Looking to switch phone carriers, and drawn to the siren song of T-Mobile? Not sure where to start? We’ll guide you through it, step-by-step. Here’s everything you need to know to switch carriers to T-Mobile while keeping your old number.
Check that your number works with T-Mobile
If you plan on taking your current number over to T-Mobile, first you’ll want to confirm that they can support it. You can find this out here on the T-Mobile website.
Most of the time this shouldn’t be a problem, but they note that there are rare instances where they may not have a transfer agreement with your original provider, in which case they can provide you with a new number (or you can choose one yourself from a third party–more on that below).
- What you’ll need
- How to get the transfer PIN
- How to transfer your number to T-Mobile
- How long will it take?
- Cancel current service
- Or choose your own personalized phone number
What you’ll need
Once you’ve confirmed that your current number is good to go with T-Mobile, gather the following from your phone carrier’s app or a recent bill:
- Phone number you want to transfer
- Current service provider name
- Account number
- Billing address (including ZIP code)
- Number transfer PIN (or the regular account passcode from services that don’t have a transfer PIN)
How to get the transfer PIN
All of the above should be readily accessible, except for the transfer PIN, which exists just for this situation. Here are examples of how to obtain the transfer pin from other major carriers:
- AT&T: Dial *port, or go to the app/web portal
- Mint: Contact customer service via phone or web chat
- Verizon: Dial #port, or go to the app/web portal
How to transfer your number to T-Mobile
With all that information gathered and your number confirmed as good to go, you can start the process of opening an account. If you want to bring along your current phone as well as your current number, you can initiate the process at T-Mobile’s “BYOD” (bring your own device) page.
Here you can enter your phone’s IMEI (“International Mobile Equipment Identity”–a unique serial number that you can find in your phone’s settings or by dialing *#06#) to determine whether T-Mobile’s network can support it, and then proceed with the process of opening a new account. You’ll also have to make sure that your current carrier has unlocked the device you intend to bring over, which should be a standard and straightforward request.
If you’re bringing over an eSIM-compatible device, you will have to activate it once the transfer has gone through. Otherwise, you will receive a new physical SIM card in the mail from T-Mobile and follow included instructions to insert and activate it.
If your old device won’t cut it, or you’d rather switch to a new one anyway, then check out T-Mobile’s available deals on new phones and start the process of opening a new account online.
How long will it take?
According to T-Mobile, transferring mobile-to-mobile takes on average 10 minutes to 3 hours, whereas transferring landline service can take anywhere from 3 to 10 days. You can check on the status of the transfer at any time by calling 1-877-789-3106.
Cancel current service
Once the transfer has gone through and your new service with T-Mobile is up and running, only then should you cancel your previous service, or you risk interrupting and delaying the transfer.
Be sure to also take advantage of T-Mobile’s “Family Freedom” offer to reimburse you for any early termination fees.
Or choose your own personalized phone number
If you don’t want to bring your old number or accept a randomly assigned phone number from T-Mobile, another option includes actually choosing and purchasing the number you want from a millions of options, including “vanity numbers.” These are like those phone numbers on ads that spell something or have repeating digits. You may see them on billboards while stuck in traffic, or maybe while driving through the desert. You can search marketplaces such as NumberBarn by letters, numbers, area codes, etc. (Fun fact, some area codes actually spell different words so you can really get creative if you don’t need a particular area code!) Your custom number can spell your name, be clever, catchy, memorable, nostalgic, humorous … pretty much anything you want!
At NumberBarn, custom phone numbers start at only $5, so aside from premium numbers with keywords associated with major industries like law and real estate, you can get the perfect number, without breaking the bank. And there’s no extra fees from NumberBarn if you’re just buying a number to port out immediately and want to skip other services like number parking and call forwarding.
You’ll find all the porting information and transfer PIN directly within your NumberBarn account after purchasing a number. And, there’s no contracts so you can get your phone number out the door to T-Mobile as soon as it’s active and ready to port. *Pro tip: search for numbers labeled “Get It Now” for faster activation and porting out from NumberBarn.
