How to freeze your credit with all three bureaus.
A credit freeze is one of the rare financial safety controls that is both powerful and free. It limits access to your credit report for many new-account applications, making it harder for somebody with your stolen identity to open a credit card or loan in your name.
The irritating part is that the United States has three nationwide credit bureaus. Freezing one does not freeze the others. You need to complete the process with all three, and you need a way to get back into all three when a legitimate lender checks your file.
Freeze each bureau
Equifax
Create or sign in to a free myEquifax account and manage the security freeze. Use the official Equifax domain.
Freeze EquifaxExperian
Use the Experian security freeze center. Read each option carefully so you choose the free freeze, not a separate paid product.
Freeze ExperianTransUnion
Create or sign in to the free TransUnion Service Center, then add and manage the freeze on the TransUnion file.
Freeze TransUnionWhat to have ready
Online processes can vary as bureaus update their identity checks. Be prepared to provide identifying information such as your legal name, recent addresses, date of birth, and Social Security number through the bureau's secure process. You may be asked questions based on your credit file.
Use a password manager to store each unique password and the exact bureau URL. Keep any recovery information the bureau provides. Do not store full Social Security numbers or identity-document photos in an unsecured note.
Freeze, fraud alert, and credit lock are different
What a freeze does not do
- It does not affect your credit score.
- It does not close current cards, loans, or bank accounts.
- It does not stop normal use of existing credit cards.
- It does not remove fraudulent accounts already on a report.
- It does not stop every possible use of personal information, including tax, benefits, medical, bank-account, or account-takeover fraud.
- It does not replace reviewing statements and credit reports.
How to lift a freeze when you apply
Before a credit card, auto loan, apartment, mortgage, or other application that may use a credit report, ask which bureau or bureaus will be checked. Log in directly to those bureaus and request a temporary lift for a narrow date window. If the company cannot tell you which report it uses, you may need to lift all three.
Schedule the lift shortly before the application and let the freeze return automatically at the end of the window. A temporary lift is usually better than permanently removing the freeze and relying on your memory to restore it.
When should you freeze your credit?
You do not need to wait for proven identity theft. A freeze is available to anyone. It is especially worth considering when:
- Your Social Security number, driver's license, tax form, or credit application was exposed.
- A company holding sensitive personal information reported a breach.
- You received an inquiry, card, denial letter, or account notice you do not recognize.
- Your mail was stolen or redirected.
- A scammer collected enough information to answer identity questions.
- You do not expect to apply for new credit soon and prefer a default-deny setting.
If fraud already appears on your report
A freeze helps block future new-account access; it does not clean up what is already there. Get the reports from the federally authorized AnnualCreditReport.com, mark every unfamiliar account or inquiry, and use IdentityTheft.gov to build a recovery plan.
Contact the company where the fraud occurred, close or restrict the account, and dispute inaccurate information with both the bureau and the company that supplied it. Save confirmation numbers and copies of every submission.
Do not forget children and dependent adults
Parents, guardians, and other authorized representatives can request freezes for protected consumers, including children under applicable rules. The process usually requires identity and authority documents and may use mail rather than the standard online flow. Follow each bureau's current protected-consumer instructions instead of uploading documents through an unofficial service.
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Frequently asked questions
Is freezing your credit free?
Yes. Placing, temporarily lifting, and removing a security freeze is free at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Do not confuse a free freeze with a paid lock or monitoring product.
Does a credit freeze hurt your credit score?
No. A credit freeze does not affect your credit score. It limits access to your file for many new-account applications.
Do I need to freeze all three credit bureaus?
Yes. A freeze at one bureau does not automatically freeze the other two. Contact Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion separately.
Can I use my credit cards while my credit is frozen?
Yes. A freeze does not close existing accounts or stop normal use of current credit cards. It mainly restricts access to your report for new credit.