How to Lift a Security Freeze on Your Credit Report

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How to Lift a Security Freeze on Your Credit Report: A Complete Guide for 2025

Need a loan or mortgage? You’ve come to the right place. Learn how to lift a security freeze on your credit report in minutes. Step-by-step instructions for Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to safely and quickly unfreeze your credit in 2025. John Strange, a senior loan originator at Gustan Cho Associates says the following about how to lift a security freeze on your credit report:

As the cases of identity theft and data breaches continue to increase, the need of the hour has become a Security Freeze or Credit Freeze. But with almost any credit card, auto loan, or mortgage, you’ll need to know how to lift a freeze effortlessly.

This thorough 2025 credit report guide gives step-by-step instructions on the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Managed or uncontrolled, unfreezing a report for a first-time home buyer is free and quick. Let’s examine the process. In the following paragraphs, we will cover how to lift a security freeze from your credit report.

How To Lift a Security Freeze From Your Credit Report? What Is a Security Freeze?

A security freeze is a complimentary consumer protection service that allows you to block access to your credit report. It stops lenders and creditors from looking at your credit report whenever you or someone else applies for new loans or credit. You can freeze your credit file, and no one can access the details.

Key Benefits of a Security Freeze

Prevents Identity Theft: Stop scammers from opening fake accounts in your name.
No Impact on Credit Scores: Freezing and lifting the freeze does not impact your FICO or VantageScore.
Available Under Law: This service is available to everyone, including minors and adults who cannot protect themselves through a representative.
Can Be Removed: It can be lifted for a certain time or permanently.

In contrast to a fraud alert, which warns and flags your file for further verification, a freeze is impenetrable and is the best defense against unauthorized credit activity.

How Does a Security Freeze Work?

Upon placement, a security freeze instructs credit bureaus to block or deny access to your credit report for most new credit requests, including applications for new loans, credit cards, rental properties, and certain employment positions that review your credit.

Exceptions to the Freeze

Apart from yourself, your existing creditors, collection agencies, and government agencies (with the right clearance) will still have access to your file. You will always have access to your own report.

How to Lift a Secuirty Freeze From Your Credit Report: Bureau Specific

Freezes are not shared between bureaux. You must contact Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union independently.

Duration of Security Freeze on Your Credit Report

It, for all intents and purposes, remains in place indefinitely until you choose to lift or remove it. The process will be digital-first in 2025, meaning that online lifts will be completed within the hour and with less hassle. This means you will have less hassle when it is time to borrow.

Why is it that an Authorized Person Requests a Security Freeze?

The authorized ones, that is, parents, legal guardians, and those with a power of attorney, can easily request security freezes to help protect loved ones who are deemed to be in a fragile state.

The Most Common Situations

How to Lift a Security Freeze For Minors Under the Age of 18 Years

With the aid of parents, a child’s credit can be frozen in the early stages, which will help prevent fraud during the early stages of development. This is important, especially when the child does not have a credit history, and children’s records are not as protected as they should be.

How To Lift a Security Freeze For Adults Who Are Incapacitated

Guardians put these freezes in Place to protect sick or elderly relatives from being taken advantage of.

How To Lift a Security Freeze For Military Families

Active duty soldiers can freeze reports for their spouses and dependent children during deployment. Applying for a credit freeze requires the removal of a certificate of authorization, which is subsequently done via postal mail and specific documentation at each bureau. It has been made apparent that the advance steps taken to protect the individual are a monumental step in ensuring that their finances are protected in the case that they are unable to do so themselves.

What is the Impact of a Security Freeze While a Mortgage is in Progress

Although a security freeze is a huge protection in the case of fraud, if done through the wrong steps, it could also be a hindrance to the mortgage process and thus should be managed correctly. For lenders to determine an individual’s income, debt, and credit history, they need to access their credit report, which they cannot do if a freeze is blocking that access.

What Impacts Can Take Place?

Halt in Progress of Mortgage Application: Stipulations were made that if a borrower cannot take certain documents with them, the lender depends on the borrower to thaw the documents for the process to move along.
This could delay the borrower in terms of closing systems.
Avoid Freezing All Bureau Reports: It is advisable to unfreeze all credit reports in the three bureaus to avoid credit surprises.
Lift Freeze Before Loan Application: It is advisable to lift the freeze 24-48 hours before the application is submitted.
Unfreeze the bureau, which the lender will advise to control the exposure.
Pro Tip: Try to lift the freeze for a certain period, such as 7-14 days, in relation to the mortgage timeline.
After that, make sure to lift the freeze on the documents.
This can be done in 2025 using advanced tools and will not affect the score.

