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Transfer Your Phone Number to a New Carrier (LNP Porting Guide)

Every US phone number can be ported (transferred) from one carrier to another under FCC Local Number Portability (LNP) rules (47 CFR Part 52). The process takes 1-4 hours for wireless ports and 1-5 business days for wireline / VoIP ports. You initiate it from the destination carrier you're moving to, NOT from your current carrier. Below is the FCC-mandated process, the per-carrier procedures for every major US carrier, the typical fees, and the FAQs covering common porting issues.

This page is the general porting reference. If you bought number from Digit Exclusive and need to port it onto your existing carrier, the same FCC LNP process applies — see also buy a phone number outright for the purchase-side flow and how much does a phone number cost for pricing context.

Transfer your phone number — what buyers call LNP porting

"Transfer a phone number" and "port a phone number" mean the exact same thing. Phone carriers, the FCC, and the industry call it porting (Local Number Portability, or LNP). Consumers and businesses overwhelmingly call it transferring. Both terms describe the regulated process of moving a US telephone number from one carrier to another while keeping the digits the same.

If you searched for "how to transfer a phone number to a new carrier," "transfer my phone number," "keep my phone number when switching carriers," or "move my number to a different provider" — this guide covers all of it. The steps below apply identically whether you call it transferring or porting.

Three quick clarifications for first-time number transfers:

  1. You initiate the transfer from the new (destination) carrier, not the old one. Tell your new carrier you want to keep your existing number — they handle the port-in request.
  2. Your number stays active the entire time. You don't lose service during a transfer. Calls route to your old carrier until the port completes, then automatically switch to your new carrier (typically 1-4 hours for wireless, 1-5 business days for wireline/VoIP).
  3. You cannot transfer number until you have an active account on the new carrier. Open the destination account first, then submit the port-in request with your old account details.

The full 5-step transfer process — covering wireless, wireline, and VoIP numbers, with the FCC-mandated timeline and the per-carrier specifics for AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Google Voice, and RingCentral — is documented below.

How phone number porting works (the 5-step FCC LNP process)

Porting a US phone number — wireless, wireline, or VoIP — follows the same five-step process under FCC rules. The destination carrier (the one you're moving the number TO) handles the work. You do not contact your current carrier first.

  1. Pick your destination carrier. This is the new wireless, wireline, or VoIP carrier you want the number to live on. Open the account first (or be an existing customer adding a line).
  2. Gather port-in information from your current carrier. You'll need: your account number with the current (losing) carrier, the account holder's name and billing address exactly as it appears on the current account, your account PIN or "transfer PIN" (most carriers require this since 2022), and the phone number you want to port.
  3. Submit the port-in request to your destination carrier. Wireless carriers usually take it via app, website, or in-store. VoIP and hosted-PBX vendors take it via a port-in form. The destination carrier submits the request to the centralized port-out queue (NPAC / iconectiv).
  4. Wait for the port to complete. Wireless-to-wireless ports complete in 1-4 hours by FCC standard. Wireline-to-wireless and VoIP ports complete in 1-5 business days. You can typically keep using your old phone until the port completes, after which calls and texts route to the new carrier automatically.
  5. Test and finalize. Once you see calls and texts hitting the new carrier, the port is done. The losing carrier's billing on that number stops at the port-completion date; any prorated refunds are at the losing carrier's discretion under their own terms.

Under FCC LNP rules (47 CFR Part 52), the losing carrier cannot refuse the port. They can only delay or reject if there is a documented mismatch in account information (name, address, account number, PIN) or if the account is past-due. If they refuse without cause, the FCC port-in complaint process applies.

Carrier-specific port-in procedures

The general FCC LNP process is the same across every carrier, but the specific port-in submission flow, the required documentation, and the timeline-within-FCC-limits vary by carrier. Direct buying guides for every major US carrier:

Wireless carriers

VoIP / hosted PBX

RingCentral, Vonage, OpenPhone, Dialpad, Zoom Phone, GoTo Connect, Aircall, and 8x8 all accept inbound ports through their carrier-network process — usually a 5-7 day timeline, with port-in fees ranging from $0 (new accounts) to $25-$50 (existing accounts). Google Voice charges a $20 one-time port-in fee. See the dedicated outright buyer reference and the cornerstone buy a phone number outright for context.

