How to Recharge Glo Airtime with Serial Number: Full Guide

If you purchase a physical Glo recharge card, you’ll notice it comes with a PIN (hidden under a scratch-off panel) and a serial number (printed on the card). Many users confuse the two and try to recharge using the serial number instead of the PIN.

In this guide, you’ll learn:
What the serial number is used for
The correct way to recharge your Glo line
What to do if your PIN is damaged

What is the Serial Number on a Glo Recharge Card?

The serial number is a unique identifier for the specific recharge card you purchased.
👉 It’s usually a 12–15 digit number printed on the card (not hidden).
👉 You cannot recharge airtime directly with the serial number — it’s mainly used for customer care to track a damaged or invalid card.

How to Recharge Airtime Correctly on Glo

When recharging your Glo line, always use the PIN (the number you reveal by scratching).

Dial:
*123*PIN#
Then press SEND/OK.

Example: If the PIN on your card is 1234 5678 9012 3456, you dial:
*123*1234567890123456#

You’ll get a confirmation message with your new balance.

What If the PIN is Damaged or Illegible?

If you scratch the card too hard and can’t read the PIN:
1 Note down the serial number of the card.
2 Call Glo Customer Care at 121 or visit a Glo World shop.
3 Provide them with the serial number and proof of purchase.
4 They’ll help recover your recharge PIN or resolve the issue.

Tips

Always scratch gently with a coin to avoid damaging the PIN.
Keep the card and serial number safe until your recharge is confirmed.
If you’re tired of scratch cards, use electronic recharge via Glo Café app, banks, or USSD.

You can’t directly recharge your Glo airtime with just the serial number — always use the PIN revealed by scratching the card. However, the serial number is very important if the card is damaged or rejected, so always keep it handy in case you need support.

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