Switching from Three to EE? It's a straightforward process to keep your existing phone number.
Step 1: Get a PAC Code from Three
If you’d like to move your phone number from Three to EE, the first step is getting your Porting Authorisation Code (or PAC Code) from Three.
There are three ways to get a PAC Code from Three:
- Online: You can get a PAC Code from Three by logging in to the My3 Account website.
- By Text Message: You can get a Three PAC Code sent to you via SMS text message. Text PAC followed by your date of birth in DDMMYY format to 65075 to receive a PAC Code from Three.
- By Phone: You can get a PAC Code by calling Three. To do this, call them on 333 using your Three handset. Alternatively, dial 0333 338 1001 from any other phone. You'll need to call during Three's opening hours (Monday-Friday 8am-8pm, Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday 9am-6pm).
Here are some key things to know:
- The PAC Code from Three should consist of six numbers with HTG at the start (e.g. HTG 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 Three: it'll be closed automatically when your phone number is transferred to EE.
Still in contract with Three? If so, you may need to pay an early exit fee on your bill from Three. To find out how much this would be, text INFO followed by your date of birth in DDMMYY format to 85075.
Don’t want to keep your Three phone number? You can switch to EE without taking your phone number with you. If you'd like to do this, get a STAC Code from Three instead.
Three STAC Code (Leave Three Without Keeping Your Number)
If you’d like to leave Three 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 Three:
- Online: You can get a STAC Code from Three by logging in to the My3 Account website.
- By Text Message: You can get a Three STAC Code sent to you via SMS text message. Text STAC followed by your date of birth in DDMMYY format to 75075 to receive a STAC Code from Three.
- By Phone: You can get a STAC Code by calling Three. Call them on 333 using your Three handset. Alternatively, dial 0333 338 1001 from any other phone. You'll need to call during Three's opening hours (Monday-Friday 8am-8pm, Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday 9am-6pm).
Once you’ve gotten your STAC Code from Three, the rest of the process for joining EE remains the same.
Step 2: Order your new phone or SIM card from EE's website
You should now order 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:
| Network | Minutes | Texts | Data | Monthly Cost (may rise during contract) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Unlimited | Unlimited | 25GB | £16.00 24 months |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 125GB | £24.00 24 months |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | £29.00 24 months |
For a full list of available tariffs and the latest EE deals, please refer to this page on EE's website.
Alternatively, if you're getting your EE plan from a reseller, tap on their logo for more information:
EE 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 EE.
Step 3: Give the PAC Code to EE
Once your new phone or SIM card arrives from EE, 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 EE and provide them with your PAC Code from Three.
Your PAC Code should be entered on EE's online form. Alternatively, you can give the PAC Code to EE by calling 150 on your EE handset. You can also call 07953 966 250 from any other phone.
If you have a STAC Code from Three rather than a PAC Code, this can be provided to EE in the exact same way.
Remember:
- You must provide the PAC Code to EE within 30 days of it being issued by Three. If the PAC Code has already expired, you'll need to return to step 1 and request a new PAC Code from Three.
- Three Pay As You Go customers: Try to use up your remaining credit as it can't be transferred to EE.
Step 4: Phone Number Transferred (Next Working Day)
As long as you've submitted your PAC Code to EE before 5.30pm, your phone number transfer will normally be scheduled for the next working day (Monday to Friday only, excluding English bank holidays). After 5.30pm, you'll need to wait one extra working day for your number to be transferred.
On the day of the transfer, you'll momentarily lose coverage on both mobile networks. When this happens, restart your handset on EE. You should find that the EE 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 EE, your account on Three will automatically be closed. You'll receive a final bill from Three for any outstanding charges.
Get the 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"
Georgina McKavanagh said:
Hi,
I’ve got my PAC code from three, but when I go through the transfer number over form on EE it says it’s wrong. I’ve quadruple checked it, and I know it’s right. I don’t understand why this would happen.
Ken replied:
Hi Georgina,
I believe your PAC Code from Three should start with HTG and be followed by six numbers (e.g. HTG 123 456). Is the PAC Code you have from Three in this format? If so, I’d consider getting in touch with EE Customer Services on 150 to let them know and to see if they’re able to accept this PAC Code for you.
Ken
Keith James said:
Hi I have moved from 3 to ee and transferred my number. Got PAC code from 3 gave it to ee. EE have transferred my number and sent me a text to say it is completed but the number is still live on 3. I can now use the same number on both networks. What has gone wrong ?
Ken replied:
Hi Keith,
Many thanks for your comment: this is a rather odd situation. What happens when you call through to the phone number (ideally, testing this from a different mobile network like O2 or Vodafone)? Does it connect to Three or EE? This shouldn’t normally happen, but usually it’s the responsibility of your new mobile network (so EE) to resolve problems with the port.
Ken
Derek Smith said:
I am preparing to switch from Three to EE due to repeated network failure. If I obtain a PAC code from Three can I then cancel payments once the code has been given to EE or will this result in my loosing my existing number due to inactivity.
