How to switch mobile network and keep your number
You can switch mobile network and keep the exact same number, and the whole thing takes about a minute to get going. Most people never bother. They picture a new number, a dead patch with no signal, and a week of being passed around a call centre, so they sit tight on a deal that quietly costs more than it should.
None of that is true anymore. Your number is yours to take with you, the rules are firmly on your side, and your old provider has to help you go. Here’s how it works, start to finish.
Key takeaways
- Text PAC to 65075 to get the code that carries your number to a new network.
- Your number normally moves across by the end of the next working day.
- Your old SIM keeps working right up until the switch completes.
- The text back tells you any early exit charge before you commit, so nothing catches you out.
How do you switch mobile network and keep your number?
To switch mobile network and keep your number, text the word PAC to 65075, then hand the code you get back to your new provider. That text is free, and your current network usually replies within a minute with the code that releases your number.
The whole thing runs in three plain steps:
- Text PAC to 65075. Your provider texts back a code called a PAC. Keep the message safe, because that’s what your new network needs.
- Choose your new deal. Find the tariff you actually want first. You have 30 days to use the code, so there’s no rush and no pressure to decide on the spot.
- Give your new network the code. Enter it when you sign up. Your new provider does the rest and lets your old one know you’re off.
Your number should be live on your new SIM by the end of the next working day. Until that moment, your old SIM carries on as normal, so you can still call and text while the move happens quietly in the background.
What is a PAC code and how long does it last?
A PAC code is the key that lets your number move to another network, and it stays valid for 30 days from the day you ask for it. PAC is short for Porting Authorisation Code, which is a very long name for a short string of letters and numbers.
| PAC | STAC | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Moves your number to your new network | Closes your old account, new number on the new network |
| Text | PAC to 65075 | STAC to 75075 |
| Cost | Free | Free |
| Valid for | 30 days | 30 days |
| Switch completes | Next working day | Next working day |
The reply that carries your code does one more useful job. It spells out anything you owe before you leave, such as an early exit charge if you’re still in contract, or your remaining credit if you’re on pay as you go. You see the cost of leaving in black and white, before you commit to anything.
Not a fan of texting? You can ask for the same code through your online account or by ringing your provider. It’s identical however you request it.
What if I don’t want to keep my old number?
If you fancy a clean break with a brand new number, you don’t need a PAC at all. You ask for a STAC instead, short for Service Termination Authorisation Code, and you get it the same way: text STAC to 75075.
A STAC closes your old account tidily so you’re not left paying two providers at once. Most people keep their number, since it’s simpler and everyone already has it, but the option is there if you want it.
What does it cost to switch mobile network?
Requesting the code and moving your number are both free. The one thing that might cost you is leaving a contract early, and that’s exactly what the text back is there to flag.
Out of your minimum term? Then there’s usually nothing to pay and nothing holding you back. Still inside it, and you may face an early exit charge, so it’s worth weighing that against what a cheaper tariff would save you. As a rough guide, moving off an old deal can be worth well over a hundred pounds a year, though the real figure depends entirely on your usage and the deal you land on.
One more thing worth knowing. If the switch drags on past one working day, or your provider messes you about, Ofcom rules say you’re owed reasonable compensation. You can read the detail on the Ofcom switching guide.
Once you know roughly what leaving costs, the next move is simply to see what else is out there.
Can you switch a family plan or more than one number?
Yes, though the text trick works for one number only. Moving a single line, PAC to 65075 is the quickest route. For anything between two and 24 numbers, such as a family plan on one account, you request the codes through your online account or over the phone instead.
Family plans are a small money trick in their own right. Plenty of networks knock a bit off each extra SIM you add to one account and roll the lot into a single bill, so a household of three or four can pay less per line than everyone would alone. The size of that discount varies by network, so it pays to compare before you commit rather than assume your current provider is cheapest.
If most of the family are keeping their handsets and just want a better price, a SIM only deal is usually the cheaper path, and you can still port every number across the same way. To see SIM only prices for the whole household, you can compare SIM only deals here.
A few things worth checking before you switch
Before you switch mobile network, run through a couple of quick checks so the move goes smoothly. None of them take long, and they save the odd headache later.
- Check your phone is unlocked. Newer handsets sold in the UK come unlocked as standard, but an older phone might still be tied to your current network. A quick call sorts it if so.
- Know your contract end date. This is what tells you whether an early exit charge applies. The PAC text confirms it, but it helps to go in with a rough idea.
- Back up anything saved on the SIM. Most contacts live in your account or on the handset these days, but old numbers stored on the SIM itself are worth copying over first.
- Decide between a new phone or a fresh SIM. If your current handset is fine, keeping it and moving to a SIM only plan is normally the cheapest way to trim your bill.
Worried an eSIM changes all this? It doesn’t, really. Whether you switch mobile network to a phone with a physical SIM or an eSIM, the porting process is the same, and you can read how eSIMs work in the UK if you’re moving to one.
Frequently asked questions about switching mobile network
- How long does it take to switch mobile network and keep my number?
- Your number normally moves to the new network by the end of the next working day after you hand over your PAC. Your old SIM keeps working until then, so you shouldn’t be left without signal.
- Will I be charged to move my number?
- Requesting a PAC and porting your number are free. The only possible cost is an early exit charge if you leave a contract before its minimum term ends, and the text back shows you that figure upfront.
- Can I switch if I’m on pay as you go?
- Yes. The process is the same, and the code you get back also shows any remaining credit so you know what you’d leave behind. It’s worth checking whether that credit can transfer before you move.
- What happens if my switch is delayed?
- Ofcom rules say the move should finish within one working day. If it takes longer, or your provider handles it badly, you’re entitled to reasonable compensation.
- Do I have to tell my old provider I’m leaving?
- No. Once you give your new network the code, they take care of telling your old provider and closing things down. There’s no separate cancellation call to make.
