Porting Process

5 simple steps to transfer your number

1

🛒

Purchase Number

Select and pay for your number on GreatNumber

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2

📧

Receive Info

Get Account Number, PIN, and porting instructions within 24hrs

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3

📞

Contact Carrier

Call your carrier and request a Port-In

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4

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Wait

Carrier processes the port, typically 3-14 business days

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5

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Activate

Once complete, your new number is automatically active

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Before You Start

Make sure you have the following ready

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Account Number (provided by GreatNumber)

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PIN (provided by GreatNumber)

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ZIP Code (provided by GreatNumber)

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Your ID (carrier may require)

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Current carrier account info (if replacing existing number)

Carrier Porting Methods

Click a carrier name for detailed porting instructions

Carrier	Porting Method	Estimated Time
T T-Mobile	Call 1-800-937-8997 or online	3-5 days
A AT&T	Call 1-800-331-0500 or visit store	3-7 days
V Verizon	Call 1-800-922-0204 or My Verizon App	3-7 days
C Cricket	Visit store or call 1-800-274-2538	3-5 days
M Mint Mobile	Select “Transfer Number” when activating new SIM	3-5 days
G Google Voice	voice.google.com → Settings → Port	7-20 days
L LycaMobile	Call 1-866-277-3221	3-7 days
U Ultra Mobile	ultramobile.com or authorized retail stores	1-3 days

Carrier Details

Step-by-step porting instructions with bilingual scripts for each carrier

T T-Mobile 2-12 hrs · #1 Chinese community

▼

📱 Online / App

Create or log into your T-Mobile account, choose a plan
Go to t-mobile.com/keep-your-number or select "Transfer a number" in the App
Enter Account Number, Transfer PIN, Billing ZIP. For Current Carrier select "Other" or type "Great Number LLC"
Wait 1-24 hours, activate new SIM/eSIM when you receive confirmation

🏪 In-Store

Bring your phone, ID, and porting info to a T-Mobile store
Show the bilingual script below to the staff
Get your new SIM card on the spot, usually activates within hours

YOU: Hi, I'd like to port in a phone number to a new T-Mobile line. I have all the transfer information ready.

STAFF: Sure. Do you have the account number, transfer PIN, and billing ZIP code?

YOU: Yes, here's the document with all the information. The current carrier is Great Number LLC. Please use the exact values as shown.

YOU: Also, please don't activate any temporary number — I only want to keep the transferred number.

⚠️ T-Mobile Common Pitfalls

For Current Carrier, don't select a specific carrier (like Verizon) — select "Other" or type "Great Number LLC"
Billing ZIP must match exactly — even an extra space will cause failure
If you see "We can't transfer this number", the PIN likely expired — regenerate it in User Center
Staff may assign a temporary number first; tell them "I don't need a temporary number"

A AT&T 3-24 hrs · Widest coverage

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📱 Online

Go to att.com/wireless, choose a plan (Unlimited Starter/Plus/Premium)
Select "Bring your number", enter "Other" for Current Carrier
Enter Account Number, PIN, ZIP. Account Holder Name must match your GreatNumber registration name
AT&T may require last 4 of SSN for verification (new immigrants without SSN need a deposit)

🏪 In-Store

Bring your ID and porting info to an AT&T store (weekdays recommended, less crowded)
Show the bilingual script below; firmly decline insurance and add-ons

YOU: Hi, I'd like to sign up for AT&T service and port in my existing number.

STAFF: What's your current carrier?

YOU: My current carrier is Great Number LLC. Here's the port-out information they provided.

YOU: Please don't add any insurance or extra services — I just want the basic line with this number ported in.

⚠️ AT&T Common Pitfalls

Activation fee is usually $35; some online plans waive it, in-store usually doesn't
Staff may push "AT&T Protect Advantage" insurance ($15+/mo) — decline unless needed
New immigrants without SSN need a deposit ($500-$750); can be removed once SSN is obtained

V Verizon 2-24 hrs · Most reliable signal

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📱 My Verizon App

Download "My Verizon" App and create an account
Go to Shop → Plans, choose a plan and select "Bring your own number"
Select "Other" for Current Carrier, enter Account Number, PIN, ZIP, and account holder's full name
Usually completes in 2-24 hours

🏪 In-Store

YOU: Hi, I'd like to open a new Verizon line and port in a number from another carrier.

YOU: The number's current carrier is Great Number LLC. Here are the account number, PIN, and ZIP.

⚠️ Verizon Common Pitfalls

SIM type must match your phone — newer iPhones use eSIM, older models need physical SIM
Some plans have 24-month contract lock-in; read the terms carefully before signing up
Choose a Verizon Corporate Store over authorized retailers for more reliable service

C Cricket Wireless 2-24 hrs · Immigrant-friendly

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🏪 In-Store / 📱 Online

Visit a Cricket store (commonly found near Chinese communities) or go to cricketwireless.com
Choose a plan (from $30/mo), select "Transfer my number"
Provide the three porting details (Account Number, PIN, ZIP)

✅ Why we recommend: AT&T network + no credit check + no SSN required + stores everywhere. Best starter option for new immigrants and students.

