Looking to switch carriers (away from AT&T) but want to keep the same phone number you’ve always had? You’re in the right place. Transferring your phone number is easy and only takes 5-10 minutes.
Carriers might refer to this process as “porting”, “transferring”, “number transfer”, “switching”, or even “moving your number.” No matter the lingo used, it’s all the same thing: bringing your current number to your new service.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to seamlessly transfer your current number to your new carrier.
Table of Contents
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to seamlessly transfer your current number to your new carrier.
So, how do I transfer my AT&T number to another carrier?
Step 1: Check Eligibility Before initiating the porting process, ensure that your current phone number is eligible for porting. All phone numbers from other carriers can be ported, but it’s essential to verify eligibility. You can always cancel your current contract early, but it is on you to pay the associated fees for ending early.
You may be ineligible if if your plan was set up through your job, or if you aren’t the primary account owner. Aren’t sure? We recommend reaching out to AT&T’s customer support.
Also, please ensure that the number you have is a US-based number to avoid any issues later on in the porting process.
Step 2: Gather Necessary Information To initiate the porting process, you’ll need to gather some essential information from your current carrier (click to expand):
- Account Owner’s Name
Account Number
- Go to your myAT&T Profile. Sign in, if asked.
- Scroll to My linked accounts. You’ll see the account number for each of your services.
Transfer PIN
To get a Number Transfer PIN you must have a standard monthly account. You must be logged in* to My Verizon as Account Owner or Account Manager.** Use any of these methods to get a Number Transfer PIN:
- Dial #PORT from the smartphone that has the number you want to transfer.*
- Our system verifies you’re dialing from the phone to be transferred.We send you a link to generate the Number Transfer PIN in My Verizon.
Important:
- Keep your Number Transfer PIN and Account Number safe and don’t share it with anyone except the new carrier or an Account Member. Verizon will never ask you for this information.
- The Number Transfer PIN is an account level code you can use to authorize the move of any/all of the lines on your account. Tell your new carrier which Verizon lines you want to move.
- The Number Transfer PIN is only valid for 7 days so give it to your new carrier promptly.
Current Phone Number
Find your current phone number with this helpful guide (for iOS and Android)!
IMEI Number (You may or may not need this, but just in case):
- iOS: Settings > General > About > Scroll down to find IMEI
- Android: Settings > About Phone > Scroll down for IMEI
💡 Are there fees for porting your number?
Companies may charge you to port your number, but you can ask whether any fees can be waived or negotiated. Once you request service from a new company, your old company cannot refuse to port your number, even if you owe money for an outstanding balance or termination fee.
Step 3: Choose Your New Carrier Make your pick and navigate over to their website/app to begin setting up your new plan.
Step 4: Initiate the Porting Process Once you have all the necessary information and have chosen your next carrier, it’s time to initiate the porting process (yay!).
Step 5: Provide Information and Documentation During the setup process, you’ll be asked if you want to bring over your current phone number. You’ll need to provide the information gathered in Step 2. This includes your current phone number, your current carrier, your carrier account number and lastly your carrier/transfer pin.
Step 6: Porting Date and Time The porting of a number can generally take around 24-48 hours, depending on how cooperative your previous carrier is. In certain instances it can be longer for VoIP or landline numbers, which can take up to 7-10 business days. This is because it’s up to your previous carrier’s to release your number. While they are required to release it, we can’t confirm the amount of time it takes them to do so.
Step 7: Await Confirmation Once you’ve provided all the necessary information and continued through the activation flow, keep an eye on your inbox.
Step 8: Enjoy Your New Service Once the porting process is complete, you’ll be able to enjoy your new carrier with your existing phone number. You did it!
FAQs (click to expand)
How do I get my AT&T Transfer Pin?
- Request your Number Transfer PIN close to the time you’ll submit the transfer request to the new provider. You can use a single Number Transfer PIN for all numbers that are on the same account. The Number Transfer PIN will expire four days after you request it. If you need a new one, you can ask for another by following the same steps.
- From your AT&T mobile device
- Call *PORT. Follow the prompts to get your Number Transfer PIN sent to you via text. You’ll need your account passcode to generate the Number Transfer Pin when calling *PORT.
- With the myAT&T app
- Sign into the myAT&T app.
- Choose More and then Manage profile.
- Select People & Permissions.
- Scroll to Transfer phone number and select Request a new PIN. Your Number Transfer PIN will display on the screen.
- Good to know: Don’t see People & Permissions? You may have to sign in to myAT&T from a browser.
- Online with myAT&T
- Go to People & permissions in your myAT&T profile.
- Select Wireless.
- Scroll to Transfer phone number and select Request a new PIN. Your Number Transfer PIN will display on the screen.
- Heads up: AT&T employees can’t generate a Number Transfer PIN on your behalf.
How do I transfer my AT&T number?
- Use the above guide to learn how you can transfer your number away from AT&T.
Does AT&T let you transfer your number?
Yes. Simply follow the above guide to transfer your AT&T number to your new carrier.
How long does it take for AT&T to transfer a number?
Depending on your service provider, it can take AT&T anywhere from a few minutes to 5 business days to complete your transfer. Check the status of your transfer here.
How do I transfer service from one phone to another AT&T?
Use the above guide to learn how you can transfer your number away from AT&T.
Why can’t I transfer my phone number to a new carrier?
If the company you’re switching to does not provide service in your area, your number cannot be transferred. If the number you’re trying to port is no longer in service, it is ineligible for porting. Only active numbers can be transferred.
Can a phone company refuse to port your number?
According to the FCC, a company can’t refuse to port your number even if you have an outstanding balance or unpaid termination fees.
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