Porting to Gigs from a US family plan or with a financed device

If you don't own the account you're porting from, or if your phone still has a balance, switching carriers is more involved than a standard port. This guide covers the major U.S. carriers and what you'll specifically need to coordinate before porting your number to Gigs.

T-Mobile

On a T-Mobile family plan (Magenta family, Go5G, or similar), the account number is shared across every line on the plan.

• Account number: ask the Primary Account Holder (PAH) to log into the T-Life app or check a recent paper or digital bill. The 9-digit account number is at the top right of the bill and the top center of the My Account screen. If you're an Authorized User, you can call 1-800-937-8997 and request it.
• Transfer PIN: only the Primary Account Holder can generate the Transfer PIN. Standard line users and most Authorized Users cannot generate it from their own device. PAH path: T-Life app on the T-Mobile network (Wi-Fi off) → Manage → gear icon → Permissions & controls → Transfer PIN → Create PIN. Same path on T-Mobile.com from a mobile browser on the T-Mobile network. Or call 1-800-937-8997. PIN is 6 digits, valid 7 days. If Port Out Protection is on, the PAH must disable it.
• Device payoff: if there's an active Equipment Installment Plan (EIP), cancelling wireless service (which is what porting out does) triggers the remaining device balance to become due on the final bill — billed to the PAH, not to you. T-Mobile's EIP terms: "If you cancel wireless service, remaining balances on the device become due."
• Bill credit deals vs. no-cost phones: if your phone is on a promotional EIP where T-Mobile applies monthly bill credits over 24 or 36 months to zero out the cost (common on "free phone" deals), porting out cancels those credits. The PAH owes the full remaining device balance with no further credits applied. For EIPs started on or after July 1, 2024, this also applies if the EIP is paid off early — the credits stop.
• Device unlock: T-Mobile requires 40 days active on T-Mobile, all device payments satisfied, and the account in good standing.

AT&T

The AT&T account number is shared across all lines on a family plan.

• Account number: top right of any AT&T paper or digital bill, or in myAT&T (primary or secondary online access) → Profile → Sign-in info → My linked accounts.
• Transfer PIN: only the primary user on the account can request the Transfer PIN. Secondary online-access users — even though they can manage most of the account — cannot generate this PIN. Account owner paths: dial *PORT (*7678) from the AT&T device (PIN by text, requires account passcode), myAT&T app → Profile → People & Permissions → Transfer phone number → Request a new PIN, or att.com via the same path. One PIN covers every line on the account — same 6-digit PIN authorizes multiple ports. Valid 4 days on consumer accounts, 14 days on business accounts.
• Device payoff: per AT&T, "If you cancel your wireless service, the unpaid balance on the smartphone is due." Porting out terminates the line, so any remaining Installment Plan balance bills to the account owner on the final statement, and promotional bill credits stop.
• Device unlock: AT&T requires 60 days active on AT&T (6 months for AT&T Prepaid), the installment plan paid in full, and the account in good standing. Submit the unlock request and confirm the unlock is granted before initiating the port to Gigs — a locked AT&T phone will not work on Gigs.

Verizon

On a Verizon family plan, the account number is the same for every line.

• Account number: top right of the Verizon bill, or in the Verizon app under Account → Edit profile & settings.
• Transfer PIN: you must be an Account Owner or Account Manager to generate the Transfer PIN. Standard line members cannot. Either have the Owner promote your line to Account Manager via the My Verizon app, or have them generate the PIN for you. Paths: dial #PORT (#7678) from the Verizon line being ported, My Verizon app → Account → Edit profile & settings → Number Transfer PIN → Generate PIN, or verizon.com → Account → Account Settings Overview → Number Transfer PIN. Valid 7 days; up to 5 PINs per line per day. Number Lock must be disabled for the line before the PIN works — toggle it off in the My Verizon app under the line's settings (allow up to 2 hours).
• Device payoff: per Verizon, "You must pay off any remaining device payment balance" to port out, and "If you disconnect a mobile number that has an active device payment agreement, the remaining balance of that agreement is due on your next bill." Promotional bill credits also stop when the line disconnects.
• Device unlock (major 2026 policy change): Verizon's previous "auto-unlock at 60 days even on a payment plan" guidance is no longer correct for devices activated on or after January 27, 2026. New devices stay locked until the financing balance is paid in full. Paying off at a Verizon corporate store with a chip card, contactless pay, or cash unlocks immediately. Verizon Gift Card payoff adds a 35-day verification delay. Verizon has indicated it is reducing or removing the 35-day delay for online/app payoffs, but the timing was still being phased in at last review. Devices activated before January 27, 2026 keep the old policy.

Cricket Wireless (Group Save plans)

Cricket is owned by AT&T and runs on the AT&T network. Cricket multi-line accounts (Group Save) share a single account.

