How to Activate a Used Sprint Cell Phone

Buy a used Sprint cell phone from a legitimate source. If you don't know the origins of the cell phone, you may end up with a stolen phone or a phone that's connected to a bill with an outstanding balance. People who have purchased from Replace Your Cell online have experienced few problems with their pre-owned Sprint phones (see Resources below).

Find out the ESN of the used phone. Before you buy and attempt to activate a used Sprint phone, you'll want to run a check on the electronic serial number (ESN). You can typically find the ESN in the battery compartment of the phone.

Call Sprint's customer service line. Ask them to run a check on the ESN to see if it's clear for activation. If it's a phony ESN or stolen phone, you'll won't be able to activate the phone.