How to Port Your Phone Number to a New Carrier

Quick answer

To port your number: sign up with your new carrier, give them your current account number and transfer PIN, and they handle the transfer. Do not cancel your old plan first — your old account must stay active until the port completes. Many mobile-to-mobile ports finish in under 30 minutes, though timing varies.

What is porting?

Porting is the process of transferring your existing phone number from one carrier to another. It's governed by the FCC's Local Number Portability (LNP) rules — carriers are required to process valid port requests, and most simple mobile-to-mobile ports complete well within one business day. More complex ports (such as landline-to-mobile) may take longer.

You can port from any carrier to any other carrier. You can port a landline number to a mobile carrier. You can port from prepaid to postpaid or vice versa. The number can usually be transferred independently of the old account.

Step-by-step: how to port your number

Get your account number and PIN from your current carrier

Log in to your current carrier's app or website — Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile all have dedicated transfer-PIN or number-transfer flows that are usually the fastest path. If you can't find it there, contact support. This is different from your phone's unlock PIN.

During checkout, choose to transfer your existing number instead of getting a new one. You'll need your account number, PIN, and the name and billing address on your current carrier's account.

Wait for the port to complete — usually minutes to a few hours

Your new carrier submits the port request. Many mobile-to-mobile ports finish in 15–30 minutes, though some take a few hours. You'll get confirmation when done. Your old line typically deactivates when the port completes.

Cancel your old plan after the port is done

Once your new SIM is active and your number is working, then cancel your old account. If you cancel first, you may lose your number permanently.

Critical: don't cancel first

This is the most common porting mistake. If you cancel your old account before the port completes, your number can be lost permanently. Your old account must stay active until your new carrier confirms the port is done.

What you need before you start

Required Info	Where to Find It
Your current phone number	Settings → Phone (iPhone) or About Phone (Android)
Account number	Carrier app → Account Settings, or on your bill
Transfer PIN	Carrier app → Security, or call customer service
Billing name on account	Exactly as it appears on your current carrier's account
Billing address on account	Exactly as it appears on your current carrier's account

How long does porting take?

Mobile to mobile: Usually 15–30 minutes. Sometimes instant, sometimes a few hours.

Landline to mobile: Up to 1 business day. Older landline infrastructure is slower to process.

If your port is stuck: Contact your new carrier — they handle the request and can check status. Most delays are caused by mismatched account info (wrong PIN or billing name).

Make sure your phone is unlocked

Porting transfers your number — not your phone's compatibility. If your phone was bought through a carrier, it may be locked to that network. Unlock eligibility depends on your carrier's policy and whether your device has met the required conditions — contact your current carrier to check your device's unlock status before switching.

What happens to your old plan after porting?

When the port completes, your old carrier automatically terminates the ported line. You may still owe for the current billing cycle — carriers generally don't prorate final bills unless your contract says otherwise.

Check for early termination fees if you're under contract. If you received a phone subsidy or installment plan, you may still owe the remaining device balance even after porting.

Porting within a family plan

Porting a line off a family plan works the same way — but it requires the account holder's cooperation. The account holder may need to authorize the port or contact the carrier to release the line.

Also plan ahead: the remaining lines may lose their multi-line discount if dropping below the discount threshold.

Frequently asked questions

Does porting cost anything?

No. The FCC prohibits carriers from charging a porting fee. Your old carrier also cannot block or delay a valid port request.

Will I lose service during the port?

There may be a brief window (usually seconds to minutes) where your old SIM stops and your new SIM activates. To minimize interruption, start the port during daytime hours.

Can I port a number from a prepaid plan?

Yes. Porting works from any account type — prepaid, postpaid, contract, or no-contract. The process is the same.

What if my port gets rejected?

Most rejections happen because account info doesn't match exactly. Double-check your account number, PIN, and the exact name and address on file with your current carrier, then resubmit.

Bottom line

Porting is easy as long as you don't cancel first. Get your account number and PIN, sign up with your new carrier, select "keep my number," and let them handle the rest. Most ports complete in under an hour. Your number is yours — take it with you.