What is number porting?
Last updated: April 3, 2026
Number porting is the process of moving your existing phone number from one carrier to another. You have the legal right to keep your phone number when switching carriers in most countries.
Port-in vs port-out
Term | What it means |
Port-in | Moving your number from another carrier to your new plan |
Port-out | Moving your number away to a different carrier — initiated by your new carrier |
What happens to my old plan when I port in?
When a port-in completes, your old carrier automatically cancels the line associated with that number. Do not cancel your old plan before the port completes — keep your old SIM active until the port is confirmed.
How long does porting take?
In most cases a port-in completes within a few hours to one business day.
Will I lose service during the port?
There is typically a brief period during the final cutover — usually a few minutes — where neither the old nor the new line is active.
Can all numbers be ported?
Most mobile numbers can be ported. Numbers that cannot be ported include: numbers already cancelled by the previous carrier, some prepaid numbers, and numbers from a different country than where your new plan operates.
This article doesn't cover:
Port in your number →How do I port my number in?
Port out your number →How do I port my number out?