How do I protect my phone number from a SIM swap?
Reviewed answer
Call your carrier and turn on its free number lock and account PIN. It takes five minutes.
- Call your carrier or open its app and ask to turn on number lock, port-out protection, or SIM protection. The name varies by carrier.
- Set an account PIN that isn't your birthday or the last four of your Social Security number.
- Move your most important accounts (email, bank) from text-message codes to passkeys or an authenticator app where possible.
- Don't post your phone number publicly, and never read a carrier code to someone who calls you.
Get help if
If your phone suddenly shows no service or SOS only while people near you have signal, call your carrier from another phone right away.
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