Are you about to get a new iPhone? If so, you may be thinking that you’d like to keep your old phone number.
Maybe you’ve had the same number for many years, so you have a sentimental attachment to it. It could also be that you don’t want to have to learn a new one or bother all of your contacts and tell them about the change.
If you’re in either of these situations, then you’re probably wondering how to switch your number between devices. We’ll explain how to transfer your phone number to your new iPhone right now.
Transferring Your Phone Number from One iPhone to Another
The first method that we’ll talk about applies when you have two different models of the iPhone. Let’s say that you have one that’s a few years old, and you just bought a new one, like the iPhone 14. You want to keep the old number on the new phone, and you’re also keeping your same service provider.
In that scenario, what you’d want to do is to put the SIM card from your old iPhone into the new one. The SIM card from most generations of the iPhone should work on a different model.
However, if there is a disparity of many years, like if you have an iPhone Generation 1 and you just got a 14, then you should check with Apple Customer Service before going any further. If the phones were released that many years apart, they probably won’t be compatible. You’ll need to get a new SIM card issued to you.
You can contact Apple Customer Service by calling them, or you can do a Live Chat with them via the Apple website. You can also bring your old and new device to an Apple Store and talk to the Geniuses there. They should be able to help you.
Step 1: Remove the SIM Card from the Old iPhone
To remove your iPhone SIM card, start by powering off your old phone. Make sure that the phone is off before attempting to do anything with the SIM card, or you could damage either the card or the device.
To power off your phone, press and hold both the side and volume buttons till you see a Power Off slider on the screen. Drag that slider, and then wait a few seconds while the device powers off.
You’ll next need to locate the SIM card tray on your older iPhone. You can find it on the upper right-hand side of the device for most iPhones. If your phone is in a case, then you’ll need to remove it before proceeding.
There is a compartment shaped like an oval with a visible pinhole. Take a straightened paper clip and put the end of it into that hole, or you can also use a specially-designed SIM card remover. These come with every new iPhone, or you can order them online for a couple of dollars. You can also get one from an Apple Store if there’s one nearby.
Push the end of the tool or paperclip into the hole, gently, but firmly. You should notice an audible click as the tray releases. Now, you can slide the tray out with your fingers, and you can remove the SIM card. Be careful not to drop it or otherwise damage it.
Step 2: Remove the SIM Card from the New iPhone
Next, you will follow the same steps with the new version of the iPhone. Take the tool or paperclip and pop the tray out, then remove the SIM card.
Step 3: Put the Old SIM Card in the New iPhone
Next, you’ll put the SIM card from the older iPhone into the new one. You should note which side was the bottom of the SIM card and which one was the top when you extract it.
One side looks different from the other, so it’s not likely that you’ll confuse them. However, you’ll notice that there is also a notched corner of the SIM card.
If you align that notch with the tray of the new iPhone, then the configuration should be right. The gold chip will be facing down.
Next, press the tray of the new iPhone back in, securing both the tray and the SIM card. There should be a little click when it’s back in place.
Now, you can power on your new iPhone. You do this by pressing and holding the side button until you see the Apple logo. If it doesn’t turn on, you likely need to charge the battery.
The phone number of the previous phone should work for the new one. You’ll also notice that any other information you had stored on the card will be accessible in the new phone.
You can put the new SIM card in your old phone if you like, or you can discard it. If you’re selling the device or giving it to an Apple Store, then they will probably appreciate the SIM card coming with it.
Transferring Your Phone Number to a Used iPhone
If you just bought a used iPhone, there might have been a restriction placed on the SIM card by the carrier the previous owner was using.
You’ll need to contact that provider to get the restriction taken off. They might be willing to do it for free, or they could charge you a small fee in some cases.
Transferring Your Phone Number to a Different Carrier
If you switched carrier and want to keep your phone number, then you’ll need to check your current service contract to see if there are any additional restrictions associated with moving the phone number. Contact your service provider and explain the situation to them.
It’s likely they will charge you a small fee if you want to keep your old number. If you were under a long-term contract with the provider, then there will probably be a more substantial cancellation fee.
Whatever you do, don’t cancel your current service until you talk to someone. Doing so makes it likely that your current phone number will be lost, and you will not be able to transfer it.
Changing Your Number is Called Porting
When a number can be transferred between service providers, the phone companies call that porting. You can check whether porting is available for your current phone number by going to the websites for AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, or whatever other company you’re using.
Let’s say you’ve determined that your old phone number can be ported. Once you’ve decided on a new mobile service provider, you can contact them and tell them that you’re interested in porting your current number.
You’ll probably need to provide the account information for your current provider, so have that handy. You might also need the ESN/IMEI number of your new iPhone.
You can find that by looking at the receipt from your new phone, the packaging from it, or you can open up the device and find it there as well.
The porting process should not take long, but you might be charged a small fee by the new provider as well. If you are getting the newer iPhone version from the new provider, then it will already have a new SIM card in it. Once you have informed them of the number you want to be ported, no further action on your part should be necessary.
If you already have the new iPhone in your possession, meaning that you didn’t buy it from the carrier, then you’ll have to wait while the new service provider sends you a SIM card in the mail. This new SIM card should work with your iPhone and have the same number programmed into it.
Transferring Your Phone Number Between an Android and an iPhone
Maybe you had an Android in the past, and now you want the number from it on your new iPhone. Perhaps you had some other phone variety, but you still want to keep that number.
You can sometimes do that. It varies from device to device, and your old and new service providers will have a say in it as well.
You’ll need to contact both providers and tell them which old phone you had and what the new one is. They should be able to tell you if it’s doable, and what fees may be involved.
In most cases, it can be done. However, if you ever find a model of phone or a service provider that is not able or willing to transfer the number, it’s not the end of the world. You and your contacts will have to learn a new number, but at least you’ll still be able to enjoy all of the functions of your new iPhone.
