Introduction
Are you always traveling? Tracking down WiFi in new cities is a hassle, from hidden fees to spotty networks. Google Fi allows you to choose your device, the best service provider, and save on data. It's simple, takes minutes to join and has the best support team.
In this article, I will explain how to set up your Google Fi account, how to obtain a US address, and how to activate your account outside the United States.
You can use Fi in over 210+ countries and territories around the world, here’s the full list: https://fi.google.com/about/international-rates/
When you travel, having your mobile phone always on is essential. Google Fi ensures that you stay connected regardless of where you are. For travelers who rely on the sophisticated communication, navigation and location services provided by their smartphones, a reliable connection is a must.
Enjoy worldwide mobile coverage wherever you are.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Google Fi Unlimited Plan
- Frequent Traveler Considerations
- Google Fi Activation Outside the United States
- How to Sign Up for Google Fi as a Non-Resident
- Easy: Activate Google Fi With a VPN (Windows) – I step you through setting up how to set up Connectify + Speedify on your Windows 7/8/10 computer and activate your Google Fi International account.
- – OR –
- Advanced: Activate Google Fi With a VPN (Windows/Mac/Linux) – Alternatively, we setup our router to route all traffic through a US-based VPN service so we can activate our Google Fi account and protect our data from prying eyes.
- FAQ for Google Fi – I answer your questions in this section.
Google Fi Unlimited Plan
Google Fi Unlimited is a cellular service that gives you the most data for your dollar, no annual contracts, and support in more countries than any other international cellular provider.
For $70, you now receive 22GB of high-speed data volume. You also get free calls to 50+ countries and territories if you’re calling from inside the US.
Frequent Traveler Considerations
Around November 2019, there were a number of reports of people being warned that their Fi service would be terminated because these users had been leaving the US for a long time, usually over five months.
They were warned that if they did not return to the continental US soon, their data would be completely cut off. As the Google Fi Terms of Use state, they must be used predominantly in the US.
It may not be worth it for some of you, but it could still be an excellent option for others.
Google Fi Activation Outside the United States
I switched to my Google Fi eSIM to activate the service and got an inexplicable error message every time I tried it. It really didn't seem to work with all Android VPN apps on my Pixel 3 XL because the Google VPN (comes with Google Fi) that wants to boot up, which would close the VPN connection immediately.
I share two different ways of overcoming this problem.
How to Sign Up for Google Fi as a Non-Resident
Officially, Google Fi is marketed only to US citizens, but if you follow our step-by-step guide, you can get it even if you never go to the US.
✔️US-based Google account
✔️US-based IP Address (via VPN)
✔️Supported shipping address
✔️Supported US credit card
1. Easy: Activate Google Fi With a VPN (Windows)
Requirements:
1. Google Fi Compatible Phone + Fi SIM OR eSIM
2. WiFI-enabled Windows 7/8/8.1/10 Computer
3. Your Google Fi account address needs to be listed somewhere in the United States like a co-working space or other address inside the country.
OR Use Borderlinx to get an address for the shipping of the Google card + phone for activation. Alternatively, you only need to use the built-in eSIM in your Pixel 3 / 4 / 5 phone and do not need a SIM card, but still need a United States address.
4. Connectify Hotspot (create a WiFI hotspot for your Fi Phone)
5. Speedify (this is your VPN which integrates with Connectify)
Sign up for Connectify Hotspot
Sign up for Speedify
Hotspot connects all devices easily to Wi-Fi
Connectify Hotspot makes all your devices happy. It's an easy-to-use virtual router application that lets you share the Internet from your laptop to your smartphone, tablet, media player, e-reader, other laptops and even your friends nearby. Use it anywhere in the world without restrictions.
Setup Connectify Hotspot 2020
- Download Speedify VPN. There is a free Speedify Trial which I will walk you through step by step.
3. Click on the gray ‘X' at the top left.
4. Click OK
5. Your screen should look something like this and you should be connected to the nearest VPN location.
Use all of your Internet connections at once
Whether at home, at work or on the go: Speedify is the only VPN that makes your online experience faster, more reliable and more secure. It also works effortlessly with Connectify Hotspot.
Setup Speedify VPN
- Download Speedify VPN. There is a free Speedify Trial which I will walk you through step by step.
With Speedify, you can combine multiple Wi-Fi, 3G/4G, and wired Internet connections for higher speeds and increased reliability, but in this tutorial, we will only use it for the great way to create a hotspot for your future Google Fi phone and ease of use.
- Download Connectify Hotspot. There is a free trial that I will guide you through step by step.
We've detected an active 3G/4G device!
5. You can ignore or sign up here if you want, but you can just close this window if you want to start the free trial. No credit card is required.
6. You will be prompted with three options: Click on “Try it Out” to test it for free.
7. Here is the Connectify Hotspot 2020 interface. You will be prompted with a tutorial.
8. From Settings tab, click on “Start Hotspot” at the bottom of the window.
9. The button you just clicked on now indicates the current status “Starting Hotspot“.
If you encounter any problems here, you may need to stop / start Speedify and try to turn on the Connectify Hotspot again.
Instructions
- We will use Speedify + Connectify to get a US IP address and create a hotspot. There is a 2GB starter plan, which is free!
- Make sure your account address is listed somewhere in the United States, such as a co-working space or other address within the country.
- OR use Borderlinx to get an address for sending the Google card + phone for activation. Alternatively, you only need to use the built-in eSIM in your Pixel 3 / 4 / 5 phone.
- Register for Google Fi while connected to your USA VPN and download the Google Fi app from the App Store.
- Now we use Connectify on your WiFi enabled computer so that you can share your VPN connection with your phone.
- I found out that I was still receiving non-descriptive errors while my phone was connected to a VPN, so I went to Settings => Network & Internet => Mobile Network => Tap ‘Google Fi' and tap “Advanced'” at the bottom of the screen, last tap “Delete SIM'” and I found out that my eSIM was activated on Google Fi while I was in Canada! Enjoy!
How did it go? Please leave a comment below if I missed something or if everything worked for you. I would love to hear from you!
I found Speedify + Connectify to be one of the easiest ways to make things work instantly and without too much effort. You can use other VPNs, but you still need a way to somehow get your phone into the VPN network and they have set up these two tools to do that.
I used Google Fi from Comber, Ontario to Quebec and had service most of the time, except for Mont-Tremblant National Park, where there is little cell phone reception. If you can, try calling via WiFi apps, otherwise it costs 20 cents per minute when you call home to the United States.
2. Advanced: Activate Google Fi With a VPN (DD-WRT)
FAQ for Google Fi
Can I activate Google FI outside the USA?
The most important factor to make this work is to use a US-based VPN service, so that your device seems to have a connection from the United States.
Which Networks Does Google Fi Use?
In the United States, Fi uses T-Mobile / Sprint and U.S. Cellular.
In other countries, Google uses other compatible networks.
What is Google Fi VPN?
Whenever you connect to public Wi-Fi hotspots, your phone automatically connects to Google's proprietary VPN service, which protects you from someone else sharing the network or someone close to you sniffing out your signal.
Is there a Google Fi Trial?
New Google Fi users receive a free 1-month of unlimited service when they bring their own phone.
Sign up for Connectify Hotspot
Sign up for Speedify
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