Switching from O2 to Smarty? It's a straightforward process to keep your existing phone number.

Step 1: Get a PAC Code from O2

If you’d like to move your phone number from O2 to Smarty, the first step is getting your Porting Authorisation Code (or PAC Code) from O2.

There are three ways to get a PAC Code from O2:

  1. Online: You can get a PAC Code from O2 by logging in to the My O2 website. Once you've logged in, go to My details > Thinking of switching from O2?.
  2. By Text Message: You can get an O2 PAC Code sent to you via SMS text message. Text PAC to 65075 to receive a PAC Code from O2.
  3. By Phone: You can get a PAC Code by calling O2. To do this, call them on:
    • For O2 Pay Monthly, dial 202 (or 0344 8090202 from any other phone)
    • For O2 Pay As You Go, dial 4445 (or 0344 8090222 from any other phone)
    You'll need to call during O2's opening hours (Monday-Friday 8am-9pm, Saturday 8am-8pm, Sunday 8am-6pm).

Here are some key things to know:

  • The PAC Code from O2 should consist of six numbers with TEL at the start (e.g. TEL 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 O2: it'll be closed automatically when your phone number is transferred to Smarty.

Still in contract with O2? If so, you may need to pay an early exit fee on your bill from O2. To find out how much this would be, text INFO to 85075.

Don’t want to keep your O2 phone number? You can switch to Smarty without taking your phone number with you. If you'd like to do this, get a STAC Code from O2 instead.

O2 STAC Code (Leave O2 Without Keeping Your Number)

If you’d like to leave O2 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 O2:

  1. Online: You can get a STAC Code from O2 by logging in to the My O2 website. After logging in, go to My details > Thinking of switching from O2?.
  2. By Text Message: You can get an O2 STAC Code sent to you via SMS text message. Text STAC to 75075 to receive a STAC Code from O2.
  3. By Phone: You can get a STAC Code by calling O2. Call them on:
    • For O2 Pay Monthly, dial 202 (or 0344 8090202 from any other phone)
    • For O2 Pay As You Go, dial 4445 (or 0344 8090222 from any other phone)
    You'll need to call during O2's opening hours (Monday-Friday 8am-9pm, Saturday 8am-8pm, Sunday 8am-6pm).

Once you’ve gotten your STAC Code from O2, the rest of the process for joining Smarty remains the same.

Step 2: Order your new phone or SIM card from Smarty's website

You should now order your new phone or SIM card using the Smarty website. Please select the type of tariff you're intending to move to:

If you're looking for a SIM card from Smarty, the following deals from £5/month are currently most popular:

Network Data Monthly Cost
Smarty
  • Three coverage
  • Unlimited mins
  • Unlimited texts

Offer ends 11th Nov

5GB
data
£5.00
per month
1 month rolling
See deal  
Smarty
  • Three coverage
  • Unlimited mins
  • Unlimited texts
16GB
data
£8.00
per month
1 month rolling
See deal  
Smarty
  • Three coverage
  • Unlimited mins
  • Unlimited texts

Offer ends 4th Nov

70GB
data
£10.00
per month
1 month rolling
See deal  
Smarty
  • Three coverage
  • Unlimited mins
  • Unlimited texts
100GB
data
£12.00
per month
1 month rolling
See deal  
Smarty
  • Three coverage
  • Unlimited mins
  • Unlimited texts

Offer ends 4th Nov

Unlimited
data
£15.00
per month
1 month rolling
See deal  

For a full list of available tariffs and the latest Smarty deals, please refer to this page on Smarty's website.

Smarty 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 Smarty.

Step 3: Give the PAC Code to Smarty

Once your new phone or SIM card arrives from Smarty, 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 Smarty and provide them with your PAC Code from O2.

Your PAC Code should be entered on Smarty's online form.

If you have a STAC Code from O2 rather than a PAC Code, this can be provided to Smarty in the exact same way.

Providing your PAC Code to Smarty
The PAC Code should be submitted through a form on Smarty's website.

Remember:

  • You must provide the PAC Code to Smarty within 30 days of it being issued by O2. If the PAC Code has already expired, you'll need to return to step 1 and request a new PAC Code from O2.
  • O2 Pay As You Go customers: Try to use up your remaining credit as it can't be transferred to Smarty.

Step 4: Phone Number Transferred (Next Working Day)

Once you've provided a PAC code to Smarty, 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 Smarty. You should find that the Smarty 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 Smarty, your account on O2 will automatically be closed. You'll receive a final bill from O2 for any outstanding charges.

Get the Latest Deals from Smarty →

Any Other Questions?

In case of any problems during the transfer of your phone number, you should contact your new mobile network (Smarty) 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 from O2 to Smarty. 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.

  • Hi.
    I’m trying to change from O2 (sim only), to Smarty (sim only).
    I’ve received a PAC code from O2.
    I’ve received 2! Sim cards (in 1 envelope), from Smarty.
    When I put either of the Smarty sim cards in my phone, it says that the network is locked. As such, I cannot get onto the internet to upload my PAC nr. Can I upload my PAC nr with my old sim in the phone ?
    Please help.

    • Hi Lloyd,
      Sadly, it sounds like your mobile phone is locked to a network so you’ll need to unlock it before you can use a SIM card from SMARTY.
      If you like, you can put the SIM card in your old phone to input the PAC number (or you could use a Wi-Fi connection instead). However, I’d strongly recommend completing the unlock first before you transferring your phone number so you don’t end up having the phone number on a SIM card you can’t use!
      Hope this helps,
      Ken

  • What happens if I have more than one number with O2 but am only transferring one (the other is a sim card in a motorised gate) ?

    • Hi Siobhan,
      Many thanks for your comment. It’s no problem at all doing this – you can transfer the two numbers independently of each other.
      Hope this helps,
      Ken

      • SiobhanHenry replied:

        Thank you!
        Thanks also for the amazing information. I am delighted to have just switched over to SMARTY at a fraction of the price I was paying for a lot less( and non refundable) data.

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