A Complete Guide to Porting a Mobile Phone Number

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Learn to keep your phone number when you switch service providers
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When switching to a new wireless or landline phone provider, your new service provider is required by law to allow old numbers to be ported to the new service. This allows you to keep the same number that all your friends, family, and business contacts already know while you shop around for the best deals. However, not all phone numbers are eligible to be ported. This wikiHow article teaches you how to port your phone number to a new service provider. [1]

How to Port Your Number

Contact your new service provider and ask if your number is eligible to be ported. Request to start service and transfer your number to your new provider. Allow up to 10 days for the transfer to be completed. Cancel your old service after the transfer is completed.

Part 1
Part 1 of 2:

Preparing to Port

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  1. Once you have decided to switch networks, do not cancel your old plan. Your number (and therefore your current plan) must remain active until the porting process is complete. If you cancel your current service before you start the porting process, you may lose your number completely.
  2. Contact the provider you want to switch to to see if your number is eligible to be ported. Many mobile service providers allow you to check your number eligibility online.
    • Not all numbers are eligible to be ported. If you are moving to a new geographic area, the new service provider does not have a transfer agreement with your old provider, or you still have an outstanding balance or are under contract with your old provider, you may not be eligible to port your number. Many rural landline phone service providers are also exempt from being required to port numbers. [2]
    • If you are switching to AT&T, navigate to its “Transfer Your Number to AT&T” web page .
    • If you are switching to T-Mobile, call 1-877-789-3106.
    • If you are switching to Verizon, navigate to its "Switch to Verizon and Keep Your Current Number” webpage .
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  3. When you switch providers, you may incur fees. Plus, if you have an outstanding balance, or you are still under contract, your number may not be eligible to be ported.
    • If you are still under contract with your current service, you may have to pay a cancellation fee.
    • You will continue to pay for your current plan until your number is ported and the service is officially cancelled.
    • While AT&T, Sprint and Verizon do not charge a porting fee, other networks, such as Google Voice, do charge for this service.
  4. Your new service provider will need the following information in order to port your old number.
    • Your phone number.
    • Your account number for your account with the old provider.
    • Your account password or pin for your account with the old provider.
    • Your Social Security number or Tax ID.
    • Your billing name and address. [3]
    • A bill from your old service provider.
  5. Most cellular devices are designed to work on a specific carrier's network. If you plan on using your current device on a new service provider, you will need to contact your current service provider and have them unlock your phone so you can transfer it to a new provider. Not all devices can be unlocked.
    • If you are still under contract or have an outstanding balance with your current provider, it's unlikely they will unlock your phone.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 2:

Porting Your Number

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  1. You can do so online or in-store. Do not cancel your current plan.
    • If you are not the primary account holder of your old account, you will need the primary account holder standing by.
  2. Let them know you want to start service and you want to transfer your current number. They will ask you to provide all the information needed, including your number, your old account information, your name and address, etc. Your new service provider will take over the process of porting your number.
  3. While you are requesting to transfer your number, your new service provider will also walk you through the process of setting up a new account.
  4. Number transfer requests can take between 1 to 10 business days to process. While you await confirmation, your old phone will continue to receive calls and messages. Once you receive confirmation (via text message) that the porting process is complete, your old account will be terminated and your old phone will stop receiving messages and phone calls. [4]
  5. Make a few calls. Call your own number from another phone. Make sure your phone number and device work with your new service provider.
  6. Once you have your number set up with your new service provider, you can go ahead and cancel your old service as long as there are no active lines on the account. Go ahead and cancel your old service to avoid incurring anymore charges or falling victim to fraud.
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      • While your old account should be automatically terminated, it is always a good idea to call your old provider to confirm that your account is indeed closed. [5]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.att.com/shop/wireless/transferyournumber.html?_requestid=955071
      2. ↑ https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/porting-keeping-your-phone-number-when-you-change-providers
      3. ↑ http://www.verizonwireless.com/support/local-number-portability-faqs/
      4. ↑ https://www.att.com/shop/wireless/transferyournumber.html?_requestid=955071
      5. ↑ https://www.whistleout.com/CellPhones/Guides/Switching-Cell-Phone-Provider

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Determine whether your number is eligible for porting.
      2. Leave your current service enabled.
      3. Sign up for a new service and phone number.
      4. Provide information about your old provider when signing up.
      5. Allow your new provider to issue a transfer request.
      6. Wait for confirmation from the new provider.
      7. Cancel your old phone service.

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