Key takeaways
A credit freeze is one of the best ways to protect your credit score and finances.
You can temporarily lift a credit freeze when applying for credit or unfreeze your credit permanently.
You have to unfreeze your credit with each credit bureau.
You can manage credit freezes online, over the phone, or by mail.
A credit freeze protects your personal information and credit report by making it inaccessible to others, including fraudsters. But how do you unfreeze your credit when you need it?
Knowing how to unfreeze credit is important so you can apply for credit cards, mortgages and other loan products. Luckily, it's a fast and easy (if repetitive) process. You can unfreeze your credit by contacting each credit bureau online, by phone, or by mail.
Why you might need to unfreeze credit
A credit freeze blocks access to your credit reports, so lenders can't open a loan, credit card, mortgage, or other account in your name. It's a powerful tool against identity theft, but it can also be a roadblock when you need to borrow money.
For instance, you may need to thaw or unfreeze your credit when you're:
Applying for car loans, personal loans, or student loans
Getting a mortgage
Opening a new credit card
Renting an apartment with a landlord who checks credit
Unfreezing your credit will open up access to your credit report again so you can move forward with your loan, credit, or rental application. At the same time, be aware of the risks of leaving your credit unfrozen for too long.
If you're at risk of identity theft, leaving your credit unfrozen can make it easier for someone to open unauthorized accounts in your name. To protect yourself, you could place a temporary thaw and refreeze your credit as soon as your credit check is complete.
Pro tip: It never hurts to keep your credit frozen. While it may be inconvenient to thaw your credit every time you apply for a new loan or credit card, a credit bureau freeze is one of the best ways to protect your finances and your credit score against fraudsters.
6 steps to unfreeze credit at all three bureaus
When you freeze your credit, you need to contact the three major credit bureaus individually. As for how to unfreeze your credit, you have to do the same – contact each bureau online, over the phone, or by mail.
You can choose to temporarily unfreeze credit (called a thaw) just long enough to apply for new credit, such as a credit card, car loan, or mortgage. You can also permanently remove a credit freeze if you believe you're no longer at risk of someone using your info to open new credit in your name.
1. Gather your ID and personal information
Your first step is to gather the information you'll need to verify your identity with each credit bureau. This will include your:
Full name
Date of birth
Current address
Social Security number
PIN or password from your original freeze
Having these details ready will help the unfreezing process go smoothly.
2. Decide on a temporary or permanent lift
When you unfreeze your credit, you can choose between a temporary lift or permanent removal.
Temporary lift: This thaws your credit report temporarily so a lender can access it for a specific period of time. It's a good option if you want to let a legitimate lender or other party access your report before freezing your credit again.
Permanent removal: This will completely remove the freeze from your credit report. If you're no longer concerned about identity theft or other issues, you could opt for a permanent lift of the credit freeze.
Remember that a permanent lift may leave your credit more vulnerable to fraud or identity theft. If you're worried about the security of your information, choose a temporary thaw on your file instead of a permanent removal.
3. Unfreeze credit at Experian online or by phone
You can unfreeze your credit temporarily or permanently with Experian online, over the phone, or by mail. Here's how:
Online: Visit the Experian Credit Freeze page to sign in to your Experian account (or create one if you don't currently have an account). Once logged in, simply toggle the option from "frozen" to "unfrozen" or schedule a thaw for a specific time period.
By phone: Call 888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742) and request to unfreeze your credit. You'll need to provide some information to verify your identity.
By mail: Mail a letter to Experian asking to unfreeze your credit report. Address the envelope to Experian Security Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013. Include your name, Social Security number, complete list of addresses from the last two years, date of birth, a copy of a government-issued identification card, and a copy of a utility bill or bank statement
4. Unfreeze credit at TransUnion online or by phone
To initiate a TransUnion credit freeze lift, you can log in to the website, call TransUnion, or contact the bureau by mail.
Online: Visit TransUnion's Credit Freeze page, and click on the "Unfreeze" button. Create an account or log in to an existing account, then follow the steps to unfreeze.
By phone: Call 800-916-8800 and request to unfreeze your credit. TransUnion will verify your identity using personal information like your Social Security number.
By mail: Mail a letter to TransUnion requesting to unfreeze your credit report. Address the envelope to TransUnion, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094. Your request must include one photocopied proof of your Social Security number and two photocopied proofs of your current address
You can schedule a freeze removal with TransUnion up to 15 days before you need to unfreeze your credit.
5. Unfreeze credit at Equifax online or by phone
Finally, you'll need an Equifax credit freeze lift. Like with the other bureaus, you have three options: online, phone, and mail.
Online: Visit Equifax's Security Freeze page to sign in or create an account. Once logged in, you can change the status of your freeze with the click of a button – or schedule a thaw for a later date.
By phone: Call 888-298-0045 and request to unfreeze your credit. You will either need to receive a one-time PIN via text message or answer a few questions based on your credit report to verify your identity.
By mail: Download and fill out this form, marking that you want to unfreeze your credit. Send it to Equifax Information Services LLC, P.O. Box 105788, Atlanta, GA 30348, along with a copy of a valid ID and a copy of an acceptable document proving your address, such as a utility bill or a bank statement
6. Confirm the freeze lift with your lender
Before you apply for new credit, reach out to your lender about which credit bureau they use when pulling your credit report. That way, you can make sure you've unfrozen your credit with the correct credit bureau to move forward with your application.
If your credit is still frozen, this could result in a delay or denial of your application. By confirming with your lender, you can proceed with your application confident that the right credit report is accessible.
When to unfreeze your credit
You will only need to unfreeze your credit if you're expecting a hard inquiry on your credit report. Soft inquiries (also called soft credit checks) are usually possible even when your credit is frozen.
What does this mean?
You will need to unfreeze your credit when applying for a credit card or loan, including a personal loan, car loan, student loan, or mortgage.
You may need to unfreeze your credit when applying for an apartment, depending on whether the landlord or property management company runs a hard or soft credit pull.
You typically won't need to unfreeze your credit when signing up for utilities or a phone plan, submitting to an employment background check, or purchasing an insurance policy. While businesses, employers, and insurers may check your credit in these scenarios, it's generally a soft pull, so your credit can stay frozen.
What's the difference between a temporary thaw and a permanent lift?
When you unfreeze your credit, you can choose between a temporary thaw and a permanent lift. A temporary thaw unfreezes your credit for a specific period of time, while a permanent lift unfreezes it indefinitely. You can still refreeze your credit at a later date, but you'll have to do so manually.
Unfreeze your credit when needed – but don't forget to refreeze
Many major money moves, like taking out a personal loan, require you to unfreeze your credit. Fortunately, unfreezing your file is simple and free. If you're worried about identity theft, you may want to consider keeping your credit frozen.
Looking for other ways to protect your finances and your identity? Sign up for credit monitoring services to get updates whenever there are changes to your credit report – and instantly identify suspicious activity.
Learn more about credit score ranges and where you stand.