Upgrading to a new handset or SIM card on T-Mobile? You won't need a PAC Code to keep your current phone number.

Step 1: Order your new phone or SIM card from T-Mobile's website

As you're staying on T-Mobile, it's not necessary to obtain a PAC Code. Instead, you can process your phone number transfer internally inside of T-Mobile.

Start by ordering your new phone or SIM card using the T-Mobile website. Please select the type of tariff you're intending to move to:

For a full list of available tariffs and the latest T-Mobile deals, please refer to this page.

Step 2: Contact T-Mobile To Transfer Your Phone Number

After receiving your new phone or SIM card, please contact T-Mobile to transfer your phone number to the new plan. You can do this by calling 150 from your T-Mobile handset. Alternatively, dial 020 7362 0200 from any other phone.

You can contact T-Mobile at any time during their opening hours:

Monday - Friday8am - 8pm
An extended service costing 50p/call is available between 8pm-10pm on weekdays.
Saturday8am - 6pm
An extended service costing 50p/call is available between 6pm-8pm on the weekend.
Sunday8am - 6pm
An extended service costing 50p/call is available between 6pm-8pm on the weekend.

View Latest Deals from T-Mobile →

Any Other Questions?

In case of any problems during the transfer of your phone number, you should contact your new mobile network (T-Mobile) with details of the problem.

If you have any other questions on using a PAC Code, please see my in-depth guide to transferring your phone number between networks. You can also read the comments below from other visitors to this website.

← Full Article: "PAC Codes - How to transfer your mobile number when switching networks"

Your Comments 1,966 so far

We'd love to hear your comments on transferring a phone number within T-Mobile. The comments below are from people who've made the same transfer. You can add your own comments here.

To view all 1966 comments about transferring a phone number, please visit the main PAC Code article.

  • Lynne said:

    I am currently with t mobile but they are unable to offer me a deal directly that i can get via the internet on the same network. Do i need to get a pac code to transfer over to the new deal? Box help would be appreciated. Thanks

    • Ken replied:

      Hi Lynne,
      Your best bet would be to contact T-Mobile: they should hopefully be able to do this internally. If not, it’s always possible to port to another network and then to port your number back using a new PAC Code (you can get a free Pay As You Go SIM card for this purpose here.
      Ken

  • Tunde said:

    Hi,
    My contract with t- mobile ends on 26 April. Called them today to terminate contract next month 26th and also requested and got a Pack code for the sim which I was told must be used latest 24th April. However I will be starting another contract on the 23rd April with carphonewharehouse but on the same network t-mobile. Is this allowed, that is, accepting the pack code even though they provided this in the first place or what will I do to retain my current number with t-mobile if this arrangement will not be possible. Please advise and I am grateful for your response.

    • Ken replied:

      Hi Tunde,
      Thanks for the comment. It’s not necessary to have a PAC Code when changing tariff within the same network (e.g. going from T-Mobile to another T-Mobile contract). In theory, I believe you should have gone through the upgrade customer route when buying your new contract on T-Mobile. Perhaps it’s worth getting in touch with CPW and asking them whether this is still possible. If not, contact T-Mobile Customer Services and see if they’re able to do an internal transfer. Worst case scenario, you can port your number out to a different mobile network before porting it back into your new T-Mobile contract. If you need to do this, I recommend picking up a free Pay As You Go SIM card.
      Hope this helps,
      Ken

      • Lee replied:

        Hi Ken,

        I want to transfer my wife’s Orange PAYG to an new Orange Sim Only deal (she wants to stay with Orange and keep her number).

        The easy way is to “upgrade” for £9/month bur I can get the same deal for £6.67/m online as a new customer.

        It has been suggested that transferring from Orange > Someone Else, wait a few days and then transfer Someone Else > Orange.

        Do you know how long I’d have to wait between transfers?

        Regards

        Lee

        • Ken replied:

          Hi Lee,

          Thanks for getting in touch! The normal timeframe for a phone number transfer is listed here. In short, it can take one working day to transfer your number between networks. So if well timed, you can complete the whole process of going Orange -> Somewhere Else -> Orange again within two days. I’d also keep a careful eye on daily cut-off points (for Orange/EE it’s 5.30pm). If you provide a PAC Code after this time, it’ll take one extra working day.

          Good luck!

          Ken

  • Jonathan Coombe said:

    Hi Ken,

    I recently opted to switch from a T-Mobile PAYG to a T-Mobile Monthly contract mobile. I wanted the new (free) phone, but to retain my existing PAYG number. Whilst making the switch online, there didn’t appear to be any option for this so I just took it as read that it would be transferred. When the new phone arrived, it included a new SIM card and I was dismayed to discover that the new contract had been drawn up for the new number. Thus, I now have a PAYG phone with the number I DO want, and a £30 per month contract for a number I DON’T want !

