Do I Need To Turn My Phone Off When Transferring Numbers

Detect out how to switch to your new provider

Getting a new phone is exciting. Having a new phone number, however, can be a bit of a chore.

You'll probably need to text anybody in your address book to tell them yous've got a new number. Unless you regularly cull your contacts list, this volition near certainly get you a few replies from people you hoped you'd lost bear on with.

The skillful news is you tin can avert all that hassle by transferring your existing number to your new telephone. This is called porting your mobile number.

To keep your mobile number and transfer information technology to another network, yous need to request what's called a Porting Dominance Code (PAC) from your old provider and so allow your new provider know the code. They volition and then schedule the switch.

Read on for a stride-by-pace guide to keeping your mobile number and how to use a PAC code.

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How do I transfer my mobile number?

A guide to switching mobile phone provider

1. Call or text your electric current provider to request a mobile PAC lawmaking

A PAC code should be given to yous immediately over the telephone or inside two hours by text. This time frame is stipulated past the telecommunication regulator. So if you lot don't get it, you've got cause to complain.

To foreclose someone stealing your number, networks will want to verify your identity. Then await to be asked some questions and have the relevant information to-hand that'll help you to respond quickly.

PAC codes are ordinarily made up of nine digits and will be valid for xxx days. If time runs out before y'all've had a risk to use the code you were supplied with, y'all'll need to request a new PAC from your existing mobile provider.

Calls to networks to go your PAC lawmaking are charged at standard rates.

If the in a higher place seems like a bit of a hassle and you just want a clean switch without having to speak to your existing provider, new government regulations take made the whole procedure a lot easier.

Text to Switch is elementary. All you need to exercise is text PAC to 65075 and you'll get your code straight away, you don't even have to make a telephone call.

Want to find out more? Check out our handy Text to Switch guide.

2. Contact your new network and requite them the PAC code

When you provide your PAC code to a new network, the cancellation process volition begin automatically with your old network.

Once your new network has the code, it will make it touch with the network y'all're leaving to tell them well-nigh the number transfer and will schedule the switch.

This will normally exist for the side by side working day. In the acting, continue your old SIM bill of fare in your phone so you can continue to use it to brand calls and transport texts.

If a weekend gets in the way, the process of porting your number may accept longer.

But past and big, if you supply a carrier with a PAC Code on Friday, Saturday or Dominicus, yous tin expect the number transfer to exist completed on the following Tuesday.

3. Check the SIM works in your phone and the new number has ported across

To do this, but place the SIM in your handset and make a call. Or ask someone to give y'all a ring.

Alternatively, if yous're not fussed about keeping your phone number and want to switch with a fresh get-go, text 75075 and you lot'll get your Service Termination Say-so Code (STAC). This ends your contract and leaves y'all free to switch to a new provider.

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Contact numbers to get your PAC code from your network

Text to switch isn't for everyone. And so if y'all'd rather speak to your provider on the phone, you lot can always give them a phone call. We've included a range of options, depending on whether you're ringing from a landline, your mobile telephone or from overseas.

Y'all can as well become data about switching networks, and Text to Switch, by texting 85075.

Get your PAC code from EE

Call 150 from an EE mobile phone
Call 079 5396 6250 from any other phone (mobile or landline)

Get your PAC code from 3

Call 333 from a Three telephone
Telephone call 033 3338 1001 from whatever other phone (mobile or landline)

Get your PAC code from O2

Phone call 202 from an O2 phone
Call 034 4809 0222 from any other phone (mobile or landline)

Get your PAC code from Virgin Mobile

Phone call 789 from a Virgin Mobile phone
Phone call 034 5600 0789 from whatsoever other phone (mobile or landline)

Get your PAC code from Vodafone

Phone call 191 from a Vodafone phone
Call 033 3304 0191 from any other telephone (mobile or landline)

Get your PAC code from BT Mobile

Call 150 from a BT Mobile phone
Telephone call 0800 800 150 from any other telephone (mobile or landline)

Get your PAC code from Plusnet Mobile

Call 500 from a Plusnet Mobile phone
Phone call 080 0013 2632 from any other telephone (mobile or landline)

Get your PAC code from ID Mobile

Phone call 7777 from an ID Mobile phone
Call 033 3003 7777 from any other telephone (mobile or landline)

Get your PAC code from Tesco Mobile

Call 4455 from a Tesco Mobile phone
Call 034 5301 4455 from any other telephone (mobile or landline)

Become your PAC code from Sky Mobile

Call 033 0041 2639 from Sky Mobiles, phones registered to other networks and landlines

Get your PAC code from giffgaff

giffgaff doesn't operate customer support helplines. All the same, y'all can get a PAC code from giffgaff by mailing them using giffgaff's contact form.

