If you're looking to keep your current number when joining Pinwheel Wireless, or move your Pinwheel Wireless number to another carrier, you can do both right from the Caregiver Portal. In this article, you'll find the steps for porting in, porting out, what information to have ready, and what to expect during the transfer.
What does port-in vs port-out mean?
A port-in means bringing an existing phone number from another carrier over to Pinwheel Wireless. A port-out means moving your current Pinwheel Wireless number to a different carrier.
Both options are self-serve in the Caregiver Portal, so you do not need to call support to start the transfer.
How do I port a number IN to Pinwheel Wireless?
To port a number in, you'll enter your current carrier account details and your new Pinwheel SIM information in the Caregiver Portal. The details you enter must match your current carrier's records exactly, or the transfer can fail.
Before you start
If you already have a Wireless subscription on your Caregiver Portal upon checkout, you may skip this and go straight to Steps to port your number in. You can check this by going to your Settings > My Account > Subscriptions.
Before you begin the port-in process:
- Make sure you have a new Pinwheel SIM card.
- Activate the Pinwheel SIM before inserting it into the phone.
- In the Caregiver Portal, go to Settings > Plan.
- Enter the ICCID printed on the SIM card, then click Add Plan.
Once activation is complete, you're ready to start the number transfer.
Steps to port your number in
- In the Caregiver Portal, go to Plan > Existing Phone Number.
- Fill out the Account Info form.
- Make sure the account information matches exactly what your current carrier has on file.
- Fill out the Pinwheel SIM details form.
- Enter the ICCID from your new Pinwheel SIM card, not the SIM from your old carrier.
- Fill out the Billing Info form.
- Make sure the billing information also matches exactly what your current carrier has on file.
- Review the summary.
- Edit any fields if needed before submitting.
- Submit the request.
- Refresh the page to check the status of the transfer.
The transfer usually takes only a few minutes.
How do I port my number OUT of Pinwheel Wireless?
To port your number out, you'll generate a port-out code in the Caregiver Portal and give that code to your new carrier. This step does not cancel your Pinwheel Wireless subscription.
Steps to port your number out
- In the Caregiver Portal, go to Plan.
- Select Transfer.
- Select Generate Port-out Code.
- Copy or save the Account PIN that appears.
- Share that PIN with your new carrier when they ask for it.
Important: porting out does not cancel billing
Porting your number out does not cancel your Pinwheel Wireless subscription.
If you want billing to stop, you must cancel the subscription separately in the Caregiver Portal under Settings > Account Info.
If you need help with subscription cancellation, see How do I cancel my subscription and remove Pinwheel from my phone?.
What information will I need before porting in?
Before porting a number into Pinwheel Wireless, have these items ready so the transfer goes smoothly.
| What you need | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Your current carrier account information | It must match your current carrier's records exactly |
| Your current carrier billing information | It must also match exactly |
| Your new Pinwheel SIM card ICCID | The port-in uses the ICCID from the new Pinwheel SIM, not your old carrier's SIM |
| An activated Pinwheel SIM | The SIM must be activated before it is inserted into the phone |
A few helpful reminders:
- Pinwheel Wireless uses physical SIM cards only.
- One SIM card is tied to one phone number.
- One subscription is tied to one SIM card.
- If you want a new phone number, you need a new SIM card.
How long does porting take?
A number transfer into Pinwheel Wireless usually takes only a few minutes. After you submit the request, refresh the page in the Caregiver Portal to check the status.
If you're porting your number out, your new carrier will guide the rest of the transfer after you share your port-out PIN.
If you continue to run into issues, contact Pinwheel Customer Care.
For further assistance, you may contact Pinwheel Customer Care. You can also call us at (888) 903-7977. We are available every day, from 7AM to 9PM Central time.