# How to Recharge Your Telstra Pre-Paid: App, Online, Voucher, Phone and Auto Recharge > Every way to recharge a Telstra Pre-Paid mobile in 2026: the My Telstra app, online without signing in, vouchers, 125 100 by phone or SMS, auto recharge and Telstra Plus points, with the numbers to dial and what to do when a recharge fails. - Canonical URL: https://techxtelco.com/mobile-plans/mobile-insights/how-to-recharge-your-telstra-prepaid/ - Published: 2024-08-09 - Updated: 2026-09-10 - Topics: Mobile, Guides - Author: Michel Elijah - Image: https://anrkjmgqmwfosbvyzrzc.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/telstra-prepaid-recharge/hero-v3.webp - Publisher: Tech X Telco (https://techxtelco.com) Running out of credit is annoying; working out which of Telstra’s six recharge methods to use should not be. This guide covers every way to recharge a Telstra Pre-Paid mobile, what each one needs, what it costs in time, and what to do when a recharge does not go through. Steps and numbers come from Telstra’s own support pages, checked on 10 September 2026. **Quick answer** Fastest way: open the My Telstra app, go to Services, choose your Pre-Paid number, tap Recharge, pick an amount and pay by card or PayPal. No internet? Call 125 100 to pay by card, or text your 12-digit voucher PIN to 125 100 for free. The recharge should show in your balance within a few minutes. Before you begin: your Telstra mobile number, a Telstra ID if you want to use the app, and a card, PayPal account or voucher. ## Every Way to Recharge, Compared Telstra lists the same six routes on its support pages. Pick by what you have in front of you: a phone with data, a voucher from the supermarket, or just a phone signal. ### Which Recharge Method Suits You? - My Telstra app: Sign in with your Telstra ID, choose the service and tap Recharge. Pay by card, PayPal or voucher PIN. Fastest, and you can see your balance and usage Needs a Telstra ID and a working data or Wi-Fi connection - Online at telstra.com: The recharge page uses your mobile number instead of a Telstra ID. Pay by card, PayPal or voucher. No sign-in, so it also works for topping up a family member’s number You need the exact mobile number and a browser - Call 125 100: Follow the voice prompts and pay by card. Works with no internet at all Card only, and your caller ID must be on; dial \*31# before the number to show it for one call - Text a voucher PIN to 125 100: Send the 12-digit PIN from a recharge voucher. The SMS is free. No internet or card needed Vouchers only; you have to buy one first - Auto recharge: Telstra tops up automatically when your recharge runs out, using a saved payment method. Automatic renewal, provided the payment succeeds You must be the account holder with an active recharge, and changes need 48 hours’ notice - Telstra Plus points: Redeem points for a Pre-Paid recharge voucher in the Rewards Store, in store, or by calling 13 22 00. Free recharges if you have points Points balance needed; voucher then has to be redeemed like any other Source: [Telstra: Recharge my Pre-Paid service](https://www.telstra.com.au/support/pre-paid/recharge-my-pre-paid-service), read 10 September 2026. ## Recharge in the My Telstra App The app is the route Telstra recommends, and it doubles as the place to check your balance, usage and expiry. If you have never signed in, create a Telstra ID first; Telstra store staff can help if the sign-up stalls. **Step by step** 1. Sign in to the My Telstra app with your Telstra ID. 2. Open the Services tab and choose your active Pre-Paid service. 3. Tap Recharge, then choose your recharge amount. 4. Pay with a saved card, a new card, PayPal, or enter a voucher PIN. 5. Check the Service summary screen: the new balance and expiry should update within a few minutes. Source: [Telstra: How to recharge a Telstra Pre-Paid mobile service](https://www.telstra.com.au/connected/mobiles/how-to-recharge-your-prepaid-service), read 10 September 2026. Telstra also offers My Telstra Express, a QR-code shortcut to the same recharge screen, and My Telstra in a browser, which follows the same steps as the app. ## Recharge Online Without Signing In Telstra’s online recharge page asks for a mobile number rather than a Telstra ID, then takes card, PayPal or a voucher PIN. Because it does not need the account owner to be logged in, it is the practical way to recharge a parent’s or child’s Pre-Paid number from your own phone or computer. Double-check the number before paying; a recharge applied to the wrong service is a support call to fix. Source: [Telstra: Recharge my Pre-Paid service](https://www.telstra.com.au/support/pre-paid/recharge-my-pre-paid-service), read 10 September 2026. ## Recharge with a Voucher Recharge vouchers carry a 12-digit PIN. Telstra sells digital vouchers on its Pre-Paid recharge page, and physical or printed vouchers are sold at supermarket and convenience-store checkouts. Once you have the PIN, redeem it in the app, on the online recharge page, or by texting it to 125 100 (free). ### Voucher Amounts Telstra Sells, by Plan Type Digital voucher denominations listed on Telstra’s recharge page on 10 September 2026. Inclusions depend on your plan; see the live plan list further down. - Pre-Paid Mobile: $15, $44, $54, $64, $74, $200 and $395. Covers the 7-day, 28-day and long-expiry recharges A voucher must match a recharge