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Activating or transferring your number

This article walks you through activating a new line or transferring a line over from another carrier. Once you've purchased a plan, you can activate your line by getting a new number or transferring an existing one from your previous carrier.

Activation steps​

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Before you start, make sure you've already bought a service plan. Then, sign in to the app, find your Lines dashboard, and find the plan you're looking to activate.

Activation is a three-step process: select your network, select what kind of SIM you want to use (eSIM or physical SIM card), then transfer your number from another carrier or get a new number.

Select your network​

Choose your network: Dark Star, Warp, or Light Speed. You can always switch or get multiple networks for even more coverage and features. For more information about selecting networks, read our guide on our networks.

Select eSIM or physical SIM card​

We recommend eSIM for most users with compatible devices. For more information about SIMs, compatibility, and what to choose, read our guide on SIMs.

Transfer your number​

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If you're transferring your number, try to do all the steps during normal business hours to avoid delays. Your previous carrier needs to manually release your number for the transfer to go through.

If you're bringing your number from another carrier to US Mobile, you'll need two pieces of information:

  1. Your account number: Your account number is usually printed on your bill. Download or view an invoice to check.
  2. Your transfer PIN: Transfer PINs exist as another layer of security to prevent your number from being transferred without your permission. The process to get a transfer PIN is different for each carrier. For detailed instructions find your carrier in our carrier porting information guide.
Your account details must match exactly

The account number, PIN, and billing address you submit must match your current carrier's records exactly — including formatting. Even a minor mismatch (a different address abbreviation, an incorrect PIN digit) will cause the transfer to fail.

Double-check these against a recent bill before submitting. If a transfer fails due to a mismatch, we will email you. It can add several days of delay.

Fixing incorrect entries

If you need to resubmit the account number or transfer PIN you can do so by going to your Line page, selecting Update to make sure the details are up to date, entering the new information, and then selecting Submit.

Install your SIM​

The final step is to install your SIM on your phone. Have the following ready:

  • The device you want to have your newly activated line on
  • (If you are using a physical SIM card) Your US Mobile SIM card for the network you've activated

Installing an eSIM​

Follow the instructions on your Line page, which you can always access from the Lines dashboard in the app. You can scan a QR code, enter your eSIM information manually, or use one-button installation if your device supports it.

Installing a physical SIM card​

Use the SIM tray ejector included in your SIM kit (or any small pin) to eject the SIM tray and swap in the SIM card.

For detailed instructions, visit the following guides:

Apple's guide to inserting a SIM card

Walkthrough videos​

These short videos walk you through the full activation flow.

Check your activation status​

Your line's page in the app shows your activation progress. Refresh the screen to update.

How long will my activation or number transfer take?

New lines typically activate within five minutes. Most number transfers complete within ten minutes — however, some transfers can take up to 48 hours depending on when your previous carrier releases your number. For the smoothest experience, submit transfer requests during regular business hours.

Once your activation is complete, we'll update the page and send you a confirmation email. Verify everything went smoothly by making a call, sending a text, and checking your cellular data.

Transferring Google Voice or other VoIP numbers​

Transferring Google Voice or VoIP numbers requires additional steps and isn't always possible. If you have a Google Voice number, contact support before starting the transfer process.

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