M Mint Mobile 2-12 hrs · Best value

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📱 Fully Online (No Stores)

Go to mintmobile.com, choose a plan (3/6/12 months prepaid, longer = cheaper, from $15/mo)
At checkout, select "Keep my existing number" and enter your number + three porting details
Choose eSIM (recommended, activates in ~1 hour) or physical SIM (ships in 2-5 days)
Activate in the Mint Mobile App to complete the port

⚠️ Mint Mobile Common Pitfalls

Mint uses T-Mobile towers — verify T-Mobile coverage in your area first
First-month promo ($15/mo) only applies to initial purchase; renewal price is higher
If porting fails, you'll get an email notification — resubmit info in the App

G Google Voice 1-3 days · VoIP backup

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💻 Web-Based

Log into voice.google.com (requires a US Google account)
Go to Settings → Account → Number, select "Port a number you already own"
Enter your number, Account Number, PIN, ZIP
Pay the $20 one-time port-in fee (charged by Google, not GreatNumber)
Wait 1-3 days; once complete, use the number in Google Voice App

⚠️ Google Voice Important Notes

Google Voice cannot replace a traditional SIM card — calls/texts only work via App/web
Cannot receive some bank short code SMS (e.g., Chase 6-digit verification codes)
Only works on devices with internet — no signal means no calls
Once ported to Google Voice, porting out to another carrier may be difficult

L LycaMobile 3-7 days · Intl calling

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📞 Phone

Call 1-866-277-3221 to reach LycaMobile support
Tell them you want to port in a number and provide the three porting details
Choose a plan (international calling plans are very affordable)
Wait for SIM card to ship or eSIM activation

✅ Why we recommend: Extremely low international calling rates, great for frequent calls to China, India, etc. Uses T-Mobile network, no SSN required.

U Ultra Mobile 1-24 hrs · Popular w/ Chinese

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📱 Online / 🏪 In-Store

Go to ultramobile.com and choose a plan (from $15/mo), or visit an authorized retail store
Select "Bring your own number" or "Transfer your number"
Enter Account Number, PIN, ZIP. For Current Carrier select "Other" or type "Great Number LLC"
Choose eSIM (recommended, instant activation) or physical SIM (ships in 2-5 days)
After activation, porting usually completes within 1-24 hours

YOU: Hi, I'd like to activate Ultra Mobile service and port in my phone number.

STAFF: Sure. Can you provide the account number and PIN from your current carrier?

YOU: Yes. The current carrier is Great Number LLC. Here's all the transfer information.

✅ Why we recommend: T-Mobile network, from $15/mo with free international calling to 80+ countries, no SSN, no contract, very popular in the Chinese community. Great WiFi Calling support for staying connected with family abroad.

⚠️ Ultra Mobile Notes

Uses T-Mobile towers — check T-Mobile coverage in your area first
Some plans have limited international calling minutes — check plan details before choosing
eSIM activation requires a compatible phone (iPhone XR+, most newer Android phones)

Important Notes

Please read these important tips before porting

⚠️

Don't cancel your current number

Keep your current service active during the porting process. Don't cancel until the port is complete.

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No service interruption

Your current phone service won't be interrupted during porting. The switch happens instantly when complete.

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Prepaid vs Postpaid

Prepaid service porting may differ slightly from postpaid. Check with your carrier first.

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Toll-Free numbers

Toll-Free numbers (800/888/877 etc.) cannot be ported to personal mobile carriers. They must go to VoIP or business phone services.

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Google Voice

Numbers can be ported to Google Voice, but Google charges a one-time $20 fee and processing may take longer.

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Landline restrictions

Landline numbers must match the local area code. Verify with your landline provider before purchasing.

Self Troubleshoot

Having trouble? 80% of issues can be solved on your own

🔒

PIN Rejected by Carrier

🔥 Most common · 45%

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Possible Causes

PIN has expired (valid for 2 weeks)
Extra digits or spaces were entered

Solution

Log into GreatNumber User Center
Click "Regenerate PIN" on the number card
New PIN takes effect immediately, validity resets to 2 weeks
Resubmit the port with the new PIN

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Billing Address Mismatch

🔥 Common · 35%

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Possible Causes

Typed ZIP incorrectly (missing or extra digits)
Browser autocomplete modified the original value
Changed address format (e.g., "Street" to "St.") causing mismatch

Solution

Open User Center and check the billing address on the number card
Copy the full address exactly (use the one-click copy feature)
Don't let autocomplete modify it when pasting — type it manually if needed
If the carrier only asks for ZIP, use our provided ZIP (usually 91803)

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Account Number Format Error

10%

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Possible Causes

Account Number has hyphens (e.g., GN-2226-4401) that the carrier's system doesn't accept
The GN- prefix was left out

Solution

First try removing hyphens (GN22264401)
If that fails, try just the numeric part (22264401)
If neither works, contact our support for the correct format

⚠️

Carrier Says "Number Already in Use"

5%

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Possible Causes

Usually a carrier system delay, or our system hasn't finished the "release" process yet.

