How to change the phone number on your iPhone

While it's true that most of us have kept our cell phone number for many years, there may be some occasions when you need a fresh start. Maybe you have someone who is bugging you with prank calls, you want to leave an old relationship behind, or you just decided that a new number would be a good thing.

How you do that? In this article, we explain the easiest ways to change phone number on your iPhone.

Is my phone number linked to my iPhone?

No. Your iPhone has a serial number (or IMEI) that identifies that particular device, but the phone number comes from the SIM card you're using. Because of this, you can take the SIM card out of your iPhone, put it in another or Android phone and take your number with you.

How do I get a new phone number for my iPhone?

To do this, you must either contact your existing SIM card provider and request a number change, or switch to another network provider who will send you a new SIM card with a replacement number.

Contact your existing network provider

For example, in the UK we got in touch with EE (one of the largest network providers) who told us that if you receive 'scam calls' you can contact customer service (dial 150 from your EE network phone) and make a query Change. This would be free of charge and the new number would be allocated within 24 hours.

You don't even need a new SIM card, as the existing one is automatically populated with the new number.

In all other cases, apart from fraudulent calls, you can still change your number, but a fee will be charged. There are dependent factors but EE told us the cost would be between £29 and £35.

The same procedure is likely to apply to your network provider whether you are in the UK, US or anywhere else in the world. Contact the provider's customer service helpdesk and inquire about the number change to see if there are any additional steps or costs.

Switch to a new network operator

If you want to switch to a new network provider, you need to make sure your contract allows it.

As a rule, when you sign a network contract, you agree to a term of 12 or 24 months. As long as you are not within these timeframes, you can switch to a new network provider within a few days. If you're getting messages saying it's time to upgrade, you're probably free to roam.

To be on the safe side, contact your existing provider's helpdesk before you begin, as trying to cancel a contract before the agreed number of months has passed often carries a penalty fee.

Assuming your contract has expired, there is now an easy way to switch to a new provider and get a new number when you're in the UK. All you have to do is text the word STAC to 75075. This requires your current network provider to immediately issue a service termination code, which you can then provide to your new provider, who will take care of the rest. If you decide to keep your number, then text them PAC instead to 65075.

In the US and other territories, you usually need to contact your new supplier and let them know you want to switch. You may need your account number and PIN for your old provider's account as part of the process, so it's a good idea to have these on hand.

Alternatively, you can go to one of the new provider's stores (with the appropriate information) and they should take care of everything. Remember to indicate that you do not want to keep your old number.

(If you want to keep the same number, see our advice on How to keep your old number when switching iPhones.)

In some cases, you may find that your iPhone is bound to the old network, which can be a bit troublesome. Read our guide on how to unlock an iPhone to make sure you can work on the new network.

If you're making the switch route, read our guide to the best network for iPhone in the UK to help you get the best deal.

By: How to change the phone number on your iPhone