You can get a new phone number through your current carrier, switch to a different carrier, or use a temporary number service — the method depends on whether you want to keep your phone and plan or start fresh.

A phone number is tied to your account with a carrier (like Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile), not to your phone itself. If you want a new number on the same carrier and keep everything else the same, you can request one in minutes through their customer service. If you're switching carriers entirely, you'll get a new number as part of signing up with the new company — though you can sometimes transfer your old number to the new carrier if you want to keep it. If you need a temporary number for privacy or testing purposes, apps and services can generate one without involving a carrier at all.

Key Takeaways

  • Your phone number belongs to your carrier account, not your phone, so changing numbers doesn't require a new device.
  • Requesting a new number from your current carrier takes a few minutes and usually costs nothing, but you lose the ability to use your old number.
  • If you switch carriers, you can keep your old number by requesting a port during signup, or accept a new number as part of the process.
  • Temporary number apps like Google Voice, Burner, or TextNow create disposable numbers for privacy without changing your main carrier account.
  • Changing your number means updating it everywhere it's stored — bank accounts, work contacts, family, and any services that use it for login or recovery.

Requesting a new number from your current carrier

The fastest way to change your number is to contact your carrier directly and ask for a new one. Call their customer service line (the number is on your bill or their website), text their support line, or log into your online account and look for a "change phone number" or "request new number" option. Most carriers let you do this without visiting a store.

The process is usually free, though some carriers charge a small fee — typically $15 to $25. You'll be assigned a new number when ready or within a few hours. Your service doesn't stop during the change; you'll straightforward start using the new number right away. The old number is released back into the carrier's pool and may be reassigned to someone else after a waiting period.

The main downside is that your old number is gone. Anyone trying to reach you at that number will get a message that it's no longer in service. This is why you need to update your number everywhere it's stored before or when ready after the change.

Switching carriers and keeping or changing your number

If you're moving to a different carrier (say, from AT&T to T-Mobile), you have two choices: keep your current number or accept a new one.

To keep your number, you'll request a port during the signup process with your new carrier. A port transfers your number from the old carrier to the new one. You'll need your account number and PIN from your old carrier, which you can find on your bill or by calling them. The port usually takes one to three business days. During that time, your service may be briefly interrupted — sometimes just a few minutes, sometimes a few hours. Once the port is complete, your old carrier account closes and you're fully on the new carrier with your same number.

If you don't want to port your number, you straightforward sign up with the new carrier and accept whatever new number they assign you. This is faster (no waiting for the port to process) and there's no risk of the port failing, but you lose your old number.

Using temporary or secondary numbers without changing your main account

If you don't want to change your actual phone number but need a separate number for specific purposes — like protecting your privacy when signing up for services, testing apps, or keeping work separate from personal — you can use a temporary number service instead.

Google Voice is free and gives you a permanent secondary number that forwards to your real phone. You can make calls and send texts from that number, and callers see the Google Voice number, not your real one. You need a Google account to set it up. Burner and TextNow are apps that create disposable numbers that expire after a set time or when you delete them. These are useful if you need a number for just a few weeks. Some services charge a small monthly fee; others are free but show ads.

These services don't change your carrier account or your main phone number. They're a separate layer that sits on top of your existing service. Your carrier never knows about them, and they don't affect your regular phone plan.

What happens to your old number after you change it

Once you request a new number, your old number is deactivated on your account. The carrier holds it for a period (usually 30 to 90 days) before releasing it back into circulation. During that holding period, calls and texts to your old number won't reach you — they'll either go to voicemail (if the carrier still has it set up) or fail with a "number not in service" message.

After the holding period ends, the number may be assigned to someone else. This is why it's important to update your number in all the places that matter before the change takes effect. If you forget to update a bank, employer, or service, they'll eventually try to reach you at the old number and reach someone else instead.

Updating your number everywhere after the change

Changing your phone number is only half the work. You then need to update it in every place it's stored. Start with the most important accounts: your bank, credit card companies, insurance, and employer. These often use your number for account recovery or emergency contact, so updating them should be your first priority.

Next, update it in your phone's contacts app, email accounts (especially the recovery phone number in your email settings), social media profiles, messaging apps, and any services that use it for two-factor authentication. If you use your number to log into apps or websites, update those too. Check your doctor's office, dentist, and any subscription services you use.

Tell family and close friends your new number directly — don't rely on them to find it in a group chat or email. Consider sending a text or email to your contacts with your new number, or posting it on social media if that's how people usually reach you.

Why you might want a new number

People change their phone numbers for different reasons. You might want a fresh start if you've been receiving spam or harassing calls. You might be moving to a different area and want a local number. You might be leaving a job and want to separate your work contacts from your personal life. You might be concerned about privacy and want to limit who has your number. Or you might straightforward want a number that's easier to remember.

Whatever your reason, the process itself is straightforward — the real work is updating your number afterward and managing the transition period when some people still have your old number.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my text messages and call history if I change my number?

No. Your text messages and call history are stored on your phone or in your cloud backup (like iCloud or Google Drive), not tied to your number. Changing your number doesn't touch them. You'll keep all your old conversations and history.

Can I get my old number back if I change my mind?

Sometimes, but not always. If you change your mind within a few days, your carrier may be able to reassign your old number to you before it's released back into circulation. Call customer service when ready and ask. After the holding period (usually 30 to 90 days), the number may have been given to someone else and won't be available.

Do I need a new SIM card to change my number?

No. Your SIM card is just a physical chip that connects your phone to the carrier's network. Your phone number is stored in the carrier's system, not on the SIM card. You can change your number without touching your SIM card. You only need a new SIM card if you're switching carriers and they use a different type of SIM.

What if I port my number to a new carrier and something goes wrong?

If a port fails or takes longer than expected, contact the new carrier's customer service when ready. They can check the status and troubleshoot. Common issues include a missing or incorrect account number from the old carrier, or a PIN mismatch. The new carrier can usually resolve these by contacting the old carrier on your behalf. In rare cases, you may need to contact the old carrier directly to fix the problem.

Can I use a temporary number app and keep my real number private?

Yes. Apps like Google Voice and Burner let you give out a secondary number to services or people you don't fully trust, while keeping your real number private. Calls and texts to that temporary number reach you, but the other person never sees your actual phone number. This is useful for online marketplaces, dating apps, or any situation where you want a layer of privacy.