I should explain that my 24 monthly contract expired in October.
Ken replied:
Hi Derek,
Many thanks for your comment. There’s actually no need to separately cancel your contract with Three: it’ll be done for you automatically when your phone number moves to EE. It’s likely that a 30-day notice period applies on your Three SIM card, so they may charge you for up to another 30 days after you move your phone number over.
Ken
AmyGG said:
Hi Ken,
I joined Three 8 days ago, and my number from EE ported across 4 days ago. Since porting I have experienced extremely bad network service. I decided to go back to EE so ordered a new SIM from them with the intention of porting my number back from Three to EE.
I called Three and said I wanted to cancel within my cooling off period (which ends 19 October) and get a PAC. They said that I firstly had to cancel, and only AFTER my line had been cancelled would they issue my PAC in approx 2 working days.
The waiting time for my PAC and the 1 day turnaround for EE to apply it to my new SIM means that I would not have access to my number for 3 or more days. Is this the correct process, or should Three be able to issue my PAC before I cancel? Is there any workaround to minimise the outage time?
Thank you for your advice.
Ken replied:
Hi Amy,
Thanks for your comment. Typically, your mobile network is able to issue a PAC Code at any time and you’ll continue receiving coverage on the old network until your number moves over. If the account is cancelled without a PAC Code being used, the phone number will typically be lost (so that’s why a PAC Code should be requested in advance of the account being closed).
With regards to cancelling your contract during the initial cooling-off period, I’d have thought the process would be similar to this. Saying that, I’ve never actually tried this myself so unfortunately I’m unable to advise about this 🙁 Sorry!
Ken
AmyGG replied:
Hi Ken,
Thank you for your reply. I ended up speaking with Three via their chat help, and they were able to provide me with my PAC straight away. I have now transferred my number to EE. Hopefully I will not get any surprise cancellation bills through from Three…
rov said:
Hi..i have moved from three to EE…however they told me I could not get a pac code because it has been more than 30days since my account has been terminated…my account was terminated last december…is there any way i can get my old number back please as I really need it…all my vyber contacts are sync with it
Ken replied:
Hi Rov,
Thanks for your comment. I’m really sorry but unfortunately there’s no way of recovering a phone number once the account has been closed 🙁 Typically, you should move the number to a Pay As You Go deal if you want to keep it active, or you should move it to a different mobile network before closing the old account.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news,
Ken
theresa ajanlekoko said:
hello i got a new phone that is locked to ee but, the sim card i use is three which is on contact, i was wondering if i get the pac code will it transfer my three number to the ee sim i ordered and keep my contract the same.
Ken replied:
Hi Theresa,
Thanks for your comment. You can use a PAC Code to transfer your phone number from Three to EE. However, please be aware that this will bring your contract at Three to an end (you might need to pay an early termination fee if there are any months remaining on your contract). After switching your phone number over, you’ll have a contract on EE with all of the associated allowances (the allowances on your EE contract may differ from those on the old contract from Three).
Hope this helps,
Ken
mac said:
Hi,I have question about pac code which I receive from3 last Thursday , because i want to move to EE but later I think that was bad idea and I would like come back again to 3 and cancel my pac code .What do you think is any chance cancel pac code and become again customer 3 with my old number?
Ken replied:
Hi Mac,
Thanks for your comment. My advice would be to contact EE Customer Services as a matter of urgency – ask them to cancel the transfer of your phone number. If they aren’t able to do this (e.g. if the number has already been moved over), your only option would be to move the number back to Three (this may involve signing up once again on Three). You can contact EE by calling 150 from your EE handset or 07953 966 250 from any other device.
Hope this helps!
Ken
mac replied:
hi ,thanks for reply on my question ,but I would like explain you that I still didn’t move to EE and use my pac code from three.
Ken replied:
Hi Mac,
Ah, apologies for misunderstanding your question! If you haven’t yet given the PAC Code to EE, there’s no further action required on your part. The PAC Code will automatically expire after 30 days and your contract on Three will continue as before. It’ll be just as if you hadn’t requested the PAC Code in the first place. If you later decide you actually want to change network, you can request a new PAC Code from Three at any time.
Hope this helps,
Ken
Mark said:
Hi Ken,
Great post. Very informative. Quick Q though.
I’m switching to Three from EE and getting a new iPhone. I’ve got the PAC code. From previous experiences, once the phone is set up with a sim card, the phone incorporates the mobile number for iMessage etc. So when the PAC code is done – ie the number is switched to my new iPhone – do I need to ‘tell’ the iPhone or does it do it all automatically?
Kind regards and thanks!
Ken replied:
Hi Mark,
You’re right – iMessage, Whatsapp, etc. will stay continue to stay registered to temporary number. There’s a fix for this: see this comment lower down in the page.
Hope this helps!
Ken