Step to Start a Security Freeze With The Three Credit Bureaus

Freezing a bureau’s credit file takes a couple of minutes to complete online and is free of charge. For complete protection, always do it for all three bureaus. Follow the steps below.

Equifax

Please be sure to include the following:

Go to myEquifax and create a My Equifax account.
Select the “Add a Security Freeze” option upon logging in.
Check the blocks to identify yourself, and you may need to confirm with a texted one-time PIN.
You’re all set — it activates right away.
Call: 888-298-0045 (processing takes one business day).

Mail: Submit Your Request in Writing To:

Equifax Security Freeze
Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348

Your complete name including any suffix

Complete address
SSN
Date of birth
Payment (if applicable, please check security fees and requirements for your state). Equifax accepts checks, money orders, or a major credit card (VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express)
For your protection, please also send some proof of identification.
Post the request to Equifax Security Freeze.
P.O. Box 105788, Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 (it takes three business days).
Special forms must be filled out to request these parental rights for minors or protected consumers.

Experian

Sign up for a free Experian account at [experian.com](https://www.experian.com).
Head to the “Credit Freeze” section and select “Add a Freeze”.
Check the blocks and confirm your identity – no PIN is required.
The freeze is live and working.
Call: 888-397-3742 (takes one business day).
Mail: Experian Security Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 (takes three business days).
By Pin Number: You received a PIN number when you initiated the freeze.
If you forgot your number, you can request a reminder from Experian.
You need the PIN to both temporarily and permanently remove the freeze.
You need to state to Experian that you wish to either permanently or temporarily remove the freeze.
If it will be a temporary freeze, you must tell Experian who is going to receive your credit report or during what time period the report is to be made available.

Documentation is required, and parents can freeze minors’ reports via mail.

TransUnion

Go to the TransUnion Service Center at [transunion.com/credit-freeze](https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze).
Under the section, Add a Freeze, enter the required personal information.
Check the blocks to confirm and submit – it is stored instantly online.
Phone: 888-909-8872 (one business day; spouses can assist each other).
Mail: Consumers who are protected and have documentation.
Refreezing is done the same way.

Instructions for Unlocking Your Credit Report

Removing a freeze is even faster.
Often, it can be done in an hour online.
The lift can be done permanently or removed temporarily.

Equifax: How to Lift a Security Freeze

Access your myEquifax account and log in.
Click “Manage Security Freeze,” then “Temporarily Lift” or “Remove Permanently.”
Select between 1 and 7 days if setting a time frame.
Identify yourself by answering a security question or texting a PIN.
Phone: 888-298-0045 (same verification).
Mail: 3 business days (for permanent lift only).

Experian: How to Lift a Scurity Freeze

Log in to your Experian account.
Under the “Credit Freeze” tab, click “Lift Freeze” or “Schedule a Thaw.”
Set dates for the period you want thawed (for instance, to pull a mortgage).
You must confirm, but no PIN is needed (it is instant processed).
Phone: 888-397-3742 (1 hour).
Mail: 3 business days.
You will be alerted by email whenever there are changes.

TransUnion: How to Lift a Security Freeze

Visit the TransUnion Service Center.
Click “Temporarily Lift” or “Remove Freeze.”
Provide a time frame, or specify duration if needed.
SUBMIT: Self-service with minimal effort.
Phone: 888-909-8872 (answer in an hour).
Mail: For protected consumers (3 business days).
Most minors who are 16 years and above can self-removal.
As a reminder: Keep track of your PINs or account logins and refreeze quickly after your credit check.

FAQs: How to Lift a Security Freeze and Unfreezing Your Credit Report

How Long Does it Take to Lift a Security Freeze?

All bureaus will honor a one-hour timeframe for online or phone requests.
Mail requests can take up to three days.

Is There a Cost To Freeze or Unfreeze My Credit?

Under the federal law, it’s completely free.

What’s The Difference Between a Security Freeze And a Fraud Alert?

You can use both for layered protection.
A freeze blocks all access to your report.
A fraud alert allows access, but additional steps exist to verify the user’s identity.

Can I Lift a Freeze For Just One Lender?

Yes.
You can specify the removable period to cover only the selected application and then refreeze.

Does Lifting a Security Freeze Affect My Credit Score?

No.
There is zero impact on your scores or history.

What If I Forget Which Bureaus I Froze?

You can search your email for confirmation notices or phone each bureau separately.

Ready for action? Start by securing your credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and freezing your credit for now. For tailored mortgage guidance, speak to us at Gustan Cho Associates. Stay safe!