Switch to Verizon: AT&T and T-Mobile Number Checks
Switch to Verizon with an eligible US number. Compare AT&T and T-Mobile transfer PINs, device unlocking, account ownership and remaining costs.
Checked against official pages on October 26, 2026. Rules move; when this one does, it goes on the changelog.
Moving an AT&T or T-Mobile number to Verizon starts with four checks: the number, the account, the phone, and the old balance. Do not cancel the old line first. AT&T Prepaid is a special case: AT&T's FAQ says those accounts do not need a Number Transfer PIN.
Account type: this page covers US numbers on AT&T or T-Mobile accounts, postpaid and prepaid. A number from outside the US is not a US port. Verizon Prepaid, Total by Verizon, and a data-only eSIM are different products with their own rules.
What has to be true before the number moves?
| Check | What has to be true | Where the rule lives |
|---|---|---|
| Number | The number must be eligible to move. Verizon says it accepts most phone numbers, but some may not be eligible based on geography, service-area coverage, technology, or ownership of the line. | Verizon's number checker |
| Account control | The person who controls the old account must release the number. That may be the account owner, the primary online user, or the Primary Account Holder, depending on the carrier. | AT&T and T-Mobile account pages |
| Device | If you keep your current phone, it must be carrier-unlocked and compatible with Verizon's network. An unlocked phone is not automatically compatible. If you move the number to another compatible phone, the old phone's lock is a separate problem. | Verizon's BYOD checker and the old carrier's unlock page |
| Old balance | Any device installment, lease, final bill, or early termination charge is an old-carrier cost. Some unlock rules require a zero balance before the old phone can be unlocked. | The old carrier's account and unlock terms |
| Destination plan | A port-in offer is a separate eligibility check. The offer's terms decide whether it needs a new line, a trade-in, a specific plan, or a commitment. | The Verizon plan and offer terms at checkout |
Verizon's porting FAQ says it does not charge a fee to bring your number. The old carrier may still charge a device balance, final bill, or early termination fee. Check the old account's bill and terms before you move.
Which account type are you leaving?
Sources for this table: AT&T transfer FAQ, AT&T unlock page, T-Mobile transfer page, and T-Mobile device unlock policy, all read on October 26, 2026.
| Old account | Release credential | Device unlock | What stays unverified |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T postpaid | A Number Transfer PIN. A user with primary online access can request it; for a business account, only the primary user can request it and a representative emails the PIN. It expires 4 days after the request, or 14 days for business. Wireless Account Lock must be off. | The device must have been purchased more than 60 days ago, must not be active on another AT&T account, the installment balance must be zero, the device must not be reported lost, stolen, or involved in fraud, and the bill cannot be past due. | Whether your specific number is portable, and the exact final-bill or early-termination amount |
| AT&T Prepaid | No Number Transfer PIN. AT&T's FAQ says AT&T Prepaid accounts do not need one, and current requirements stay the same. | The device must have 12 months of paid AT&T service, must not be active on another AT&T account, and must not be reported lost, stolen, or involved in fraud. | The other authentication or transfer requirements, because AT&T says current requirements stay the same without listing them in that answer |
| T-Mobile postpaid | A Temporary Port Out PIN, plus the T-Mobile account number and account PIN or passcode. Only the Primary Account Holder can generate the port-out PIN. Port Out Protection must be off. | The device must have been active on T-Mobile for at least 40 days on the requesting line. A financed or leased device must be paid in full. The account must be in good standing. If the device is associated with a canceled account, the balance must be zero. | Whether the other lines or account-level discounts change, and the exact final bill |
| T-Mobile Prepaid | T-Mobile's page says a personal account needs a Temporary Port Out PIN. Its prepaid notes say any prepaid line user can contact T-Mobile to remove Port Out Protection after an additional security step. | At least 365 days since activation, or more than $100 in refills and more than 14 days since purchase. No more than 2 unlocks per line in 12 months. | The exact prepaid PIN prompts, which can differ from postpaid |
T-Mobile's policy also requires the device to have been sold by T-Mobile, not reported lost, stolen, or blocked, and T-Mobile may request proof of purchase. Those conditions apply to the T-Mobile rows above.
