If you want to switch to the most reliable network in the US, you need to know how AT&T transfer number to new phone works!
Luckily, we have the answer!
When transferring your number to a new phone, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.
It’s important that you know these and following these steps should help you be successful.
Here are the steps you need to follow!
You can transfer a number by activating a new line or replacing your current number. But before you do so, prepare your account information and check if your number is eligible. You may be charged a one-time transfer fee or activation fee.
Before we discuss the steps in transferring AT&T numbers in detail, below are some things you need to consider before making the transfer.
What You Need to Consider for AT&T Transfer Number to New Phone
Are you ready to transfer a number to AT&T? You can make the transfer anytime as long as you fully understand the important details surrounding the process.
The most important thing you need to remember is that you don’t need to cancel your account to transfer your number.
Leave that to AT&T as they will have an understanding with your current carrier.
1. Don’t Cancel Your Account Just Yet
AT&T should be the one to cancel your current service. If you cancel it before the activation, the transfer won’t be able to push through.
2. Pay Any Outstanding Balance on Your Account
Contact your current service provider to know what charges apple. If you have outstanding balances with your current provider, make sure you settle them before making the transfer.
3. Check If You Need to Pay An Early Termination Fee
You may also have to pay an Early Termination Fee. ETFs are per line because each line has its own contract.
4. Prepare Your Current Account Information
Make sure your number is eligible for transfer. You’ll have to share info about your current account. Any wrong data may cause a delay.
Once you know your current number is eligible and you have paid outstanding balances, you can proceed to transfer your number to a new phone.
How to Transfer Phone Number to New Phone AT&T
If you want to know how to AT&T transfer number to new phone, you’re on the right page.
Before anything else, you want to check your current carrier’s requirements for transferring your number to AT&T.
Keep in mind that your current cellular service should work until you authorize the transfer and the process is complete.
Now, let’s move on to the actual steps of the transferring process.
Step #1: What to Do Before You Transfer
Transferring your AT&T number to a brand-new phone is not a complicated process.
In fact, you can transfer any number from any carrier to AT&T. However, you do need to work on a few things before proceeding with the transfer.
It’s not automatic, as there might be outstanding charges on your account from your previous carrier that you need to resolve.
Before anything else, here’s what you need to do before transferring your account:
- Don’t cancel your service from your current carrier just yet.
- Check your current carrier for any outstanding balance you need to pay.
- Check with your current carrier if you need to pay an Early Termination Fee.
- Pay off any account balance or ETF.
- Get your transfer PIN from your current carrier.
Note: Remember that they will only release the transfer PIN once they figure out your account and number is cleared.
Step #2: Make Sure Your Number is Eligible
After ensuring that you don’t owe your current carrier anything to transfer your number, you can now check if it’s eligible. A few factors can stop you from transferring your number to AT&T.
For example, if you’re moving to a new area, your current number may not be applicable. A mismatch in your personal details can also delay the transfer process.
In any case, you should not encounter issues whenever you’re porting your number.
It does help to ensure that your number is eligible before transferring so you can provide the right information to prevent additional delays.
Here’s how to check with AT&T if your number is eligible for transfer:
- Go to the AT&T website.
- Click on the menu button on the top left.
- Select Wireless, then Transfer your number.
- Scroll down until you find the eligibility checker.
- Enter your 10-digit number, and click Check my number.
Note: Check your number’s eligibility won’t affect your current plan or service.
Step #3: Provide Information About Your Previous Account
Now that you’re sure you can transfer your number, you want to get all the information associated with your current account.
This is an important step so you can start the transfer process for your number. The transfer PIN is one of the most important things that you need to determine from your current carrier.
Here’s how to get the related information from your current carrier:
- Get your account number found on your bill.
- Call your carrier’s customer support.
- Ask for your number’s Transfer PIN.
- Write down your account number and Transfer PIN.
Note: Depending on your current carrier, you can also find the transfer PIN on your online account portal, provided your account is cleared.
Step #4: Verify Your Personal Information
As part of the transfer process, AT&T will want to verify your personal information to figure out your identity.
It’s just to ensure that your information matches your previous carrier’s.
This is to make sure that you are transferring the number, not someone who simply wants to use it.
Here’s what AT&T needs to verify your personal details:
- The name of the owner of the account.
- The address associated with your account.
- Your Tax ID to match records with your previous carrier.
- They can also ask for your Social Security number.
Note: You want to be as accurate as possible since any mistake here can cause delays of up to several days.
Step #5: Transfer Your Number by Activating a New Line
Now that everything’s clear, you can now start the process of transferring your number to AT&T.
The first method here is to transfer your number by activating a new line with your new phone. This is fairly easy since you will get a brand-new device.
You don’t have to worry about your device’s network compatibility since you’re going to be getting your phone from AT&T’s online store.
Here’s how to activate a new line using your phone number:
- Get a brand new phone from AT&T’s device shop.
- Add the device to your current plan.
- Go to att.com/activate.
- Enter the number you want to activate with your phone.
Note: Doing this will kickstart the transfer process. It’s recommended that everything is cleared up at this point to avoid unnecessary delays.
Step #6: Transfer Your Number by Replacing Your Current Number
Another option that you have is to transfer your number by replacing your current one. Before you can do this, though, you’re going to need to get a new phone from AT&T.
You will also need to add this to your current account so you can set it up to change the phone number it’s using.
This is helpful if you want to use your old number but have already set up a separate AT&T number.
It will be replaced so you can start to use your own number after this process is completed.
Here’s how to transfer your number by replacing your AT&T phone number:
- Log in to your AT&T online account.
- Find My Devices.
- Find the new phone on the device list.
- Select Manage device, then go to Options and Settings.
- Choose Transfer a number to AT&T.
The good thing about transferring your number to AT&T is you can check the progress. It will send you an email once it’s done, but you can also figure out its status.
This way, you will be immediately alerted if there’s any issue with your transfer.
You can also contact AT&T customer support to know if your transfer will go through or not.
Bottom Line
Now that you know how to perform an AT&T transfer number to a new phone, you can work on porting your numbers to your line.
The entire process only takes a few hours to complete once it’s started.
Make sure to get everything out of the way to avoid any distractions in transferring your number.
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Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.