Getting started with carrier transfer information
Changing carriers can be a painful process.
For many people, it’s actually the reason why they’re sticking to one of the Big 4 carriers and end up overpaying for wireless. We get it, change can be scary. That is why we’re here to clear the air and provide all the details needed in order to transfer your number to Tello safely and without fuss.
How to transfer your phone number to Tello
If you decided that nationwide coverage, flexibility, free tethering and no phone-specific plans are for you, Tello is the perfect match. With us, you can bring your own device and keep the phone number you love. Everything is done online, free of headaches and fees.
Remember, the port-in at Tello is fast, from just a couple of minutes to 1 hour if all information provided is correct.
Here are the first steps:
- Make sure your phone is compatible with Tello → Go to our coverage checker and see the signal for your exact address
- Gather the details you need from your carrier → We’ve made a list of carriers, so just scroll down until you find your carrier below.
- Start the number transfer
- Take some time to imagine all the savings coming your way, and let us work our magic
📲 The Noob Guide to More Savings
Carrier transfer information
In order to port in your phone number to Tello, you will need to have some information from the current carrier that has your number. The numer still needs to be active when starting the transfer.
- Phone number you want to move
- Current provider
- Account number
- PIN/Password from current provider
- Your address as listed on the phone bill
- First name and last name as listed on the phone bill
The port in will take up to 2 working days for regular mobile numbers and up to 5 working days for landline and VOIP numbers. Check out the list of carriers below and find out what you need to get started and have your phone number released from your current provider.
A
Airvoice
- Account number: Your SIM card number
- PIN number: The last four digits of your phone number
AT&T
- Account number: Usually this is found in the upper right-hand corner of any bill or invoice, or in your online account. The number should be entered without any dashes or hyphens.
- PIN number: Your PIN is usually the last four digits of your telephone number. It cannot be found on your bill, invoice or online account. You can call AT&T at 1-800-331-0500.
AT&T Business
- Account number
- PIN number: This is not the account login password.
- Business name and address
- EIN: Employer Identification Number is the business tax ID.
AT&T GoPhone
- Account number: You’ll need to contact GoPhone customer service by dialing 611 from your mobile phone.
- PIN number: Set up initially when you opened the account. If you don’t remember it, you’ll need to contact customer service at 1-800-901-9878.
B
Boost
- Account number: If you do not know your account number, you will need to contact Boost Mobile at 1-888-266-7848.
- PIN number: A four-digit number, if you don’t know it you will need to contact Boost.
C
CenturyLink
- Account number: Can be found in the upper right-hand corner of any bill. It is your phone number plus three digits. If you can’t find it you will need to contact CenturyLink at 1-888-638-6771.
- PIN number: 0000
Cincinnati Bell/i-Wireless
- Account number: You will need to call 1-877-595-2229.
- PIN number: You will need to call to set up your PIN if you do not have one. It must be set up 24 hours before beginning your port.
Comcast
- Account number: You can usually find your account number in the upper right-hand corner of any bill or invoice
- PIN number: Your PIN would have been given to you by Comcast and is usually pre-selected. You can reset your PIN through your online account, you won’t be able to find your PIN on any bill or invoice.
Consumer Cellular
- Account number: Can be found online or by calling Consumer Cellular at 1-888-345-5509.
- PIN number: The last four digits of the account holder’s SSN.
- Alternative PIN: 0000
- Porting center number: 888-750-5519
📌 Important: Consumer Cellular does not use PIN numbers, so when submitting the port request they will give a “customer information doesn’t match” error message, and Tello will email you and let you know that there is a problem with the port. If this happens, please get in touch with us and we will call them for a manual response to get the line moved over right away. They look to match 3 out of 4 pieces of information, and in most cases, they can release the number as soon as we call them.
Credo
- Account number: This is referred to as member number. Text ACCOUNT to 27336 to get your Account Number.
- PIN number: 0000
Cricket
- Account number: Can be found online or by calling Cricket Customer Support at 1-800-274-2538.
- PIN number: Four-digit Authorization ID (or “AID”) that you set up when you set up your online account, and it is the PIN that you need to enter when making changes to your account online.
E
EasyGo Wireless
- Account number: You will need to call customer service at 1-800-643-4926 to ask them to release your mobile number for porting and tell you your account number and PIN. They will ask you to provide the 3 most recent outgoing calls to verify it’s your account.