The AT&T transfer PIN page was last updated on August 21, 2026. Its unlock page was last updated on June 29, 2026. The Verizon support pages we read did not show an update date on October 26, 2026. The T-Mobile page's update date is unverified; the rules above carry that reading date.
Which credential does each carrier use?
A Number Transfer PIN authorizes the move and comes from the old carrier. An account passcode protects the old account. AT&T's FAQ says to give only the Number Transfer PIN, not the account passcode, to the new provider. T-Mobile asks for a Temporary Port Out PIN, the T-Mobile account number, and the account PIN or passcode; only the Primary Account Holder can generate the port-out PIN.
AT&T says to request the Number Transfer PIN close to the time you submit the transfer. Requesting a new PIN invalidates the older PINs. If a transfer request is already open, update it with the new PIN or start a new request. T-Mobile's T-Life path also requires the Primary Account Holder and the T-Mobile network with Wi-Fi off; its prepaid path can differ.
Where is the transfer blocked?
| What you see | What part is blocking it | Who to contact | Next check |
|---|---|---|---|
| You are not the account owner or primary user | Account | The old carrier's account owner or Primary Account Holder | Ask the owner to generate the PIN or add you with the right authority |
| The new provider rejects the credential | Account | The old carrier's transfer page | Check whether the account needs a Number Transfer PIN or a Temporary Port Out PIN. AT&T says not to give the account passcode to the new provider; T-Mobile may ask for its account PIN or passcode. |
| Port Out Protection or Wireless Account Lock is on | Account | The old carrier's security settings | Turn the protection off. For T-Mobile postpaid, the port-out PIN is limited to the Primary Account Holder; its prepaid page gives a separate path. |
| The number looks eligible, but the phone will not activate | Device | The old carrier's unlock page and Verizon's BYOD checker | Unlock the phone or move the number to another compatible phone |
| You do not know whether the phone is compatible | Device | Verizon's BYOD checker | Check the exact model and device ID, not just the brand |
| One line leaves a family plan and the bill changes | Account and billing | The old carrier and the account owner | Check the remaining lines, shared discounts, and the next bill |
| The new plan or offer is not what you expected | Destination plan | Verizon checkout or sales | Treat the offer as separate from number eligibility |
| You still owe on the old phone | Old-account billing | The old carrier | Pay off only if you need the old phone unlocked or want to keep using it; the debt remains either way |
What does leaving AT&T or T-Mobile cost?
These are old-account questions. Do not use Verizon's device-payment terms to predict how AT&T or T-Mobile will settle an old account.
| Old-carrier cost | What the old carrier controls | What to record |
|---|---|---|
| Device installment or lease | The payoff quote and whether the device must be paid off before it can be unlocked | The amount, the final payment date, and the unlock result |
| Final bill and partial month | The old carrier's billing cycle and final-bill rules | The final bill date and the amount still owed |
| Early termination or contract charge | The old carrier's terms for your account type | Whether a charge applies, and the amount |
| Promotional credits | Whether leaving, paying off, or changing the line ends a credit | Which credits are still being paid, and whether any have already been received |
| Other lines on a family plan | The old account owner and the old carrier's plan rules | Which lines stay, what the remaining bill becomes, and whether a shared discount changes |
The Verizon porting FAQ directs readers to the old carrier's terms for early termination fees and remaining device balances. It does not set those amounts. Record them from the old bill.
What changes if you take a new Verizon phone?
