How Do You Refresh Tracfone App Minutes

Reed Durnity · Saturday, December 4, 2021

How fast does tracfone update data balance after one uses it?

After you use some amount of data how long does it take tracfone to reflect the new data balance?
Originally Posted by garyhalstead

After you use some amount of data how long does it take tracfone to reflect the new data balance?

I noticed a lag in rechecking balances using the My Account app. Never exactly timed it, but would guess 15-30 minutes. Not sure if the other access methods are any better.
I'm new to this. Just got my first smartphone with them. I checked my balance a couple times at their site & the results were almost instant. I wanted to know how much data it used to send/receive a couple of pics. I've also used the My Account app & so far it works great although I've read many complaints about it. The key to using the app is the make sure you have wifi or data turned on FIRST. So far the app has been accurate too.
Consider yourself very lucky with the app working, and don't be surprised if one day it stops, that aspect of the service seems pretty random
I find the app to never work worth a crap. Calling *777*1# I find is way faster and seems to be right up to date as best I can tell.
But only if you are on GSM...
Originally Posted by Zendall

I wanted to know how much data it used to send/receive a couple of pics.

You can also look on the phone to see how much data you've used. Go to Settings-->touch the words Mobile Data. It'll show usage back a few months, in monthly or 4-week intervals depending on the phone. Touch the vertical blue lines and move them left/right to change the starting and ending of the period you're interested in. Below the graph, it breaks down usage by categories/apps.
Attachment 130631
But know that your phones tracking of data usage will likely be different from that of the carrier, and it shouldn't be too hard to guess which one says you're using more. With some providers the way they do rounding of kilobytes for each mini session adds up to a very large differential, to the point that some people will actually change providers for that reason.

Last edited by HansCT; 09-09-2015 at 09:32 AM.
Originally Posted by loboheeler

I noticed a lag in rechecking balances using the My Account app. Never exactly timed it, but would guess 15-30 minutes. Not sure if the other access methods are any better.

My comments were from checking a balance, using some data, then rechecking the balance. These were tests to see data used for certain functions, and not to test the reporting speed.
I noticed that if I update any app over Wifi that has a GPS data (weather widget), sometimes the LTE notification icon comes on for a split second and then goes back to Wifi. If this is a concern, consider disabling location services under your phone and it should make a difference.
Originally Posted by loboheeler

My comments were from checking a balance, using some data, then rechecking the balance. These were tests to see data used for certain functions, and not to test the reporting speed.

Pressing *777*1# seems to give you an accurate data balance, the app is one day short to report the right balance.