Switching to a cheaper plan does not mean giving up your number. US carriers are required to let you take it with you, and the process usually takes less time than activating the new SIM. You need two pieces of information from your current carrier, and there is one mistake you must avoid.
What you need before you start
- Your account number at the current carrier. It is on your bill and in the carrier's app, usually under your profile or account details. It is not your phone number.
- A number transfer PIN (also called a port-out PIN). This is a one-time code the carrier creates on request, and it is different from the PIN you use to log in.
- The name, billing address and ZIP code exactly as they appear on your current account.
- An unlocked phone, if you want to keep using your current one. More on that below.
How to get your transfer PIN
Verizon
Dial #PORT from your Verizon phone, or open My Verizon and create a Number Transfer PIN. Only the account owner or an account manager can do this. The PIN is valid for 7 days. If you turned on Number Lock, switch it off first in the My Verizon app.
AT&T
Dial *PORT from your AT&T phone, or go to your profile in the AT&T app or on att.com and choose to transfer your number. The PIN is free and valid for 4 days; asking for a new one cancels the old one. Wireless Account Lock has to be off. AT&T Prepaid customers do not need a transfer PIN.
T-Mobile
The primary account holder creates a Temporary Port Out PIN in the T-Life app under Account, then Permissions & controls, then Transfer PIN. If you turned on Port Out Protection, turn it off first. You also need your T-Mobile account number and your account PIN.
Prepaid and smaller carriers
Most prepaid brands, including Mint, Visible, Cricket and Metro, show your account number and transfer PIN in their app or account page, and their support chat can generate one. Look for "transfer my number" or "port out" in the help center.
The switch, step by step
- Check that your phone works on the new network. Every carrier has a compatibility check on its website: enter your phone's IMEI (dial *#06# to see it).
- Order the new plan and choose "transfer my number" (sometimes "port in" or "keep my number"). Enter the account number and PIN exactly.
- Activate the new SIM or eSIM. With an eSIM, many carriers finish the whole process in their app in a few minutes.
- Wait for the transfer to complete. Your old SIM stops working and the new one takes over the number. Between two wireless carriers this usually takes minutes to a few hours.
- Test calls and texts to and from the new line, then check that your old carrier closed the account and sends a final bill.
If you are still paying off your phone
Carrier phone deals usually spread the phone's price over 24 or 36 months and cancel each payment with a monthly bill credit. When you leave early, the credits stop and the remaining device balance becomes due, typically on your final bill. That is true at Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. You do not pay back credits you already received, but you lose the ones you have not received yet.
Two ways to deal with it: wait until the phone is paid off, or check whether the new carrier offers to cover your remaining balance when you switch. Those offers come with conditions, often a trade-in and staying a minimum number of days, so read the terms. Our guide on unlocked vs. carrier phones shows how to calculate what leaving early costs.
Make sure your phone is unlocked
A locked phone only works with the carrier that sold it. Each carrier has its own unlock rules, and they changed in 2026:
- Verizon: postpaid phones unlock automatically once they are paid in full. Prepaid phones, including Visible, Total Wireless and Straight Talk, need 365 days of paid service, and since January 2026 you have to request the unlock.
- AT&T: the phone must be paid in full and active for more than 60 days, with no past-due bill. Prepaid phones need twelve months of service.
- T-Mobile: postpaid phones must be paid off and active for 40 days. Prepaid phones need 365 days of service, or more than $100 in refills. Eligible phones unlock automatically within two business days.
Protect your number from port-out fraud
Criminals sometimes try to transfer someone else's number to take over bank and email accounts. Turn on your carrier's free number lock (Number Lock at Verizon, Wireless Account Lock at AT&T, Port Out Protection at T-Mobile) and only switch it off when you move carriers yourself. The FCC adopted rules in 2023 that require carriers to use secure identity checks and to notify customers before a port-out or SIM change; they apply on top of these locks.
Frequently asked questions
Can my carrier refuse to transfer my number?
No. Under FCC rules your current carrier has to release your number, even if you still owe money on the account. You still owe that balance, but it cannot be used to hold your number hostage.
How long does a number transfer take?
A transfer between two wireless carriers usually finishes within a few hours, often within minutes. FCC rules require a simple port to be completed within one business day. Moving a landline number to a cell phone can take a few days.
Do I need to cancel my old plan?
No, and you should not. The transfer cancels the old line automatically once it completes. If you cancel first, the number can be released and lost.
Does porting cost money?
Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile do not charge to create a transfer PIN. Some smaller providers charge a porting fee; ask them to waive it.
Facts checked against carrier and provider websites, FCC publications and independent network tests on October 21, 2026. Found something out of date? Let us know.