your plan offers - Pre-Paid Mobile Casual: $25, $44, $64, $74 and $120. For the pay-as-you-go style plan Casual credit expiries differ from the 28-day plans - Pre-Paid Mobile Broadband: $25, $44, $54, $64, $74, $200 and $395. Data-only devices and hotspots Check rollover eligibility before choosing a long expiry Source: [Telstra: Pre-Paid recharge and digital vouchers](https://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/prepaid-mobiles/prepaid-recharge), read 10 September 2026. ## Recharge by Phone or SMS When You Have No Internet Two numbers matter. Call 125 100 to recharge with a card over the phone; the call needs your caller ID switched on, and dialling \*31# in front of the number shows it for that call only. Or text your 12-digit voucher PIN to 125 100. Texting the word balance to the same number returns your current balance, and texting recharge returns recharge information. These messages are free. Source: [Telstra: Recharge my Pre-Paid service](https://www.telstra.com.au/support/pre-paid/recharge-my-pre-paid-service), read 10 September 2026. ## Set Up Auto Recharge, and How to Cancel It Auto recharge repeats your chosen recharge from a saved payment method when the current one runs out. Telstra requires you to be the account holder, and the service must already have an active recharge that is not expiring in the next 24 hours. **Step by step** 1. Sign in to the My Telstra app and go to Services. 2. Select your Pre-Paid service, then More with your mobile. 3. Select Auto recharge and follow the prompts to choose an amount and payment method. 4. In a browser instead: sign in to My Telstra, open Account overview, find the Pre-Paid service and select Auto recharge: On/Off. 5. Allow about an hour, then confirm the status reads Auto recharge: On. Source: [Telstra: Set up auto recharge for my Pre-Paid service](https://www.telstra.com.au/support/pre-paid/set-up-auto-recharge), read 10 September 2026. > Auto recharges can only be changed or cancelled if your next scheduled recharge is more than 48 hours away. Cancel later than that and the upcoming recharge is still charged. To check, change or cancel: open the service, scroll to More with your mobile, and use Change amount, Change payment method or Turn off auto recharge. You can also cancel by calling 13 22 00. Source: [Telstra: Check, change or cancel my auto recharge](https://www.telstra.com.au/support/pre-paid/check-change-or-cancel-auto-recharge), read 10 September 2026. ## Why We Recommend Auto Recharge Auto recharge can help you renew on time. Check that the amount suits your usage and that the saved payment method is current. You still need to watch for unsuccessful payments. ### Check Your Auto Recharge Settings - I have checked the next recharge date and will confirm that the payment succeeds. - I have checked whether my plan offers data rollover and what conditions apply. - If I rely on a bonus-data offer, I have checked its expiry and recharge conditions. - For a rarely used number, I have checked its recharge expiry and set a reminder. - I have checked the saved amount and payment method, and know where to change or cancel auto recharge. Our recommendation: turn it on if the number is your main phone or a family member’s, and pair it with a calendar note a few days before each recharge date so you can change the amount if your usage shifts. Skip it if you are on a Casual plan you top up occasionally, if you share a card you do not control, or if you want to compare recharge deals each time, since the 48-hour rule means a late change still charges the next recharge. Source: [Telstra: Check, change or cancel my auto recharge](https://www.telstra.com.au/support/pre-paid/check-change-or-cancel-auto-recharge), read 10 September 2026. ## Which Recharge Amount Should You Pick? Prices and bonus data change often, so rather than print a table that goes stale, the list below is pulled live from Wireless Choices, Tech X Telco’s sister comparison service. It shows Telstra’s current Pre-Paid recharges with data, expiry and cost per gigabyte. Confirm inclusions on Telstra’s site before you pay. ### Telstra Pre-Paid Recharges, Live Plan data from Wireless Choices. Prices and bonus data change and may have conditions; confirm with Telstra before you pay. We may earn a commission if you sign up through the plan links. Two things to weigh up. Long-expiry recharges (6 or 12 months) cost more up front but usually work out cheaper per month if you will not use much data. And on eligible plans unused data rolls over when you recharge before expiry, so recharging a day early can be worth more than waiting for the credit to run out. Every recharge also earns 10 Telstra Plus points per dollar if you are a member. Source: [Telstra Plus: Earn points](https://www.telstra.com.au/plus/earn-points), read 10 September 2026. **Reader poll** How do you usually recharge your Telstra Pre-Paid? - My Telstra app - Online at telstra.com - A voucher from the shops - Calling or texting 125 100 - Auto recharge ## Check Your Balance and Expiry In the app, the Service summary screen under Services shows your balance and expiry date. Without the app, dial #100# and choose option 3, or text balance to 125 100. Telstra says a Pre-Paid SIM is deactivated six months after the last recharge expires. For a spare number, record that expiry date: the six months runs from