This section applies only if you buy or finance a new phone from Verizon. It does not describe an AT&T or T-Mobile account, and it does not apply if you keep your current phone or bring another compatible phone.
| New Verizon term | What the device-payment FAQ says | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Installments | Smartphones and other devices are normally financed over 36 monthly installments at 0% APR, with no finance charges. An upgrade fee may apply. | The device price, the monthly installment, and the upgrade fee |
| Payoff and credits | You can pay off the agreement at any time. Paying off ends the monthly promotional credits for that device. | The payoff amount and the credits that would stop |
| Leaving Verizon | The remaining device-payment balance is due on the next bill after the line is disconnected. | The remaining balance at the exit month, not just the advertised monthly price |
| Plan commitment | The device-payment FAQ says the line must stay on Unlimited Ultimate for 36 months for the best promotional discount. | The exact plan and commitment attached to the phone offer you are considering |
If you only move the number and use another compatible phone, the old device balance is still an old-carrier cost. It does not block the number transfer by itself. Do not pay off the old phone unless you need it unlocked or want to keep using it.
What changes when one line leaves a family plan?
The old account owner remains responsible for the old carrier's bill. Verizon's Customer Agreement defines the Account Owner as the person ultimately financially liable for the account, and says the owner remains responsible for changes an Account Manager makes. A roommate or family member paying you privately does not change that carrier contract.
| Check | What to record |
|---|---|
| Who can release the line | The old carrier's account owner or Primary Account Holder |
| The other lines | Which lines stay, and whether they keep their current plan |
| Shared discounts | Which account-level discount changes when one line leaves |
| The next old-carrier bill | The new total for the remaining lines, not just the line that moved |
| The new Verizon bill | The plan, line count, Auto Pay condition, first-month price, and any device payment |
Verizon's porting FAQ does not spell out what happens to the other lines or account-level promotions. That part stays with the old carrier's account terms and the account owner.
Transfer record
Keep this record on your own device. Do not send an account number, transfer PIN, account passcode, or device ID to Still Reachable.
| Item | Where to get it | What to record |
|---|---|---|
| Old carrier and account type | The old carrier's bill or account page | AT&T or T-Mobile, and postpaid or prepaid |
| Old account number | The old carrier's bill or account page | The number the new carrier will use for the transfer |
| Account owner or authorized user | The old account's permissions page | Who can release the number, and whether you are that person |
| Number Transfer PIN or Temporary Port Out PIN | The old carrier's account page or app | The credential, who generated it, and when it expires. AT&T Prepaid has no Number Transfer PIN. |
| Account passcode | The old account's security settings | AT&T says do not give it to the new provider; T-Mobile may ask for its account PIN or passcode |
| Account lock or Port Out Protection | The old account's security settings | Whether it is off, and who turned it off |
| Device unlock status | The old carrier's unlock page | Eligible or not, and the date you checked |
| Old device balance or lease payoff | The old carrier's device page | The payoff amount, the final payment date, and whether unlock depends on it |
| Other lines and shared promotions | The old account's plan page | Which lines stay, what the remaining bill is, and whether a discount changes |
| Verizon number eligibility | Verizon's number checker | Eligible or not, and the date you checked |
| Verizon plan and offer terms | The Verizon checkout or offer page | The plan name, line count, Auto Pay condition, and first-month price |
| Old service cancellation date | The old carrier's final bill | The date after the transfer completes, not before |
Still unverified
- Whether a specific AT&T or T-Mobile number is portable until Verizon's checker returns a result
- The exact old-carrier final bill, early termination charge, and device payoff amount
- What happens to other lines, shared discounts, and account-level promotions after one line leaves
- The AT&T Prepaid authentication steps other than the confirmed no-Number-Transfer-PIN rule
- The current switch offer, trade-in value, plan requirement, and commitment length
- Whether your exact phone passes Verizon's compatibility check until the device ID is entered
The transfer record for this page is the number transfer readiness sheet, with a blank CSV. The teaching example is a PDF and a CSV.
Related decisions
If you need a new US number, start with Verizon for international students. If the apartment also needs internet, compare Verizon One. If you are comparing prepaid lines, use US phone plans for international students. The phone switch cost calculator loads a published plan and keeps old-account exit settlement as an amount you enter. A phone bought outside the US is checked on foreign phone on Verizon.