Wondering if you can port or transfer your phone number to a different wireless provider?
Yes! Probably! Good talk.
Okay, seriously though: you very likely can, but the first step to take before buying that number is to verify that your preferred cell service provider can support it on their network.
As all major carriers’ FAQ pages will reassure you, most of the time it’s easy to port any given number to any given service provider, but there are rare exceptions that we’ll get into later. It’s always better to check first before committing to a number that you’ll be able to port it where you want, rather than risk finding out you’ve spent money on a phone number that won’t work with your cell plan.
In what cases would my provider NOT be able to support my number?
To answer that, here are two words: rate center.
What? Well, it will depend on the “rate center”, which is the part of a phone number that’s determined by the area code + the first three digits (prefix). Together, those numbers indicate a number’s associated geographic area, which ultimately dictates what numbers a provider might support.
For example, in “(858) 922-1234″…
- 858 is an area code assigned to part of southern California
- 922 is the prefix associated specifically with the city of La Jolla
- 1234 is the line number
The rate center in this case would be “858-922,” designating a sub-region of the larger 858 area code. While you shouldn’t have trouble getting a number on any plan in any given area code, not all carriers cover all rate centers, so you should first determine if your service provider’s affiliated carriers do in fact cover your number’s rate center.
Learn more about rate centers in our post, “What Does a Rate Center Mean For You“.
How do I ask my cell phone provider if they support the rate center of my number?
With apologies to the socially anxious, you probably need to pick up the phone and call them. Or at least chat with an online service representative.
AT&T has a convenient web portal that lets you enter a number on their website to check, but all of the others typically require direct contact to confirm eligibility. In general, all of them emphasize that porting any given number to their service is more than likely possible, only with rare exceptions.
I’ve listed out the major services’ relevant information below, but if you’re using another provider that’s not listed, just search their site for info about “number porting” and it should come up easily.
Check portability with AT&T
Check your number online here: https://www.att.com/wireless/transfer-your-number/
Check portability with Verizon
Check out frequently asked questions here: https://www.verizon.com/switch-to-verizon/faq/
Go here to confirm your number with a service representative either over the phone or text chat: https://www.verizon.com/support/contact-us/#mobile#mobileaccountmanagement#mobileacccountmanagementchangephonenumber
Check portability with T-Mobile
Read about the process here: https://www.t-mobile.com/support/account/transfer-your-phone-number
Contact a sales representative to ask at: 1-800-T-MOBILE (1-800-866-2453)
Check portability with Mint Mobile
Read about the process here: https://www.mintmobile.com/help/can-i-bring-my-current-phone-number-over-to-mint-mobile/
Contact a service representative to ask either via web chat here: https://www.mintmobile.com/chat/
Or by phone at: 1-800-683-7392
Check portability with Boost Mobile
Read about the process here: https://help.boostmobile.com/docs/number-transfer-guide
Call a service representative to ask at: 1-833-502-6678
What if they can’t support my number?
If your chosen cell phone provider can’t support your number, unfortunately you’ll have to find a new number or a new cell phone service. This is why it’s best to check before making your number purchase.
Don’t fret, however: if you’ve already bought a number from us and then found out that it’s not portable, reach out to our customer support and we’ll see how we can help.
If they can support it, how long does it take to get it on my cell phone?
It takes about 3 to 10 business days to port an active number from NumberBarn to your new cell phone provider. While you’re probably used to porting your number from one cell phone provider to another, which takes minutes, unfortunately that is not the case here, because our numbers are classified as landline/wireline.
Follow the instructions in our Port Away Guide to get your number with your new provider.
