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

Step 1: Order your new phone or SIM card from EE's website

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

Start by ordering your new phone or SIM card using the EE website. Please select the type of tariff you're intending to move to:

If you're looking for a SIM card from EE, the following deals are currently most popular:

NetworkMinutesTextsDataMonthly Cost
(may rise during contract)
EEUnlimitedUnlimited25GB£16.00
24 months
EEUnlimitedUnlimited125GB£24.00
24 months
EEUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited£27.00
24 months

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

Alternatively, if you're upgrading your EE plan through a reseller, tap on their logo for more information:

Step 2: Contact EE To Transfer Your Phone Number

After receiving your new phone or SIM card, please contact EE to transfer your phone number to the new plan. You can do this by calling 150 from your EE handset. Alternatively, dial 07953 966 250 from any other phone.

You can contact EE 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 EE →

Any Other Questions?

In case of any problems during the transfer of your phone number, you should contact your new mobile network (EE) 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 1,963 so far

We'd love to hear your comments on transferring a phone number within EE. The comments below are from people who've made the same transfer. You can add your own comments here.

To view all 1963 comments about transferring a phone number, please visit the main PAC Code article.

  • Gree said:

    Hi Ken, I am about to sign up to a new deal provided by a third party, both this contract and my current one are with EE. EE have told me that to keep my current number I will have to request a PAC code, transfer it to another network, then repeat the process back to EE on the new phone/contract. This seems a little long-winded, is this the correct process, or is there an easier way?

    Thank you.

    • Ken replied:

      Hi Gree,
      Thanks for your comment. Technically speaking, there’s no reason why EE couldn’t process this internally within their own systems. However, yes, it’s often the case they’ll ask you to port out to another network and then back in with a PAC Code. It’s a major faff but the reason for it is because they often have cheaper deals for new customers who join through a third-party retailer. Those deals are offered on the basis that they’re bringing new customers to the network and aren’t usually offered to existing EE customers. By porting out to another network and then rejoining as a new customer, you classify as a new EE customer rather than as an existing EE customer upgrading to a new plan.
      Hope this helps,
      Ken

  • S said:

    I was told by EE that I would need to do a triangle port as I was changing contracts using a third party provider – I’ve managed to do one change from EE to a new provider and I’m trying to switch back to EE – do I need a different PAC code? Is it of one time use only?
    All help gratefully received

  • Wayne Ridley said:

    My Ee contract is coming to an end and I need an upgrade. I contacted the upgrade department but they couldn’t match a deal (still with ee) but through a 3rd party. Will i be able to keep my number?

  • Casey said:

    I have a contract with ee that’s still running. Iv now got a second one and a new phone still with ee. Will they still transfer the number to the new one even though il still owe money on the old one? Thanks

    • Ken replied:

      Hi Casey,
      Thanks for your comment. Yes, EE should still be able to transfer this phone number for you. However, it will trigger the closure of your old account and you’ll be sent a final bill with any applicable early termination fees.
      Hope this helps,
      Ken

  • ChrisB54 said:

    I am currently with EE, but their upgrades are expensive. I could purchase the phone I require from mobile phones direct or another supplier, but the best deals are with EE, and as you know you can’t keep your number should you purchase one of these deals. However, the call handler at EE said that I could purchase a phone from a supplier with an appropriate EE deal, but then buy a cheap sim with another provider, using my PAC Code to keep my number. I should then obtain another PAC Code from my cheap sim provider in order to transfer back to EE to obtain my deal/tariff. How could I ensure that I get put on the EE tariff that I purchased?

