Independent phone and service information
Keep your phone number when changing service
Plan a number transfer, protect account details and check how it fits with a Lifeline company change.
Your starting point
Tell the new company you want to keep your number before you change service. Confirm the transfer sequence with that company and keep the old service active until the transfer is confirmed. A number transfer and a Lifeline benefit transfer are separate processes.
This website does not submit applications, check devices or change accounts. Official resources are at the end.
Start with the company you want to join
Ask the new company whether it can transfer your current number, whether it serves your area and what you must do before placing the request. Do this before buying a phone or agreeing to a new plan. This page helps you prepare questions; it cannot check a number or submit a request.
Keep a private note of the answers you receive. Ask who will handle the request, how you will receive an update and what to do if the request needs a correction. Follow the instructions for your own account rather than a timetable quoted for someone else.
Prepare account information privately
The receiving company may ask for account details and authorization to move the number. Confirm its requirements through its official support or application process. Never put an account number, transfer PIN, password or telephone number into this website.
If you are unsure whether you are the account owner or can authorize the change, resolve that question with the companies first. Keep documents and credentials with the official service involved. Our document page covers preparation without collecting any documents.
Keep the old service until the move is confirmed
The FCC advises consumers not to terminate their existing service before a number transfer. Ask the new company how it will confirm completion and what service interruptions may occur. Do not cancel just because you have started reading an offer or received a new SIM.
If your current service has already stopped, ask the companies what options remain for your number. This site cannot recover a disconnected number, confirm a port or guarantee uninterrupted service. Use official support for an account-specific answer.
Separate three decisions before you switch
Keeping your number, moving a Lifeline benefit and using an existing handset are different questions. Write each on your comparison list so that a positive answer to one does not become an assumption about the others. USAC explains the benefit transfer; the companies handle the number and device questions.
Open the existing-phone page if you want to keep the handset too. Then compare coverage, service limits, any costs and the company-change process. You can use any of these pages in the order that answers your question.
If the request is delayed
Ask the receiving company what information is missing, whether a correction is needed and how to identify the current request when following up. Avoid submitting repeated requests without understanding the company’s instructions. Keep a private record of its reference and next action.
If your goal is only a different device, compare replacement and existing-phone options before deciding to change companies. You may have a device question rather than a number-transfer problem. Our related pages help you separate those choices; none changes your account.
Common questions
Does this page transfer my number?
No. Ask your receiving company about your number and account. This website does not collect account details or submit transfers.
Is a number transfer the same as moving Lifeline?
No. Confirm the number transfer and Lifeline benefit transfer separately with the companies involved.
Official resources and current company instructions
Reviewed 26 October 2026. Confirm current instructions with the company before sharing account or device information.