Switching from Vodafone to O2? It's a straightforward process to keep your existing phone number.
Step 1: Get a PAC Code from Vodafone
If you’d like to move your phone number from Vodafone to O2, the first step is getting your Porting Authorisation Code (or PAC Code) from Vodafone.
There are three ways to get a PAC Code from Vodafone:
- Online: You can get a PAC Code from Vodafone by logging in to the My Vodafone website. Once you've logged in, go to Account settings > Mobile switching.
- By Text Message: You can get a Vodafone PAC Code sent to you via SMS text message. Text PAC to 65075 to receive a PAC Code from Vodafone.
- By Phone: You can get a PAC Code by calling Vodafone. To do this, call them on 191 using your Vodafone handset. Alternatively, dial 03333 040 191 from any other phone. You'll need to call during Vodafone's opening hours (Monday-Friday 8am-9pm, Saturday 8am-9pm, Sunday 8am-9pm).
Here are some key things to know:
- A PAC Code is 9 digits long and follows the format ABC 123 456.
- Your PAC Code is valid for 30 days. If you don't use it during this time, the PAC Code will expire and you'll need to request a new one.
- You shouldn't close your account at Vodafone: it'll be closed automatically when your phone number is transferred to O2.
Still in contract with Vodafone? If so, you may need to pay an early exit fee on your bill from Vodafone. To find out how much this would be, text INFO to 85075.
Don’t want to keep your Vodafone phone number? You can switch to O2 without taking your phone number with you. If you'd like to do this, get a STAC Code from Vodafone instead.
Vodafone STAC Code (Leave Vodafone Without Keeping Your Number)
If you’d like to leave Vodafone without keeping your phone number, you’ll need to request a STAC Code rather than a PAC Code. There are three ways to get a STAC Code from Vodafone:
- Online: You can get a STAC Code from Vodafone by logging in to the My Vodafone website. After logging in, go to Account settings > Mobile switching.
- By Text Message: You can get a Vodafone STAC Code sent to you via SMS text message. Text STAC to 75075 to receive a STAC Code from Vodafone.
- By Phone: You can get a STAC Code by calling Vodafone. Call them on 191 using your Vodafone handset. Alternatively, dial 03333 040 191 from any other phone. You'll need to call during Vodafone's opening hours (Monday-Friday 8am-9pm, Saturday 8am-9pm, Sunday 8am-9pm).
Once you’ve gotten your STAC Code from Vodafone, the rest of the process for joining O2 remains the same.
Step 2: Order your new phone or SIM card from O2's website
You should now order your new phone or SIM card using the O2 website. Please select the type of tariff you're intending to move to:
If you're looking for a SIM card from O2, the following deals from £8/month are currently most popular:
| Network | Data | Monthly Cost (will rise each April by RPI inflation plus 3.9%) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 40GB data | £8.00 per month 12 month contract | See deal |
| 60GB data | £9.99 per month 12 month contract | See deal |
| Unlimited data | £20.00 per month 24 month contract | See deal |
For a full list of available tariffs and the latest O2 deals, please refer to this page on O2's website.
Alternatively, if you're getting your O2 plan from a reseller, tap on their logo for more information:
O2 will assign you with a temporary phone number during the transition process. This will allow you to test out the service before you finally transfer your phone number to O2.
Step 3: Give the PAC Code to O2
Once your new phone or SIM card arrives from O2, switch it on and make sure everything's working properly. If, for whatever reason, you need to return or change the handset or SIM card, it's best to do this before transferring your phone number.
Once you're happy to continue with the phone number transfer, contact O2 and provide them with your PAC Code from Vodafone.
Your PAC Code should be entered on O2's online form. You can also provide your PAC Code to O2 over the phone:
If you're joining O2 Pay Monthly, you can submit your PAC Code by calling 202 on your O2 handset. Alternatively, call 0344 8090202 from any other phone.