    I imagined it would be a relatively simple matter to put this right but upon ringing T-Mobile (not easy to speak to anyone after navigating your way through their phone menu system !) I was further dismayed when they told me the way round this was for me to temporarily switch to another network and then move back to T-Mobile again. Even if I do this and transfer my existing number back to T-Mobile, I still don’t understand how they will then associate my existing number to the new contract. That is to say, if they can do it after I migrate and then return, why can’t they do it now ?
    If, after I return, they draw up a new contract, how can I be sure they will cancel the existing one ? Again, I don’t understand how they can do it after a migration, but not now. Will you please clarify this for me as I’m awfully confused !

    Many thanks.

    • Ken replied:

      Hi Jonathan,

      Thanks for your comment. It’s a shame that T-Mobile can’t move your number from Pay As You Go directly to Contract – I don’t understand this policy at all. One of my friends had the same experience on Orange (now part of EE & in the same company as T-Mobile). He persevered and eventually Customer Services were able to do it. If T-Mobile aren’t able to do this for you, then porting out to another network and back to T-Mobile will certainly work. The easiest way to do this is to grab a free SIM card from another network (e.g. O2) then follow the instructions as above.

      When you take out a new contract, it’s normal practice to be assigned a new phone number. When you use the PAC Code, your temporary phone number is removed and your existing phone number is associated with that new contract. You certainly won’t need another new contract and your existing contract won’t need to be cancelled. The reason why temporary phone numbers are assigned is because many people receive their phones by post, etc. Due to the possibility of shipping delays, it’s unacceptable for the old phone number to be associated with the new contract/SIM immediately. Hence customers are asked to use their PAC Code only once they’ve received their new device/SIM. Only once the PAC Code is used will your phone number be transferred.

      Hope this helps,

      Ken

  • Bessie said:

    I wan to transfer my current number which is with T Mobile to a new T Mobile sim only contract, which I have already received the Sim card. I contacted the customers service department to ask to transfer my number over, so i can close the other contract and was told they cannot give it to me, unless I joined another network for 24 hours eg, Orange, then cancelled with them and got them to give me a PAC code.
    Is this actually legal??? and can someone tell me if they have had problems like this. I am so frustrated and feel like leaving all together, but i have signed up for a new Sim only contract for 1 year, and would default on it.

  • Harun said:

    Hi there
    I have transferred an old number to a new sim through t-mobile around 1 year ago but had to give my PAC code to orange and back to t-mobile again. This was because they did not have the system in place to transfer number between their network.

    I just wanted to know if I can transfer my old t-mobile pay as you go number from my old sim to a new t-mobile blackberry sim (this is because they are offer free internet and free bb mail for 6 months). Also do they now have the system in place.

    If you can help me that will be excellent.
    Thank you

  • Rich said:

    Hi. I have purchased a T-mobile PAYG gold number which will arrive tomorrow. Im awaiting confirmation of a T-mobile contract in next day or so and want to use the gold number on the new T-mobile contract. Will I have to transfer the number to another network first and either way, does the gold number need to have credit to transfer/get pac code or can it be done with no credit at all ? Thanks

  • annoyedstatistician said:

    Hi Ken,

    Just a quick question about a similar situation. I need to port my number from one T-Mobile account to another, but it's not possible to do it via upgrade. My plan to port out to a PAYG account on another network, then port back in to T-Mobile.

    Is it possible to port in / port out immediately or are there time limits?

    Thanks,
    Keith

  • Robbie said:

    Hi,

    I currently have just finished my 24 month period with T-Mobile for my last handset.

    I have just ordered a new handset from Tesco Mobile which is still through the T-Mobile Network.

    I phoned T-Mobile today explaining this assuming that my number would be moved from the old contract to this new one, I was amazed to be told that I would have to get my PAC from them & give it to another Network (eg 02) then after a few days phone 02 to get the PAC again from them & then transfer it back to T-Mobile again for my new handset which is on its way.

    Is this not a crazy situation which should be dealt with through T-Mobile directly? I cant begin to see any sense in this method.

    (is this for real?)

    Thanks Robbie.

  • Pari said:

    I bought a mobile phone contract online with T-mobile and then contacted T mobile directly ( as I had bought from a website) and was told that I could not transfer my number to a new contract on the same network.

    This has left me in an awkward position as I have to take a new number when the current number has been my own number for over 14 years. Is there anyway around this please?

    Regards. Pari.

  • Julia said:

    I have come to the end of a contract with tmobile and wanted to take out a new one, still with tmobile but purchased through a discount store. T mobile told me that in order to keep the same number I would have to get a payg sim from o2 or orange, port the no across to that, then get another pac code from orange and port it back to tmobile. I did this but this morning when I tried to request a pac code from orange after the number ported across yesterday they told me I would have to stay with them as a customer for at least 7 – 10 days before I could get a pac code. Are they entitled to do this or am I within my legal rights to insist upon them giving me one straight away? There should be a more simple way of keeping your number if staying with the same provider rather than going through all this rigmarole!!

