How to freeze your credit at all three bureaus
A credit freeze takes three free requests and stops strangers from opening new credit in your name.
A credit freeze stops lenders from pulling your credit report, so a thief with your name and Social Security number cannot open new credit in your name. It is free by federal law, lasts until you lift it, and does not affect your credit score. Place it separately at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion online or by phone, and lift it for a few minutes whenever you apply for credit yourself.
What a credit freeze is
A freeze, also called a security freeze, blocks prospective creditors from seeing your credit file. Lenders typically check a credit report before approving a card, loan, or financing plan. If the report is frozen, the check fails and the application stops there.
Since September 21, 2018, federal law has made placing and lifting a freeze free at all three nationwide credit bureaus. The FTC says a freeze lasts until you lift it, and the CFPB says freezes do not affect your credit scores.
Anyone can freeze their credit for any reason, without first being a victim of identity theft.
How to freeze your credit at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion
Each bureau keeps its own file, so a freeze at one does nothing at the other two. Do all three in one sitting.
- 1Have your Social Security number, date of birth, and current and recent addresses ready. Each bureau verifies your identity before it freezes anything.
- 2At Equifax, go to the Equifax security freeze page and choose Place a Security Freeze. Managing it later online requires a myEquifax account. Equifax's phone number for freezes is (888) 298-0045.
- 3At Experian, go to the Experian freeze center. You need a free Experian account to manage the freeze online, and you no longer need a PIN. By phone, call 1-888-397-3742.
- 4At TransUnion, go to the TransUnion credit freeze page and create a free TransUnion account to place the freeze online. TransUnion lists its phone and mail options on a separate page.
- 5Save each login in your password manager and protect each account with the strongest two-factor option it offers. Whoever controls these logins can lift your freeze.
- 6Watch for the confirmations: the CFPB says each bureau must send written confirmation within five business days, with instructions for removing the freeze.
Requests made online or by phone must take effect within one business day. Requests by mail can take up to three business days after the bureau receives them.
How to lift a freeze when you apply for credit
You can lift a freeze temporarily for a set window or remove it permanently, and both are free. Online and phone requests must take effect within one hour, and mail requests take up to three business days.
Ask the lender which bureau it pulls from, and lift only that one. Set the temporary lift to end a few days later so you do not have to remember to refreeze.
Credit freeze vs credit lock vs fraud alert
| Credit freeze | Credit lock | Fraud alert | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free by law | Often part of a paid plan | Free |
| What it does | Blocks new credit checks | Blocks new credit checks | Asks lenders to verify your identity first |
| How long | Until you lift it | Set by the bureau's product terms | 1 year (initial) or 7 years (extended) |
| Where to place it | Each bureau separately | Each bureau separately | One bureau, which tells the other two |
The CFPB says credit locks are offered for a fee, often bundled with other services, and are no more effective than security freezes. Experian, for example, includes its CreditLock only in a paid membership. Use the free freeze instead.
A fraud alert blocks nothing: the FTC notes it does not stop businesses from seeing your credit report. An extended alert lasts seven years but requires an FTC identity theft report or police report. A freeze is the stronger tool, and you can add an alert on top if you have already been hit.
What a freeze does not stop
- Creditors you already have accounts with can still access your file, the CFPB says, so a thief using a stolen card number is not stopped.
- Certain government agencies, such as child support agencies, can still see your file, as can any credit monitoring company you hired.
- A freeze only matters when a business pulls your report, so accounts that open without a credit check go through.
- A freeze does nothing if someone gets into your email, bank, or exchange login. Stopping account takeover takes strong passwords and hardware security keys.
Why bitcoiners should freeze their credit
If you have ever bought bitcoin on a KYC exchange, your identity documents sit on someone else's servers. In May 2025, Coinbase told the SEC that a criminal appears to have paid support contractors or employees to pull customer data, including names, addresses, phone numbers, emails, the last four digits of Social Security numbers, government ID images, and balance snapshots, which is most of what an identity thief needs.
A freeze makes that stolen data far less useful for opening loans and cards in your name. Pair it with the habits that protect the coins themselves: get your bitcoin into self-custody, replace SMS login codes tied to your phone number, and pull your address off people-search sites.
Freezes for children and the fourth bureau
Parents and guardians can place a free freeze for a child under 16. The FTC says the process differs from an adult freeze and the freeze stays until you ask the bureaus to remove it.
Innovis is a smaller fourth credit bureau that also offers a security freeze online, by phone at 1-866-712-4546, or by mail. Add it once the big three are done.
Frequently asked questions
How do I freeze my credit on all three bureaus?
Place a freeze separately at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, either on each bureau's freeze page or by phone. Each one is free, takes effect within one business day for online and phone requests, and stays until you lift it.
What is a credit freeze?
A credit freeze blocks prospective lenders from seeing your credit report, which stops most new credit applications in your name. It is free, it lasts until you lift it, and it does not change your credit score.
Should I freeze my credit?
Yes, unless you are about to apply for credit this week. It costs nothing, does not touch your score, and a lift requested online or by phone must take effect within an hour. You only need to lift it on the days a lender checks your credit.
What is the difference between a credit freeze and a credit lock?
Both block new credit checks. A freeze is free and guaranteed by federal law. A lock is a bureau product, often part of a paid plan, and the CFPB says locks are no more effective than freezes.
Does freezing your credit hurt your credit score?
No. The FTC and the CFPB both say a freeze does not affect your credit score. You can still check your own report and use your existing cards and loans.
How long does it take to unfreeze credit?
Online or by phone, the bureau must lift the freeze within one hour of your request. By mail, it can take up to three business days.