- PIN number: Instructions above
F
FreedomPop
- Account number: You can get your account number by going to My Account, then Account Settings on your online FreedomPop account.
- PIN number: If the PIN number is not visible, you would need to speak with a customer service representative to get it. To contact FreedomPop, you will need to log into your FreedomPop account.
📌 FreedomPop has an online help page to guide you through porting out your number.
G
GoSmart
- Account number: Your 10 digit phone number
- PIN number: Four-digit PIN which is the same PIN used when calling customer service. If you don’t have a PIN you can set one up by calling 611 for your GoSmart phone and saying “no” when it asks you if you want to refill and then choosing “Manage my account” followed by “change my account PIN”
📌 Important: Be sure the zip code on the request matches what’s on your GoSmart account.
Google Project Fi
Google Fi has an online help page to guide you through porting out your number.
Google Voice
The folks over at Google Voice have made it easy by providing a handy guide to porting out.
- Account number: 10 digit MDN
- PIN number: The pin used to access Google Voice voicemail from another phone
📌 Important: Google Voice numbers are treated like landlines when you port them and take 5-7 days to complete.
Also they charge $3 in order to approve the transfer
Great Call
- Account number: Found in your online account
- PIN number: 0000
H
H2O Wireless
- Account number: You need to call customer service a 1-800-643-4926 and ask them to release your number for porting and provide you with your account number and PIN.
- PIN number: Instructions above. They will ask you to provide the three most recent outgoing calls to verify that it’s your number.
K
Kroger i-wireless
- Account number: 10 digit phone number
- PIN number: 4-8 digit PIN your set up when activating. If you don’t know it you will need to call 1-888-880-4497.
L
Line2
- Account number: 10 digit phone number without dashes and a “1” added to the beginning
- PIN number: 0000
📌 Important: Once your number has been ported out Line 2 will assign a new number to your account. If you no longer wish to have service with Line 2, then you’ll need to cancel that new number or billing will continue.
LycaMobile
- Account number: 11 digits, you will need to call Customer Service at 1-866-277-3221.
- PIN number: This is your four-digit CIP number. Lyca usually sends this number via text when you first register for your account on their website. If you don’t know it, you will need to contact Customer Service at 1-866-277-3221.
M
Magic Jack
- Account number: Found online in your Magic Jack account or by calling customer service at 1-844-866-2442.
- PIN number: Log into your online account, go to the manage log-in account tab, change the pin to a six-digit number.
📌 Important: Magic Jack customer service will advise that you can use the online account log-in password, but Tello can only accept a numerical pin, so please make sure to change it in your account.
Metro PCS
- Account number: Nine-digit account number. Go to MetroPCS.com, login to your account, click on Payments and select any month. It is also available in the bill reminder text messages sent by Metro PCS.
- PIN number: Call-in passcode which is generally your eight-digit birth-date unless you’ve changed it.
O
Onvoy
- Account number: You will need to contact Onvoy as this may vary.
- PIN number: You will need to contact Onvoy as this may vary.
📌 Important: All information entered in the port must be typed exactly as it is on the Onvoy account when a port request is submitted. If any updates are required, we must add 2 business days to the due date. Onvoy can be reached at 1-800-933-1224 (9am- 6pm CST) option 4, then 3 for porting.
Ooma
- Account number: Your 10 digit mobile number with a one in front of it.
- PIN number: Your Ooma account password. If you do not have this information, you will need to contact Ooma at 1-866-929-6662.
- Special characters in your password may not be accepted.
📌 Important: You must use the following name and address for Ooma corporate headquarters address as the name and billing address on your port request: First name – Ooma, Last name – Inc 1880 Embarcadero Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94303.
P
Page Plus
- Account number: Your 10-digit phone number is your account number.
- PIN number: The last four digits of the number unless you’ve changed it.
Puppy Wireless
- Account number: Can be found on the left side of your online dashboard.
- PIN number: Last four digits of the phone number unless you’ve changed it.
R
Red Pocket Mobile
- Account number: Your 10-digit phone number is your account number.
- PIN number: Last four digits of your phone number
Republic Wireless
- Account number: Your 10-digit phone number is your account number.
- PIN number: Can be found in your online account portal in the account settings section.
