Switching from Vodafone to T-Mobile? 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 T-Mobile, 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 T-Mobile.

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 T-Mobile 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 T-Mobile remains the same.

Step 2: Order your new phone or SIM card from T-Mobile's website

You should now order 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 on T-Mobile's website.

T-Mobile 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 T-Mobile.

Step 3: Give the PAC Code to T-Mobile

Once your new phone or SIM card arrives from T-Mobile, 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 T-Mobile and provide them with your PAC Code from Vodafone.

Your PAC Code should be entered on T-Mobile's online form. Alternatively, you can give the PAC Code to T-Mobile by calling 150 on your T-Mobile handset. You can also call 020 7362 0200 from any other phone.

If you have a STAC Code from Vodafone rather than a PAC Code, this can be provided to T-Mobile in the exact same way.

Providing your PAC Code to T-Mobile
The PAC Code should be submitted through a form on T-Mobile's website.

Remember:

  • You must provide the PAC Code to T-Mobile 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 T-Mobile.

Step 4: Phone Number Transferred (Next Working Day)

As long as you've submitted your PAC Code to T-Mobile 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 T-Mobile. You should find that the T-Mobile 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 T-Mobile, 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 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 from Vodafone to 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.

  • Kim Ward said:

    Hi Ken,
    After no end of problems with signal on Vodafone I switched to T-Mobile but the problems continued. After 4 months, 3 new sim cards, new phone returned for checking and many hours talking to the appalling customer services at EE I managed to get a UK based engineer who said my problem lay with Vodafone as even though I had moved my contract to EE the profile of the number remained with Vodafone and when you move your number to any provider the original issuer is still in control. I was also told I shouldn’t expect my phone to keep a signal when in a vehicle travelling at more than 50 mph.
    EE would have to request Vodafone to reset the profile and it would take 3 days. It did improve and work for about a month.

    1st question is this true?
    If it is true then if you are having continual problems like me is it worth just ditching the number and starting again. I have had my number for business for over 12 years so not something I really want to do.

    Kim

    • Ken replied:

      Hi Kim,

      Thanks for your comment. It is true that when a number is ported, there is an entry within a central database to show the phone number has been moved to another network. To give some background, refer to this spreadsheet from Ofcom. The spreadsheet shows the block of phone numbers allocated to each network (your phone number would originally belong to Vodafone). When a phone number is moved to another network, it needs to be listed within a separate database (otherwise the call would still be routed to Vodafone instead of T-Mobile). Generally, the system to transfer numbers works very smoothly and I rarely hear of problems like yours. Also, even in the event of a problem with the number transfer system, I don’t see how it would affect your mobile coverage (receiving a signal is totally independent of the PAC Code system).

      To test things out, my recommendation would be to carry out an experiment using a T-Mobile SIM card. It’ll have a brand new number (not ported from Vodafone). Insert the SIM card into the handset you normally use. You can watch the bars of signal when travelling in a vehicle. I suspect you’ll see similar behaviour even with the new SIM card (if so, the problem is either with your phone or with T-Mobile’s coverage).

      Ken

  • Maddie said:

    Hi Ken,

    I'm with Vodafone and my 12 month contract ends on middle of Feb 2011.
    I will be leaving to join another network as Vodafone cannot offer me a good monthly deal on the handset I want, nor could they matched up to the offer I have seen on the internet.

    I would like to keep my number. Would it be ok to buy the phone first and then provide the pac code afterwards? because I do not have my pac code yet. I'm confused as to when I should give the pac code.
    At the same time, I really want to buy the phone as the offer may finish soon.

    The network is with T-mobile but the phone deal is offered on mobiles.co.uk. I am not sure who I should inform about transferring my number across, I should imagine it would be T-mobile???

    Hope you can help!

    Many Thanks!

    • Ken replied:

      Hi there Maddie,

      Thanks for getting in touch. Yeah – you can request and use your PAC Code whenever you like – doesn't need to be at the start of your contract. So you can order your phone from T-Mobile on Mobiles.co.uk today (click here to order) but you can provide a PAC Code at a later date. So when your Vodafone contract ends, request a PAC Code from Vodafone and then provide it to T-Mobile customer services.

      Hope this helps

      Ken

      • Maddie replied:

        Hi Ken,

        Nice to hear from you. Many Thanks for the advice!
        I have been told the PAC code has to be used within 30 days from the date it's generated or it will expire?

        Regards,
        Maddie

        • Ken replied:

          Hi Maddie,

          Yeah you are correct 🙂 From the date that the PAC Code is generated, it will be valid for 30 days. If it isn't used in that time, it will expire and you can request a new code free of charge. Presumbly by the time you request your PAC Code you should already have your new T-Mobile phone so this hopefully shouldn't affect you 🙂

          Ken

  • Steve said:

    I'm transfering from vodaphone to T-mobile. Vodaphone are in the process of sending me my PAC code. Someone's told me I will lose all my contacts from my SIM card when I get the PAC code. Is this true. How can i avoid this situation?

    • Ken replied:

      Hi Steve,

      Yes, you're right. If you have any contacts saved on the Vodafone SIM card, you'll need to transfer them to your new T-Mobile SIM card. However, most phones save contacts onto the internal phone memory by default.

      For more info on transferring your phone book, we have published an article here.

      Hope this helps

      Ken

Leave a Reply