FCC-mandated porting timelines

Under the FCC's Local Number Portability rules (47 CFR Part 52, Telephone Number Portability Order FCC 10-87 and subsequent orders), the maximum allowed completion times are:

Port type FCC-mandated maximum Typical actual time
Wireless to wireless (simple port) 1 business day 1-4 hours
Wireless to wireless (complex / multi-line) 4 business days 1-2 business days
Wireline / VoIP to wireless 4 business days 1-5 business days
Wireline to wireline (intermodal) 4 business days 1-5 business days
Hosted PBX / SIP trunk port 4 business days 3-7 business days (industry standard)

Source: FCC Telephone Number Portability rules, 47 CFR § 52.32 onward.

Typical port-in fees

Most US wireless carriers charge $0 to port number in (they want your business). Some VoIP and hosted-PBX vendors charge a one-time port-in fee. Digit Exclusive does not charge anything additional for the carrier-transfer authorization packet — that's part of the listed price you paid for the number.

  • $0 typical: AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Cricket, Mint Mobile, Visible, Spectrum Mobile, Xfinity Mobile, US Cellular (consumer postpaid lines)
  • $20: Google Voice (one-time port-in fee, paid to Google)
  • $25-$50: Some hosted-PBX vendors (RingCentral, Vonage) for existing-account port-ins
  • $0 (new account): Most VoIP vendors waive port-in fees for new sign-ups

Common porting issues and how to fix them

"Port rejected — account information mismatch"

The destination carrier submitted the port request, but the losing carrier rejected it. Most common cause: the account holder name, address, account number, or PIN on the port-in form does not exactly match the current account. Fix: pull a current carrier billing statement, copy the exact name and address, retrieve the correct account number from the bill (it is sometimes different from the phone number), generate or reset the transfer PIN, and resubmit.

"Port pending for more than 5 business days"

Wireline / VoIP ports can legitimately take up to 5 business days. Hosted-PBX ports can take 7. Beyond that, the destination carrier should escalate. If they don't, the FCC port-in complaint process at fcc.gov/consumers/guides/complaints-against-telephone-companies-and-providers-vmessage-and-text applies.

"Carrier requires SIM unlock before port"

Some carriers (notably prepaid wireless) require the physical SIM card to be unlocked before they release the port. This is a carrier policy, not an FCC requirement. Request a SIM unlock from your losing carrier before submitting the port request.

"Phone stopped working before the port completed"

This usually indicates the port completed on the network side but the new SIM is not yet activated on the destination device. Power-cycle the new device. If it persists, contact the destination carrier to verify activation.

"I want to cancel the port mid-process"

The destination carrier can usually cancel a port-in request up until the port completes. After completion, you can port the number back to the original carrier the same way you ported out — by initiating a new port request from the original carrier.

Frequently asked questions about phone number porting

Can any US phone number be ported?

Yes. Under FCC LNP rules (47 CFR Part 52), every US local-area-code phone number and toll-free number can be ported. The losing carrier is required to release the number on request from a qualified destination carrier, provided account information matches and the account is in good standing.

Do I keep my phone number when switching carriers?

Yes — that's exactly what porting does. You keep the number; only the carrier providing service on that number changes. Calls, texts, voicemail forwarding continue to your line on the new carrier after the port completes.

Is there a charge to port my number?

Most US wireless carriers charge $0 to port number in. Google Voice charges $20 (one-time). Some hosted-PBX vendors charge $25-$50 for existing-account port-ins; most waive the fee for new accounts. Digit Exclusive does not charge anything for the carrier-transfer authorization packet — it's part of the number's listed price.

How long does it take to port a phone number?

Wireless-to-wireless: 1-4 hours typical, 1 business day FCC maximum. Wireline / VoIP: 1-5 business days typical, 4 business days FCC maximum. Hosted PBX: 3-7 business days industry standard.

Can I port number I bought from Digit Exclusive to AT&T / Verizon / T-Mobile?

Yes. Every US local-area-code number we sell is portable to every major US carrier under FCC LNP rules. We issue the carrier-transfer authorization packet within 24 hours of purchase. You initiate the port from your destination carrier (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, RingCentral, OpenPhone, Vonage, Google Voice, others). See the carrier-specific guides linked above.

Can my old carrier block the port?

No. Under FCC LNP rules, the losing carrier cannot refuse a valid port request. They can only delay or reject if account information does not match (name, address, account number, PIN) or if the account is past-due. If they refuse without cause, the FCC port-in complaint process applies.

