How Do I Switch My Phone to AT&T?

Introduction

If you have decided that your current wireless service provider just can't offer you a better deal than AT&T can but you don't want to buy a new phone, then you're in luck. In most cases, you should be able to switch your existing phone to AT&T's service network. The process is both fast and easy.

What You'll Need

Before you can switch your phone to AT&T, you need to make sure that it is unlocked. Every service provider has their own standards you have to meet in order to unlock the phone you got from them, so contact your current wireless service provider to ask about your phone. At a minimum, you will need to have fully paid your phone off and also to have owned it for a certain minimum amount of time.Because you are bringing your own phone, AT&T may waive your activation fee.Do not cancel your service with your current provider before you switch your phone to AT&T. In many cases, switching your phone to AT&T will cause your old account and service to be automatically canceled, though you may want to check to be sure.

Go to the AT&T phone compatibility list.

AT&T phone compatibility list

Follow the instructions to see if your current phone can be used on the AT&T network.

If it cannot, then you are out of luck. You will either have to keep your current phone and stay with your current service provider or switch to AT&T and get a new phone.

Go to the AT&T phone number checker.

AT&T phone number checker

Enter your phone's ten digit phone number into the text field provided and then click the "Check my number" button.

This will tell you whether you can use your current phone number when you switch your device to AT&T.

Contact your current wireless service provider and request a number transfer PIN.

This PIN is needed to make the switch to the AT&T network happen. Each PIN is only good for a certain amount of time, so make sure you know how long you have to make the switch when you get the PIN.
Every wireless service provider has their own method of requesting a transfer PIN. Contact a representative of your current provider for help.

Back up any data from your phone that you think is important.

Go to the AT&T Wireless Switch and Save page.

AT&T Wireless Switch and Save page

Click on the "Get Started" button.

Click on the "Get started" link under the "Bring your own deice" header on the left side of the page.

Follow the prompts to finish switching your phone to AT&T.

Conclusion

If you have any questions about the switching process, call an AT&T customer support representative to get answers. You can also call one to get help figuring out if your current phone will work with their service and if it needs any upgrades. You can reach a customer support representative 24 hours a day, seven days a week.