How do I delete a mobile number?

Deleting a mobile number is a simple process that can be done in just a few steps. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through everything you need to know to successfully delete a mobile number from your account.

Why Would You Want to Delete a Mobile Number?

There are a few key reasons why you may want to delete a mobile number:

You have an old number you no longer use

You want to remove a secondary or temporary number
You are getting unwanted calls or texts to that number
You have changed phone numbers and no longer need the old one

Deleting the mobile number allows you to remove it from your account so it is no longer associated with you. This can help reduce clutter in your account and ensure you only have current, active numbers listed.

How to Delete a Mobile Number from Your Account

The specific steps to delete a mobile number will vary slightly depending on your mobile carrier. However, the general process is quite similar across major carriers like AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint.

AT&T

Here is how to delete a mobile number from your AT&T account:

Log into your AT&T account online or through the myAT&T app.
Go to your Profile or Account settings.
Find the Manage Extras section and select Manage Mobile Plan.

Click on the line you want to remove the number from.
Select Remove this mobile number.
Confirm that you want to delete the mobile number.

The number will be removed from your account immediately.

Verizon

To delete a number from Verizon, follow these steps:

Go to Account -> Plans and devices or Manage your plan.
Select the line you want to remove the number from.
Choose Remove line.

Confirm that you want to delete the line and the associated mobile number.
The removal will take effect right away.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile customers can delete a mobile number by:

Going to My T-Mobile and logging into your account.
Going to Profile > Media settings.
Clicking on the line with the number you want to remove.

Selecting Remove line.
Confirming that you want to delete that number and line.
The removal will be processed immediately.

Sprint

Sprint users can follow these steps to delete a number:

Log into your Sprint account on the website or My Sprint app.
Go to Services > My phone numbers.

Select the number you want to delete.
Choose Remove number from account.
Confirm that you want to remove the number.

The number will be deleted from your account right away.

How Long Does it Take to Delete a Mobile Number?

The major benefit of deleting a mobile number from your account is that the removal takes effect almost instantly. As soon as you complete the steps to remove the number within your account settings, it will no longer be tied to you.

You can immediately delete the number from any account profiles, marketing preferences, contacts lists and anywhere else you may have had it listed. It will also prevent any future calls or text messages from coming through on that number.

Overall, expect the mobile number to be deleted and deactivated within a few minutes of finishing the removal steps. It is a quick, seamless process.

Does Deleting a Number Cancel My Service?

Deleting a mobile number does NOT cancel your overall cell phone service. It simply removes that one number from your account. Any other lines or numbers will still remain active.

If you want to fully cancel cell phone service, you would need to complete a separate process for closing your entire account. Deleting a single number will not impact service on other lines.

Some key things to note about how deleting a number affects service:

You can delete a number without any interruption to your main mobile number that you ported over to the carrier.
Any additional lines will still retain service unless those numbers are also deleted.

You may need to select a new primary number if you delete your main number, but other lines will not be cancelled.
No early termination fees or penalties apply for simply deleting a number.

Is it Possible to Reactivate a Deleted Number?

Once you delete a mobile number, reactivating that exact number is unfortunately not possible in most cases. Mobile numbers are recycled back into the pool of available numbers once they are deactivated.

However, there are a couple of potential options if you did want to try to regain the number:

Immediate request: On some carriers like Verizon, you may be able to request reactivation of the recently deleted number if done right away within 24 hours.
Wait for recycling: AT&T notes deleted numbers may take up to 90 days to be fully recycled. Keep checking during this time to see if it becomes available again.

Port out reclaim: You may be able to port the deleted number to a new carrier, then port back in to reclaim it.

But again, there is no guarantee with any of these methods. The fastest and most reliable way is the immediate reactivation request before the carrier reassigns the number.

Getting a New Number After Deletion

If you do not want to try reactivating the old number, another option is simply getting assigned a new mobile number from your carrier.

You can request a new number assignment by:

Adding a new line to your account if you have an open slot.
Porting your main number to another carrier, then porting in a new number to replace it.