Will my service be interrupted during the port?

For wireless-to-wireless ports, service typically transitions in 1-4 hours with minimal or no interruption. For wireline-to-wireless ports, brief interruptions (minutes to a few hours) are possible during the cutover window. For VoIP ports, the destination provider will schedule a cutover window — usually no service loss if scheduled correctly.

Do I need to cancel my current carrier before porting?

No — and you should NOT. The port itself cancels service on the losing carrier for that number. If you cancel first, you release the number back into the carrier's available inventory and you lose porting rights. Always initiate the port FIRST, then let it complete.

What is FCC Local Number Portability?

FCC Local Number Portability (LNP) is the regulatory framework — established under the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and codified in 47 CFR Part 52 — that requires US carriers to allow consumers and businesses to retain their phone number when changing service providers. It applies to wireline, wireless, and VoIP numbers. LNP is administered through the Number Portability Administration Center (NPAC), operated by iconectiv under contract to the North American Numbering Council.

Ready to port your number

If you already own the number (whether you bought it from Digit Exclusive or have an existing number), use the carrier-specific guides linked above. If you don't yet have number, browse /collections/all-numbers to pick one, complete checkout, and we issue the carrier-transfer authorization within 24 hours. For the broader buyer reference, see buy a phone number outright. For pricing context, see how much does a vanity phone number cost.

For browsing the catalog by area code rather than by carrier, see the area codes for sale hub — 103 NPA buying guides across all 50 US states.

Porting for business lines specifically

The carrier-by-carrier porting workflows above apply equally to personal lines and business lines. Business buyers usually have one additional question: which destination platform — AT&T Business, Verizon Business, T-Mobile for Business, RingCentral, OpenPhone, Vonage Business, Microsoft Teams Phone, Zoom Phone, or a hosted PBX — fits the team's use case best. Read our business-buyer hub for the destination-platform comparison table covering wireless carriers, hosted PBX/VoIP, UCaaS, and programmable telephony (Twilio / Telnyx / Bandwidth), plus typical port-completion times for each platform type.

Further reading — provider comparison and regulatory context

Two articles add context to porting decisions. Our seven-provider side-by-side comparison covers porting-out flexibility across Digit Exclusive, RingBoost, NumberBarn, PhoneNumberGuy, PhoneNumberExpert, 800.com, and Grasshopper — useful when deciding which marketplace to buy from for the best port-out workflow. Our FCC March 2026 NPRM explainer describes how the proposed rules affect (and do not affect) the FCC Local Number Portability framework you rely on for every port.

Transferring a unique phone number

Unique phone numbers — vanity, repdigit, sequence, premium-area-code patterns — port under the same FCC Local Number Portability rules as any other US phone number. There is no special process or restriction for moving a unique number between carriers. If you are evaluating whether to buy a unique phone number and then transfer it to your existing carrier, the answer is yes — the purchase-then-port workflow is the most common path our buyers take. Once you own the number outright, you can port it to any compatible US carrier (wireless, wireline, or VoIP) at any time, as many times as you like.

Transferring custom, special, or unique numbers

The FCC Local Number Portability framework treats custom, special, and unique phone numbers identically to any other US phone number — there is no special process, no additional fee, and no different timeline for moving a pattern number between carriers. Once you own a custom, special, or unique number outright, you can port it to any compatible US carrier (wireless, wireline, VoIP) at any time, as many times as you like. The buy-then-port workflow — purchase the specific custom/special number from the marketplace, then port it onto your existing AT&T / Verizon / T-Mobile / Google Voice / RingCentral line — is the most common path our buyers take.

Marketplace numbers and FCC Local Number Portability

The phone number marketplace model is functional precisely because of FCC Local Number Portability rules (47 CFR § 52.31). When you buy number outright from a US marketplace, the FCC LNP framework guarantees you can port it to any compatible carrier — wireless, wireline, or VoIP — at any time and as many times as you like. The marketplace acts as an intermediary that holds the number assignment until purchase, then transfers ownership via the standard port-in process. Wireless ports complete in 1-4 hours; wireline/VoIP in 1-5 business days; the process is identical regardless of which of the seven US marketplaces you bought from.

Carrier-specific port-in guides

Step-by-step instructions for the major US carriers: Port to AT&T · Port to Verizon · Port to T-Mobile · Port to Mint Mobile · Port to US Mobile

Related guides

Carrier-specific port-in guides