Keep your number. Change everything else.
Moving your number to Mac Wireless costs nothing, usually finishes the same day, and needs three details from your current provider. Here is the whole process in order — including the one mistake that can cost you the number.
Reviewed September 2026 · Mac Wireless Co.
What you need from your current provider
A number transfer — the industry calls it a port — moves your phone number from one provider to another. We request it; your current provider releases it, and only when three details match their records exactly:
- The name on the account, exactly as your current provider has it.
- The account number. It is on your bill and in the provider's app — and it is not your phone number.
- The Number Transfer PIN. Most providers issue one in their app (Account → Transfer PIN) or when you text PORT to 611. Prepaid providers often use the account PIN you set at signup.
Do not cancel your old service first. A cancelled number can be gone for good. Keep the old line on and paid until we email you that the transfer is complete — the transfer itself closes the old line.
Switching, step by step
- Check your phone. Dial *#06# to see its IMEI and enter it in the phone check. We test it against all three of our networks before you pay, and tell you if it is still locked to your current carrier.
- Pick a plan. From $15.00 a month for one line, with unlimited talk and text on every plan; each plan's facts name the network it runs on. Compare plans.
- Choose Keep my number at checkout and enter the name, account number and Transfer PIN. Activation is a one-time $29.99 per line; moving the number adds nothing.
- Choose eSIM or a mailed SIM. An eSIM is issued electronically, usually the same day. A mailed SIM kit is $9.99.
- Leave the old service on. We email you the moment the transfer is done — usually the same day.
- Activate and restart the phone. Your number now rings on Mac Wireless. Anything you still owe the old provider — a device balance, a final bill — stays between you and them.
How long a transfer takes
Most transfers from another mobile provider finish the same day. A transfer waits when a detail does not match — nearly always the account number or the PIN — and we contact you with exactly what to fix. Numbers coming from a landline or a business phone system can take a few business days, because the old provider releases them by hand.
Questions
Does it cost anything to transfer my number?
No. Moving your number to Mac Wireless is free. The one-time $29.99 activation applies to every new line — new number or transferred — and it is shown at checkout before you pay. Taxes and fees on the plan are shown there too.
Should I cancel my old service before I switch?
No — cancelling first is the one mistake that can lose the number. Keep the old service on and paid until we email you that the transfer is complete. The transfer closes that line with your old provider for you.
What is a Number Transfer PIN?
A code your current provider issues so nobody else can move your number. Most providers create it in their app under Account, or when you text PORT to 611; prepaid providers often use the account PIN you chose at signup. Some expire after a few days, so get it when you are ready to switch.
Can I switch more than one line at a time?
Yes. Add up to 5 lines at checkout, each with its own transfer details — the account number and PIN are usually the same for every line on one account. Every line after the first is $5 less a month, except on Mac Basic, which is a flat price.
What if my phone is locked to my current carrier?
It has to be unlocked before it can take a Mac Wireless SIM. Carriers generally unlock a phone once it is paid off and the account is in good standing. If that is not an option, our unlocking service quotes it from the IMEI before anything is charged.
Can I bring a landline or business number to a mobile line?
Often, yes — many landline and VoIP numbers can move to a mobile line. Call 866.729.9569 with a recent bill before you order, and we check whether that number can transfer and how long the old provider will take.
Check your phone, pick a plan, and keep your number. Questions first? Call 866.729.9569, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Central.