• Account number: sign in to Cricket or myCricket app → Account Settings or Line Settings (account owner only). Or call 1-800-CRICKET (274-2538).
• Transfer PIN: dial *PORT from the Cricket device, or generate it online or in myCricket under Line Settings → Get my Number Transfer PIN. PIN valid 5 days. Customer service can generate it if you provide the Account PIN.
• Device unlock: Cricket requires at least 6 months active on Cricket before unlocking. Cricket doesn't generally offer device financing the way AT&T postpaid does, but if you bought a device on Cricket Easy Pay or similar, the balance must be paid off before unlock and before porting.

US Cellular

• Account number: sign in to US Cellular (top left of dashboard) or call 1-888-944-9400.
• Transfer PIN: call 1-888-944-9400 and request it. Be ready to verify identity.
• Device unlock: generally eligible after 120 days on the network and once the device is paid in full. You can request unlock earlier if you pay the device off and the account is in good standing.
• Financed devices: the remaining device balance becomes due on the final bill if you port the line out before the device is paid off.

Spectrum Mobile (family plans)

Spectrum Mobile runs as an MVNO on Verizon's network. Accounts are tied to the primary Spectrum account holder.

• Account number: sign in → Account Settings or Billing, or call 1-833-224-6603.
• Transfer PIN: sign in → Service → Mobile → Get Transfer PIN. Valid 24 hours. Or customer service.
• Financed devices (Spectrum Easy Pay): remaining balance becomes due on the final bill when the line is cancelled by port-out.
• Device unlock: device paid in full and account in good standing. Because Spectrum Mobile uses Verizon's network, Verizon's broader unlock and IMEI-blocking rules also apply.

Xfinity Mobile (family plans)

Xfinity Mobile also runs on Verizon's network. Lines are tied to a single Xfinity account.

• Account number: sign in → Devices tab → device details, or call 1-888-936-4968.
• Transfer PIN: sign in → Devices → select the line → Transfer your number, cancel this line, then send a security PIN by text to an active line on the account. Valid 24 hours.
• Financed devices (Xfinity Mobile Device Payment Plan): remaining balance is billed immediately when the line is cancelled by porting out.
• Device unlock: phones bought from Xfinity Mobile are locked to Verizon's network. They must be paid in full and the account in good standing to qualify for unlock.

Visible, Total Wireless, Straight Talk, Tracfone, Net10

• Devices activated before January 20, 2026: grandfathered to the previous 60-day auto-unlock policy.
• Devices activated on or after January 20, 2026: 365 days of paid, active service required, and the unlock must be requested (it does not happen automatically). If service lapses, the 365-day counter pauses and resumes when service is restored.
• These brands generally don't have a "family plan" structure in the traditional sense, but if multiple lines are on one prepaid account, each line uses the same account and PIN process documented in the main porting guide.

Google Fi (group plans)

Google Fi group plans have a Group Manager (typically the original account owner) and members. Each member's number is technically tied to a Google Account, which affects how porting works.

• Account number and Transfer PIN: in a desktop browser, sign in to Google Fi → Account → Manage Plan → Leave Google Fi → Transfer your number to another carrier. The account number and Transfer PIN are displayed here. Do not click through to actually cancel — just record the values and exit. PIN valid 14 days.
• Member lines: if you're a group member (not the Group Manager), you may need to first leave the group or have the Group Manager initiate the port. Lines tied to individual Google Accounts can usually self-serve the port-out flow.
• Financed devices: phones bought through Google Fi financing (via Google Store) are tied to a separate Google Store financing agreement. The Fi service can be cancelled/ported out without paying the device off, but the financing continues to bill via Google Store.

Pre-port checklist

Before initiating the port to Gigs, work through this with the account owner of your current carrier.

• Confirm the current carrier account is active, in good standing, and not past due
• If on a family plan, confirm the primary account holder is available to generate the Transfer PIN and (where required) any account-level changes
• Disable Number Lock / Port Out Protection / Wireless Account Lock on the line being ported
• If the device was financed, confirm the remaining balance, plan to pay it off (or accept that it bills to the account owner's final statement), and check the carrier's current device unlock requirements
• If the device was on a promotional bill-credit deal, expect those credits to stop the moment the line disconnects
• Confirm the device is network unlocked, or initiate the unlock process and confirm completion before handing the account info to Gigs
• Have ready: the account number, the Transfer PIN, the billing ZIP code, and the full name on the account exactly as it appears on the bill

This article doesn't cover:

Full carrier-by-carrier port-in reference →Porting to Gigs from a US carrier — full carrier reference

Short overview of US port-in →How do I port my number in? — United States

Port delayed →My port-in is delayed or stuck

Port failed →My port-in failed — what do I do?