How to Get Back a Deactivated Phone Number Easily?

Wondering how to get back a deactivated phone number without going through all the hassle? Fret not, we’ll teach you everything you need to know to do it in this guide!

We’ll be outlining the complete list of steps of what you can do to retrieve a phone number that has been deactivated.

To reactivate a deactivated or a disconnected phone number, check the timeframe of when the deactivation took place. Then, try calling the number to check if someone already got it. If not, contact your service provider to request reactivation.

Before we jump straight to that, let us first enumerate the reasons why users want to get their deactivated phone numbers back.

Why Get an Already Deactivated Phone Number Back?

We have our reasons as to why we want our old and deactivated number back, but, among the common ones are:

• You use it for business
• Your family members and friends know you by this number
• The number is registered to certain programs and services
• Other personal reasons

Yes, there are tons of other numbers available daily, but we all have our personal, even professional reasons why we want to get our old numbers back.

How to Get Back a Deactivated Number? – Complete Steps

We made this tutorial as complete and comprehensive as we can, so, don’t feel like you’re being thrown sacks of information all at once!

As part of each company’s protocol, an inactive number will automatically be back into the pool of available numbers after ninety (90) days.

What this means is it will be available for everyone who is looking for a new phone number.

NOTE: This timeframe is the default time frame for phone numbers and SIM cards.

However, for areas and locations where demand and activity are rampant, this timeframe could be shorter. The same goes for areas that do not have demand.

Step #1: Know When the Number Was Deactivated

The first thing you want to do is to find out when the exact date the phone number was deactivated.

Then, if the count is more than 90 days, it means that the number has been sent back to the pool of available numbers for users, and it could be taken by someone else.

This makes way for the next step, which is…

Step #2: Try Calling/Contacting the Number

After determining the time when the number in question was deactivated, the next step is for you to contact or call that number.

Doing this can help you determine and identify whether the number in question is already being used by someone or not.

If someone else is already using it, that person would need to get rid of the number and get a new one.

NOTE: If it’s already past 90 days, there’s a chance that someone might pick up. Otherwise, you should hear or receive a message or a prompt that the number is inactive.

Step #3: Contact Your Service Provider

When you’re sure that it’s not assigned to another person yet, the next step is to contact your service provider and ask them about the number you’re trying to get back.

Let them know that:

• It hasn’t been deactivated for over 90 days yet
• It was the number you’ve previously had with them

Step #4: Request to Have Your Old Phone Number Reactivated

Try to get into the conversation of reactivating or reinstating the phone number back in place. Tell them about your wants and plans of having it activated back up again.

They’ll attempt to pull up the phone number or the file in the system.

If this number is still connected to your name, in one way or another, you would have to pay all unsettled fees and bills, should you have any. So, if you’re eager to get your inactive number back, prepare to pay and settle all these.

Step #5: Wait for Your Provider to Reactivate the Number

Once all necessary bills and fees have been paid for, and after they grant you the permission to have the number reinstated, ask them for the timeframe of when this will happen.

In busier areas (areas with higher demand), the process can be as fast as a few minutes to a few hours.

However, it isn’t like that – if your area does not have that much demand, you can expect at least 48 hours for the number to be reinstated and reactivated.

After you successfully follow this 5-step process, your deactivated number shall now be reactivated! For the exact time of reactivation, ask and inquire your provider on when it will be active.

NOTE: Most of the time, if all the requirements are met, the number will be reactivated in real-time; some have a span of 24 to 48 hours for the number to be reinstated.

It will depend on where you are and the mobile operator or mobile provider you’re dealing with.

Can Other Providers Get Back My Deactivated Number?

If you contact your provider and you’re unable to reactivate the number in question, can you contact a different provider to have it reactivated?

Would it be possible to switch providers so that they can give you the number you want?

Yes and No – yes, because it’s possible, if and only if the number is in the pool of available numbers; if it’s not yet taken by someone.

No, because if the number is already taken, it would not be seen and detected by any provider you contact.

Therefore, the most relevant step is to check if the number is already taken by someone else.

And, you can do this by calling or contacting the number to see if it will ring. If it rings, then that number has already been assigned to someone else. 

Read Next: Do Prepaid Phones Come with a Phone Number?

Final Verdict

If you’re wondering how to get a phone number back if it’s deactivated, first ensure the exact date of when your number got deactivated, and then, try to contact that number to see if it’s already taken by another user. Then, reach out to your service provider and request to have it reinstated.

So, if you’re wondering how to get back a deactivated number and you want to know the details on how to get it done, you can go back to this guide for the complete and comprehensive process!

Knowing the process of how you can get it back is essential simply because it’s not only applicable to a single provider – you can use it for whatever provider you have been in business with before!