Requesting a change of mobile number from customer service.

Getting a fresh new number can help provide you with a clean slate if you no longer want calls and messages to the old number.

Does Deleting a Number Affect My Billing?

Removing a mobile number from your account does lead to some billing and cost adjustments. Here is how it impacts your monthly charges:

Monthly line access fees will decrease since you have one less line.
Any features or add-ons associated solely with that line will be removed.
Overall plan costs may decrease if you drop to fewer lines.

You may save on taxes and fees by deleting a line.

To give an example, if you delete the third line on a family plan that was $15 per month, your new monthly bill would be $15 less. Any applicable multiline or promotional discounts could also change when going from 3 lines to 2 lines.

Some other billing implications include:

Remaining device financing payments are due immediately if it was on a payment plan.
You lose any promotional credits or discounts that were tied to that specific line.
Shared data allotments decrease proportionately to the fewer number of lines.

Check your bill closely the 1-2 cycles after deleting a number to ensure the adjustments are made correctly by your carrier.

What Happens to Data and Usage History with a Deleted Number?

With the removal of a mobile number, any accumulated data or usage details associated with just that line will also be erased from your account.

However, keep in mind for shared family plans:

Total pooled data will remain visible but decrease proportionally.
Call and text history for other lines will not be affected.
Device purchase/payment histories on other lines remain.

Overall account tenure and billing history remains as well.

So while the specific usage details for the deleted line will be removed, your overall account history and data allotments will generally be retained.

Can I Delete a Number Without the PIN Code?

For security reasons, most carriers will require you to enter your account PIN or passcode when deleting a mobile number. This helps prevent unauthorized changes or fraudulent number deletions.

The PIN is typically the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number, or a custom code you set up with the carrier upon signing up for service.

Here are some tips if you do not have the PIN:

You can usually reset the PIN online or by contacting customer service.

Visit a retail store with valid ID and proof of account ownership for assistance.
Setup account security questions that can be used to verify identity instead.
Add a secondary authorized user who knows the PIN to help manage changes.

But again, the carrier will generally not process a number deletion without valid PIN entry for account security. Work to recover your PIN prior to starting the deletion process.

Key Takeaways on Deleting a Mobile Number

Here are some key tips to keep in mind when deleting a mobile number:

The process is quick and takes just a few minutes to complete.

You will immediately stop receiving calls and texts to that number.
Reactivation is unlikely once the number is deleted.
Other lines on your account will not be impacted.

Billing and costs will decrease in line with fewer lines.
Make sure to enter account PIN when prompted for security.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete a mobile number online?

Yes, most carriers allow you to easily delete a mobile number completely online through your account dashboard. There is typically an option to “Remove line” or “Delete number” within your account settings.

What happens to my voicemails when I delete a number?

Once you delete a mobile number, any associated voicemails will also be erased. Make sure to save any important voicemails you want to keep before removing that number.

Can I get a refund for deleting a line mid-month?

Unfortunately, you cannot get a pro-rated refund for deleting a number mid-cycle. You will continue paying for that line until your next billing cycle when charges are adjusted.

Does deleting a number affect my contract length?

If you are on a contract term, deleting a line will not impact your overall contract end date. You still must continue service until the term expires without early termination fees.

Can I re-use a deleted mobile number in the future?

It is highly unlikely you would be able to re-use a deleted mobile number in the future. Once recycled back into the pool of numbers, it would be near impossible to get that same number assigned again later.

Will my account credits be impacted if I delete a line?

Most promotional account credits are tied to your overall number of lines or minimum amount of service. If you delete a line, you risk losing eligibility for any credits tied specifically to that line.

Conclusion

Deleting a mobile number you no longer need can help simplify your wireless plan and reduce any wasted costs on an unused line. With just a quick online request, you can remove a mobile number from your account completely.

Just be sure you have the account PIN code handy, and understand how it will adjust your monthly service charges. With a few simple clicks, you can delete the mobile number and prevent any further calls and texts to that old line.