📌 Check out the how to transfer your number from Republic Wireless help guide for full steps.
RingCentral
- Your RingCentral account will have the information you will need to port the phone number to Tello.
- This information is located under the Billing and Payment tabs on your RingCentral Online account.
- You will need to provide this account information to Tello to port to our service. You should also ask for your Customer Service Record (CSR) which contains the exact information necessary to port as well.
Customer Service Record (CSR) is the document of proof for a given phone number. Therefore, if you submit a CSR with your initial port request and ensure that the information on your LOA matches the information on the CSR, the likelihood that your port request proceeds without a hitch increase greatly.
LOA: Letter of Agency (or Authorization). A form signed by an end-user indicating approval for long-distance or local service change from one provider to another.
S
SafeLink Wireless
- Account number: IMEI or MEID
- PIN number: 0000
Selectel Wireless
- Account number: Eight-digit number labelled “Account” that is displayed on your online account after login.
- PIN number: The four-digit PIN that you set up. If you don’t know it, you will need to call customer support at 1-877-218-5744.
Spectrum
- Account number: Can be found in the upper left-hand corner of your bill.
- PIN number: Use your zip code. Although Spectrum does not require a pin, if there is an error, you may need to have to call their port department for a manual release.
Sprint / Sprint Prepaid
- Account number: A nine-digit number which can be found at the top centre of your bill and on your online account page.
- PIN number: This is the same as the call-in passcode when you call customer service. You can set up or change your PIN on your online account. If you do not have access to your online account, you can call Sprint at 1-888-211-4727.
Straight Talk
- Account number: MEID or IMEI of the phone or if you are using a BYOP (Bring Your Own Phone) SIM card, it will be the last 15 digits of your SIM card number.
- PIN number: Can be found on your online Straight Talk My account page by clicking Update personal profile where it’s listed as Current security PIN. If that field is blank, be sure to set up a passcode PIN before porting.
T
Telcel America
- Account number: MEID or IMEI of the phone or if you are using a BYOP (Bring Your Own Phone) SIM card it will be the last 15 digits of your SIM card number.
- PIN number: Can be found on your online Telcel America My account page by clicking Update personal profile where it’s listed as Current security PIN. If that field is blank, be sure to set up a passcode PIN before porting.
Ting
- Log into your account
- Freedom Pop customer’s account # will always be the 10 digit phone number
- Ting’s porting department (temporary perhaps) 855-846-4847
T-Mobile
- Account number: The nine-digit number that can be found in the upper right-hand corner of any bill or in your online account.
- PIN number: You will need to contact T-Mobile at 1-877-453-1304.
T-Mobile Prepaid
- Account number: Your 10-digit phone number with a one in front is your account number.
- PIN number: The four-digit PIN used when calling customer service.
📌 Important: If you don’t have a PIN, you can set one up by calling 611 from your T-Mobile device and say “no” to refill, choose “change my account PIN”, then set your four-digit PIN. If you forgot your PIN number or need other porting help, you can reach out to them at 1-877-778-2106.
TracFone / Net10
- Account number: MEID or IMEI of the phone, or if you are using a BYOP (Bring Your Own Phone) SIM card, it will be the last 15 digits of your SIM card.
- PIN number: 0000
- In rare cases, ports may fail with a zip code error even when the zip code is correct. In these cases, use the head office zip code 33178.
U
Ultra Mobile
- Account number: Found at the top left corner of your online account management portal. If you do not have access to the portal call 1-888-777-0446 to get your account number.
- PIN number: The last four digits of your Ultra Mobile phone number.
US Cellular
- Account number: If you do not have your account number, you will need to contact US Cellular at 1-888-944-9400.
- PIN number: The four-digit PIN associated with your account, if you do not know it you will need to contact them.
US Mobile
- Account number: You will need to call 1-88-848-1788 or email help@usmobile.com and ask for your account number.
- PIN number: 1234
V
Verizon
- Account number: Can be found on your bill or online account by logging in online and going to Account then Account overview. The account number is listed at the top, and it ends in -00001 but should be entered without the dash.
Starting June 3, 2020, Verizon is implementing a new process requiring all their Wireless Postpaid Consumer customers to generate a Number Transfer PIN to use when porting out their number.
