Porting your number to Google Fi takes about 20 minutes if you have your current carrier’s account number, port-out PIN, and billing ZIP code in hand. The whole transfer happens online — Google Fi has no retail stores.
This guide covers what to gather before you start, how to port from each major carrier, and how to fix the most common port-in failures.
Before you start
Don’t cancel your current carrier first. Your number must be active on the old network for the transfer to work. Cancellation happens automatically once the port completes.
You’ll need:
- Current phone number
- Current carrier name (T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T, Cricket, Mint, etc.)
- Account number on the current carrier (look on your bill or in their app)
- Port-out PIN / transfer PIN (you generate this in the carrier’s app or by calling them — it’s separate from your account password)
- Billing ZIP code on the old account
- Account holder’s full name exactly as it appears on the bill
- A compatible phone (any unlocked Android, any iPhone since the iPhone XS, or any phone with eSIM support)
- A US payment method (US-issued credit card or debit card, US billing address)
The port-out PIN expires after 14 days, so generate it close to when you plan to switch.
How to get a port-out PIN from each major carrier
| Carrier | Where to get the PIN |
|---|---|
| T-Mobile | T-Mobile app → Account → Profile → Number Transfer PIN, or text “NUM” to 611611 |
| Verizon | My Verizon app → Account → Number Transfer PIN, or call *611 |
| AT&T | myAT&T app → Profile → Wireless Passcode, then dial *PORT |
| Cricket | Cricket app → Account → Wireless Number Transfer PIN |
| Mint Mobile | Mint app → My Account → Wireless Account Number / Transfer PIN |
| Visible | Visible app → Account → Get a Transfer PIN |
| Boost / Metro / others | Open the carrier’s app or call customer support |
The FCC requires every carrier to provide a port-out PIN within minutes via app or text. If a carrier won’t, file an FCC complaint at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov.
How to port your number to Google Fi
On a Pixel or Pixel-eligible Android phone
- Download the Google Fi Wireless app from Google Play.
- Sign in with the Google account you want to bill the plan to.
- Tap Sign up for Fi and pick a plan (Simply Unlimited, Unlimited Plus, or Flexible).
- Choose Transfer my number.
- Enter your current number, current carrier, account number, port-out PIN, billing ZIP, and the account holder’s name.
- Confirm shipping for a physical SIM, or confirm eSIM activation if your phone supports it.
- Pay the first month and submit.
- Wait for the activation prompt. eSIM activates in 5–20 minutes; physical SIM ships in 1–3 days.
- When the new SIM is active, the port runs in the background. Calls and texts on your old number keep working until the cutover, which usually completes within an hour.
On an iPhone
- Download the Google Fi Wireless app from the App Store.
- Sign in with your Google account and tap Sign up for Fi.
- Pick a plan and choose Transfer my number.
- Enter the same info: current number, carrier, account number, port-out PIN, ZIP, and name on the account.
- The app generates a Google Fi eSIM. Tap Add to iPhone. iOS opens Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM and installs it.
- Once the eSIM activates, set Google Fi as the primary line in Settings → Cellular.
- iMessage and FaceTime will re-register on the new eSIM after a few minutes.
iPhones don’t get all of Google Fi’s perks. You lose multi-network switching (you stay on T-Mobile only), and some MMS group messaging quirks remain.
What happens during the port
- Calls and texts on your old number keep working until the port completes. Most ports finish in 20–60 minutes.
- The Google Fi SIM gives you a temporary number (sometimes — depends on whether you ordered eSIM activation alongside the port). Calls to your old number keep ringing your old SIM until cutover.
- Don’t remove the old SIM until you confirm the port succeeded.
- You can change your Google Fi plan during the port without disrupting it.
What to do after the port completes
- You’ll get a notification in the Google Fi app or an email confirming the port succeeded.
- Make a test call and send a test text from your new Fi line.
- Verify your old SIM is now showing “no service” — that’s the sign the port cleared.
- Power-cycle the phone if iMessage hasn’t re-registered.
- If you have a single line on your old carrier, the account is auto-cancelled when the port finishes. Family-plan lines need manual cancellation through the old carrier.
- Pay any final bill from the old carrier (taxes, prorated charges).
Why ports fail (and how to fix them)
| Failure reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| Account number wrong | Find the correct one in the carrier’s app or last bill |
| Port-out PIN wrong or expired | Generate a new PIN and resubmit |
| Account holder name doesn’t match | Use the exact name on the carrier’s bill, including middle initials |
| Billing ZIP wrong | Check the ZIP on the bill, not your home ZIP |
| Number is on a business or family-plan account | The plan’s primary holder must approve, or remove the line first |
| Phone is locked to old carrier | Request unlock from old carrier; required by FCC after eligibility met |
| Number recently ported (within 60 days) | Wait until the cooling-off period ends |
If you’ve checked all these and the port still fails, contact Google Fi support through the app’s chat. They have direct lines to other carriers’ port teams.
What is Google Fi?
Google Fi Wireless is Google’s MVNO (mobile virtual network operator). It rents capacity from T-Mobile in the US and bills users a flat fee. As of 2026, T-Mobile is the only US network Google Fi actively uses — Sprint was absorbed by T-Mobile in 2020, and the US Cellular partnership ended in 2023. You can still roam on US Cellular at no extra charge in some areas.
Google Fi 2026 plans
| Plan | Price (1 line) | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| Simply Unlimited | $50/month | Unlimited talk, text, 35 GB high-speed data, hotspot, calls/texts to Mexico and Canada |
| Unlimited Plus | $65/month | Unlimited talk/text, 50 GB high-speed data, 50 GB hotspot, free data and texting in 200+ countries, 100 GB cloud storage |
| Flexible | $20 base + $10/GB | Pay only for the data you use, capped at 6 GB ($80) before slowing |
Per-line prices drop with multiple lines. A 4-line Simply Unlimited plan is $20/line/month.
FAQs
How long does the port take?
Usually 20 minutes to 1 hour. Worst case 24 hours if the old carrier is slow. Ports almost never take longer than 48 hours; if yours has, contact Fi support.
Can I keep my number forever after porting to Fi?
Yes. Your number is yours until you choose to cancel or move it elsewhere. Inactive lines may be reclaimed after 60+ days of non-payment.
Does Google Fi work on iPhone?
Yes, on iPhone XS and newer. iPhones use eSIM. You lose multi-network switching, but talk, text, data, hotspot, and international roaming all work.
Can I port a Google Fi number out to another carrier?
Yes. Open the Google Fi app → Settings → Account → Leave Google Fi → Transfer to another carrier. Fi generates a port-out PIN you give to the new carrier.
Can I sign up for Google Fi from outside the US?
No. You need a US billing address and a US-issued payment method to activate. Once active, Google Fi works internationally on the Unlimited Plus plan.
Why is my number transfer failing?
The most common cause is a wrong account number, expired PIN, or a name mismatch on the old carrier’s records. Verify each field, regenerate the PIN, and try again.
Why is my Google Fi account suspended?
Most often a failed payment. Pay the balance in the Fi app or website to restore service. Suspensions also happen for suspected fraud, lost-device reports, or terms-of-service violations.
Also see: How to register a business on Google