Solution

Check if the number status in User Center shows "Porting Info Ready"
If it shows "Preparing", please wait (usually completes within 24 hours)
If it's ready but the carrier still rejects, wait 1-2 hours and try again
If still failing after 24 hours, contact our support

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Over 7 Business Days Without Activation

3%

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Possible Causes

Delay on the new carrier's end (especially common with small MVNOs)
Info verification failed but you weren't notified
New SIM card hasn't been activated or activation failed

Solution

First, contact your new carrier's support for a status update
Provide your order number or account number for them to look up
If they say "no port request received", resubmit through the App
If all else fails, contact our support for help

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Received "Port Rejected" Notice

2%

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The new carrier usually gives a specific reason. Handle it accordingly:

"Invalid PIN" / "Incorrect PIN"

→ Regenerate PIN in User Center

"Address does not match"

→ Re-verify billing address, copy it exactly

"Account does not exist"

→ Account number entered incorrectly, double-check it

"Name mismatch"

→ Account holder name must match your GreatNumber registration name

Other errors

→ Screenshot the error message and contact our support

Carrier Comparison

Haven't chosen a carrier? Pick one based on your needs

Carrier	From/mo	Best For	Featured
T T-Mobile	$40+	Wide coverage, Chinese support, great 5G, excellent signal in Chinese neighborhoods	#1 Chinese
M Mint Mobile	$15+	T-Mobile network, lowest price, fully online, great for students	Best Value
V Verizon	$45+	Most stable signal nationwide, great rural coverage, premium pricing but top quality	Best Travel
A AT&T	$40+	Popular with business users, stable network, great intl roaming, ideal for travelers	Best Business
C Cricket	$30+	AT&T network, no credit check, stores everywhere, best starter for immigrants/students	Immigrant OK
G Google Voice	$0	Free VoIP, only for business or backup number, cannot replace a traditional phone	Backup #
L LycaMobile	$19+	Ultra-low intl rates, great for frequent calls to China and other countries	Intl Calls
U Ultra Mobile	$15+	T-Mobile network, free intl calling to 80+ countries, no SSN, popular in Chinese community	Popular

* Pricing and plans are subject to change. Visit carrier websites for current details. Recommendations are for reference only.

Porting FAQ

Common questions about number porting

How long does porting take? ▼

T-Mobile / Verizon / Mint: usually 1-12 hours. AT&T / Cricket: usually 2-24 hours. Google Voice: 1-3 days. If not completed after 7 business days, contact our support.

How much does porting cost? ▼

GreatNumber does not charge for porting. Your carrier may charge a small port-in fee (most carriers are free). Google Voice charges $20.

What if porting fails? ▼

Contact our support team. We'll help troubleshoot and resubmit. Common issues include incorrect info or frozen carrier accounts.

Which carriers can I port to? ▼

Almost all US carriers: T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Cricket, Metro, Mint Mobile, Google Voice, Vonage, and more.

Can I use my phone during porting? ▼

Yes. Your existing number and service are unaffected until the port completes. The new number activates automatically.

Do I need to visit a store? ▼

No. Most carriers support online App, website, or phone porting. If not comfortable with English, in-store porting is recommended — show the bilingual scripts from this page.

How is the number custody fee charged? ▼

Free custody for 15 days after purchase. After 15 days, $9.99/month custody fee is charged automatically. We recommend porting as soon as possible.

Can I get a refund if porting fails? ▼

Refunds are only available if GreatNumber fails to deliver porting info or if the failure is caused by our error. Failures due to customer input errors or new carrier issues are not refundable.

Will porting affect WeChat or bank verification codes? ▼

After porting, the number can receive SMS verification codes normally, including WeChat, WhatsApp, Chase, Bank of America, etc. Exception: Google Voice may not receive some bank short code messages.

I'm a new immigrant without SSN. Can I still port? ▼

Yes. We recommend prepaid carriers that don't require SSN: Cricket, Mint Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, Boost Mobile. Major carriers may require a $500-$750 deposit without SSN.

Porting Guide

5 simple steps to transfer your number

Make sure you have the following ready

Click a carrier name for detailed porting instructions

Step-by-step porting instructions with bilingual scripts for each carrier

Please read these important tips before porting

Having trouble? 80% of issues can be solved on your own

Possible Causes

Solution

Possible Causes

Solution

Possible Causes

Solution

Possible Causes

Solution

Possible Causes

Solution

"Invalid PIN" / "Incorrect PIN"

"Address does not match"

"Account does not exist"

"Name mismatch"

Other errors

Haven't chosen a carrier? Pick one based on your needs

Common questions about number porting

Need Help?