Alternatively, if you're joining O2 Pay As You Go, submit your PAC Code by calling 4445 (0344 8090222 if you're calling from another network).
If you have a STAC Code from Vodafone rather than a PAC Code, this can be provided to O2 in the exact same way.
Remember:
- You must provide the PAC Code to O2 within 30 days of it being issued by Vodafone. If the PAC Code has already expired, you'll need to return to step 1 and request a new PAC Code from Vodafone.
- Vodafone Pay As You Go customers: Try to use up your remaining credit as it can't be transferred to O2.
Step 4: Phone Number Transferred (Next Working Day)
Once you've provided a PAC code to O2, your phone number transfer will normally be scheduled for the next working day (Monday to Friday only, excluding English bank holidays).
On the day of the transfer, you'll momentarily lose coverage on both mobile networks. When this happens, restart your handset on O2. You should find that the O2 phone or SIM card will now associated with your original phone number.
- If you see an error message (e.g. "SIM card registration failed"), this means it's time to restart your phone.
- Once the phone number has been transferred to O2, your account on Vodafone will automatically be closed. You'll receive a final bill from Vodafone for any outstanding charges.
Get the Latest Deals from O2 →
Any Other Questions?
In case of any problems during the transfer of your phone number, you should contact your new mobile network (O2) 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"
Craig said:
I sent my PAC code from vodafone to O2 via their online form late Wednesday night at about 2130hrs. It is yet to transfer across? Is there any reason for this? Who do I contact about the issue O2 or Vodafone?
Thanks.
Ken replied:
Hi Craig,
Thanks for your comment. As you submitted your PAC Code to O2 on Wednesday night around 21.30, I would expect it to be count as Thursday (and to therefore be transferred on Friday as per the timetable here). For any delays with porting, you should always contact your new mobile network (so O2 in this case) to enquire and to find out the reasons for this. You may also be entitled to porting delay compensation from your new network.
Hope this helps,
Ken
L.J. said:
Hi Ken, I have recently purchased a new smart phone and I want to move my existing number from Vodafone payg to O2 payg. On the O2 ‘keep your number’ form it asks you for ‘your number’, is this the Vodafone one I want to move and keep or the temporary O2 one I have been using? Maybe a silly question, but I’m not 100% sure.
Also, while i get used to my new phone I have been using my new O2 sim on their ‘classic’ tarriff, when my vodafone number has been ported across, will i keep that tarriff and the credit i have purchased with O2? I know I will forfeit any remaining Vodafone credit. Thanks. L.J.
Ken replied:
Hi LJ,
Many thanks for your comment. To answer your questions in turn:
1. Yes, I believe the phone number you enter on the O2 keep your number form is the phone number you’d like to keep or preferred to be contacted on.
2. You’ll keep all of the credit you’ve got on O2, along with your current tariff or bundle. The only thing that can’t be moved over if your Vodafone PAYG balance & credit.
Hope this helps!
Ken
katherine mann said:
just to say a huge thank you for your excellent advice re sorting out my i phone after using a pac code to try to get my old number onto my new phone (moved from vodafone to 02 network). The new 02 number was coming up in text messages so I did all the resets to suggested and updated my number on my new i phone and hooray my old number I transferred is showing up perfectly.
Big thank you
Sattam said:
Hi,
If I change from one provider to another (voda>> O2), why is it that the remaining credit (PAYG) will not be transferred over the network?
Regards,
Sattam
Ken replied:
Hi Sattam,
The reason for this is simply because Vodafone and O2 are different companies: since you've paid your money to Vodafone so there is no reason why O2 should honour that airtime credit. Unfortunately there isn't a mechanism whereby airtime credit can be transferred between companies: instead you'll have to use it up before switching network.
Ken
kirsty said:
Hey Vodafone have canncled my contract without me knowing so I want to change to O2burnt phone says sim not provisionalised? Can I still get a PAC code from Vodafone
Phone boffin replied:
Kirsty, there’s no way on earth that Vodafone or any other company will just “cancel” without you knowing.
