Switching your current phone number to a new phone system isn’t difficult. Learn how to port a number in just a few simple steps. We’ve laid out everything you need to do and consider before porting your number to a new system.
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Before You Get Started
Before you port your number, there are a few important steps to take that will make the process go more smoothly.
Don’t Cancel Your Service With Your Old Provider (Yet)
While part of the goal of porting your number is to cancel your old service, don’t cancel it before your number has been ported. You can’t port a number that is no longer attached to a provider.
Once your number has been ported to your new service, you can go ahead and cancel your old plan, if you’d like. Keep in mind that there may be fees associated with terminating your old contract, so be sure to review those details before canceling.
Check to See if Your Number is Eligible For Porting
While every phone company is required to allow porting, not every phone number can be ported to your service of choice. When looking for new phone services, make sure your current number can be ported before starting the porting process. Many providers let you check your number’s eligibility on their website. This will save you time and headaches.
Check Device Compatibility With the New Provider
Not every device can be used on every service. Check to see if your device is eligible to be used on a new carrier or provider and make sure it’s unlocked if so. You may need to purchase a new device if it’s not, in which case you should check with your new provider for any special offers.
Have Account Information Available
You’ll need to gather some key information and have it handy to make the porting process go as quickly as possible. Have your account number, PIN, service address, billing address and the number(s) and extension(s) you wish to port ready to go. You also may be asked to provide a recent bill to your new provider, so have that ready as well.
How to Port a Number
Once you’ve gathered your account information and checked to see if your device and number are eligible to be switched over, porting is a straightforward process. We recommend maintaining clear communication with both your old and new providers so that the process goes as seamlessly as possible.
- Choose a new provider. Review different providers and pick the best phone service that you’d like to port your number to, based on your business needs.
- Gather required information. Tell the new provider you’d like to port your current phone number, and they will let you know what details they’ll need in order to port it.
- Set up your new account. Provide the requested information to your new service provider. The faster and more accurately you do this, the quicker the porting process will take.
- Prepare your device(s). If you plan to use the same hardware after you switch services, you’ll have to unlock it. Follow your current carrier’s steps to unlocking a device before you switch. If you’re using a new device, you may want to go ahead and start setting up your accounts and apps as appropriate.
- Wait for the port to complete. Keep your plan with your soon-to-be old provider active until the new provider confirms that the port is complete. The amount of time this takes will vary, depending on the complexity of your service.
- Cancel your old plan. If there are no more active lines with your old provider and your account balance is paid off, you are ready to cancel your previous account. You could leave it open if you wish, but closing it protects you from potential fraud.
People and businesses alike choose to port numbers because it’s often more convenient than getting a new number. When you port a number, you won’t have to notify anyone that your number has changed. For a more seamless experience, anyone who wants to reach you can do so by calling the same number you had before you switched providers.
Potential Issues When Porting a Number
While the FCC legally requires all carriers to allow you to port a number, you won’t be able to port it if any of the following are true:
- Your new provider doesn’t service your geographic area. If the company you’re switching to doesn’t offer service in your area, your number won’t be able to be ported.
- The number you’re trying to port is no longer in service. Only numbers that are currently active are eligible to be ported.
- Your new provider does not have an interconnection agreement with your old provider. If there is no agreement, your number cannot be ported, so you would need to search for a different provider.
Other hurdles that could come up (but are fixable) include:
- You are not the account holder. If this is the case, you may need to get in touch with that person and ask them to handle this process.
- You gave incorrect contact information. If your name or address does not match up between your old provider and the new provider, you will need to correct the mismatch.
- You already disconnected your old number. If you disconnected your number before porting was complete, it will take longer for your number to be ported.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to port a number?
On average, porting a business number takes one to two weeks to complete. It can take longer than that if the proper account details aren’t given to your new provider, or if your number has extra features like call forwarding, groups or special voicemail services.
Can you port a number even if you have an outstanding balance with your current provider?
Yes. Generally you are allowed to port your number to a new provider even if you still owe your current one, but you may have to pay off the bills from your old provider before you can cancel your account.
Are there fees for porting a number?
Possibly. Companies are allowed to charge fees for number porting, but you can try to negotiate to have them reduced or waived.
Can I port a toll-free number?
Yes. most phone services allow you to transfer a number with a 1-800 (or some variant) the same way you would with a local number. Ask your service provider for more details.
Can you port a number to a VoIP service?
Yes. Most numbers can be ported to a voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) service. Check with your current provider and whichever VoIP service you’re looking to switch to for eligibility information to make sure your number can be ported successfully.
