email is *******@gmail.com

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      February 10, 2017 at 6:53 pm

      We’re not your service provider, Kimberly. We’re an independent website. You need to contact your service provider’s customer service team.

      Reply
    • toni shugart says

      June 13, 2017 at 4:19 pm

      call 611 for cell phone help!

      Reply
  26. Amanda Moore says

    February 6, 2017 at 7:49 am

    So is it just me or does it seem like ppl have suddenly decided they wanna be ignorant…Have we forgotten about everybody’s best friend Mr Google…And do we not remember to read the forums and see if similar questions have been asked before asking the same question 15 other ppl just asked…Bless your heart Mr/Mrs freegovernmentcellphone!!!….My own personal Standing ovation is being given to you!!

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      February 6, 2017 at 10:28 am

      Excellent advice, Amanda. And we appreciate your kind words.

      Reply
    • Roderick says

      August 29, 2020 at 10:53 am

      Right on Sister!

      Reply
  27. Levarn Cavers Jr says

    December 29, 2016 at 11:33 am

    There is another way:

    Most Lifeline Free Phone Companies have a booth set up in a heavily traffic area in most cities and towns. All you have to do is find one of these booths, give them your ID and other qualification: such as medical card. They will run your information and tell you which company you have already signed up for (some of the these companies will even offer to switch to there services, which isn’t a bad idea as some offer a better phone such as LTG or Galaxy). If you live in a small town where there isn’t a booth and you either called or applied on-line; I’m sorry but I have no suggestion.

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      December 29, 2016 at 12:38 pm

      We’ll go over this again because the question usually does not pop up on this page. We are adamantly opposed to enrolling at street tents and booths. There have been far too many cases of fraud and abuse originating with these street vendors. For that reason, we often tell our readers that they are much safer enrolling online or by phone.

      Reply
      • Roderick says

        August 29, 2020 at 10:57 am

        I have heard of ones that have actually signed a contract thinking the tent or booth were free government cell phones!

        Reply
        • Free Government Cell Phones says

          August 29, 2020 at 11:40 am

          Here’s the problem, Roderick. They may be legit booths with legit people from legit companies, but there’s really no way for anyone to tell which ones are legit and which ones are scams. That’s why we tell our readers to avoid the street events and enroll online or by phone.

          Reply
  28. Marguerite Rideout says

    October 8, 2016 at 3:52 pm

    I signed up for and was approved for a free government cell phone. I cannot remember which company it was with. They told me it would arrive in the mail in 4 to 5 days. It has been over 10 days. How can I find out which company I signed with and when I will receive my phone?.

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      October 8, 2016 at 6:13 pm

      There is no way for you to find out who your service provider is, Marguerite. If you had your phone, you could dial 6-1-1 and you service provider would answer the call. But without the phone you’re out of luck if you didn’t write it down. That’s why we always tell our readers to make sure they write down their service provider info and to keep it somewhere safe.

      In regard to the delivery of your phone, don’t get too excited because it hasn’t arrived in ten days. Readers often tell us it took three or four weeks or even longer. The record we’ve heard is six months. Hopefully you’ll get your phone long before that.

      Reply
  29. Melissa Burdette says

    September 12, 2016 at 4:03 am

    I can’t remember which company my phone is through.. Can u please help me.. It’s been stolen

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      September 12, 2016 at 4:10 am

      You are left with very few choices, Melissa. If you still had your phone you could call 6-1-1 and your service provider would answer. But you don’t have the phone, so that’s obviously impossible. Your only other option is to call each of the service provider’s in your state and ask if you are their customer. Time consuming, yes, but it would eventually get you an answer. If you’re lucky, you live in a state with very few providers. Here’s where you can find that list for your state:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states

      Reply
  30. Wayne Manzo says

    September 7, 2016 at 2:08 pm

    Okay Rocket Scientists how come we can’t just call “Lifeline” and have them look it up. Since you are only allowed to be enrolled in one plan at a time they should have this information in their database. CA Lifeline English number is 1-866-272-0349

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      September 7, 2016 at 3:31 pm

      California is an exception because it has its own Lifeline organization that’s entirely independent of the national Lifeline program. (This absurd duplication of services is just symptiomaic of the way California flushes money down the toilet.) Give it a try, Wayne. If it works for Californians, great. Let us know. But there’s no way to do the same thing in the other states.

      Reply
  31. Juanita Bailey says

    July 8, 2016 at 12:45 pm

    Hello, I’m trying to help a homeless person who received a Government cell phone. He ran out of minutes. He has an At&T cell, where can he go to have minutes added on to the phone in Chicago?

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      July 8, 2016 at 5:58 pm

      He needs to visit his service provider’s website. Each company’s website has an area that tells how to purchase more minutes.

      Reply
  32. sandy ellis says

    June 28, 2016 at 1:13 pm

    i have a phonei got at a supermarket and 2 dayslater phone is not working LAUNCHER hasstopped I cantmake anycalls

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      June 28, 2016 at 1:17 pm

      This is another reason we do not recommend street booths and tents. You have a phone, but no one to call for help. Do you remember who your service provider is?

      Reply
  33. brittney tipton says

    April 27, 2016 at 10:22 pm

    I just found my phone and it will not charge, or turn on, its been missing for 2months I thought my daughter had thrown it away. I don’t remember phone number but have the imei number/ what do I need to do to get new phone?

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      April 28, 2016 at 5:17 am

      First thing you need to do is speak to your service provider’s customer service team to find out if your account is still active. Lifeline regulations say that an account gets automatically terminated if the phone goes unused for 60 days.

      Reply
      • Imelda Hartley says

        July 13, 2017 at 11:28 pm

        I have been disconnected from my government plan due to the fact that my phone cracked and a little bit of water got in those cracks. Therefor my screen was glitching and acting up. I thought it didnt work so I had put it away after going through a few boxes I had I found it so I then charged it and it now works but due to that matter I have no service.

        Reply
        • Free Government Cell Phones says

          July 14, 2017 at 5:13 am

          We assume your service was terminated because you didn’t use your free government cell phone for 30 days or longer (that’s one of the rules of the program and the companies are required to do it). Call your service provider to confirm if that’s why you were terminated. You should then be able to register with any other Lifeline company offering free government cell phone plans in your state. Here’s a link:

          https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states

          Reply
  34. Roger shelton says

    April 13, 2016 at 7:41 pm

    My phone got stolen I can’t remember my carrier how can I report it it’s a government phone

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      April 14, 2016 at 12:21 am

      C’mon, Roger, you left your comment on an article titled “I lost my cell phone and can’t remember which company provides my service. How can I figure it out.” Read the article. Follow the steps outlined. If they don’t work in your case, you’re out of luck.

      Reply

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