That’s the whole reason you have a “contract” which is legally binding on both sides. The only reason they can null your service is if you’re not keeping up with payments and/or using the device/contract for things that go against the contract you agreed to.
Of course, someone may’ve impersonated you to cancel the contract, maybe even if someone else pays the bill they might have cancelled it without telling you, but as terrible as Vodafone are, they won’t “just cancel it” without good reason.
If you want to change to another service provider, just sticking a sim card into the phone may not work as the phone needs to be unlocked from some networks.
Wayne said:
Great site !
I have just been given a business mobile phone (on O2) and would like to port my current Vodafone number. I would like to keep my current vodafone contract and get a new number for the vodafone contract that my wife would then use. Vodafone are saying that if I port my number they have to terminate my contract and I have to pay a termination fee. Seems mad that they can't port my number and keep the contract maintained with a new number. Vodafone seemed to struggle to understand what I was even asking for. Any suggestions?
Gwen said:
Hi can anyone help me.. My mum has a Vodaphone pay as you go,reception is terrible so last week while in an o2 shop i got 2 sim cards(one for each of us) and wanted to top up mine but was told that i had to top up both,so i did at a cost of £20 total,however mum and i decided to not use o2 and that Tesco was offering a better deal..so i asked o2 for my pac which all went through okay but my mum has had terrible probs….1~somebody had hacked Vodaphone's site so she couldn't get her phone unlocked…..2~ o2 have ported out and recycled her sim(with £10 credit)!!!!!!! So now she is having to go to Vodaphone a get another sim card also having to top that one up!!!!! So i just wondered as they have to give you the grace of 30days to use the pac code has this been illegal? Greatly appreciate any guidance on this matter… thanks Gwen
Ken replied:
Hi Gwen,
Unfortunately when you port a number, you cannot transfer Pay As You Go credit so the £10 credit has unfortunately been forfeited. You could ask O2 to refund the £10 as a gesture of goodwill I guess, but I'm not sure they have to give it back to you. I'm not a lawyer though…
Ken
Gwen replied:
Hi Ken, Thanks for the advice but I am not bothered so much to losing the money but was it legal for O2 to port the number out when they were not asked to? I would like you to confirm this if possible. Thanks Gwen
Ken replied:
Hi Gwen,
I don't quite understand – so you asked O2 for a PAC code… did you then provide the PAC code to somebody else? If so, you asked for a port to happen; if not, no port should have occured.
Ken
Gwen said:
Can anybody help? I recently got an o2 pay as u go sim for my mother who wanted to change network from Vodaphone,I topped it up by £10 for her. She did not give her PAC code to o2 as she decided to move to Tesco(better deal for her) She then went to get her Vodaphone mobile unlocked,but unfortunately that proved impossible as somebody had hacked the network so no code could be used in order for the unlocking process to be done.The following morning she tried to make a call from her handset as she still had £10 credit but was unable to as o2 had ported her number!!!!!!! How could this have happened? Now she has been forced to get another Vodaphone sim and top it up as she lost her original balance and they cannot refund that (understandable) Has this been legal practice for o2 to have done this??????
Sam said:
i was on vodafone previously but changed to O2…..the o2 people said my number would activate between 10-6 today…..but so far it hasnt…..is this normal? how long does it usually take for numbers to be changed…..and how will i know? will my reception have to be at full when it happens?
pepp said:
hello, im changing from vodafone to o2 and i have provided the pac code today and i am aware that it could take up to 48 hours. do i need to keep my phone off during the whole thing or can i have it on and use it?
Ken replied:
Hi pepp,
There is no need to turn your phone off during the transfer process. You can keep using your Vodafone phone/SIM card as normal until the transfer to O2 goes through. The transfer can still happen if your phone is on.
Ken