    • Ken replied:

      Hi Chris,
      Thanks for your comment. I actually find it really frustrating regarding the policy that mobile networks have regarding transferring a phone number internally within their network. There’s actually no technical reason why EE couldn’t move your phone number directly within their network. It’s just the case that they don’t want to do this.
      Essentially, the mobile networks offer discounted/subsidised deals through Mobile Phones Direct or similar retailers in order to attract new customers to their network (they also pay out a commission to that retailer). What they don’t want to do is to pay out the discount/commission to an upgrading customer who isn’t actually new to their network (hence the barriers they put in the way of you transferring your phone number).
      There are generally two ways around this:
      (1) If you get your issue escalated enough times within customer support, they’ll often “find a way” to move your phone number to that new contract. In practice, this can be a difficult and frustrating experience.
      (2) You can order yourself a free Pay As You Go SIM card from any other network (e.g. from ASDA Mobile, giffgaff or similar). Use your EE PAC Code to transfer your phone number to that network. Once that’s happened, you can request a PAC Code again to move your phone number straight back over to EE.
      Ken

      • sharon thackrah replied:

        I have just been advised to do exactly what Ken has said, I have had to google it to make sure they have given me the correct information. The first person I spoke to on 150 said I just put the new sim in and my number will be there, I said and how does that happen ? Does my number think oooh look a shiny new sim lets move over to it :-/

  • Jon said:

    This is no longer true.
    EE want me to buy a sim card from Vodafone or another network first, move my original number to that sim, then move the number across again to the new EE sim. Total waste of my time

  • Frank said:

    Hi Ken,

    I am currently with EE but I can’t get the upgrade I want. Therefore, can I transfer my number out to a Vodafone payg (for example) and then transfer it back again from that new sim to the new EE contract? Also, so you know if Vodafone charge to release a PAC code on a payg sim?

    • Ken replied:

      Hi Frank,
      Thanks for your comment. Yes, it should be possible to transfer your phone number out to Vodafone, and then back to a new EE contract. There’s no charge to get a PAC Code from Vodafone.
      Ken

  • Steve said:

    Hi, I’m with EE and I thought I upgraded with car phone warehouse but apparently the offer was as a new customer not an upgrade so they have issued me a new number. I really need to keep my old number so is there anyway I can keep my old number and move it to my new contract? I don’t want 2 contracts. There both on EE?

    • Ken replied:

      Hi Steve,
      Thanks for your comment. There are three things I would recommend doing in this instance:
      1) Go back to the Carphone Warehouse and ask them if they can offer you the same deal as an upgrade (they should really have asked you if you were an existing EE customer: CPW do actually provide the option of EE upgrades). It might be the case they can change your deal from a new customer to upgrade.
      2) Call up EE Customer Services on 150 and ask them to transfer your phone number over to the new account. Often, they’ll refuse to do this at first (the reason being they need to pay a ‘new customer’ commission when you’ve only stayed as an existing customer). If you persevere and speak to the manager, you will sometimes be able to get them to transfer your number over (it’s totally feasible and is technically quite trivial for them to do).
      3) As a last resort, you can always transfer your phone number to another network and then immediately back in to the new account at EE. It’s a bit of extra hassle to do this, so I’d try to avoid this if you’re able to do one of the above.
      Hope this helps,
      Ken

  • Judith said:

    Hello

    I am currently on EE but am looking to go ahead with a new EE deal through Carphone Warehouse. My 24m contract with EE will be up in a few weeks when I will then change to Carphone Warehouse. Can I keep the same number? EE are saying no but Carphone warehouse saying yes because it is classified as an upgrade even though I am not currently with them.

    Thanks

      • Emma replied:

        Hi Ken – this is what I am having to do too however my situation is a bit more complicated. The bank account details, address and email is all in my name however the actual owner of the phone is my dad from when I was a teen. My dad has requested the pac number for me as they can only deal with him on that and I have purchased a giffgaff pay as you go sim card to transfer over to because I have had this number for at least 10 years and don’t want to lose it.
        Once I am on GiffGaff I am going to request a pac code from them and transfer it back to my new EE contract that I bought through Carphone warehouse. Do you know if there’s a required amount of time you have to be with a new provider before transferring back to EE?
        The new contract with EE is in my name so will my dads name be written off from the number as soon as I transfer to GiffGaff?

