How to get help in English for Ile-De-France Paris Metro/RER website?

Have you tried clearing your browser cache and cookies?

I had multiple problems last year trying to set up an IDF Mobilities account. Ended up using RATP which seemed more user friendly to me.

This is not what you asked but you also have the option of buying a Navajo Easy card for 2E and loading rides on to that at a station.

I suggested the Navajo Easy card because I can't remember if, in your prior thread, you mentioned what days of the week you will be there and for how long. The EASY card is great for single rides particularly if you are there Thursday thru Sunday.

Just watched the latest YouTube video from Les Frenchies about Paris metro. According to them, you cannot set up an IDF account until you are in France, and you will need a French phone number.

The process for setting up an account to purchase ticket/passes is explained here:

https://www.iledefrance-mobilites.fr/en/aide-et-contacts/iledefrance-mobilites-connect/comment-creer-mon-compte

There is a long list of countries from where accounts may be created; the USA is not on the list. Those from the USA and from other countries not included will need to wait to establish an account.

Navigo?...

Thanks to Tocard and Katheryne for your info and links. Apparently, it's not possible to buy Paris Metro/RER tickets online in advance if you live in the USA and/or don't have a French telephone number. The only option for Americans is to buy a physical Navigo card once we arrive in France. I wish that had been a little more obvious before I spent several hours triying to do it. I even wrote an email to the Paris Tourist Bureau and they responded in English but didn't say anthing about that problem. Anyway, thanks again.

"The only option for Americans is to buy a physical Navigo card once we arrive in France. "
I am not sure that the only option is the physical Navigo card once you are in France. I have 2 dematerialized Navigo cards on my iPhone in both the apps and in my Apple wallet and I have only a US phone number but I got one last March and the other last October, both while in Paris.

Yes, JHK, I think you are correct. I talked to a friend who had been to Paris a few months ago and he said that he was able to buy tickets at a Paris Metro Office in Paris and load them on his iPhone so that he did NOT have a physical Navigo card, but, as discovered previously, it is not possible to do this online before arriving in France. And this restriction is apparently different from both SNCF and Swiss SBB which DO allow online purchases ahead of time from the USA. At least that's what I understand now.

I guess no one has told Tim about the new Navajo Easy card, combining the Paris Metro with Window Rock, Canyon de Chelly, and Monument Valley. Would be a wonderful bargain if it were real. ;-)

I can confirm as well that I have been able to open an account on the IdF app and was able to use it on my phone to add rides to a physical Navigo Easy card, add a week pass to an old Navigo Decouverte card and check the Easy card for how many rides remain with a US phone number while in Paris.

I got one last March and the other last October, both while in Paris.

The requirement limiting the configuration of new online accounts is relatively new. Online account signup is now geographically restricted and the Navigo Découverte cards are no longer sold at airports. If you already have an account or a Navigo Découverte card, you will not experience any restrictions.

I'm in the US now. I have the IDF Mobilites app on my phone but no account. I used the app to check a physical navigo easy card I had from another trip, it worked fine. Then I just tried to buy a ticket on my phone from the app. (phone is pixel 9 with latest android updates) In the app I got a message that said I had to install an extension called MyNavigo Tickets. I followed the link and installed it, turning on allow notifications as directed, then back to the IDF Mobilites app I tried to buy a ticket. This time there was an option to skip login, so I did and it looks like I can buy the ticket on my phone as is, without having an account. I didn't complete the transaction because for our upcoming trip the remaining T+ tickets on my physical card should be more than enough, but you might try again and see if you get the message to install the MyNavigo Tickets.
Note, I did all of this on my phone, I didn't try to set up an account using a web browser.

First, if you wait until you arrive you're going to find a long line at every ticket machine. that sucks, because most of the folks in line are also tourists trying to figure out what they need. Don't do that.

Take a taxi to your hotel. Then, once you drop your luggage or check in, go to the closest Metro site. Then buy a simple Navigo card (2 euro) and load it with tickets (not passes). Passes are only good from midnight to midnight, so unless you're going to be on transport all day long they are overpriced. Tickets are basically a 2.55 charge for every ride. Buy 8-10 and you're good for 2-3 days, easy. A 2 day pass will cost over 40 euro. A card and 10 rides is 27.50. There usually is no line at the smaller stations, and if you have an issue ask the person in the info booth; they can speak English and will get you just what you need.

I have family coming in July. I'll meet them in Paris. They know to use the taxi to the hotel. I just mailed them each a card with 6 tickets. They will be in town 3 days and maybe they'll need to buy more tickets, but I just used 5 in 3 days last weekend. I do walk a bit, but not that much.

Tickets on a Navigo card are good for one year from date of purchase.

I used the web form submission https://www.iledefrance-mobilites.fr/en/aide-et-contacts/nous-ecrire
to ask a question about my current navigo easy card, which was purchased in 2024. In Nov 2024 I added more T+ tickets and checking with the app on my phone confirmed that I still have 11 T+ tickets loaded. Using the link above I posted the following question on March 28th:
"Hello, I have Navigo easy cards purchased in November 2024. They currently have 11 T+ tickets loaded (as confirmed using the app on 28 March 2026). We will be traveling to Paris in April 2026. Can we use the remaining T+ tickets loaded on the Navigo Easy cards for metro, RER and buses during our stay? If not, can we get credit for the remaining tickets? Thank you."

This morning I got an email reply:
"Thank you for contacting Île-de-France Mobilités regarding your inquiry.
We can confirm that t+ tickets loaded on your Navigo Easy card remain valid over time. Therefore, the 11 t+ tickets on your cards can be used during your stay in April 2026. These tickets can be used for the metro, RER (within Paris city limits),Buses and trams
They remain valid as long as they are loaded on your card, with no expiration date.
You can find more information on using t+ tickets with Navigo Easy here:
https://www.iledefrance-mobilites.fr/titres-et-tarifs/detail/ticket-t
Regarding a possible refund, please note that it is not provided as long as the tickets are still valid and usable.
We wish you a pleasant stay in Île-de-France."

I posted the question using the form submission link without having an account. If you want to confirm whether or not you can buy tickets on the app without an account (see my earlier reply above) you might be able to use that link to post the question.
Good luck.

Thanks to everybody for all the great advice !! With all the online confusion, the suggestion by KGC sounds like the easiest thing to do: we'll buy a Navigo Easy pass, load it with a half dozen tickets and that should be good enough for our trip. Thanks again !!