Canceling a Freebox subscription while keeping your phone number relies on a precise sequence of steps, the order of which determines the outcome. Number portability, the RIO code, and the cancellation timeline form three interconnected variables. A misstep in any of these is enough to lose a landline number used for years.
Cancellation fees and timelines for Freebox depending on the type of contract
Cancelling a Freebox does not cost the same depending on whether the contract has a commitment period or not. Two scenarios arise, with distinct financial consequences.
Read also : How to Easily Access the Current Torrentz2 Address Safely
| Contractual situation | Cancellation fees | Effective timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Freebox without commitment or commitment period ended | Only fixed cancellation fees | Effective cancellation within about ten days after validation |
| Freebox with ongoing commitment | Fixed fees + compensation proportional to the remaining months | Same timeline, but significantly higher cost |
| Cancellation due to unilateral modification of terms | No fees | Request possible within four months following notification |
The third case deserves attention. When Free unilaterally changes its sales conditions, the subscriber has a four-month period to cancel without fees. This option was reactivated at the end of 2025 following a change announced by Free in December.
To identify the address to cancel a Freebox subscription, one must distinguish between online cancellation (from the subscriber area) and sending a registered letter, two channels that do not have exactly the same implications in terms of proof and tracking.
You may also like : How to Organize Your Home?
RIO code and landline number portability: the mechanism not to reverse
Keeping the number relies on a simple principle in theory, but often poorly executed: it is the new operator that triggers the cancellation, not the subscriber. Cancelling oneself before subscribing elsewhere means abandoning the number.
Obtain the RIO code before any steps
The RIO (Operator Identity Statement) is obtained by dialing 3179 from the concerned line. This code, valid for a few weeks, is transmitted to the new operator upon subscription. It is what allows for portability.
- For a Freebox landline number, call 3179 from the landline connected to the box, or retrieve the RIO in the Free subscriber area
- For a Free mobile number, dial 3179 from the concerned mobile
- Never cancel the Free line before the new operator has confirmed the handling of the portability
The most common mistake is to send a cancellation letter to Free and then contact another operator. In this case, the number is released before being retrieved, and it disappears from the network. Recovery then becomes impossible.
Special case: automatic cancellation by Free
Some Freebox subscribers not eligible for fiber have had their connection cut and their subscription automatically canceled by Free, as part of network shutdown scenarios. In this case, portability must be anticipated before the effective cut. If the line is already canceled on the operator’s side, the landline number may be permanently lost.
Univers Freebox documented this phenomenon in 2026, noting that subscribers not eligible for Free fiber received a notification before the cut. The time between the notification and the effective cancellation leaves a window to initiate portability, provided one acts quickly.
Freebox cancellation online or by mail: which channel to prefer
Free offers cancellation directly from the subscriber area, sometimes referred to as “three clicks” cancellation. The process goes through the “My subscription” section, then “Cancel my subscription”.
Cancelling by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt remains an option, but it adds postal delay and an additional cost. Its advantage is legal: the acknowledgment of receipt serves as a binding proof in case of disputes over the date of acknowledgment.
- Online cancellation: quick, tracked in the subscriber area, suitable for most cases
- Cancellation by registered mail: slower, but legally stronger in case of dispute
- Cancellation by phone: possible via Free customer service, but without automatic written record
In all cases, if the goal is to keep the number, the cancellation should not be initiated directly by the subscriber. It is the new operator that handles it through portability. Online or mail cancellation only serves if the subscriber wishes to terminate their subscription without changing operators (switching to another type of connection, moving abroad, etc.).
Secondary lines and mobile plans linked to Freebox
Cancelling a Freebox can impact the household’s mobile plans. Subscribers benefiting from advantages linked to the Free Family offer (discounted secondary lines) lose these advantages as soon as the Freebox is canceled.
Free has deployed a secondary line management feature in its app, allowing users to view the linked benefits before initiating a cancellation. Checking the impact on each line in the household avoids surprises on the next month’s bill.
A subscriber who cancels their Freebox but keeps a Free mobile plan does not lose their mobile number. However, the rate of their mobile plan may be adjusted upwards if it was benefiting from a discount conditioned on holding a Freebox.
The determining factor remains the order of operations. Obtain the RIO, subscribe with the new operator, wait for the portability confirmation, then let the new operator cancel the old line: this sequence protects the number. Any reversal of these steps exposes one to a permanent loss of the landline number.