If you are switching operators it's usually possible to take your phone number with you. The process of moving a phone number from one operator to another is called porting, Here's how to do it:
Don't terminate your existing service. You old operator account must be active at the start of the port. Porting will automatically close your old account. If you cancel service before the port completes, your account will be closed prematurely and you will lose your number.
Gather the information you need. All operators require at a minimum the number you are porting and the account number and PIN or password. Most also ask for the account holder's name and billing address. If you don't know your account number or password see the list below for tips on finding the account credentials for specific operators.
Initiate a number port with the operator you are switching to. Most operators let you do a port online. A few require you to call.
Ports usually complete within 24 hours, often in an hour or less. During the porting process there may be a short period, usually less than five minutes, when neither phone works. When the port is done you may get a welcome text or voice message from the new operator. Or the new phone may just start working without any message. If the number hasn't ported within 24 hours you need to call your new operator.
Account number and passwords for most operators. This list is based on one originally published on the Prepaid Wireless Dealers Facebook Group and is used with the permission of the group administrator and original author.
Aio Wireless - Account # is 9 digits and is on your online accont profole. Passcode is your 4 digit security PIN.
Airvoice Wireless – Account # is the SIM Card number and password is last 4 digits of phone number.
Alltel – Account # is the 9-digit phone number and password is the 4 digit PIN.
AT&T Postpaid - Account number will be on the bill (it is NOT the phone number) - password will be your online password. For bundled bills, the account number will be a 12-digit number under your wireless account summary. Also, (only for bundled bills) you will need to call AT&T customer service for the passcode - it will be a 4 digit PIN number that they provide to you.
AT&T Go Phone - Call the AT&T Number Transfer Request Line at 1-888-898-7685 to get your account number - it is NOT listed on the online account. The passcode is your 4 digit PIN.
AT&T Landline - Account # is the 9-digit phone number and the PIN is the 4 digits to the immediate right of the phone number in the top right corner of your bill.
Black Wireless - see H2O
Boost Mobile - Call Boost to get your account number. It is NOT listed on your online account. Call Boost at 1-888-266-7848 to get your 9-digit account number. To reach a live person, wait for the opening message to go to English. When prompted, enter your Boost phone number. Press option "4" when the system says "Technical Issues, press 4." Next, listen to all of the 7 or so menu options. At the end of the all these menu options, wait 10 seconds, and you will be prompted to chat with a Boost Customer Care Representative by pressing "0" (zero)." When prompted, enter your 4-digit Boost PIN number. Then, wait to be transferred to a Boost Representative. Ask this Boost Representative for your account number. They will ask you why, and tell them that you are going to be changing carriers. If they ask you why, tell them that you really like Boost, but the coverage is spotty in your area. This representative will need to transfer you to another final representative. Give him the same line, "I like Boost, but the coverage is spotty in my area." If you tell him you are getting a better price, he will try to talk you into staying, so stick with "the coverage is spotty." He will finally provide you will the long awaited 9-digit account number!! Congratulations!
Passcode: Your passcode is your 4-digit PIN with Boost, the same PIN that you login with.
Consumer Cellular - Account number can be found online or by calling Consumer Cellular - it is a 9 digit number. The passcode is usually the last 4 digits of your social security number. Also, the name and address must match
Cricket - Account number can be found online or by calling the Cricket Porting Department at 1-866-351-7678 (then option #2). The passcode will be your Authorization ID (or "AID").
Google Voice – Go to: https://www.google.com/voice/unlock to unlock your number, See: https://support.google.com/voice/answer/1316844 for more information. Account number is 10-digit phone number – passcode is the last 4 digits of the phone number, unless you changed it to something eels. Customers full name and address must match. It will take 4 to 7 business days to complete. There's a $3 charge to port from google voice if the number wasn't originally ported to Google Voice.
H20 Wireless – Account # is the full 20 digits of the SIM Card number and password is last 4 digits of SIM number. But you need to call customer service at 1-800-643-4926 and ask them to release your number for porting so you might as well confirm the account # and PIN with them. They will ask you to provide the 3 most recent outgoing calls.
Line 2 / Toktumi – Account Number is your phone number and the passcode is your login passcode - it will take between 3 to 5 days to port.
Lycamobile - You need to call CS at 1-866-277-3221 to get your account # and password.
Metro PCS – Account Number is a 9-digit number (not phone number) and passcode is call-in passcode, (usually 8-digit birthday)
Net10 – See Straight Talk
Page Plus - Account # is the 10 digit phone number. Passcode is always the last 4 digits of the phone number, unless you have changed it.
PlatinumTel – Account number is the SIM ID – use 00000 for the password.
Prepayd Wireless – You will need to contact customer service or a PrepaYd dealer to get the account number (5 digit number) – The passcode is your 4 digit PIN number.
Selectel Wireless - Account # is your phone number. Passcode is your 4 digit PIN.
Simple Mobile - Account number is your phone number and the passcode is your online password (or last 8 digits of your SIM if you haven't changed it).
Solavei - Account # is the phone number. The passcode is 0000.
Sprint - Account # is NOT phone number, it's is a 9-digit number. - passcode is your "call-in" passcode when you call customer service.
Straight Talk (also TracFone and NET10) - Account # is NOT the Phone Number – It is the MEID or IMEI serial number of the phone (this can be found on the back of the phone itself - under the battery, so remove the battery!) Or, if your are using a BYOP SIM Card, it will be the last 15 digits of your SIM Card number. Passcode can be found on your online Straight Talk, NET10 or TracFone profile page and is usually last 4 digits of the phone # or, for BYOP SIMs, the last four digits of the SIM ID.
Ting - Account number is at the top of your online statement. The password is the phone's MSL which can be found on the Devices screen of your online Ting profile, or in your activation email.
T-Mobile Postpaid - 9 digit account number (NOT phone #) on your bill and can be a word for the password.
T-Mobile Prepaid – Phone number is account number and the passcode is a 4-digit PIN number (the same PIN used when calling customer service). If you don't know your PIN number, call the porting department at 1-877-789-3106 to get it.
TracFone - See Straight Talk
Verizon Postpaid- Account # (on bill) ends in -00001 - passcode is "call-in" passcode when you call customer service. It is usually the last 4 digits of your social security number (unless you specifically changed it to something else).
Verizon Prepaid – Account Number is 10 digits, a dash ( - ) and 00001 (0123456789-00001). and the password is your 4 digit security PIN.
Virgin Mobile - You need to contact Virgin Mobile customer service to get your account number - it will be a 9-Digit number - and the passcode is usually the customer's birthday in 6-digit format (2-digit month/2-digit day/2-digit year...example: 011065 for January 10th 1965) UNLESS you changed it to something else.
I'd like to update this page with information for more operators. If you now how to get the account information for any operator not listed above, please share it in a comment.
Image By Tim Parkinson some rights reserved CC-BY-2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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