Need to check airtime balance before you make a call or buy data? In Nigeria the same short code now works on MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile, so you don’t have to remember a different one for each network.
Here’s the code to dial, how to check your data balance too, and what to do when the code doesn’t work.
The quick answer: dial *310#
Dial *310# from the SIM you want to check. Your main airtime balance (and often your bonus balances) shows on screen or arrives by SMS a few seconds later.
*310# is one of the shared codes the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) asked all networks to use, so it’s the same whether you’re on MTN, Airtel, Glo or 9mobile.
Other shared codes worth knowing
| What you want | Code |
|---|---|
| Check airtime balance | *310# |
| Check data balance | *323# |
| Buy data | *312# |
| Recharge airtime with a card | *311*PIN# |
| Borrow airtime or data | *303# |
| Share airtime or data | *321# |
Networks have been switching to these codes in stages, so if one of them doesn’t work on your line yet, your network’s old code or its app (MyMTN, MyAirtel, Glo Café and the 9mobile app) will still show your balance.
Reading your balance message
The reply usually shows a few different balances. Main balance is the airtime you can spend on calls, SMS and data. Bonus balances come from promotions and often only work for certain calls or networks, and they expire. If you have a borrowed-airtime debt, part of your next recharge goes to repay it first, so your main balance may look smaller than the amount you bought.
If the message is cut off, wait for the SMS version, which usually lists every balance and its expiry date.
Checking airtime on another phone or for family
You can only check the balance of the SIM you’re dialling from. If you top up someone else (a parent or a staff member), ask them to dial *310# after it arrives. When you buy airtime on BillBoxs, the receipt in History shows exactly what was sent, to which number and when, so you can confirm it was delivered.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check my airtime balance?
Dial *310# from the SIM you want to check. It works on MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile. Your balance appears on screen or by SMS.
Are there charges for checking airtime balance?
Checking your balance with *310# is normally free. If you see a charge, contact your network’s customer care with the date and time.
What should I do if I can’t check my airtime balance?
First, make sure you have network signal and that you dialled the code exactly, including the * and #. Restart your phone, then try again. If it still fails, check the balance in your network’s app, or call customer care: MTN on 180, Airtel on 111, Glo on 121 and 9mobile on 200 from the SIM. If you recently bought airtime on BillBoxs and it hasn’t arrived, open the purchase in History and tap Report a problem.
How do I check my data balance?
Dial *323#. If that doesn’t work on your line yet, use your network’s app.
Why is my balance lower than I expected?
Common reasons are paid value-added services (daily subscriptions to news, music or caller tunes), calls billed per second, or data used after a bundle ran out. Dial *305# to see and stop subscriptions you didn’t mean to keep.
Top up in seconds when you’re running low
Your balance is low? Buy airtime or data for any network in BillBoxs. We detect the network from the number, show the price before you pay, and refund failed top-ups automatically. See today’s cheapest data bundles or recharge airtime online.
Free account, a PIN on every payment, and failed orders refunded automatically.
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