Overview

Porting allows you to transfer your existing phone number from one provider to another, ensuring business continuity when switching services. Keep your established number while gaining access to modern communication features.

What is porting?

Number porting is the process of transferring a phone number from your current provider to a new one. This FCC-mandated process ensures you can keep your phone number when changing carriers, whether it’s a landline, wireless, or internet-based number.

The porting process

1

Submit port request

We submit a port request to your current provider and negotiate a port date on your behalf.
2

Receive confirmation

Once we hear back from your carrier, we’ll inform you of the scheduled port date and time.
3

Number transfers

On the port date, your phone number becomes available in your OpenPhone account.
4

Cancel old service

After successful porting, you can safely cancel your account with your previous provider.

Before you port

What you need to know

Before initiating a port request, understand these important considerations: Service limitations
  • Only call and SMS functions transfer with your number
  • Carrier registration doesn’t continue from previous providers
  • Internet services associated with the number won’t transfer
  • Previous conversations and call history don’t carry over
Technical requirements
  • Internet access is required to use OpenPhone
  • SMS functionality may take up to 48 hours to fully stabilize
  • Emergency services (911) aren’t available through OpenPhone
  • Some services won’t send SMS verification codes to virtual numbers
Don’t cancel your current service until the port is complete. Canceling early risks losing your number permanently.

Supported number types

We can port most North American numbers:
  • US local numbers: All states supported
  • Canadian local numbers: All provinces supported
  • Puerto Rico local numbers: Supported
  • Toll-free numbers: North American toll-free prefixes (800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877, 888)
  • Not supported: International numbers outside US/Canada

Cost considerations

  • OpenPhone fees: No charges for porting in or out
  • Previous carrier fees: Your current provider may charge a port-out fee
  • Additional numbers: Numbers beyond your user count are billed at $5/month starting 14 days after porting

How to port your number

You must be a workspace Owner or Admin to initiate porting requests. Access the porting feature through the desktop or web app.

Video walkthrough

Step-by-step process

  1. Navigate to Settings → Phone numbers, then click Port an existing number
Navigate to port number option
  1. Click Continue to porting
Continue to porting
  1. Enter your phone number and select your current carrier. If your carrier isn’t listed, type it manually.
Enter phone number and carrier
  1. Upload your billing information and a recent statement
Provide billing information
  1. Enter your carrier credentials:
    • Account number: Found on your bill or carrier dashboard
    • Account PIN: Usually in your carrier account settings (contact carrier if unsure)
Enter carrier credentials
  1. Customize your number settings and digitally sign the authorization
Sign port authorization
After submission, you cannot modify your porting request. Our team will review and submit it to your carrier.

Timeline expectations

  • Processing time: 1-2 weeks depending on carrier response
  • Service continuity: No interruption - use your number until port date
  • Activation: Calling works immediately, SMS may take up to 48 hours to stabilize

During the porting process

While waiting for your port to complete, you can prepare by customizing your phone number settings:
Customize settings during porting

Checking port status

Track your porting request progress in two ways:

Email updates

We send status updates to your account email address throughout the porting process. Check your inbox regularly for:
  • Initial confirmation
  • Carrier response updates
  • Port date notification
  • Completion confirmation

In-app status

View real-time status directly in OpenPhone:
  1. Click on your pending port number
  2. Select Phone number settings
  3. View current status and any required actions
Check porting status in app

Special considerations for iPhone users

When porting from an iPhone, you must deactivate iMessage and FaceTime to ensure all messages and calls route correctly to OpenPhone.

Remove from iMessage

  1. Go to iPhone Settings
  2. Tap Messages
  3. Tap Send & Receive
  4. Uncheck your ported number in “You can be reached by iMessage at”

Remove from FaceTime

  1. Go to iPhone Settings
  2. Tap FaceTime
  3. Uncheck your ported number in “You can be reached by FaceTime at”
If messages still aren’t routing correctly, you may need to deregister iMessage completely.

FAQs