What to expect while your transfer is in progress

You've submitted your line — here's exactly what happens next, so nothing along the way surprises you.

The timeline

Transfers can take up to 48 hours, though most complete by the next business day. T-Mobile's porting office is closed on weekends, so a line submitted Friday will likely transfer Monday — details in how long the switch takes. Your old service keeps working the entire time, so keep your phone on and nearby.

The moment of the switch

When the transfer is approved, things move fast:

1. Your old service stops. This is the start of the switchover, not a problem.
2. Your phone prompts you to set up the new cellular plan, usually within a few minutes. Tap it and follow the steps.
3. No prompt after a few minutes? Go to Settings, then Cellular (on Android: your SIM manager), and tap Add eSIM or Add Cellular Plan to trigger the activation yourself.

Total downtime is typically less than 10 minutes. If anything needs attention on our side during that window, we'll email you.

Small quirks that are completely normal

• Calls on the old phone, texts on the new one — a short "dual service" overlap that resolves on its own within about a day.
• Voicemail starts fresh — voicemail resets when a number moves, and old messages don't carry over. Setting it back up takes a minute.
• iMessage and FaceTime may need a nudge — they re-register to your number after a switch, usually quickly.

If activation doesn't take

Restart your phone first — it clears more activation stalls than anything else. Still nothing? Our eSIM troubleshooting guide works through the rest, and we're right here the whole way.