What You Need Before Porting

Porting your phone number into Phound is straightforward, but the process does require specific information from your current carrier. Gathering everything ahead of time is the single best thing you can do to avoid delays, rejections, and back-and-forth with support teams.

This guide covers every piece of information you will need, explains where to find it, and offers carrier-specific tips so you are fully prepared before you tap Submit Port Request in the Phound app.

The Complete Porting Checklist

Here is everything you need to have on hand before you begin:

1. Your Current Carrier Account Number

Your account number is a unique identifier assigned to your account by your current phone provider. This is not your phone number — it is a separate number used internally by the carrier.

Where to find it:

Online account portal — log in to your carrier's website and look under Account Settings, Account Overview, or Billing.
Carrier app — most carriers display your account number within their mobile app under account or profile settings.
Monthly bill — your account number typically appears near the top of your paper or digital bill.
Customer service — call your carrier's support line and ask for your account number. Be prepared to verify your identity.

Tip: Some carriers, like Verizon, do not openly display your full account number online. You may need to specifically request it through the app or by calling customer service. Check our carrier-specific guides for exact steps: AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile.

2. Your Account PIN or Transfer PIN

Most carriers require a PIN to authorize the release of your number. This may be called an "account PIN," "transfer PIN," "port-out PIN," or "number transfer PIN" depending on the carrier.

Important distinctions:

Account PIN — the general PIN you use to access your account or verify your identity when calling customer service.
Transfer PIN — a separate, one-time PIN specifically generated for porting. Some carriers (like AT&T and Verizon) require you to generate a transfer PIN before you can port out.

Warning: Your transfer PIN is not the same as your voicemail password, your device unlock code, or your online account password. Using the wrong PIN is one of the most common reasons port requests are rejected. Make sure you are using the correct type of PIN for porting.

Where to get it:

AT&T — generate a transfer PIN by dialing *7678 from your AT&T phone, or through the myAT&T app or website.
Verizon — generate a transfer PIN through the My Verizon app under Account > Number Transfer PIN.
T-Mobile — request a transfer PIN through the T-Mobile app, online account, or by calling 611 from your T-Mobile phone.
Google Voice — Google Voice uses a different process. See our Google Voice porting guide for details.

3. The Authorized Account Holder's Name

The name you enter in the Phound porting form must match the name on your current carrier account exactly. This means:

Use your legal name, not a nickname. If your carrier account says "William" but you go by "Bill," enter "William."
Include suffixes if they appear on the account (Jr., Sr., III, etc.).
For business accounts, use the business name exactly as registered with the carrier.

Where to verify:

Log in to your carrier account and check the profile or account holder section.
Look at a recent bill — the account holder name is usually printed near the top.

4. Your Billing Address

Enter the billing address exactly as it appears on your current carrier account. This includes:

Street address (including apartment, suite, or unit number if applicable)
City
State
ZIP code

Even minor differences matter. If your carrier has "123 Main St Apt 4B" but you enter "123 Main Street, Apartment 4B," the port may be rejected depending on the carrier's system.

Tip: Copy the address directly from your online carrier account or a recent bill to make sure it matches exactly. Do not guess or enter your current mailing address if it differs from what is on file with the carrier.

5. An Active Account in Good Standing

Your account with your current carrier must be:

Active — not suspended, cancelled, or paused.
In good standing — no outstanding balance or past-due payments.
Not under contract restrictions — while you can port a number even if you are under contract (this is your legal right), be aware that early termination fees may apply. The port itself will not be blocked, but you may receive a final bill from your old carrier.

Warning: Do not cancel your account with your old carrier before starting the port. If the account is closed, the number may be released back into the general pool and you could lose it permanently. Keep your old service active until the port is fully complete.

Carrier-Specific Quick Reference

Different carriers have slightly different processes for finding your account information and generating transfer PINs. Here is a quick reference:

Carrier	Account Number	Transfer PIN	Guide
AT&T	myAT&T app, website, or call 611	Dial *7678 or use myAT&T	Full AT&T guide
Verizon	My Verizon app or call 800-922-0204	My Verizon app	Full Verizon guide
T-Mobile	T-Mobile app, website, or call 611	T-Mobile app or call 611	Full T-Mobile guide
Google Voice	N/A (different process)	N/A	Full Google Voice guide

For carriers not listed here, contact their customer support and ask for your account number and transfer PIN. The process is similar across most providers.

Tips for a Smooth Port

Gather everything first. Have all five items listed above ready before you open the Phound app to start the port. Pausing mid-process to track down information can lead to mistakes.
Double-check for typos. Review every field carefully before submitting. A transposed digit in your account number or a misspelled name is enough to trigger a rejection.
Generate your transfer PIN close to submission time. Transfer PINs from some carriers expire after a set period (AT&T PINs expire after 24 hours, for example). Generate your PIN shortly before you plan to submit your port request.
Take a screenshot of your carrier account details. Before you start the port, take a screenshot of your account number, account holder name, and billing address as displayed in your carrier's app or website. This gives you an exact reference to work from.
Pay any outstanding balance. Even a small unpaid amount can block the port. Log in to your carrier account and settle any remaining charges before submitting your request.
Do not change anything on your old account. Once you are ready to port, avoid making changes to your old carrier account — no plan changes, no address updates, no PIN resets. Any modification during the porting process can cause the information to fall out of sync and trigger a rejection.

What If You Cannot Find Your Information?

If you are having trouble locating your account number or PIN, here are some options:

Call your carrier's customer support line. Tell them you need your account number and a transfer PIN for a port-out. They are legally required to provide this information.
Visit a retail store. If you have a nearby carrier store, a representative can look up your account details and help you generate a transfer PIN.
Check your email. Some carriers send account details in welcome emails or monthly bill notifications.

Tip: If your carrier gives you any trouble providing your account information for a port, remind them that number porting is protected by FCC regulations. Carriers are required to release your number upon a valid request.

Ready to Port?

Once you have all five items ready, head over to our How to Port Your Number Into Phound guide for step-by-step instructions on submitting your port request.

Still need help?

If you are unsure about any of the required information or need help finding your carrier details, our support team can walk you through it. Visit our Contact Support page to reach us by chat, email, or phone.