How to Unfreeze Your Credit | Credential Index

How to Unfreeze Your Credit With Equifax, Experian and TransUnion

Contact each credit bureau individually to unfreeze credit online, by phone or by mail. It's free.

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Edited by other Updated Dec 11, 2025 If you placed a credit freeze (also called a security freeze) to prevent others from accessing your credit reports, you may want to reopen your credit files at some point to apply for a new car loan, get a credit card or rent an apartment. To allow a credit check, you’ll need to unfreeze your credit. Doing so is free and takes little time when done online. You can unfreeze and freeze your credit reports for free online, by phone or by mail. You can't unfreeze at all three credit bureaus with a single action. You have to unfreeze your credit at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion individually, unless you know which credit bureau a creditor is using for credit checks and choose to lift your freeze at just that one. All three of the major credit bureaus require that you set up accounts if you want to freeze or unfreeze your credit online. If you are a parent or a legal guardian, you can unfreeze or freeze your child’s credit — or an incapacitated adult’s — too. » Learn more: How to freeze your child's credit » » Learn more: Unless you use postal mail, unfreezing your credit reports online takes effect within minutes of requesting it. Permanently unfreezing your credit is also an option, but NerdWallet doesn't recommend giving up the protections a freeze gives you. » Dive deeper: How to protect your Social Security number » Dive deeper:

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How to unfreeze credit with Experian

You can schedule an Experian credit freeze lift with one click, if completing the process online. Unfreezing your Experian credit report can also be done permanently or temporarily. If you unfreeze your credit permanently, this means your file remains open until you initiate another credit freeze. If you opt for a temporary thaw, creditors can check your credit for a specific amount of time. To unfreeze by mail, you’ll need to send your name and other personal information along with copies of verification documents. Contact options: Contact options: Online: Experian website. Online: Mail: Experian Security Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013. Mail: Phone: 888-397-3742. Phone:

How to unfreeze credit with Equifax

You can unfreeze your Equifax credit report online by creating a "myEquifax" account. A PIN is no longer needed for online freezing or lifting an Equifax credit freeze, but you have the option to request one. Equifax allows you to unfreeze your credit temporarily or permanently. If you choose to unfreeze or reinstate a freeze by phone, you’ll be asked to verify your identity by answering security questions or receiving a one-time PIN by text. To freeze or unfreeze your Equifax credit report by mail, you’ll need to download a form from the Equifax website and provide copies of documents that verify your identity and address, such as your Social Security card and a utility bill. Contact options: Contact options: Online: Equifax website. Online: Mail: Equifax Information Services LLC, P.O. Box 105788, Atlanta, GA 30348. Mail: Phone: 888-298-0045. Phone:

How to unfreeze credit with TransUnion

You can unfreeze your TransUnion credit report online through the TransUnion Service Center, which requires creating an account. You can also unfreeze your credit report by phone or mail; just provide your name, address, birth date and Social Security number. You can remove a TransUnion credit freeze for a specific time period. Your TransUnion credit remains frozen or unfrozen until you request changes. Contact options: Contact options: Online: TransUnion website. Online: Mail: TransUnion, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094. Mail: Phone: 800-916-8800. Phone: Explore more on About the author 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 How to unfreeze credit with Experian How to unfreeze credit with Equifax How to unfreeze credit with TransUnion How to Freeze and Unfreeze Your Credit: Video and Guide 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