How to Freeze Your Credit at All Three Bureaus

To freeze your credit, place a free security freeze separately at all three major bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You can do it online or by phone in a few minutes each, and federal law makes it free. A freeze blocks new creditors from pulling your report, which stops most identity thieves from opening accounts in your name. It does not affect your credit score, and it stays in place until you lift it.

A credit freeze is the single strongest free step you can take to protect yourself from new-account identity fraud. It sounds technical, but the process is short and the same at each bureau. Here is exactly how to do it, what it does and does not do, and how it differs from a fraud alert or a credit lock.

Freeze your credit at all three bureaus

You must freeze each bureau on its own, because a freeze at one does not carry over to the others. Go directly to each bureau's official site or call its freeze line. Have your Social Security number, date of birth, and current address ready, and be prepared to answer a few identity-verification questions.

When you freeze online or by phone, the bureau must place the freeze within one business day. Save the confirmation and, where one is issued, the PIN or the login you create, since you will need it to lift the freeze later.

Why a freeze is free and does not expire

Since a 2018 federal law, security freezes and thaws are free at all three bureaus for everyone. A freeze stays on until you remove it. There is no monthly cost, no renewal, and no downside in terms of your score, which is why security experts recommend a freeze as the default for anyone who is not actively shopping for new credit.

What a freeze does and does not do

A freeze blocks new creditors from accessing your credit file, so a lender who tries to pull your report to approve a new account gets a block signal and cannot proceed. That is what stops a thief from opening a card or loan in your name. A freeze does not affect your existing accounts, your ability to use current cards, your credit score, or your own access to your reports and scores. It also does not stop all fraud, only new-account fraud that relies on a credit pull. If something was already opened in your name before the freeze went on, the fix is a dispute rather than a freeze, and our walkthrough on how to dispute credit report errors covers the paperwork.

How to lift or thaw a freeze when you need credit

When you are ready to apply for a card, loan, apartment, or anything that requires a credit check, you temporarily lift the freeze at the bureau the lender will use. If you know which bureau, you can thaw just that one; if you are not sure, thaw all three. A thaw can be scheduled for a set window and then the freeze resets automatically, or you can lift it indefinitely and refreeze later. Lifts are also free and usually take effect within an hour when done online.

Does a credit freeze hurt your credit score?

No. A credit freeze has no effect on your credit score. It simply restricts who can pull your report; it does not change any of the factors that make up your score, such as your payment history, balances, or account age. You can keep a freeze in place indefinitely with zero score impact, and you will still be able to check your own score and reports while frozen.

What is the difference between a credit freeze and a fraud alert?

A credit freeze blocks access to your report entirely, so new accounts cannot be opened until you lift it. A fraud alert leaves your report open but tells lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before approving credit. A freeze is stronger; a fraud alert is lighter and can be a good fit if you want some protection without the friction of thawing every time you apply. You can also have both at once, and placing a fraud alert at one bureau requires that bureau to notify the other two. Either way, a freeze is a block rather than a warning system, so many people layer one of the best credit monitoring services on top of it to hear about changes to their file.

Is a credit freeze the same as a credit lock?

Not quite. A credit freeze is governed by federal law, is always free, and is the option most consumer advocates recommend. A credit lock is a bureau product that does something similar through an app, sometimes bundled into a paid plan with other features. Locks can be more convenient to toggle, but they are a contractual service rather than a legal right, so read the terms. For pure protection at no cost, the freeze is the safer default.

Consider limiting your exposure at the same time

A freeze stops thieves from using your credit file, but your personal details may still be circulating on people-search and data-broker sites, which is often how fraudsters gather the information they need in the first place. Pairing a freeze with a routine to scrub your personal information from data-broker sites closes more of the gap than either step alone.

Where Creditpal fits

Creditpal is educational coaching that connects your profile read-only, so a freeze and Creditpal work together without conflict: you can keep your file frozen to new lenders and still use Creditpal to understand what is happening on your report. It explains every factor in plain English, and the credit monitoring view helps you notice changes worth acting on. If you are weighing where to start, the AI credit coach walks through your whole file before you change anything. If you spot activity you did not authorize, a freeze plus a dispute is the right response. Learn more about freezes and your rights at the CFPB, consumerfinance.gov, and pull your free reports at annualcreditreport.com.