This Number Transfer PIN takes the place of the customer’s account PIN on the port request. The Number Transfer PIN must be entered in the PIN field on the port request.
If the incorrect PIN is provided, Verizon will respond to the port request with “6P – PTN has service provider port protection”, instead of “8C – Password or PIN required or incorrect”.
- If you are porting a number from a Verizon postpaid consumer account, below are instructions for how to obtain this PIN:
-
- From their Verizon device – using the Verizon App:
- Go to Account Settings > Security > Click Number Transfer PIN and follow instructions.
- If they do not have the Verizon App, do a 3-way call with Verizon Care.
- Follow Verizon representative instructions.
- From their Verizon device – using the Verizon App:
-
- Another Option for obtaining the 6-digit Number Transfer PIN:
- From the web, customers should access their Verizon account and My Profile.
- Select Number Transfer PIN and follow instructions.
📌 Important: If you don’t know your pin number, you can reset it by going to vzw.com/PIN and sign in to your My Verizon account. Enter the new account PIN and then re-type the new account PIN in the designated box. Click Submit to confirm. You’ve successfully created your account PIN. You will get a notification that a PIN has been set up.
Verizon Prepaid
- Account number: Alphanumeric usually starts with an A.
- PIN number: The four-digit password that you use to access your account from your phone.
Virgin
- Account number: A nine-digit number. If you don’t know it, you will need to contact Virgin Mobile at 1-888-322-1122.
- PIN number: Usually the account holder’s birthday as the two-digit month, two-digit day, and a two-digit year in six-digit format unless you’ve changed it. For example, 011065 would represent January 10, 1965.
Vonage
- Account number: Can be found in the upper right-hand corner of any bill or it is on your online account.
- PIN number: The required PIN is the same one that is used to verify your account with Vonage. If you don’t have one, you’ll need to contact Vonage at 1-866-243-4357.
Important: If the standard billing zip code attached to your Vonage account does not work, you must use the Vonage headquarters’ zip code 07733 in the address field.
W
Walmart Family Mobile
- Account number: Dial #225# to view account number.
- PIN number: You need to contact Walmart Family Mobile by dialling 611 from your mobile phone or call 1-877-440-9758.
on your list tello or access to it as a carrier is not shown.
YOU SHOULD TELL CLEARLY WHAT YOU MEAN AND WHERE TO GO TO TO FILE TELLO AS DESIRED CARRIER.. I HAVE SPENT HALF A MORNING TRYING TO FIND ANSWERS.
Hello, Reginald,
We’re sorry for the inconvenience. This article is meant to help people find their carrier transfer information easier. Please tell me how can I assist or contact our human Customer Support directly and they’ll gladly help you with anything. Thanks for reaching out, have a nice day!
This is very helpful but it is not complete. If you are using a BYOP (Bring Your Own Phone) you ALSO need the MEID or IMEI of the phone, AND SIM card. At lease for Sprint, and probably all other carriers.
Also i did not read anywhere that it takes 5 days to port in from Sprint. Presently without warning, i have no data, voice, or text, connection, Trying to do business without a phone needs to be planned and scheduled.. It would be very helpful to let customers know what kind of time porting takes for each carrier.
Lowers my confidence in your service.
Additional information if you are using BYOP: you need to reset the Carrier, Profile and PRL. Don’t worry it will not erase your phone. Here i was waiting for my phone to come online, and all i had to do was the above.
Also to sign into the Tello App, use your phone number +1(XXX)XXX-XXXX format with no spaces. NOT intuitive, but it works!
For xfinity mobile to figure out account number and PIN you need to go to:
http://www.xfinity.com/mobile/my-account/devices
hello, I have been trying to figure out where to put this information on the tello website to transfer my phone number but it keeps taking me to the check out process. can you guys add this piece of information to this article to make it more complete?
Can a phone number be transferred over from Total Wireless? I don’t see it on that list. Does that mean it can’t be done?
Eric, thanks for the question.
I’m sure it can be done, so here are the port in details you need to provide to our Customer Support team are the following:
–Current number
–Current provider
–Account number from current provider
–PIN/Password from current provider
–Your address as listed on the phone bill
–First name and last name as listed on the phone bill
Hi, my mom passed away, how can I port her number from Assuranse Wireless, which is not on your list either? Thank you.
