You're sitting there, looking at your phone, and you realize it’s time for a fresh start. Maybe an ex won't stop texting. Maybe you’re getting buried under a mountain of telemarketing calls from "Debt Relief" centers you never signed up for. Whatever the reason, you need to change my number Cricket Wireless style, and you want it done without the headache. Honestly, most people think they can just toggle a setting in their phone’s "General" menu and poof—new identity. It doesn't work like that.
Cricket Wireless, which runs on AT&T’s massive network, has a very specific set of hoops you have to jump through. It's not exactly difficult, but if you go in blind, you’re going to end up frustrated with a customer service rep or, worse, a $25 fee you didn't see coming. Let's get into the weeds of how this actually works in the real world.
The Cold Hard Truth About the $25 Fee
Money first. If you decide to change your number because you simply "want a new vibe," Cricket is going to charge you. Specifically, it's a $25 fee. Now, there is a tiny bit of nuance here that most people miss. If you are changing your number because of documented harassment, sometimes—and I mean sometimes—a sympathetic representative might waive that fee. But don't bank on it.
The fee is usually applied immediately. You pay it, and the change happens.
Why the cost? It’s basically an administrative hurdle. Provisioning a new MDN (Mobile Directory Number) on the network takes a bit of backend "handshaking" between Cricket’s systems and the parent AT&T infrastructure. To them, it’s a transaction. To you, it’s the price of peace and quiet.
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How to Actually Change My Number Cricket Style
You have two main paths. You can do it yourself online, or you can call the help line. Most people prefer the online route because, let's be real, who wants to wait on hold listening to upbeat MIDI music?
- The Online Method: Log into your Cricket account via the website. Navigate to "Account Settings" and look for the "Line Settings" or "Edit Number" option. You’ll choose your area code, and the system will spit out a new number for you. It’s quick. Usually, it takes about 15 minutes for the network to recognize the change.
- The Phone Method: Dial 611 from your Cricket phone or call 1-800-CRICKET. You'll talk to an actual human. They’ll verify your PIN—don't forget your 4-digit PIN—and then they can process the change.
Wait. There’s a catch.
When you change your number, your voicemail is wiped. Totally gone. Every saved message from your grandma, every old work memo—it’s deleted the second that new number goes live. If there’s something you need to keep, record it using a voice memo app on another device before you pull the trigger.
Dealing With the "Ghost of Numbers Past"
Here is something nobody warns you about: Recycled numbers. When you change your number on Cricket, you aren't getting a "virgin" number that has never been used in the history of telecommunications. You are getting a number that someone else abandoned roughly 90 to 180 days ago. This is a practice called "number pooling."
If the person who had your "new" number before you was a deadbeat who didn't pay their credit card bills, guess who is getting those debt collection calls now? You. It’s a gamble. Sometimes you trade one set of spam calls for a brand new, even more aggressive set.
What to do if your new number is a "spam magnet"
If you find yourself in this nightmare scenario, you have a 24-hour window. Most users report that if they call Cricket back immediately and explain that the new number is receiving dozens of calls for "Isiah" (or whoever the previous owner was), Cricket might let you swap it one more time for free. But you have to be fast.
The iMessage and RCS Headache
If you are an iPhone user, change my number Cricket steps include a very specific ritual for iMessage. If you don't do this, your texts will keep coming from your old number, or worse, they won't send at all.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Messages.
- Turn iMessage OFF.
- Do the same for FaceTime.
- Restart your phone.
- Turn them back ON.
This forces your iPhone to re-register with Apple's servers using the new SIM identity provided by Cricket. Android users have it a bit easier with RCS (Google Messages), but it’s still smart to toggle "Chat Features" off and on again to make sure the "Verified Number" status updates.
Timing is Everything
Don't change your number on a day when you’re expecting a two-factor authentication (2FA) code for something important. Think about it. Your bank, your Gmail, your Instagram—they all use your phone number to let you log in.
If you change your number on Cricket at 2:00 PM and try to log into your bank at 2:05 PM, you’re locked out. The bank is sending the code to a number that no longer exists in your name.
Pro tip: Log into all your sensitive accounts before you change the number. Keep those tabs open. Once the number changes, update the phone number in your security settings immediately while you still have access to the accounts via "Trusted Browser" status.
The Impact on Your Cricket Plan
Changing your number doesn't reset your billing cycle. If your bill is due on the 15th, it’s still due on the 15th. However, if you are moving to a different state and want a local area code, you should know that your taxes and fees might shift slightly. Cricket is "all-in" pricing (taxes included) for most plans, but some older legacy plans or specific regional regulations might cause a tiny fluctuation in what you see on the screen.
Also, if you have any active "Bridge Pay" arrangements or are in the middle of a device payment plan, changing your number shouldn't affect the hardware side of things, but it can occasionally cause a glitch in the automated payment system. Keep a close eye on your "MyCricket" app for the first 48 hours.
Why People Think They Can't Change Their Number (But Can)
There’s a myth that you can only change your number once a year. That’s not true. You can change it as often as you’re willing to pay the $25.
Another misconception is that you need a new SIM card. You don't. Your current physical SIM or eSIM can be "re-provisioned" over the air. You stay right where you are, the signal bars might drop for a second, and then you’re back in business with a new identity.
Actionable Steps for a Clean Transition
If you're ready to go through with it, do it the right way. Don't just wing it.
- Backup everything: Save those voicemails and export your text threads if you need them for legal or sentimental reasons.
- Audit your 2FA: List every app that sends you a text code to log in. This is the #1 way people get "orphaned" from their own digital lives.
- Check your Cricket balance: Make sure you have the $25 ready to go, or a credit card on file that isn't expired.
- The "Burner" Test: Once you get your new number, text yourself from a friend’s phone. If it doesn't go through, your "Provisioning" isn't finished. Wait 30 minutes before calling tech support.
- Update your Voicemail Greeting: Do it immediately. There is nothing weirder than a new number with a generic "The party you are trying to reach..." message. It makes you look like a scammer to people you actually want to talk to.
Changing your number is a bit of a "nuclear option" for privacy, but for Cricket users, it’s a relatively straightforward process. Just remember that the $25 fee is the price of admission, and the real work happens in updating your digital life after the network switch is done.