Transfer Internet To A New Address: How Does It Work?
With the excitement and stress around moving to a new house, transferring internet to a new address is probably the last thing on your to-do list. While it may seem like a daunting task, it’s actually quite simple to do.
We’ll break down the process of moving your WiFi to a different address, so you don’t have to miss a night of streaming your favorite HBO shows when you settle into your new place.
How do you transfer internet to a new address?
When you want to move your internet to a new home, the process is pretty easy. But it can seem overwhelming if you don’t understand what you need to do. So, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to successfully move your WiFi to your new house.
Talk to your ISP
The first thing you need to do is speak with your ISP (internet service provider) and let them know of your move. Make sure to give them the address of your new house so they can tell you if you’ll be able to get the same WiFi service there.
What are the chances your ISP will be available in your new home?
The ISP you’ve been using in your current home may not be part of a wireless network in other areas. Thus, if you live in Oregon but want to transfer internet to a new address that’s in North Carolina, chances are you’ll need to find a new provider. Conversely, if you’re moving down the street or within the same city, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to stick with your current service. But you won’t know anything for sure until you contact your ISP.
What if you can’t use your ISP at your new house?
If your ISP lets you know that they don’t offer service in the area you’re moving to, you’ll need to find a new internet provider. While this might seem like a frustrating task, it’s quite simple to switch your provider and still get a fast, strong internet connection. Sometimes, the provider you have to switch to ends up giving you access to even faster speeds than what you had before.
When to notify your provider
When you move WiFi to a new home, you need to give your provider sufficient notice. If you needed a friend to help you move a couch into your new home, you wouldn’t call them while you’re unloading the truck. So, the same goes for when you transfer internet to a new address.
You should contact your provider at least two weeks before your official move-in date. This will give you enough time to make plans for an activation date and setup support. Likewise, it’ll also give you time to look for a new internet plan with a different provider if your current ISP doesn’t cover the area where you’re moving to.
Make sure you get the best bang for your buck
If you have to sign up with a different ISP for your new place, you’ll need to do some homework. Neglecting to communicate with various ISPs— and just googling “broadband and moving house” instead won’t give you enough information. So, to make sure you get a good connection for what you pay for, be on the lookout for special discounts and deals.
It’s not uncommon to get a special promotional rate when you sign up with a new internet provider. You might be able to pay less than what you did at your old house or get a much faster and stronger connection (like Fiber internet). Thus, it’s good to ask ISPs about any perks they offer.
Now, even if you’re able to stick with your current ISP, it’s still worth a shot to ask about a discount. You might be able to leverage your move and receive new customer pricing.
Get your new internet up and running
Once you’ve decided on the provider you’ll be using, the next step in transferring internet to a new address is figuring out if your new house is already wired for service.
If your new home is already wired for internet service
You can find this out by asking your provider the last time their service was active at the house you’re moving into. If the person who lived in the house before you used the same service, chances are that the cables will still be set up and operable.
However, you can check this yourself by hooking up your modem to your new house. If the modem’s status lights come on, it means that you already have a clear connection to your ISP’s network.
If this is the case, you’ll be streaming The Handmaid’s Tale and playing Call of Duty in no time! All you’ll need to do is call your provider to schedule an activation date.
If your new home isn’t wired for internet
When you connect your modem and its status lights don’t come on, you’ll most likely need a technician to come out, as this means that your new house isn’t wired for your ISP. If you’re in this situation when you transfer internet to a new address, you’ll need to schedule an installation appointment with a technician.
Test the speed of your new system
After your successful installation and/or activation, you can rest easy knowing that the hard work (though you’ll probably realize it wasn’t as hard as you thought) is done. However, it’s still best practice to perform a speed test on your new system to confirm that you’re getting the speeds you’re paying for.
How to run a speed test
Running a speed test once you’ve transferred internet to a new address is fairly straightforward. You can look up a variety of free, online speed test tools that will tell you your speeds with the click of a button.
Can I use the same modem when I move?
This is a very common question people have when moving to a new home, and the answer is yes. You can take your modem when you transfer internet to a new address, but only if it works with the same internet connection type that you have in your new house. You can check this by searching your modem’s model online.
How to relocate an internet modem
Moving your modem is as easy as moving your coffee maker— you just pack it up and move it. But make sure you handle your modem very gently when you pack it, as a damaged modem will leave you SOL when you try to connect to the internet in your new home.
Can I bring my router when I transfer internet to a new address?
Yes, you can take your router to your new house. However, it’ll only work if your modem is compatible with your new ISP and your internet connection is in place.
Does your IP address change when you move?
In almost all circumstances, your IP address will change when you move. This is because an IP address marks the physical location of your device, just like a Zip Code. You’ll receive your designated IP address from your new ISP.
And if you’re wondering, “Does an IP address change with WiFi if you keep the same ISP?” The answer is almost always going to be yes as well. Since you’re moving to a new location, even if you stay with your current provider, different cables and connection methods will likely be implemented to get you on the internet. Thus, it’d be a rare case to keep the same IP address.
Now you know how to transfer internet to a new address
Pretty simple, right? Most ISPs make it easy to move your internet service to your new house. All you really need to do is schedule a date for cancellation in your current home and activation in your new home. And if you have to sign up with a different ISP, you’ll just need to set up an installation appointment, and a technician will come out to help you.
If you’re situated in the West Wisconsin area, contact WWT and set up an appointment!
Either way, you’ll be back to Zoom meetings and Netflix movie nights before you know it!