How to Freeze Your Credit (Free) at All Three Bureaus
In this guide
- What is a credit freeze?
- What a credit freeze doesn’t do
- Credit freeze vs. fraud alert vs. credit lock
- Who should freeze their credit?
- How to freeze your credit: step by step
- How to lift (thaw) a freeze
- What to do if you suspect identity theft
- What to do before applying for credit with a freeze in place
- Frequently asked questions
- Twenty minutes of protection
A credit freeze is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself from identity theft, and it’s completely free. It stops most lenders from accessing your credit report, which means a criminal with your Social Security number can’t easily open a new credit card or loan in your name.
Yet many people never freeze their credit, often because they think it’s complicated or that it will hurt their score. It does neither. Here’s how a credit freeze works, how to set it up at all three bureaus in about 20 minutes and how to lift it when you need to apply for credit.
What is a credit freeze?
A credit freeze (also called a security freeze) restricts access to your credit report. Most new lenders check your credit before approving an application, so if your report is frozen, they can’t see it, and the application is typically denied. That blocks most attempts to open fraudulent accounts.
A freeze:
- Is free at all three nationwide credit bureaus, under federal law
- Doesn’t affect your credit score
- Doesn’t affect your existing accounts; you can keep using your cards
- Stays in place until you lift it
- Can be lifted temporarily in minutes when you need to apply for credit
What a credit freeze doesn’t do
- It doesn’t stop fraud on your existing accounts. Monitor your statements.
- It doesn’t prevent some types of checks, such as those by your existing creditors, debt collectors, government agencies with court orders, or companies making prescreened offers (you can opt out of those separately).
- It doesn’t stop tax-refund fraud or medical identity theft. For tax protection, consider an IRS Identity Protection PIN.
Credit freeze vs. fraud alert vs. credit lock
| Credit freeze | Fraud alert | Credit lock | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | Restricts access to your report | Tells lenders to verify your identity before opening credit | Restricts access, similar to a freeze |
| Cost | Free by law | Free | Often part of a paid product, sometimes free |
| How long it lasts | Until you lift it | 1 year (initial), 7 years (extended, for identity theft victims) | Depends on the provider |
| Where to set it up | Each bureau separately | One bureau, which notifies the other two | Each bureau’s app or service |
| Legal protections | Governed by federal law | Governed by federal law | Governed by the company’s terms |
For most people, a free credit freeze offers the strongest protection.
Who should freeze their credit?
Almost anyone who isn’t planning to apply for credit soon. A freeze is especially worth it if:
- Your information was exposed in a data breach (which applies to a large share of Americans)
- You’ve lost your wallet or Social Security card
- You’ve been a victim of identity theft
- You don’t plan to apply for a loan, credit card or new apartment in the next few months
Parents can also freeze credit for children under 16, which can prevent identity thieves from using a child’s clean record.
How to freeze your credit: step by step
You need to freeze your credit at each of the three bureaus separately. Each takes about five to ten minutes online.
| Bureau | How to freeze |
|---|---|
| Equifax | Online at equifax.com, by phone or by mail |
| Experian | Online at experian.com, by phone or by mail |
| TransUnion | Online at transunion.com, by phone or by mail |
What you’ll need
- Full name, address and date of birth
- Social Security number
- Previous addresses from the last few years
- Answers to identity verification questions
- An email address and phone number for your account
The steps
- Go to each bureau’s official freeze page by typing the address directly or searching for “[bureau name] security freeze.” Avoid paid products that are advertised alongside; the freeze itself is free.
- Create an account and verify your identity.
- Place the freeze. When requested online or by phone, the bureau must place it within one business day.
- Save your login, PIN or password somewhere secure, such as a password manager. You’ll need it to lift the freeze later.
- Repeat for the other two bureaus.
Bonus step: Consider freezing your file at ChexSystems (used by banks for new accounts) and at the National Consumer Telecom and Utilities Exchange (used for phone and utility accounts).
How to lift (thaw) a freeze
When you need to apply for credit, such as a credit card, car loan, mortgage or apartment rental, you can lift the freeze:
- Temporarily, for a specific period, such as a week
- Permanently, removing the freeze entirely
When requested online or by phone, the bureau must lift the freeze within one hour.
Tip: Ask the lender which bureau it will check. You may only need to lift the freeze at one bureau. If they don’t know, lift all three for a short period.
What to do if you suspect identity theft
- Freeze your credit at all three bureaus, if you haven’t already.
- Place a fraud alert for added protection.
- Review your credit reports for accounts you don’t recognize at AnnualCreditReport.com.
- Report identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov, the FTC’s official site, which creates a recovery plan and an identity theft report.
- Contact the companies where fraudulent accounts were opened.
- Dispute fraudulent information with the credit bureaus. Our guide to late payments and your credit report explains the dispute process.
What to do before applying for credit with a freeze in place
A freeze doesn’t stop you from getting credit; it just adds a step. Here’s how to handle common situations:
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Applying for a credit card | Ask the issuer which bureau it uses, or lift all three for a few days |
| Renting an apartment | Ask the landlord or screening company which bureau it checks; lift that freeze for a week |
| Applying for a mortgage | Lenders usually check all three; lift all freezes for the full application period |
| Buying a car with financing | Dealers may check several bureaus; lift all three for a few days |
| Opening a new phone or utility account | These companies may check a credit bureau or a specialty agency; lift the relevant freeze |
| Starting a new job with a credit check | Ask HR which bureau is used |
Example: freezing in practice
Taylor froze credit at all three bureaus after a data breach notice. A year later, Taylor wanted to apply for a new credit card:
- Taylor called the issuer, which said it usually pulled Experian.
- Taylor logged into Experian and scheduled a temporary lift for five days.
- Taylor applied the same day and was approved.
- The freeze automatically returned after five days, with no further action needed.
The whole process took about ten minutes.
Protecting children’s credit
Children’s Social Security numbers can be used to open fraudulent accounts that go unnoticed for years. Parents and guardians can request a freeze for a child under 16 at each bureau, usually by mail with documents proving identity and guardianship. The freeze stays until it’s lifted, often when the child is ready to apply for credit as a young adult.
Keep monitoring anyway
Even with a freeze, review your free credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com a few times a year and read your account statements each month, because a freeze doesn’t stop fraud on existing accounts.
Frequently asked questions
Does freezing my credit hurt my credit score?
No. A freeze has no effect on your credit score, and it doesn’t stop your existing accounts from reporting to the bureaus.
Can I still use my credit cards with a freeze?
Yes. A freeze only affects new credit applications. Your existing cards and loans work normally.
Will a credit freeze stop prescreened credit card offers?
No. To stop most prescreened offers, opt out at OptOutPrescreen.com, the official site run by the credit bureaus.
Do I need to freeze my credit at all three bureaus?
Yes. Lenders may check any of the three, so a freeze at only one bureau leaves gaps.
How long does a freeze last?
Indefinitely, until you lift it. There’s no need to renew it.
Does a freeze affect a job background check?
Employers that check credit as part of hiring may need access. You can lift the freeze temporarily if needed.
Twenty minutes of protection
A credit freeze is free, doesn’t affect your credit score and is one of the best defenses against new-account identity theft. Set it up separately at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, keep your login details safe and lift it temporarily when you need to apply for credit.
Today: Set aside 20 minutes and freeze your credit at all three bureaus. Save the logins in a password manager. Then check your full credit picture with our guide to what makes a good credit score.