When someone buys a new Safaricom SIM card, what are some of the things they should do? Say I am new to the Safaricom mobile network and wondering about some of the things I should know about to get the most out of my line, what are some tips / ideas I should know about?
Here are a few things to do as a new Safaricom subscriber
Top up your new line. You can buy a Safaricom scratch card of any amount / denomination and use the *141*PIN# to top up your line. Alternatively, you can buy airtime for your line via M-PESA. You can also send airtime (Sambaza – via *140*Amount*Your New Phone Number#) from another Safaricom line to your new line.
This is particularly easy to do if you already have another Safaricom line on your smartphone, and you bought a second line for your modem / business / Mi-Fi router / feature phone or tablet. Once you top up your line, check balances by dialing *144#.
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Register for M-PESA
Once you pay the amount needed to get a new Safaricom SIM card (usually costs KSh 50 – 100), request the Safaricom agent / Safaricom Shop attendant to activate M-PESA on your new line. Provide sufficient ID to hasten the process. It is free to register a Safaricom M-PESA account.
Check subscriptions
Check for any active subscriptions on your line. If there are any, opt out to stop any of the unwanted subscriptions from draining your airtime.
Dial *100#
Select 5:My Subscriptions
1: Active Subscriptions
To stop promotional messages, select 2: Promotional Messages > 1:Stop by Sender or 2: Stop All Promotional Messages
Enroll for Bonga Points
Accumulate points as you use your new line to browse the web, send SMS or make calls. Redeem these points for devices such as smartphones / data bundles / voice bundles and SMS bundles. Use your Bonga Points to pay for things you purchase online and offline as well.
Dial *100#
Go to 3:Products and Services
Then 1:Bonga
Use this menu to enroll for Bonga Points, redeem Bonga Points or Lipa na Bonga.
Activate data manager
To avoid draining your airtime balance whenever you turn on internet connectivity on your device, activate Safaricom data manager. You won’t be able to browse the web unless you have purchased a data bundle. You can activate or deactivate the data manager anytime you want.
Dial *544#
Select 98:MORE
Then reply with 6:Balance & Tips
Reply with 2 or which number that corresponds to the My Data Manager option
Then choose Activate / Deactivate / Check Status
Register for Stori Ibambe
Dial *460# to subscribe
Access more offers by hitting your daily target. Get 100% airtime bonus.
Use this shortcode to check your target, check daily spend and also your STORO Bonus balance once you have subscribed.
Check for various offers tailored by Safaricom just for you. Regularly dial *444#, *544# or *100# to find out what new offers / deals Safaricom has in store for you. Find data, voice and SMS offers. You can buy these offers for your own personal use or gift some of them to another Safaricom user (family / friend).
Common Safaricom USSD codes
Get to know some of the most common Safaricom USSD shortcodes
*100# and *456# for your account details (balances / phone number), getting PUK, Bonga, products and services, stopping promotional messages / subscriptions, buying bundles etc.
*144# for checking your airtime balance
*544# fo buying voice, SMS and data bundles etc.
*188# for buying SMS bundles
*444# for Tunukiwa offers – data, voice and text offers tailored just for you
*334# for your M-PESA account. Use this to access your M-PESA menu. Access more M-PESA menu items on *234#
Download and install the My Safaricom app and the Safaricom M-PESA app.