Updated
Quick fix
Don’t cancel your current phone service first. Gather a recent bill, the account number, the PIN or passcode and the authorized name, then submit the port request with your new provider. Your old service ends when the port completes.
Number porting moves your existing phone number from one provider to another so customers can keep calling the number they know.
Step by step
Keep the old account active
If you cancel before the port completes, you can lose the number.
Gather your account details
A recent bill, account number, account PIN or passcode, the exact business name and service address, and the authorized person’s name.
Sign the authorization
Your new provider will ask you to sign a letter of authorization (LOA) that allows them to request the number.
Match the details exactly
Most port rejections happen because the name, address or PIN doesn’t match what the old provider has on file.
Plan the cut-over
Set up your new phones and call rules before the port date so calls ring correctly the moment the number moves.
Cancel remaining services after
Once the port is complete and tested, cancel any remaining service with the old provider.
Common questions
How long does porting take?
It varies by number type and provider, from a few days to a few weeks. Toll-free numbers and complex multi-line accounts can take longer. Your provider will give you a date once the request is accepted.
Will my phones go down during the port?
Usually there’s little or no interruption. The number moves at a scheduled time, and calls start ringing on the new system.