expiry, not the date you paid. This is not a promise of active inclusions during that period. Source: [Telstra: Manage your Pre-Paid service](https://www.telstra.com.au/support/pre-paid/manage-pre-paid), read 10 September 2026. ### Before Your Recharge Expires - Check the expiry date in the app or by texting balance to 125 100. - Recharge before expiry if your plan rolls data over. - If you use auto recharge, check the payment details and confirm each recharge succeeds. - If you use a voucher, keep the receipt until the recharge appears on your service. - Set a calendar reminder for a rarely used SIM so it is not deactivated at six months. ## When a Recharge Does Not Go Through **If something goes wrong** - Paid, but the balance has not changed? Check: wait a few minutes, then text balance to 125 100 or refresh the Service summary in the app. Next: restart the phone. If the balance is still wrong after an hour, contact Telstra with the payment receipt. - Voucher PIN rejected? Check: the PIN is 12 digits with no spaces, and the voucher matches your plan type (Mobile, Casual or Mobile Broadband). Next: try the app or online page instead of SMS. If it still fails, contact Telstra with the voucher receipt. - Call to 125 100 will not connect or asks for your number? Check: caller ID is on. Dial \*31# then 125 100 to show your number for that one call. Next: use the online recharge page with your mobile number. - Error setting up auto recharge? Check: you are the account holder, and the service has an active recharge that does not expire within 24 hours. Next: recharge manually first, wait an hour, then set auto recharge up again. - Cannot sign in to the My Telstra app? Check: you are using the email on your Telstra ID; reset the password if unsure. Next: recharge online with your mobile number in the meantime, or visit a Telstra store to fix the ID. ## FAQ ### Recharge Questions People Ask - Can I recharge someone else’s Telstra Pre-Paid number? Yes. Telstra’s online recharge page asks for the mobile number rather than a Telstra ID, so you can pay for another person’s service from your own device with a card or PayPal. You can also buy a voucher and give them the 12-digit PIN to text to 125 100. - How long does a recharge take to show up? Telstra says a recharge should show in the account balance within a few minutes. If you have just set up auto recharge, allow about an hour before checking that it reads Auto recharge: On. - What happens if I do not recharge? When a recharge expires you lose its inclusions until you recharge again, but the number stays yours for a while. Telstra deactivates a Pre-Paid SIM six months after the expiry date of the last recharge, so a rarely used number needs a recharge at least every six months to keep it. - Does unused data roll over? It depends on the plan. Telstra says that on eligible plans unused data may roll over when you recharge before your current recharge expires, and Pre-Paid mobile broadband advertises up to 200 GB of rollover on eligible recharges. Check the critical information summary for your plan before relying on it. - Where do I buy a Telstra recharge voucher? Telstra sells digital vouchers on its Pre-Paid recharge page, and physical vouchers are sold at supermarket and convenience-store checkouts. Redeem the 12-digit PIN in the app, on the online recharge page, or by texting it to 125 100. Source: [Telstra: Recharge my Pre-Paid service](https://www.telstra.com.au/support/pre-paid/recharge-my-pre-paid-service), read 10 September 2026. ## Sources and How This Was Checked Everything above comes from Telstra’s published support and product pages, read on 10 September 2026. No recharge was performed for this revision, so timings such as “a few minutes” are Telstra’s statements rather than our measurements. Plan prices are shown live from Wireless Choices rather than typed in. ### Official Pages Used - [Telstra: Recharge my Pre-Paid service](https://www.telstra.com.au/support/pre-paid/recharge-my-pre-paid-service): every method, numbers and payment types. - [Telstra: How to recharge a Telstra Pre-Paid mobile service](https://www.telstra.com.au/connected/mobiles/how-to-recharge-your-prepaid-service): app steps, SMS and phone options, Telstra Plus. - [Telstra: Pre-Paid recharge and digital vouchers](https://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/prepaid-mobiles/prepaid-recharge): digital vouchers and denominations. - [Telstra: Set up auto recharge for my Pre-Paid service](https://www.telstra.com.au/support/pre-paid/set-up-auto-recharge): auto recharge requirements and steps. - [Telstra: Check, change or cancel my auto recharge](https://www.telstra.com.au/support/pre-paid/check-change-or-cancel-auto-recharge): the 48-hour rule and cancelling. - [Telstra: Manage your Pre-Paid service](https://www.telstra.com.au/support/pre-paid/manage-pre-paid): balance, usage history and the six-month deactivation. - [Telstra Plus: Use points](https://www.telstra.com.au/plus/use-points): redeeming points for a recharge voucher. - [Telstra: Pre-Paid mobile broadband](https://www.telstra.com.au/internet/mobile-broadband/prepaid): Pre-Paid mobile broadband recharges and rollover. Related on Tech X Telco: [How much mobile data do you really need?](https://techxtelco.com/mobile-plans/how-much-mobile-data-do-you-need/), if you are unsure which recharge size to choose.