Hi, Mr. B,
We’re sorry for your loss. Please contact our Customer Support Team to address this.
Okay I get that how to get all the information. Nowhere in the article I saw that you mentioned how to give all these informations to tello and how to initiate the procedure. Is it through a form using the webpage or is it by calling you guys?!?
Hi, Syeed,
Good question, you got me there!
Here are the details:
If you want to port your number to Tello you first need to see into which category you fall:
1. if you bring your own phone and you don’t need a CDMA SIM, simply fill in the port-in form provided while going through the bring your own phone process.
-if your number is Sprint® Network* active, the port in is mandatory
-if your number is not active on Sprint® Network*, you have the option to port in your old number or get a new number from Tello during the bring your own phone process
2. if you purchased a phone or a CDMA SIM from us, then after you receive the package and activate the phone, you need to go to the Port-in section of the My Phone page and follow the steps;
3. if you already have an active line with Tello and want to port in a new number to replace the existing number, just go to the Port-in section of the My Phone page and follow the steps;
I don’t see Mint Mobile listed? Will I be able to port a number from them? If so, exactly what is needed to do that — and I will be bringing my own device? Also, about how long will the process take?
Thanks, I think I got the need info from a chat with Mint. Is there a way to see exactly what my monthly cost will be WITH taxes and fees with Tello before signing up?
Yes, at checkout, you get the see the total amount that includes the taxes for your area, before having to pay, the info is displayed on your top right – where you can see your order. Thanks!
I bought a phone from tello
And want to port my old number to the new phone .
Do I activate the phone first or go to the port existing number step??
Hi, Keith,
As you purchased a phone from our website, once you receive the package, the next step will be to log in to your account, go to My Phone section and click on Activate Service. After you activate the service, you can proceed with the Port In section and fill in the required details. To be able to initiate the transfer of your number to Tello, first, your service needs to be activated.
Thanks!
Can I port a number from FreeUp mobile?
JC, sorry for the long wait. My bad!
Hope you got this sorted out by now, but just in case, I’m leaving the steps here. Thanks!
In order to port a phone number into Tello, you will also need some details from your current provider. You will need:
Phone number you want to transfer
Account number
Port-out PIN/Password
First name and last name as listed on the phone bill
Your address as listed on the phone bill
Some carriers do not have port-out pins/passwords.
Can I port a number to a Tello phone from an AT&T landline? The landline is the key point in my question, as I see AT&T on the list of carriers that numbers can be ported from.
Hi, Dylan,
Both mobile and landline numbers can be ported to Tello, thanks!
I have a prepaid account with ekit. The service is ceasing in June. Can I port the number from that prepaid plan?
Hi, Rosanna,
Please contact our Customer Support team and bring this up with them, thanks!
Can you please provide instructions for Mint Mobile?
Hi, James,
In order to port your number from Mint Mobile to Tello, you’ll need the regular info required: account number, PIN number, your name and address.
I know that some of our clients got the needed details even by chatting with Mint, so fingers crossed! Thanks!
Can you please tell my what I need from Optimum to port my number to Tello? Thank you.
Nick, as far as I know, you need the regular details: account number, PIN number, name and address. Hope this helps, thanks!
Hi, I’m bringing my own phone to Tello and I need to port in my number, do I have to activate the SIM card before port in my number? The SIM card came in with a phone number already
Hi, Ivan,
If the SIM is already in your possession, please go ahead and activate it, following the steps below and then procced with the port-in. Thanks!
Once your SIM arrives, please follow these steps in order to activate it:
1. Log in into your online Tello account and go to “My Phone” section.
2. Confirm your SIM’s delivery by entering the activation code in the field provided (the activation code is printed on the box your SIM arrived in and it’s a 8-9 digit number for GSM SIMs).
3. After your service is activated, wait 5 minutes and switch your phone OFF.
4. Remove the old SIM from your Phone (if any) and insert the new SIM from the card you’ve just received.
5. Follow the on-screen steps (if any) to allow your phone to Activate.
6. Try to make a call, send an SMS & surf the web, depending on your service settings. If by any chance things do not work please wait 30 minutes and then reboot your phone and try again. If you still need assistance, contact our 24/7 Live Support.
I think customers should not only comment when there’s something wrong. I was using AT&T for $100 a month. I switched to Tello and now I’m paying $20. How cool is that?
