Keep your mobile phone number – How to transfer your mobile number to a new network

In this article Half Cooked covers how to switch mobile network operators while keeping the same phone number.

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A significant number of mobile network customers are unhappy with their operators for a variety of reasons, but they fear switching networks. Texting friends and family members your new number can be a pain. However, nowadays it’s super easy to keep your current phone number when switching to a new network. On top of that it only takes a short amount of time and you don’t have to do much besides getting your PAC code from your current operator and delivering it to your new one.

Of course, if you have an active contract with your network things won’t be that simple. First things first, you’ll have to make sure you’re free and eligible to switch to a new mobile network. You can still switch networks while on a contract, but you’d have to terminate it and end up having to pay early termination charges. You can easily check your contract status via your network’s mobile application or by logging into their dashboard. You can also call your customer service (some networks only have online customer support though) and learn the status of your contract.

Once you are sure that you want to switch networks and keep your phone number follow the steps below.

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Call or Text Your Current Network Provider and Request a PAC Code

First things first you must get a PAC Code from your current network provider, if you wish to keep your phone number after switching to a new mobile network operator. You can get a PAC Code almost immediately over the phone or at max in about two hours by text (though normally it only takes a couple minutes).

The process doesn’t take long, but as stated above some mobile virtual networks only offer online customer support so a voice call is not an option. Your networks might ask for more information to verify your identity in the case of someone trying to steal your phone number.

You can text ‘PAC’ to 65075 to get your unique code. Your PAC Code will be made up of three letters and six numbers and it will be valid for 30 days. If you don’t use your PAC Code within 30 days it will expire and you’ll have to request another one.

Now that you have your PAC Code we can continue to the next step.

Contact Your New Network and Give Them Your PAC Code

Now you need to get in touch with your new mobile network provider and give them the PAC Code. Once you provide your PAC Code to a new mobile network, they will start the cancellation process by getting in touch with the network you’re quitting. The two networks will settle things out and schedule the phone number switch. All you have to do is wait patiently.

The process may take up to two working days, so we recommend keeping your old SIM in your handset to continue using it and stay connected. Weekends and holidays don’t count as working days so the process might take a bit longer if they get in the way.

If the process takes longer than two working days you should contact your new network’s customer support.

Test Your New SIM and See If The Process Was Successful

Your new network should inform you that the phone number transfer has been completed. Having said that, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, so you could just insert your SIM in your handset and make a call or ask a friend to call you.

How To Get Your PAC Code From Each Mobile Network

If you’re not in a hurry, you can just text ‘PAC’ to 65075 and get your unique code in about two hours. Having said that we want to make this process as easy as possible for you so below you’ll find a list containing the most popular mobile network providers in the UK and how to reach them to get a PAC Code.

How To Get a PAC Code From EE

Text PAC to 65075
Call 150 from an EE SIM (Free to pay monthly, 25p per call on pay as you go)
Online – Log in to My EE, then go to Menu > Account Settings > Leave EE

Read our EE Review to learn more about the largest network in the UK. EE has the best network coverage and the fastest data speeds in the UK.

How To Get a PAC Code From Vodafone

Text PAC + PIN to 65075 (Don’t forget to include a space between PAC & PIN, for instance PAC 9876)*
Make a free call from your Vodafone phone on 191
Use Vodafone’s Webchat and ask for a PAC Code
Log in to your Vodafone account online, go to Menu > Account Settings > Mobile Switching

* If you have more than one number on your Vodafone account, texting isn’t possible. Try the alternatives.

Make sure to have a look at our Vodafone Review too!

How To Get a PAC Code From Three

Text PAC and your date of birth (DDMMYY) to 65075
If you have a My3 account, you can use Three’s ‘take my number with me form’
Make a free call from your Three phone on 333
Chat with Three’s online customer service and ask for a PAC Code

See our Three Review and learn all about the network’s 5G at no extra cost deals.

How To Get a PAC Code From O2

Text PAC to 65075*
Give O2 a free call from your O2 phone on 202
Sign in to My O2 and request a PAC Code

*If you have an Apple Watch on a pay monthly plan or multiple numbers under the same account you can’t use the text service.

If you wish to learn more about O2, you can always read our extensive O2 Review!

How To Get a PAC Code From VOXI

Text PAC to 65075
Call VOXI’s dedicated PAC line on 0808 004 5205

At Half Cooked, we rate VOXI’s endless social media feature very highly. If you wish to switch to the network, make sure to read our detailed VOXI Review too.

How To Get a PAC Code From SMARTY

Text PAC to 65075
Log in to your account and request a PAC code from your SMARTY dashboard
Use online customer service and request a call-back
Email SMARTY at team@smarty.co.uk

Make sure to read our SMARTY Review to see the carrier’s competitively priced SIM only tariffs.

How To Get a PAC Code From giffgaff

Text PAC to 65075
Sign in to your giffgaff account, go to your Profile and Settings page and request a PAC Code

Read our giffgaff Review before making your final decision. You might find a more suitable deal for you!

How To Get a PAC Code From iD Mobile

Text PAC and your date of birth (DDMMYY) to 65075
Make a free call from your iD Mobile phone on 7777
Log in to your iD Mobile Account, go to My Account > End My Plan and request a PAC code

Have a look at our comprehensive iD Mobile Review to find out what you’ll be getting if you join their network.

How To Get a PAC Code From Tesco Mobile

Text PAC and your date of birth (DDMMYYYY) to 65075
Log in to your Tesco Account. Webchat with Tesco’s customer care team and request your PAC Code

If you wish to learn more about the network, we have an up to date, quite comprehensive Tesco Mobile Review for you to read.

How To Get a PAC Code From Superdrug Mobile

Text PAC to 65075
Log in to your Superdrug Mobile account and go to Want to leave Superdrug Mobile > Request PAC Code

You can earn double Health & Beautycard points if you join Superdrug Mobile. Make sure to read our Superdrug Mobile Review to learn more about the carrier.

How To Get a PAC Code From Sky Mobile

Text PAC and your date of birth (DDMMYYYY) to 65075 without a space
If you have more than one SIM under your account go to sky.com/leavesky My Account > Mobile > My Number and sign in with your Primary Sky iD.
Alternatively call Sky Mobile on 03300 412 524

See our Sky Mobile Review and discover the network’s amazing features like data rollover that’s valid up to three years, free Sky TV and more.

How To Get a PAC Code From BT Mobile

Text PAC to 65075*
Log in to My BT and go to Mobile > Thinking of leaving BT
Call 0800 800 150 and request a PAC Code

*If you have multiple numbers on your BT Mobile account, you can only get a PAC Code by logging into your online account or calling BT Mobile’s customer service.

You can also read our BT Mobile Review to find out more about the carrier.

How To Get a PAC Code From Virgin Mobile

Text PAC and your date of birth (in DD/MM/YYYY format) to 65075. Example: PAC 21/03/1990
Sign in to Virgin Mobile account and select Switching to make a request

If you wish to learn more about the network and their services, we prepared an extensive Virgin Mobile Review that covers everything you need to know.

How To Get a PAC Code From Plusnet Mobile

Text PAC to 65075
Call 0800 432 0200 and request a PAC Code

You can read our Plusnet Mobile Review to learn more about the low-cost MVNO and their offers.

How To Get a PAC Code From 1p Mobile

Text PAC to 65075
Log in to your 1p Mobile Account via their official website and request a PAC Code
Make a free call from your 1p Mobile phone on 03333 442278 and request a PAC Code

We strongly suggest you to read our 1p Mobile Review. The carrier is powered by EE and they’re offering by far the best PAYG rates in the UK.