How To Switch Cell Service To Old Phone

How to Switch Jail cell Phone Carriers

There's one matter we know about switching cell phone carriers: they don't get in like shooting fish in a barrel to go out. [Insert joke here well-nigh how switching cell phones carriers is a lot like your ex-swain or girlfriend.] It's not y'all, it's them. It's definitely them.

But yous tin make the jump—and before you enquire, yep, y'all can keep your phone number if you lot switch carriers. Here's how.

1. Research what provider y'all want to use.

Before you make the jump, it'south time to do some investigative work. Slap on your Sherlock hat and grab your magnifying glass to get up close and personal with your new carrier'south pricing, plans, data caps—and, near chiefly, coverage.

It'southward elementary, Watson: no one wants to bandy to a new wireless provider only to lose their signal.

Here'due south a peek at the basic unlimited plans for the big three wireless providers stacks upwards hither in the US.

2. Gather all of your information.

Before you can switch providers, you lot'll need to get together some information to make the modify. Here's everything you lot need to know before switching prison cell phone carriers:

Your name and address
The account number on your bill
Countersign or Pin
Your phone's ESN/IMEI number (usually located on the back or nether the battery)
Bonus: Don't forget to support information on your old telephone—and call back, voicemails normally don't transfer.

Armed with all of that information, you should have no trouble switching your provider. If but splitting up with your ex-girlfriend or fellow came downwardly to stating the facts. (I couldn't resist.)

3. Contact your new service provider.

Now that yous've got all your information organized and yous've decided on a new provider, it's time to brand the switch officially. You tin make the switch online or in person, but sometimes having someone there to talk you through the process is best, every bit Vilja, one of our squad members, plant out when she switched from AT&T to Verizon.

"I tried switching online, but after getting the runaround on the Verizon website to the point where I was shouting 'I don't want to put a phone in my cart!' at the reckoner, I decided to overcome my intense fright of people and simply go to the store," she says. ". . . Once I got into a [Verizon] store, it was incredibly like shooting fish in a barrel."

Porting refers to the transferring of a phone number from one cell phone company to some other.

Once you've activated your new service, your old account and service should automatically cancel. Merely information technology never hurts to call your sometime wireless provider to brand sure information technology'south cancelled—and maybe piece of work some negotiation magic on those early termination fees.

iv. Ask about keeping your old number.

If you're worried virtually how to switch phone carriers and proceed your number, there'southward skilful news. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is on your side, and it actually prevents your electric current cell telephone company from refusing to permit you keep your number.

You won't be able to keep your old number if information technology has been deactivated with your current carrier service. Make sure you don't cancel with your current carrier until you have contacted your new service provider.

However, your new prison cell phone carrier isn't required to accept your old number, so it'south best to check with them start.

For instance, if y'all wanted to switch from Verizon to T-Mobile, ask the customer service representative if T-Mobile volition allow you lot keep your number. They'll run it through the system and (hopefully) say you can keep it. If you're switching to a family plan, the main account holder will just need to approve the new line with the onetime number.

5. Determine if you desire to keep your old phone or trade information technology in.

If y'all're squinting to read this on your onetime iPhone iv, y'all might want to consider upgrading your phone with your new provider. But if you recently upgraded your telephone and simply desire to proceed it, you lot can do that too.

Should I merchandise in my phone?

If yous're non fastened to your telephone emotionally (or physically), trading it in may be worthwhile. Trade-ins are an easy way to get credit toward your next new phone or to cover whatsoever taxes and fees you might exist charged for switching carriers.

Check how much money yous'll get back if you merchandise in your phone to your new prison cell telephone provider versus how much the maker of the phone would give yous.

Chances are you may become more than for trading in your quondam phone to one compared to the other. But you should also consider which trade-in refund works all-time—some stores will give you a credit to your bill while others will give you a shop gift menu.

Here's where you can cheque cell telephone trade-in values by maker:

Apple
Google
Samsung

And here's where y'all can bank check trade-in values by carrier:

AT&T
T-Mobile
Verizon

How to switch jail cell phone providers and keep your old phone

If you tin can't imagine giving up your phone for the newest model, expert news: all four of the major wireless carriers offer Bring Your Ain Device (BYOD) programs.

Of course, things aren't so simple. Your phone needs to be uniform with your new carrier, and information technology needs to be unlocked. Unlocking tin be a somewhat technical process, and then we recommend checking a guide—or, if possible, having a representative from your current carrier help yous.

This policy may modify based on which carrier you're with, but nosotros think calling alee is a great idea no matter what.

If yous want to endeavor your manus at unlocking your telephone, here are some walkthroughs:

How to unlock an AT&T phone
How to unlock a T-Mobile phone
How to unlock a Verizon phone

Yous are nearly to enter a very technical area. Exist prepared for techy acronyms and cell phone jargon. You can do this.

Your telephone also needs to be compatible with your new carrier's bands and frequencies. Compatibility gets a lilliputian technical, but to sum it up short and sweet, bands refer to 4G LTE compatibility and frequencies refer to 3G compatibility.

Now that 5G phones are on the rise, you lot'll need to brand sure your new provider supports your 5G device—if you have one.

Your phone's 3G compatibility also needs to take into account whether your phone uses the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) or Global System for Mobiles (GSM) network. AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM, while Verizon uses CDMA.

That means information technology's easier to switch with AT&T and T-Mobile than information technology is with Verizon.

But as we mentioned, GSM and CDMA generally affect 3G compatibility, so fifty-fifty if your phone uses a different network, you'll likely be OK every bit long as you can get a 4G or 5G LTE signal. (But beware, if yous can't take hold of onto that indicate, you'll have no reception at all. Risky business.)

The easiest way to check your telephone's compatibility is to go to your new carrier's website and enter your IMEI or ESN number. You can find each carrier'due south compatibility check below.

Now that you know how to switch jail cell providers, here are your next steps:

Still looking? Check out our top recommended providers.

Desire unlimited data? Here are our top recommended unlimited plans.

Written by

Tyler Abbott

Tyler has been obsessed with watching sports as efficiently as possible since the creation of the DVR. He is always on the sentry for the best tech in TV and wireless then he can watch all the sports and still take enough time to hang out with his baby. He has written about streaming, wireless, and Goggle box for over three years. He hopes the Lakers will eventually get better.