How to get old phone number back

You might be able to get back your old phone number. … If you left a plan and did not hold the number for a new plan, it may be lost forever. The carrier maintains the number, however, and you can inquire about reinstating your old number.

In a little-known industry practice, wireless service providers routinely recycle former customers’ phone numbers and give them to new customers without informing them of the number’s history. … A number can be reused within as little as 30 days.

How long before a cell phone number is reassigned? Cell phone numbers are typically recycled within 90 days. However, in some high demand area codes a cell phone number could be reassigned in under 30 days.