  • kim said:

    hi there

    have bought an unlocked iphone 4 and a tmobile PAYG micro sim.
    is there any way I can keep my old number from my previous nokia without cutting the old sim card to make it fit?

    thanks

  • Mark said:

    Hi Ken, bit of a sneaky one for you. My current contract runs out with t-mobile next month..and the upgrade they have offered me isnt what I want…I have tried to get the deal / phone im after with no success…but I have seen the phone / deal I want on another website which t-mobile say they cannot match. This would be a new contract not an upgrade..but is again with t-mobile. I have been told by t-mobile that they cant transfer my number from my existing contract to the new one…Is this true?? If this is the case, cant I just buy a payg sim, from say Orange, get the pac code from T-mobile and transfer onto the orange payg sim and then shortly afterwards get the pac code from Orange to transfer my number back to T-mobile on the new contract? I dont want to lose my number if I can help it (had it for 10yrs+) and if Im honest I dont want to move provider as T-mobile is the only one I can get a signal with at home (the joys of living in the sticks). Complicated I know but hopefully you can answer my dilemma.

    Many thanks in advance

    • Ken replied:

      Hi Mark,

      T-Mobile CAN move your number to your new contract – I've not yet heard of anyone who is unable to. Sometimes you may have to go through several customer service agents as they sometimes insist it can't be done. I can't recall receiving an e-mail/comment from anyone who has been unsuccessful in moving their number around in the same network.

      And yeah like you said, if it really was impossible you could simply switch off to Orange PAYG or something and then switch back.

      Hope this helps,

      Ken

      • Mark replied:

        Thats great!! Thank you for your swift and conclusive answer 🙂

        Its time to get back on the phone to T-mobile then!

        Cheers
        Mark

  • ROBSY said:

    I have a pay as you go phone on T Mobile and want to get a newer one, still on T Mobile and still on pay as you go. I asked in the T Mobile shop if they could transfer my phone number over and they said that they couldn't. I then called customer services who said they could ( though they didn't sound as if they understood what I was asking!!!!)
    Is this possible or not?

  • Joe said:

    Hi Ken,

    Is there a time limit by which number porting (from payg to a t-mobile contract) must be initiated? Can i port a number (to my new contract), say, 2 months into the new contract?

    Here's the scenario…
    I want to get a contract with t-mobile in next day or so but as i have a lot of credit on my current PAYG sim. I don't want to port my number over just yet – want to use up my payg credit and ensure my contract and new phone etc are all good before porting number.

    Thanks, Jo

  • Louise said:

    Hi there.
    I've just bought a blackberry, so i have had to order a blackberry sim. Now. I know that As i'm currently on T-mobile PAYG, and i'm switching to a different SIM on T-mobile i don't need a PAC code. However, I'm wondering whether the balance i have on my current number will be transferred to my new one?
    Thanks.

    • Ken replied:

      Hi Louise,

      Very good question – I don't actually know the answer to that question! On O2 you can move Pay As You Go balance to a new number but I'm afraid I have no idea about T-Mobile. Do let us know if you find out though!

      Cheers

      Ken

  • Andi said:

    My contract ends 22/11/10 with t-mobile. I like them but the upgrades are rubbish. so what i want to know is if this is possible:
    take out another t-mobile contract (free phone & gift), port my current number to a payg sim when contract runs out, and then port the payg sim to my new contract (changing the new number to my old one)

    • Ken replied:

      Hi Andi,

      You could simply call up T-Mobile and ask them to port your number from your old contract onto your new one. Alternatively, look into a SIM-only tariff if you're happy with your existing phone.

      Hope this helps

      Ken

      • Joan replied:

        Hi Ken,
        I have a similar problem. I have been with Orange for the past two years and my contract is up this week. They couldn't match the dial a phone deal on orange so have said I can't have a PAC as it's the same network and I will need to transfer to PAYG and then transfer over, I'm confused. It took me three customer service assistants to get this far. Can you help?
        Kind regards
        Joan

  • kelly said:

    hi im on t mobile my contract is due to end next month i want to end contract and start a new one with the same network because if i was to continue my contract the deals arent as good as if i start again. could i transfer to an orange pay as u go sim then transfer it back?? plz help thanx
    they said i cant use pac code to change number on same network if u get what i mean

    • Ken replied:

      Hi there,

      Yep this should be possible. Alternatively, ask T-Mobile customer services… they should normally be able to move your number over to the new contract directly. Otherwise, you could try the method you've suggested.

      Ken

      • anon replied:

        hey I'm with tmobile and my contract was coming up for renewal saw a better deal with tmobile online, they couldnt match it and for some reason they cant just transfer the number over to the new tmobile contract. If you wish to keep your number then you have to port off to another network and port back.

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