Has Safaricom Killed Ability to Use M-PESA, MySafaricom Apps Without a SIM Card?
For years, there’s been a little-known convenience in Safaricom’s app ecosystem. Once you set up the M-PESA app or MySafaricom app on your phone while the SIM..
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Safaricom’s M-PESA and MySafaricom apps may no longer function on a phone without the SIM card they were registered with, a change that could impact users who previously relied on this feature for convenience. A tech reviewer discovered this potential shift after their apps stopped working as expected on a SIM-less device.
- Safaricom has not issued official communication regarding this apparent policy change.
- The M-PESA app prompts users to “Insert your SIM card to continue,” while the MySafaricom app displays “No SIM card detected.”
- This development affects frequent travelers, multi-device users, and those with dedicated M-PESA phones in Kenya.
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Safaricom Wins Award & Changes App Access; My Airtel App Adds Data Balance Feature - August 2025
Safaricom has won the Best Use of Digital Technology award at the CIPS Africa Excellence in Procurement and Supply Awards 2025 for its AI-powered Supply Market Analysis initiative. In a separate development, Safaricom’s M-PESA and MySafaricom apps may no longer function on a phone without the registered SIM card. A tech reviewer discovered this potential shift after the apps stopped working on a SIM-less device, a change that could impact users who relied on this feature. Meanwhile, the My Airtel App has been updated to allow Home Wi-Fi users to view their live data balance. This enhancement, which was previously unavailable, provides customers with real-time insight into their data consumption to better manage their monthly allocation.