Also porting my number to Tello took like 5 minutes.
Thank you guys!
Thanks, Xio!
We totally support customers that drop us some love in a comment, anytime!
So glad that you’re a part of the Tello Family and that the savings look so good for you, happy to help!
Have a great one, thanks!
Ok so I am going to port in my number from Boost. Once I have my Boost account information, what do I do next? I want to bring my phone for now, then upgrade it in the next month or so. When I go to PORT IN my MY TELLO, it say NOTHING TO SEE HERE FOR NOW and the same for the part that says MY PHONE. How do I commence the porting process? Thanks so much for your help in advance 🙏🏼
D.Z., thanks for writing!
If you bring your own phone and you already have a GSM SIM from us, simply fill in the port-in form provided while going through the bring your own phone process. If you purchased a SIM from us, then after you receive the package and activate the phone, you need to go to the Port-in section of the My Phone page – that will now be available – and follow the steps.
If you’re still having issues and need some guidance, please give my colleagues from the Customer Support Team a ring and they’ll sort you out, thanks!
Thank you Maria.
✨GREAT✨ -ly appreciated 😜
Hello All,
Can anyone tell us how to port Speedtalk mobile # to Tello mobile number?
Thanks
Hello, as far as I know, the process for porting from Speedtalk to Tello is the standard, and here’s what you need:
-Phone number you want to transfer
-Account number
-Port-out PIN/Password
-First name and last name as listed on the phone bill
-Your address as listed on the phone bill
Can I use the an old verizon land line number that’s not in use as the number on my new Tello account?
Skyler, as long as your number is active, the porting should work just fine. Fingers crossed, thanks!
Hi,
Should I order order and activate Tello SIM before start transfer?
Hi there Nori!
You first need to order the SIM and wait for the package to arrive at your address. Once it arrives you can make the switch to GSM. Better said, here are a few steps you need to take:
Hope this helps, if not please let us know, oru Customer Support team is here 24/7.
Can I port in my active Tello number to a new Tello sim?
Hi Deanna,
Absolutely! If you’re still on our old CDMA network, please stay tuned for upcoming communications about moving to GSM in “My account” and via email. The migration to GSM is scheduled in batches, and we’re preparing personalized step-by-step advice for each customer when they become eligible. Thank you!
Good morning!
When checking my phone’s compatibility, I got the following message:
*GSM compatible: YES. This phone can be used for new line activation or replacement for an existing Tello GSM line.
*CDMA compatible: NO. This phone can not be used as a replacement for an existing Tello CDMA line.
Will I be able to use my phone with Tello and to port my current number?
Thank you!
Hi, Maria,
This is Maria (couldn’t help it :D). If you get the OK message from us – “GSM compatible: YES. This phone can be used for new-line activation or replacement for an existing Tello GSM line”, you’re all good. When you join Tello, you get a Tello number and later on, when you are ready, you can transfer your own number. Fingers crossed, thanks!
Can I get a new number from Tello when I activate the GSM sim, and later port in a number from another provider? Is porting number free?
Thanks!
Hello, Wen,
When you join Tello, you can definitely get a Tello number and later on, when you are ready, you can transfer your own number. Hope this helps, thanks!
HelloMobile Instructions?
Hi, David,
I’m not aware of people needed anything extra to port from Hello Mobile to Tello, so these details should be enough, thanks!
Phone number you want to move
Current provider
Account number
PIN/Password from current provider
Your address as listed on the phone bill
First name and last name as listed on the phone bill
Should you need any help, please give our Human customer support team a ring and they’ll gladly sort you out!
What are the instructions for visible?
Hi, Rahul,
Here’s what they say on their website about finding your account number and port-out PIN needed to transfer your number out:
“Log-in to your account and go to your Account section to find your Account number and the button to request a Port-Out PIN. If you’re on desktop, please make sure you’re on the “Profile’’ tab. Please note, your PIN won’t be displayed within the account section. You must request it via email or from a Care agent.”
Hope this helps, thanks!
Hi, will I be able to port a landline number from Frontier to tello? I called Frontier and they tell me it is ready to be ported out, but still get the message on tello ,This phone number cannot be ported to Tello. Please check the status of the phone number with your current carrier.I can”t get a respose from tello, please help.