How to Freeze and Unfreeze Your Experian Credit Report

Experian Credit Freeze: How It Works, Why to Consider It

You can freeze your credit in minutes to protect your identity and financial information. It's free and you can thaw at any time.

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Edited by other Updated Jan 1, 2026 A credit freeze is a great way to protect your credit reports. It's free and it goes into effect quickly, preventing financial scammers from stealing your information and opening accounts in your name. Experian is one of the three credit bureaus to offer this option, also known as a security freeze. Freeze your Experian credit report online (the easiest option) by phone or by mail. A PIN is no longer required.

Freeze your Experian credit online

Go to Experian's credit freeze page and either sign up to create an account or log in if you already have one. The Experian's freeze site looks like this: If you're signing up for an account, you’ll need to input info such as your name, address, last four digits of your Social Security number and contact info. You may need to go through a two-factor identification flow, where a code or link is sent to your phone before you can set up an account. Once you've created an account, you might see other credit content, such as information on getting your credit score. Just scroll down to "security freeze" at the bottom of the page. If you already have an Experian account, log in, go to "security freeze" and then you can toggle between the "frozen" and "unfrozen" options for your credit report. An online credit freeze will go into effect immediately.

Freeze your Experian credit by phone

If you prefer to get information about the process by phone, the number is 888-397-3742 (888-EXPERIAN). You’ll be asked to provide personal data, such as your Social Security number.

Freeze your Experian credit by mail

If you prefer to use the mail, send your request by certified mail to Experian Security Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013. Your letter should include your full name, Social Security number, birthdate, two years’ worth of addresses, a government-issued ID card, such as a driver’s license, and a utility bill or other acceptable proof of address. NerdWallet recommends sending all information using certified mail. You can expect your credit freeze to take effect within three days of Experian receiving your request by mail. Protect Protect Early access Early access

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Why should I freeze my credit?

If you freeze your credit with Experian, you’ll still be able to use it as you do now, but you won’t be able to apply for new credit without first lifting the freeze. That means if your personal data was compromised during a breach, no one else can use it to create a credit account, protecting your credit and saving you time and aggravation in trying to clear it up. Freezing and unfreezing your credit reports does not affect your credit score. With the appropriate paperwork, you can also freeze your child’s credit as an extra precaution. » Learn more: How to protect your child’s credit » Learn more: If you need to apply for credit in the near future, you can temporarily lift the freeze. You can add it back manually after your application or purchase is complete. You can also use the option to lift the freeze for a scheduled amount of time. After that time period, the freeze will automatically be reapplied, so it’s one less thing for you to worry about. To get the strongest protection, you’ll need to freeze your credit with each of the three credit bureaus. » Learn how to initiate an Equifax credit freeze and a TransUnion credit freeze » Learn how

Unthaw your Experian credit the same way

It’s just as easy to “thaw” or unfreeze your credit as it is to freeze it, and it’s also free. You must complete the process at all three bureaus individually with one exception: If you’re making a single credit application — say, getting preapproved for a car loan or an apartment. In this case, you may be able to find out which credit bureau’s data the lender is using and lift the freeze there, saving you some time. To lift your credit freeze with Experian, follow these steps: Online: Log in to your Experian account through the same page where placed the freeze. You’ll have the option to temporarily or permanently unfreeze your credit. Online: By phone: Call the automated line at 888-397-3742. You’ll go through steps to verify your identity, similar to what you experience if you place a freeze over the phone. By phone: By mail: Send a written request that includes your name, address and Social Security number to Experian Security Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013. By mail: »MORE: Get your free credit report summary from NerdWallet »MORE: Explore more on About the authors Barroso Amanda Barroso, Ph.D., is a writer and content strategist helping consumers navigate budgeting, credit building and credit scoring. Before joining NerdWallet, Amanda wrote about demographic trends at the Pew Research Center and earned a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University. Her work has been featured by the Associated Press, Washington Post and Yahoo Finance. Published in O'Shea Bev O'Shea is a former NerdWallet authority on consumer credit, scams and identity theft. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Auburn University and a master's in education from Georgia State University. Before coming to NerdWallet, she worked for daily newspapers, MSN Money and Credit.com. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, MarketWatch, USA Today, MSN Money and elsewhere. Twitter: @BeverlyOShea. Freeze your Experian credit online Freeze your Experian credit by phone Freeze your Experian credit by mail Why should I freeze my credit? Unthaw your Experian credit the same way How to Freeze and Unfreeze Your Credit: Video and Guide How to Unfreeze Your Credit With Equifax, Experian and TransUnion Is My Credit Frozen? What to Do If You’re Not Sure Child Identity Theft: How to Freeze and Protect Your Child’s Credit How to Freeze and Unfreeze Your Credit: Video and Guide By Amanda Barroso, Bev O'Shea How to Prevent Identity Theft: Warning Signs, Protection Services and More By Amanda Barroso, Bev O'Shea Fraud Alert vs. Credit Freeze: What’s the Difference? By Bev O'Shea, Amanda Barroso How to Stay Safe From Financial Scams By Kimberly Palmer, Lisa Mulka Free Identity Theft Protection You May Already Have By Amanda Barroso, Lisa Mulka, Bev O'Shea