The fastest way to transfer service is through your carrier's website or app, not through Apple
When you get a new iPhone, your phone number and service plan stay with your carrier — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or whoever you pay each month. The phone itself is just the device that uses that service. To move your service to the new phone, you contact your carrier directly, not Apple. Most carriers let you do this online in minutes, though some still require a phone call.
The process is straightforward because your carrier already knows who you are. They have your account, your phone number, and your billing information. What they need to do is tell their network that your phone number should now work on your new iPhone instead of your old one. This is called activating the new phone on your account.
You do not need to cancel your old service or close your account. You simply switch which phone the service runs on. If you keep your old iPhone as a backup or sell it, it will no longer receive calls or texts once the service moves to the new phone.
Key Takeaways
- Contact your carrier's customer service through their website, app, or phone line to move your service to the new iPhone — Apple does not handle this step.
- Have your account number, phone number, and the new phone's IMEI number ready; your carrier will ask for at least one of these to verify your identity.
- The transfer usually takes a few minutes to a few hours, and you will know it worked when calls and texts arrive on the new phone.
- Your old phone will stop receiving service once the transfer completes, so back up any photos, contacts, or messages you want to keep first.
- If you are switching carriers at the same time, you will need a porting authorization code from your old carrier before the new one can activate your number.
How to find your new iPhone's IMEI number
Your carrier will ask for your new phone's IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) — a 15-digit code unique to that specific device. You need this before you call or go online to activate service. The IMEI is printed on the box your iPhone came in, but you can also find it on the phone itself without turning it on.
On the back of the new iPhone, look for small text near the bottom. The IMEI is listed there along with other regulatory information. If the text is hard to read, you can also go to Settings > General > About on any iPhone and scroll down to find the IMEI listed as "IMEI." If your new phone has not been set up yet, you can still read the IMEI from the box or the back of the device.
Activating service through your carrier's website or app
Most carriers now let you activate a new phone without calling. Log into your carrier's website or open their mobile app, then look for an option like "Activate a device," "Switch devices," or "Manage devices." You will enter your account information and the IMEI of your new iPhone. The carrier will confirm your identity and then push the activation to their network.
This process usually takes a few minutes, though it can take up to a few hours for the change to reach all of the carrier's systems. You will know it worked when you turn on the new iPhone and see signal bars appear, and when calls or texts start arriving on it. Your old phone will stop receiving service at this point.
If your carrier's website does not have an obvious activation option, check their help section or search for "activate new device" on their site. Some carriers bury this feature in account settings rather than on the main page.
Activating service by phone if the website does not work
If you cannot find the activation option online or the website gives you an error, call your carrier's customer service line. Have your account number, phone number, and the new iPhone's IMEI ready. The representative will verify your identity and then activate the new phone on your account over the phone.
This call usually takes 10 to 15 minutes. The representative may ask you to turn on the new iPhone during the call so they can confirm it is receiving signal. Once they confirm the activation went through, you can hang up and start using the phone normally.
If you are calling from your old phone, you can stay on the line while the activation happens. If you are calling from a different phone, the representative will tell you when to expect service to appear on the new iPhone — usually within a few minutes to an hour.
What to do if you are switching carriers
If you are moving to a new carrier and keeping your phone number, the process is longer because two carriers are involved. Your old carrier has to release your number, and your new carrier has to claim it. This is called porting your number.
Start by contacting your new carrier and telling them you want to port your number from your old carrier. They will ask for a porting authorization code (also called a PIN or transfer code) from your old carrier. Call your old carrier's customer service and ask for this code. They may ask why you are leaving, but they are required to give it to you. Write the code down — you will need it within a few days.
Give the porting authorization code to your new carrier, along with your account number and the IMEI of your new iPhone. The new carrier will then submit a port request to your old carrier. This process usually takes 24 hours, though it can take up to a week. During this time, your old phone may lose service, or both phones might receive calls and texts. Once the port completes, your number will work only on the new carrier's network and the new iPhone.
Transferring your data and settings to the new iPhone
Moving your service to the new phone is separate from moving your photos, contacts, messages, and apps. Once your service is activated, you can set up the new iPhone and restore your data from a backup. You can use iCloud, a computer with iTunes, or the Quick Start feature to move everything over.
If you backed up your old iPhone to iCloud before getting the new one, you can sign in with your Apple ID during setup and restore from that backup. If you have a Mac or Windows computer, you can connect the new iPhone and restore from an iTunes backup instead. The Quick Start feature lets you hold your old iPhone next to the new one and copy settings and data wirelessly.
None of these backup methods affect your phone service or carrier activation. You can restore your data before, during, or after you activate service with your carrier. The two processes happen independently.
Troubleshooting if service does not appear on the new phone
If you have activated the new iPhone but it still shows no signal after an hour, restart the phone by turning it off and back on. This forces the phone to reconnect to the carrier's network and often fixes activation delays.
If the phone still has no signal after a restart, go to Settings > Cellular and check that Cellular Data is turned on. Also check Settings > Airplane Mode and make sure it is off. If Airplane Mode is on, the phone will not connect to any network.
If signal still does not appear, call your carrier's customer service again and confirm that the activation went through on their end. Sometimes the activation request gets stuck in their system, and a representative can manually push it through. Have your phone number and the new iPhone's IMEI ready when you call.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to do anything through Apple to move my service?
No. Apple sells the phone, but your carrier manages the service. You contact your carrier to activate the new iPhone on your account. Apple's role ends when you buy the device.
What happens to my old iPhone after I activate the new one?
Your old iPhone will no longer receive calls or texts because your phone number is now tied to the new phone. You can still use it on Wi-Fi to send messages through iMessage or FaceTime, or you can sell it, give it away, or keep it as a backup device.
Can I activate my new iPhone before my old one arrives?
Yes. You can activate the new phone as soon as you have it, even if your old phone is still in use. Your carrier will move the service to the new phone, and your old phone will stop working for calls and texts immediately.
How long does activation usually take?
Online activation through your carrier's website or app usually takes a few minutes to a few hours. Phone activation with a representative takes 10 to 15 minutes on the call, plus a few minutes to an hour for the network to recognize the change. If you are porting your number to a new carrier, allow 24 hours to a week.
What if my carrier does not recognize my IMEI?
Double-check that you entered the IMEI correctly — it is 15 digits with no spaces or dashes. If you entered it right and your carrier still says it is invalid, the phone may not be compatible with that carrier's network. Call customer service to confirm your new iPhone works on their network before trying to activate it.