What is fax number porting?
Fax number porting moves an existing fax number to a new provider so the number keeps working. Porting is free on every Fax Pigeon plan, and FCC rules set one business day for simple ports.
Fax number porting is moving an existing fax number from one provider to another, so the number keeps working with the new service. A practice that moves its number to a new service has ported it, and porting costs nothing extra on any Fax Pigeon plan.
How does fax number porting work?
Fax number porting starts with the new provider. The practice contacts that company first.
The FCC guide to keeping your phone number when you change providers confirms that the new company starts the port. It also advises keeping the current service in place until the new service starts.
FCC rules require simple ports to be processed in one business day. A simple port generally means one line with no complex switching changes. The FCC also warns that a move from a landline to wireless service may still take a few days, so timing can vary.
Account details that differ from the current service can stall a port. The page on why a fax number port gets rejected covers the causes.
Does porting a fax number matter for HIPAA?
Porting matters for HIPAA because faxes can keep arriving at the old service until the port completes. The new provider must hold a signed business associate agreement before it receives patient faxes on the number.
Fax Pigeon signs that agreement at signup, so it is in place before the port completes. Staff should check where faxes are landing during the move, so no page with patient information waits at the wrong service.
Is porting the same as forwarding?
Porting and forwarding do different jobs. Porting moves the number itself to a new provider, while forwarding sends each fax from that number to another place.
- Porting: the number moves to a new provider and keeps working there.
- Forwarding: the number stays with its current provider, and each fax is copied to another destination.
- New number: a fresh number assigned to the practice, so senders need the new one.
For the steps before the old service ends, see porting a fax number before you cancel the old service.
* Fax Pigeon prices and plan terms as of October 16, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
- What is fax number porting?
- Fax number porting is moving an existing fax number from one provider to another so the number keeps working with the new service. The practice starts the move with the new provider, and the number stays the same. Porting is free on every Fax Pigeon plan.
- How does fax number porting work?
- Fax number porting starts when the practice contacts the new company, which begins the port. The FCC advises keeping the current service in place until the new one starts. FCC rules require simple ports to be processed in one business day, though a landline to wireless move may still take a few days.
- Does fax number porting matter for HIPAA?
- Yes, porting matters for HIPAA around the move, because faxes can keep arriving at the old service until the port completes. The new provider must hold a signed business associate agreement before it receives patient faxes on the number. Fax Pigeon signs that agreement at signup.
- How is fax number porting different from forwarding?
- Fax number porting moves the number itself to a new provider, while fax forwarding copies each incoming fax to another place and leaves the number where it is. A ported number keeps working with its new provider. A forwarded number stays with its current provider, and only the faxes travel on.
Fax Pigeon
HIPAA-compliant fax with a signed BAA on every plan
Plans start at $4.99 a month, billed annually, for 200 pages, with your own number and unlimited people. Your first fax is free.
- Free porting of your local number
- Fax from your email
- AI summary of every inbound fax
- E-signatures
- Contact management
- Delivery proof
Know a practice that still faxes? Refer it through the referral program and earn 20% of its plan, every month it stays.