How to switch carriers and keep your phone number
The step-by-step way to move your number to a new carrier, the transfer PIN each carrier uses, and how to fix a transfer that gets stuck.
Keep your old service active, get your account number and a number transfer PIN from your current carrier, then sign up with the new carrier and choose to transfer your number. AT&T customers dial *7678 for the PIN, Verizon customers dial #7678, and T-Mobile customers request it in the T-Mobile app. Most transfers finish within a few hours, and the old line closes on its own.
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Before you start
A few minutes of prep avoids the most common reasons a transfer fails or a final bill surprises you.
- Don't cancel your old plan. The number has to be active to transfer.
- Check whether your phone is unlocked. If you are taking your phone with you, it has to be unlocked first. See how to unlock your phone for each carrier's rules.
- Check what you owe. Leaving usually ends any monthly phone credits, and the rest of the phone balance comes due on your final bill.
- Back up your phone and note any two-factor apps that text codes to your number.
How to switch carriers and keep your number
You start the transfer at the new carrier, not the old one. The steps are the same whichever carriers you are moving between.
- Find your account number. It is on your bill or in your carrier's app, under account or profile settings. It is not your phone number.
- Get a number transfer PIN. AT&T: dial *7678 or use the myAT&T app. Verizon: dial #7678 or use the My Verizon app. T-Mobile: request a Number Transfer PIN in the T-Mobile app or account settings. Prepaid brands usually show it in their app.
- Sign up with the new carrier and choose to transfer an existing number. Enter the account number, PIN and the name and billing ZIP code on the old account exactly as they appear there.
- Activate the new SIM or eSIM. With eSIM, the new carrier's app usually installs it in a few minutes.
- Wait for the transfer. Calls and texts move over when it completes, usually within a few hours. Restart the phone once it does.
- Check the final bill from your old carrier and return any leased phone or hotspot it asks for.
Start the switch early on a weekday. If something goes wrong, both carriers' port teams are easier to reach than at night or on a weekend.
Why a transfer gets stuck
Most stuck transfers come down to a detail that doesn't match the old account. Here is what to check.
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Wrong account number or PIN | Copy them again from the old carrier's app. PINs expire, so request a new one if it is a few days old. |
| Name or ZIP code doesn't match | Use the account holder's name and billing ZIP exactly as the old carrier has them. |
| Line is suspended or canceled | Reactivate it with the old carrier first. A canceled number can only be recovered for a short time. |
| Number is on a family or business account | The account owner has to provide the PIN, and business accounts may need an authorized contact. |
| Phone still locked | Ask the old carrier to unlock it, or use a different unlocked phone with the new SIM. |
Where to switch to
If you want a new phone with the switch, this month's best phone deals include switcher credits of up to $800 per line at AT&T. If you are keeping your phone, prepaid carriers cost less: Visible and US Mobile start at $25 a month for unlimited data with taxes included. Our Visible vs. Mint vs. US Mobile comparison lines them up.
Turn off number lock first
Carriers offer locks that block your number from being moved, to stop SIM-swap scams. Verizon calls it Number Lock, AT&T has Wireless Account Lock, and T-Mobile offers SIM Protection and port-out protection. If one is on, the transfer fails. Turn it off in your carrier's app just before you switch, then turn on the new carrier's version afterward.
Switching a family plan
Moving several lines works the same way, with a few extra things to watch.
- Each number transfers separately, and you can move some lines and leave others.
- The account holder has to provide the account number and PIN.
- If you move every line, the old account closes on its own; if you move some, the old plan's price may change for the lines that stay.
Switching from a landline or home phone
Landline and home phone numbers can usually move to a cell phone or a home phone service. These transfers take longer, often a few business days, and the new provider handles the request. Keep the old service active until the new one confirms the number has moved.
On switch day
Once the transfer goes through, a few quick checks make sure nothing gets missed.
- Keep the old phone handy until the new line works, for any texted codes.
- Set up voicemail on the new carrier; old voicemails don't transfer.
- Test calls, texts and picture messages once the transfer completes.
Questions
Can I switch carriers if I'm under contract?
Yes, but you may owe an early termination fee on older contracts, and the rest of any phone payment plan comes due.
Do my texts and contacts transfer?
Contacts and messages stay on your phone or in your cloud backup, not with the carrier, so they come with you. Voicemails stored by the old carrier don't.
Can I keep my phone number when I switch carriers?
Yes. US carriers must let you take your number to a new carrier, as long as the line is active and the number is in the same area. You start the transfer at the new carrier, not the old one.
Should I cancel my old service first?
No. Canceling ends the number. Leave the old line active; once the transfer completes, the old carrier closes that line for you.
What is a number transfer PIN?
A one-time code from your current carrier that authorizes the move. AT&T customers can dial *7678 (*PORT), Verizon customers #7678 (#PORT), and T-Mobile customers can get one in the T-Mobile app or account settings.
How long does it take to transfer a number?
Most wireless-to-wireless transfers finish within minutes to a few hours. Some take up to a day, and transfers from a landline or business account can take several days.
Can my old carrier block the transfer if I owe money?
No. A carrier can't refuse to release your number because of an unpaid balance, but you still owe the balance, including any phone payments that come due when you leave.
- FCC, "Porting: Keeping Your Phone Number When You Change Providers"
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile number transfer PIN help pages
- GreatNumber, "US Carrier Policy Changes 2026: Porting, eSIM & Unlocking," September 2026
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Jean founded ShopHighSpeed after trying to find one straight answer about business internet in his own town. He has been a Comcast and Verizon Fios customer, and ranks providers on what they actually deliver, not on what they advertise.