How long does it take to transfer a number to a new phone

Transfer a number to a different Verizon account

Learn how to transfer mobile lines between Verizon accounts, what the requirements are, and how your billing, features and discounts might be affected.

Editorial Note: Forbes Advisor may earn a commission on sales made from partner links on this page, but that doesn't affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. We offer information about investing and saving, but we do not offer any personal advice or recommendations. If you aren’t sure whether investing is right for you, or which investments are right for you, please consult an authorised financial adviser.

OK – you’ve come to the end of your mobile phone contract and found a tempting deal with another company. But is it really worth the hassle of changing your number and having to send a message to everyone you know to update them?

The good news is that transferring your existing phone number to a new network should be relatively easy – in fact, it could be as simple as sending a text message.

Here we outline how to transfer your number to a new phone, how long the process should take, and answer some common questions.

Compare Phone Contracts & SIM-Only Deals

Choose from major networks with our easy-to-use comparison service

How do I transfer my phone number to a new network?  

Once you’ve decided to change mobile phone network, you’ll need to request a PAC number from the company you’re currently with.

PAC stands for Porting Authorisation Code. This is a nine-digit code (three letters followed by six numbers) that allows you to move your number from one network to another – this is known as ‘porting’.

One way to request your code is to ring your current mobile phone company to ask for it. However, you’ll often have to speak to a salesperson who is likely to try and persuade you to stay with the network.

To allow customers to avoid these awkward conversations, Ofcom rules introduced in 2019 made the process easier by introducing a “text-to-switch” process.

With this, you can request your PAC code by texting the word ‘PAC’ to 65075. Your mobile provider must reply with the code within one minute.

Along with the PAC code, its reply must also tell you any important information you need to know about your account, such as your balance if you’re a pay-as-you-go customer, or any charges you’ll have to pay to leave your contract.

However, if you have more than one number linked to your account, such as a family account, you won’t be able to use this service.

You can also request your code online through your network’s website. Again, you should receive your code within one minute.

The PAC code you receive will be valid for 30 days, so pass it on to your new network within this timeframe or you’ll have to start the process again.

How long will it take for my number to be ‘ported’ over?

Once you’ve passed your PAC code on to your new network, it should begin the switch and your number should be moved over within one working day.

You can check that your new number has moved over by ringing a friend or asking them to call you.

What happens while the number is moving over – will I be without a phone?

While the switch is taking place, your number should remain active on your existing account until it is complete. While it’s actually transferring, you may have a short loss of service, but any disruption should be minimal – usually a matter of minutes.

What happens if I’m staying with the same network but swapping phones?

If you upgrade your phone and need a new SIM card, your mobile phone company should transfer your number over on request when you activate your new SIM. This is sometimes referred to as a SIM swap.

Take a look on your phone company’s website to see its process for doing this or give it a call. You may need a security code to move your number, to fill in a form or to text it.

What happens if I don’t want to transfer my number?

According to Ofcom, around one in six people don’t want to transfer their mobile number when they make a switch. If this applies to you, you’ll need to request a ‘STAC’ (service termination authorisation code’).

As with a PAC code, you can request this via a text message – text STAC to 75075 – or call your network.

Is there anything else I need to think about?

As well as moving your phone number to a new handset or contract, you’ll probably want to transfer other things that are on your current phone too, such as your contacts, photographs, apps, games and music. Make sure you do this in plenty of time and if you’re unsure on how to move things to a new phone, read our guide here.

Before moving to a new contract with a new network, make sure you’ve either come to the end of your current contract or are happy with the amount you’ll have to pay to terminate your existing contract early – you don’t want to be left with an unexpected bill.

If you’re not sure how long you’ve got left on your contract, you can text INFO to 85075.

Compare Phone Contracts & SIM-Only Deals

Choose from major networks with our easy-to-use comparison service

Information provided on Forbes Advisor is for educational purposes only. Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, nor do we recommend or advise individuals or to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Forbes adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved, or otherwise endorsed by our partners.

How long does it take to transfer my old number to my new phone?

Why is my number transfer taking so long?

How long does it take to port your number?