Embodiments of the present disclosure describe method, apparatus, and system configurations to provide user-entered credentials for a mobile station in a wireless network. A method includes receiving, by one or more service provider devices of a wireless network from a mobile station, an indication that the mobile station is ready for activation in the wireless network and sending, by the one or more service provider devices to the mobile station during a subscription process that is performed in response to the indication that the mobile station is ready for activation, a message prompting or indicating a creation of credentials to be entered by a user of the mobile station to authenticate the mobile station on re-entry to the wireless network. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.