Keeping your phone number when switching providers isn’t as difficult as it once was. Porting a mobile number allows you to transfer your phone number from one provider to another, making it easy to switch phone plans — and your new provider will do the work!
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How to port phone number
Mobile number porting can be done between telcos on the same mobile network or on different mobile networks. In fact, phone providers are actually required to allow you to port your phone number if you ask them. The steps for transferring your phone number are typically the same for most telcos.
1. Find a new plan (but don’t cancel your old plan!)
There are plenty of mobile providers and phone plans to choose from. If you haven’t made a decision yet, you can use our free phone plan comparison tool.
You’ll need to keep your old phone plan active during the number switching process because it still has your phone number attached. If your old provider disconnects your number, you can request your number back with your telco and they must re-issue your number to you (although disconnected numbers are typically quarantined between six and 12 months).
2. Request a number transfer and activate your new phone plan
When signing up for your new plan, you’ll be asked if you want to keep your existing mobile number. Simply enter your phone number when prompted (make sure you get your number right!) and you might also need to mention your current provider.
You might also receive an SMS security code from your new provider to submit during sign up to protect from unwanted number transfers. Keep in mind that you may need to be the listed account holder of your old plan in order to port your number across to another provider.
Then you’ll just need to wait for your new SIM card in the mail — unless you’ve gone for eSIM — and follow the instructions to activate your SIM card.
3. Wait for your number to transfer across to your new plan
Once you’ve started the number porting process and activated your plan, it’s a bit of a waiting game — but your new provider does all the leg work!
Keep your old SIM card in your phone and wait until you no longer have service/signal or until it displays ‘SOS Only’ or similar, then you can switch over to your new SIM card. If you have mobile service, you should be all good to go! However, some providers recommend restarting your phone when switching your SIM card over.
After your number has transferred across and your new plan is up and running, you might receive a final bill from your old provider (depending on your old plan type).
How long does it take to port a mobile number?
This really depends on the provider — it can take less than an hour or up to several business days to transfer a phone number. Mobile providers typically list a timeframe of how long it takes to port your number, so you can check your new provider’s website to see their estimate.
Phone number porting is also usually only done during certain hours, which differ between mobile providers. These porting hours are typically on business days between set times, although some providers may also include set hours on weekends and even public holidays.
It’s best that you start the mobile number porting process during these operating hours to ensure a quicker number transfer, otherwise you may be without mobile service for a longer time. You can usually find out the porting hours via your new provider’s website.
Telstra number porting hours
- Monday to Saturday: 7am-11pm (AEST)
- Sunday: 10am-6pm (AEST)
- Easter Monday, King’s Birthday, Boxing Day: 10am-6pm (AEST)
Optus number porting hours
- Monday to Friday: 8am-8pm (AEST)
- Saturday: 10am-6pm (AEST)
Vodafone number porting hours
- Monday to Friday: 8am-8pm
- Saturday: 10am-6pm
Does it cost to port my phone number?
This really depends on the provider. Some providers may charge a fee to port your number to another provider, while others may charge cancellation fees — such as an early termination fee — if you cancel your plan before your contract expires. If you’re switching from a phone-on-a-plan service (a phone plan bundled with a new mobile phone), you may need to pay off any remaining handset costs when you port your mobile number.
What should I do before porting my mobile number?
These days, most of our phone’s data is stored on your phone or with a cloud service. However, you might want to double check if you have any contacts stored on your SIM card and import them to your phone or your preferred cloud storage service. Depending on your device, you might be able to check and import contacts either in your phone’s contacts app or through the contacts section in your device settings. If you have a smartphone, it could be a good idea to back up your phone’s data before switching plans.
What happens to my old mobile phone service?
Once your number is ported to your new plan, your old mobile service will be cancelled. The good thing about porting your mobile number is that the providers handle the transition, so there is very little for you to worry about beyond being without service for a time. If you take a new number instead of porting your old number, you will need to cancel your current phone plan yourself.
If your old plan was prepaid, the remainder of your inclusions for that expiry period will be forfeit. For postpaid plans, depending on what time in the billing period you cancelled, it’s likely you’ll be sent a final bill to pay from your old telco.
What if my number doesn’t port across?
Keep in mind that mobile number porting can take time. Make note of the day of the week and time you’ve activated the number transfer process, as it could be out of porting service operating hours for your new provider, which could explain the delay.
Your new provider may contact you or notify you in your account or via the app if there’s a problem preventing the number transfer. If you haven’t heard from your provider and your number hasn’t switched over after several days, reach out to your new provider to check if there’s a problem.
In some cases, the delay may be caused by supplied details that don’t match up between your new and old providers, such as the phone number, your date of birth or account number. Double check this information on both sides to ensure you’ve given the correct details.
FAQs about porting a mobile number
It doesn’t make a difference switching from a plan with a prepaid provider to a postpaid plan provider or vice versa. You’ll still be able to port your phone number across to your new provider.
No! When you’re porting your phone number, you need to keep your old phone plan active in order to ‘keep’ your phone number. Once your phone number has successfully transferred to your new provider, your old plan should be automatically cancelled as part of the porting process.
Yes — this is part of the sign-up process with your new provider. You’ll be sent a new SIM card from your new provider, either in the mail if you chose a physical SIM card, or you’ll be prompted to download your eSIM.
You can port a home phone number (sometimes called a landline or local number). However home phone services are often bundled with a home internet plan, so it may be a bit more complicated than just transferring your home phone to another provider. Porting a home phone service also usually takes much longer to transfer than a mobile number, taking up to a couple of weeks to switch over.
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