        Thanks

        Emma

        • Ken replied:

          Hi Emma,
          Thanks for your comment. There’s no minimum amount of time you’ll need to be on giffgaff before you transfer your number out (you can do it almost immediately on the next working day after porting your number in). There also isn’t any ownership name checking when moving your number between networks, so yes: you can move it to a giffgaff account that’s held in your own name. The phone number will then become your property.
          Hope this helps,
          Ken

  • Julia said:

    I have an Iphone 4S on EE which is on a sim only contract (30 days). I want to upgrade to an Iphone 6 but with EE direct the price is really high. I’ve sourced another deal through a third party so the phone will come with a new number. I want to stay with EE and I want to keep my number. At the moment you cannot port numbers within the same network. Someone has suggested I buy a pay n go on another network – import my current number onto it, then when I get the Iphone 6 on EE, I import my number back to that. Is that possible to do?

  • Jessica Wilkinson said:

    Hi does anybody know how I change a number from EE pay as you go to EE pay monthly ive added my dad as a sharer on my account but he wants to keep his old EE pay as you go number
    Thanks

    • Ken replied:

      Hi Jessica,
      Thanks for your comment. Phone number transfers within the same network are handled internally without the use of a PAC Code. To transfer the phone number onto the new Pay Monthly SIM card, you should call EE Customer Services on 150.
      Hope this helps!
      Ken

  • Rob West said:

    Hi Ken, thanks for this very useful information! I have now received a Pac code from EE as, I am temporarily transferring my number away from them while creating a shared contract with EE with my daughters phone. This will save a considerable amount of money as the second sim (costing £8/month) has unlimited calls and texts, but shares data with the other phone.
    EE would not allow me to either swap numbers between myself and my daughter, nor could I keep my number when acquiring a new shared sim. The only way therefore I is to transfer my number to another network (I chose Tesco ‘pay as you go’) and then will port it back once I receive my EE shared sim. Ee did say that Tesco may not allow me the PAC number immediately as their policy (EE’s) only allows customers their number after a 3 month period. Is that the general rule or is it just EE being akward? They say it was put into their policy to prevent old customers getting the better deals as new customers tended to get! I will update you as to my progress..

    • Ken replied:

      Hi Rob,
      Thanks for your comment and do please keep me updated about your situation!
      With regards to your questions: there’s actually no technical reason why EE isn’t able to swap your phone number internally. It’s simply a business process i.e. so they don’t need to offer new customer discounts to upgrading customers and so they don’t need to pay any sales commission related to a new contract. This is why they ask you to port your number out and then back in at a later date (technically, you’d actually leave the network and then re-join as a new customer). In reality, I have heard of certain situations where a mobile network has done number transfers internally (though it normally requires a lot of persistence with the customer support line).
      With regards to a PAC Code from Tesco, you should be able to get this immediately. Tesco needs to adhere to their legal requirements to give you a PAC Code – they can’t force you to stay on the network for a certain time. With regards to EE’s 3-month policy, it’s the first time I’ve heard about this! For this reason, I wouldn’t be able to tell you if the policy actually exists. If it does, it’ll certainly be a case of EE being awkward!
      Ken

  • Emily said:

    Hi Ken, I’m having trouble transferring my number from Life Mobile to EE. Life Mobile was the Phones4u network that hangs off EE. I’ve used a pac code and ported over but can only send calls/messages, not receive them plus imessaging doesn’t work. The EE shop said I could port over from Life. Have spent an hour talking to EE tech support who checked my iPhone5 settings and the settings their end. Also went to their non-customer facing tech support (another level up the tech tree) and still no joy. Any advice much much appreciated. Emily

    • Ken replied:

      Hi Emily,
      Thanks for your comment. You’ll need to check with EE as to why you’re unable to receive incoming text messages (it’s something they’ll need to fix on their end). With regards to iMessage, you may need to set it up again with your new phone number. To do this, go to Settings > Messages and turn off iMessage. You may also need to do this for FaceTime. Once you’ve done that, go to Settings > Phone > My Number. Update the phone number there and make sure its correct. Finally, you should restart your handset and enable iMessage and FaceTime once again. That should hopefully solve the problems your having.
      Hope this helps,
      Ken

  • Farzana said:

    I am currently trying to transfer my EE number from one contract to another as I was unable to upgrade my original contract. EE have come back and said they can’t do that and I have to transfer my number to another contract before I can then use it on my new EE contract. LAME!

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