I ported out of Google Fi after using it for a few years, and the process was smoother than I expected — once I understood what information I needed upfront. The main thing that trips people up is not having their account number and PIN ready before they contact the new carrier. Get those two pieces of information first and the rest is straightforward. This post is a companion to my Google Fi review for anyone who’s already decided to leave and just needs to know how.
What You Need Before You Start
Number porting requires two things from your current carrier: your account number and your account PIN (sometimes called a transfer PIN or port-out PIN). These are different from your Google Fi login password — they’re carrier-specific identifiers used to authorize the transfer.
Your Google Fi account number: Log into your Google Fi account at fi.google.com, go to Account → Number transfer information. Your account number is listed there. It’s typically your 10-digit phone number with a carrier identifier prefix — it’s not the same as your phone number itself.
Your transfer PIN: Also in the fi.google.com account settings under Number transfer. Google Fi will generate a 6-digit temporary PIN that’s valid for a limited time (usually 24–72 hours). Generate this right before you contact your new carrier — don’t generate it days early and let it expire before you use it.
A few other things to check: make sure your account is active and not suspended, confirm there are no past-due charges (unpaid balances can block a port-out), and verify whether your phone is locked to Google Fi or unlocked. If you bought your device directly from Google Fi, it may be locked and need to be unlocked before it’ll work on a new carrier.
The Port-Out Process, Step by Step
Step 1 — Choose your new carrier and plan. The port-out request is initiated by your new carrier, not by you canceling Google Fi. So the first step is actually signing up with whoever you’re switching to. Popular options with good coverage include Mint Mobile, T-Mobile, and others depending on what coverage you need. Don’t cancel Google Fi yet — your service needs to stay active for the port to go through.
Step 2 — Get your account number and transfer PIN from Google Fi. Log into fi.google.com and navigate to Account → Number transfer information. Generate the transfer PIN right now — they expire, so timing matters.
Step 3 — Provide the info to your new carrier. When you sign up with the new carrier and tell them you want to keep your existing number, they’ll ask for your current carrier’s account number and your PIN. Give them the number and PIN you just pulled from Google Fi. This authorizes them to initiate the transfer on your behalf.
Step 4 — Wait for the transfer to complete. Most port-outs complete within a few hours to a business day. During this window, you may have a brief period where calls and texts don’t work reliably — plan accordingly if you need to be reachable. Once the port completes, your service on Google Fi automatically ends. You’re not charged beyond that point, and you don’t need to separately cancel your Google Fi account (though you can close it afterward if you want to be clean).
Common Issues and How to Handle Them
The port is taking longer than expected. Most complete within hours, but some take up to two business days. If it’s been more than 48 hours with no update, contact your new carrier first — they’re managing the transfer and can usually check the status or escalate with Google Fi on your behalf.
The PIN expired before you used it. Go back to fi.google.com and generate a new one. This happens if you generated the PIN a day or two before contacting the new carrier. Generate it right when you’re ready to complete the process, not in advance.
The new carrier is asking for something different. Some carriers phrase the request as “transfer PIN,” “account PIN,” or “account passcode” — these all mean the same thing. Make sure you’re giving them the Google Fi transfer PIN, not your Google account password. They’re different and the wrong one will cause the request to fail.
Your device isn’t working on the new carrier after the port. If your phone is locked to Google Fi, you’ll need to request an unlock before it’ll accept another carrier’s SIM. Contact Google Fi support to request an unlock — by law, carriers in the US must unlock devices upon request after the contract/payment period is complete.
After the Transfer: Wrapping Up with Google Fi
Once the port completes, Google Fi service ends automatically. Your final bill will be prorated to the date the number transferred, so you won’t be charged for a full month if you leave partway through. Google Fi emails a final billing statement after everything closes out.
You can close your Google Fi account entirely by going to Account → Cancel service, but this step is optional — your service is already inactive once the port goes through. I’d recommend doing it anyway to keep things tidy and prevent any accidental charges from auto-pay settings.
One unrelated but useful note: while you’re thinking about bills and contracts, the same logic applies to leases. If you’re ever wondering whether breaking a lease hurts your credit, the answer depends on how the exit is handled — similar to how a phone contract ends cleanly if you follow the right process.
The whole Google Fi port-out process, done correctly, takes maybe 20 minutes of actual effort spread across a day. The key is having the right information ready before you start.
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