VOXI

VOXI is aimed at under 30s. So it'southward no surprise that you can only contact the network via Twitter, web conversation and Facebook Messenger. To become your PAC code, head to VOXI'southward contact folio.

SMARTY

SMARTY doesn't have whatsoever customer service helplines. To get your PAC code, log into your SMARTY account.

Lebara

Ring 5588 from your Lebara mobile. Rates are charged at 19p per telephone call.

Ring 020 7031 0791 from all other networks or from your landline.

Ecotalk

Ring 033 3800 5500 from whatsoever United kingdom mobile or landline.

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Common questions when transferring your mobile phone number

Even so got some queries nigh keeping your telephone number? We field some of the most frequently asked questions in this section.

Will I lose service?

The porting process is designed to minimise the time you'll be without a service.

After y'all've supplied your new network with the PAC code, your old number volition remain active. That means you'll still receive calls and texts.

When the number transfer is actually existence washed, however, your service may get down for a very brusk time. It's usually a few minutes.

When that happens, information technology should just be a case of turning off and restarting your handset for full service to return.

Can I transfer a disconnected number?

You cannot transfer disconnected numbers, then do non cancel your existing contract if you wish to port your mobile number.

What happens if my PAC code expires?

In the event that yous don't get around to using your PAC code within the 30-day deadline for usage, there's zippo to worry about.

But yous volition have to contact the network you're leaving to request another PAC code, which y'all can then use to transfer your number.

How practise I transfer my apps, music and games to my new phone?

If you've read the walkthrough above, y'all'll now know what you've got to do to port your existing number to the network you're joining.

But, of course, when buying a new phone yous're probably going to transfer all your apps, games, movies, music and settings from your old phone also.

That'll mean making a back-upwardly of your current phone, then setting up your new phone using the back-up.

To help you, we talk you lot through the procedure with our 1-cease guides:

Backing up data from an iPhone.
Backing up data from an Android telephone

How exercise I transfer my contacts to my new telephone?

using phone

Inputting hundreds of contact details into a new phone is no-one's idea of fun.

To brand sure that'south non a plight that affects you, it'southward critical that yous back up your contacts that are on your old SIM before you offset using your new one.

The kickoff step is to check whether your contacts are saved on your SIM or on your phone.

The sure fire way to do this is to simply take your SIM out. If you can still see your contacts, information technology ways they're saved on your telephone. Tin can't see them? That means they're on the SIM.

Assuming they're saved on the phone that you'll no longer exist using, y'all'll need to dorsum them up. Nosotros'd recommend using a cloud storage service. Or, if y'all've got an Android phone, you might be able to employ a microSD card.

In the event that they're stored on the telephone and you're keeping your quondam phone and only switching to a new SIM simply bargain on a new network, you don't need to exercise anything. Simply input the new SIM in your phone and your contacts will be in that location.

If they're stored on your SIM, yous'll need to transfer them and so they're stored on your phone.

This is easy enough to exercise. Simply caput to the settings department of your handset and you should detect an selection to 'copy contacts' or 'import contacts'.

I've heard I can asking my PAC code by text bulletin. Is that correct?

It is. As we mentioned earlier, every bit of 1st July 2019, you can request your PAC code just by sending a text message to 65075.

The telecoms regulator has introduced the 'Text to Switch' system with the intention of streamlining the switching process.

The central advantage is that you'll no longer take to telephone your provider and speak to a sales rep from the network you're leaving, whose job information technology is to persuade you to stay.

Need some more than help switching network? Y'all'll find lots of like shooting fish in a barrel-to-follow, crystal-clear advice on our guide to changing network.

Porting your mobile number when ownership online

Buying online

If you are buying your new mobile online, y'all should still be able to port your mobile number using the following elementary steps:

Asking your PAC code from your existing network and make a note of it.
Select a mobile handset and network tariff combination that suits you lot and gild online.
You lot will be sent your phone once you have passed any necessary credit checks.
Get connected by following the instructions that come with your new mobile.
Once connected, you lot will take a temporary mobile number.
Contact your new network or service provider quoting your temporary number, the number you wish to Port and the PAC provided by your old network.
Your existing number volition then be transferred within a few working days, sometimes even the next working twenty-four hour period.

"I've used uswitch twice to renew BT broadband and internet and twice to renew my phone contract and extremely happy on all iv occasions.

"The mobile renew on both occasions I've placed my order. From placing my order to irresolute networks and collecting my telephone has been less than 24 hours and over again information technology's been cheaper for the exact same service offered from Three and Vodaphone exercise themselves. Highly recommend never had a problem and information technology'south very quick, cheaper and hassle free."

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