How to Port Your Number Into Phound

Already have a phone number you love? Good news — you can bring it with you. Porting lets you transfer an existing number from another carrier or service directly into Phound, so you can keep the number people already know while taking advantage of everything Phound has to offer.

Number porting to Phound is completely free. There is no porting fee or transfer charge from Phound. Your old carrier may charge early termination or final billing fees on their end, but Phound does not charge anything for the port itself.

This guide walks you through the entire porting process from start to finish, including what to expect at each stage and how long it typically takes.

What Is Number Porting?

Number porting is the federally protected process of transferring a phone number from one service provider to another. When you port your number into Phound, your old provider releases the number and Phound takes ownership of it. Once complete, calls and texts to that number will arrive through Phound instead of your previous carrier.

Tip: Porting is different from call forwarding. When you port a number, it permanently moves to Phound. Call forwarding simply redirects calls while the number stays with your old provider.

Before You Begin

Before you start the porting process, make sure you have the following ready:

Your current carrier account number — this identifies your account with your existing provider.
Your account PIN or transfer PIN — most carriers require a separate PIN specifically for porting.
The name on the account — this must match exactly as it appears on your current carrier account.
Your billing address — the address associated with your current carrier account.
An active account — your account with the old carrier must be active (not suspended or cancelled) at the time you submit the port request.

For a detailed breakdown of what each carrier requires, see our What You Need Before Porting guide.

Tip: Not sure what each step looks like on your specific carrier? Use the Porting Wizard to jump straight to the checklist for AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Google Voice, Mint Mobile, Visible, Cricket, Xfinity Mobile, Spectrum Mobile, Boost Mobile, Twilio, OpenPhone, Grasshopper, and more.

Step-by-Step Porting Guide

Step 1: Open Phound and Navigate to Porting

Open the Phound app on your device. From the home screen, tap the Numbers tab at the bottom of the screen. Then tap Add a Number and select Port an Existing Number.

Step 2: Enter the Number You Want to Port

Type in the full 10-digit phone number you want to transfer into Phound. The app will verify that the number is eligible for porting. Most standard U.S. mobile and landline numbers are eligible.

Warning: Some numbers cannot be ported. These include most toll-free numbers (800, 888, etc.), some VoIP numbers, and numbers from very small regional carriers. If your number is not eligible, the app will let you know right away.

Step 3: Provide Your Current Carrier Information

Next, you will be asked to enter your current carrier details. Fill in the following fields carefully:

Carrier name — select your current provider from the dropdown list or type it in.
Account number — enter the account number from your current carrier. This is not your phone number.
PIN or transfer PIN — enter the PIN associated with your account. Some carriers call this a "transfer PIN" or "port-out PIN."
Authorized name — enter the full name of the account holder exactly as it appears on the carrier account.
Billing address — enter the billing address tied to the carrier account.

Double-check every field before proceeding. Even small mismatches — like a missing apartment number or a nickname instead of a legal name — can cause the port request to be rejected.

Step 4: Review and Submit

Phound will display a summary of your porting request. Review all the information one more time. When everything looks correct, tap Submit Port Request.

You will receive a confirmation screen along with a reference number for your port. Save this reference number in case you need to contact support about the request later.

Step 5: Wait for Processing

Once submitted, Phound sends the port request to your current carrier. This begins the transfer process. During this time:

Your old service stays active. You can continue to make and receive calls and texts on your old carrier while the port is being processed. Do not cancel your old service — the port process will handle the transition automatically.
You will receive status updates. Phound sends in-app notifications and optional email or SMS updates as the port progresses through each stage.
Do not change your old account. Avoid making any changes to your old carrier account (such as changing your plan, updating your name, or modifying your PIN) while the port is in progress. Changes can cause delays or rejections.

Step 6: Port Completes

When the port is finalized, you will receive a notification that your number is now active on Phound. At this point, all calls and texts to your ported number will arrive through the Phound app.

Your old carrier account for that number will be automatically closed or adjusted by your previous provider. If you had other lines on that account, only the ported line will be affected.

How Long Does Porting Take?

The typical porting timeline is 1 to 3 business days for most wireless numbers. Here is a general breakdown:

Port Type	Estimated Timeline
Wireless to Phound	1–3 business days
Landline to Phound	3–7 business days
VoIP to Phound	1–5 business days

Tip: Most wireless ports complete within 24 to 48 hours. Landline ports take longer because they involve additional steps with the local exchange carrier. VoIP port timelines vary by provider.

Ports are processed during business days only. Requests submitted on weekends or holidays may not begin processing until the next business day.

What Happens to Your Old Service?

Once the port is complete, the number is removed from your old carrier. If that was the only line on your old account, the account may be closed automatically. If you had multiple lines, only the ported line is removed.

Warning: Do not cancel your old carrier account before the port is complete. Cancelling your account prematurely can release your number back into the general pool, making it impossible to recover. Let the port process handle the transition.

You may want to contact your old carrier after the port is complete to confirm there are no remaining balances or equipment return requirements on your account.

Tracking Your Port

You can check the status of your port at any time within the Phound app. Go to Numbers > Porting Status to see where your request currently stands. For a detailed explanation of each status stage, see Check Your Porting Status.

Common Issues

If your port request runs into trouble, the most common causes are:

Incorrect account information — even a small typo in your account number, PIN, or name can cause a rejection.
Outstanding balance — some carriers will not release a number if there is an unpaid balance on the account.
Account freeze or suspension — the account must be active and in good standing.

For a full list of rejection reasons and how to resolve them, see Why Your Port Request Was Rejected.

Still need help?

If you have questions about porting your number or run into any issues during the process, our support team is here to help. Visit our Contact Support page to reach us by chat, email, or phone.