But you can make the jump—and before you ask, yes, you can keep your phone number if you switch carriers. Here’s how. It’s elementary, Watson: no one wants to swap to a new wireless provider only to lose their signal. Here’s a peek at the basic unlimited plans for the big three wireless providers stacks up here in the US.
Your name and address The account number on your bill Password or PIN Your phone’s ESN/IMEI number (usually located on the back or under the battery) Bonus: Don’t forget to back up data on your old phone—and remember, voicemails normally don’t transfer.
Armed with all of that information, you should have no problem switching your provider. If only splitting up with your ex-girlfriend or boyfriend came down to stating the facts. (I couldn’t resist.) For example, if you wanted to switch from Verizon to T-Mobile, ask the customer service representative if T-Mobile will let you keep your number. They’ll run it through the system and (hopefully) say you can keep it. If you’re switching to a family plan, the primary account holder will just need to approve the new line with the old number. Here’s where you can check cell phone trade-in values by maker:
Apple Google Samsung
And here’s where you can check trade-in values by carrier:
AT&T T-Mobile Verizon
Of course, things aren’t so simple. Your phone needs to be compatible with your new carrier, and it needs to be unlocked. Unlocking can be a somewhat technical process, so we recommend checking a guide—or, if possible, having a representative from your current carrier help you. If you want to try your hand at unlocking your phone, here are some walkthroughs:
How to unlock an AT&T phone How to unlock a T-Mobile phone How to unlock a Verizon phone
Now that 5G phones are on the rise, you’ll need to make sure your new provider supports your 5G device—if you have one. Your phone’s 3G compatibility also needs to take into account whether your phone uses the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) or Global System for Mobiles (GSM) network. AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM, while Verizon uses CDMA. That means it’s easier to switch with AT&T and T-Mobile than it is with Verizon. But as we mentioned, GSM and CDMA mostly affect 3G compatibility, so even if your phone uses a different network, you’ll likely be OK as long as you can get a 4G or 5G LTE signal. (But beware, if you can’t grab onto that signal, you’ll have no reception at all. Risky business.) The easiest way to check your phone’s compatibility is to go to your new carrier’s website and enter your IMEI or ESN number. You can find each carrier’s compatibility check below.
