How to Lift a Security Freeze on Your Credit Report

How to Lift a Security Freeze on Your Credit Report: A Complete Guide for 2026

If you’re applying for a mortgage, auto loan, credit card, apartment, or even certain jobs, you may need to lift a security freeze on your credit report so the lender or screening company can access your file. The good news: in most cases, you can temporarily unfreeze your credit online in minutes—and refreeze it again right after your credit is checked.

This 2026 guide shows the fastest, safest way to lift a freeze with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, plus a simple mortgage checklist to help your loan not get delayed.

Quick Answer: How to Lift a Security Freeze (Fastest Method)

To lift a security freeze, you must do it separately with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion (freezes are not shared). The simplest option for most people—especially during a mortgage—is a temporary lift for a set date range (like 7–14 days):

1. Log in to your bureau account (Equifax/Experian/TransUnion)
2. Choose Temporarily Lift / Schedule a Lift
3. Set the dates (or number of days) you want it lifted
4. Confirm the change
5. Refreeze after your lender finishes pulling credit

Tip for mortgages: If you’re not sure which bureau your lender will use, lift the freeze on all three for the same date range to prevent last-minute underwriting delays.

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 Security Freeze From Your Credit Report: Bureau Specific

Freezes are not shared between bureau. 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.

Mortgage Checklist: Prevent Delays When You Have a Credit Freeze

A security freeze protects you from fraud—but it can also stop underwriting in its tracks if your lender can’t access your credit report. Use this checklist to keep your mortgage moving.

Do This Before You Apply (24–48 Hours Ahead)

• ✅ Ask your loan officer: Will you pull one bureau or all three? (Many mortgage credit reports rely on multiple bureaus.)
• ✅ Temporarily lift the freeze at all three bureaus if you’re unsure
• ✅ Choose a lift window of 7–14 days to cover:
  • pre-approval + underwriting
  • potential re-pulls if the report expires
  • last-minute lender verifications

Do This During Underwriting

• ✅ Keep your lift confirmation emails/screenshots
• ✅ If your lender says “we can’t pull credit,” do this immediately:
  • Confirm you lifted the freeze on the correct bureau(s)
  • Verify the lift dates are active (start date/time matters)
  • Lift again for a fresh date range if needed

Avoid These Common Mistakes

• ❌ Lifting only one bureau when the lender needs more than one
• ❌ Setting the lift window too short (forces emergency re-lifts)
• ❌ Forgetting to refreeze after the credit pull is complete
• ❌ Confusing “credit file freeze” with “documents” (the freeze blocks access to your credit report, not your paperwork)

Best Practice Timing (Simple Rule)

If you’re starting a mortgage this week:

• Lift all three for 10–14 days, then refreeze once your loan team confirms credit is complete.

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: How to Lift a Security Freeze (Temporary or Permanent)

Best for Most Borrowers: Temporary Lift (Recommended for Mortgages)

Use this when you want your report accessible only during a specific window.

Steps (Online):

1. Sign in to your myEquifax account
2. Go to Security Freeze or Manage Freeze
3. Select Temporarily Lift (or similar)
4. Choose the start and end date (or number of days)
5. Confirm and save

What to expect: Online changes are often effective quickly, but allow some buffer time before a lender pulls credit.

Permanent Removal (Only if you don’t want a freeze at all)

1. Log in to myEquifax
2. Go to Manage Security Freeze
3. Select Remove Permanently
4. Confirm

Phone / Mail (If you can’t access your account)

• Phone: Use Equifax’s automated system for freeze management
• Mail: Use only if required (protected consumer cases or account access issues); mail processing takes longer than online/phone.

Important note: Equifax may verify identity using security questions or a one-time passcode.

Experian: How to Lift a Security Freeze (Temporary or Permanent)

Best for Most Borrowers: Schedule a Temporary Lift

Steps (Online):

1. Log in to your Experian account
2. Go to the Credit Freeze section
3. Choose Lift Freeze / Schedule a Thaw
4. Enter the dates you want the freeze lifted
5. Confirm

What to expect: Online lifts are commonly near-instant, but give yourself time before underwriting deadlines.

Permanent Removal

1. Log in to Experian
2. Go to Credit Freeze
3. Select Remove Freeze
4. Confirm

Phone / Mail

• Phone: Available for freeze lifts and removals
• Mail: Used primarily for special situations; takes longer than online

Reminder: Always save confirmation emails/screenshots so you can prove the lift was completed.

TransUnion: How to Lift a Security Freeze (Temporary or Permanent)

Best for Most Borrowers: Temporary Lift

Steps (Online):

1. Visit the TransUnion Service Center
2. Sign in (or create an account if needed)
3. Select Temporarily Lift Freeze
4. Set your date range (or duration)
5. Submit and confirm

Permanent Removal

1. Sign in to the TransUnion Service Center
2. Choose Remove Freeze
3. Confirm

Phone / Mail

• Phone: Available for lifts/removals
• Mail: Typically for protected consumers or documentation-based cases (slower)

Good practice: Once your credit pull is done, refreeze immediately.

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

How do I Lift a Security Freeze on My Credit Report?

You have to lift it separately with each bureau (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). The fastest method is to log in to your online bureau account and choose Temporary Lift (set dates) or Remove Permanently.

Do I Need to Unfreeze My Credit at All Three Bureaus?

Not always. If you know which bureau the lender/landlord/employer will check, you can lift the freeze only at that bureau. For mortgages (or rate shopping), many borrowers lift all three to avoid delays.

How Long Does it Take to Unfreeze Credit?

Online and phone lifts are typically very fast (often minutes) and legally required within one hour for those methods. Mail requests take longer (often up to 3 business days after receipt, plus mailing time).

Is it Free to Freeze and Unfreeze My Credit?

Yes. Under federal rules, it’s free to place and lift a credit/security freeze.

Does Lifting (or Freezing) My Credit Affect My Credit Score?

No. Freezing and lifting a security freeze does not change your credit scores.

What’s the Difference Between a Credit Freeze and a Fraud Alert?

A credit freeze makes it difficult for new lenders to access your credit report. A fraud alert allows lenders to view your report, but requires them to verify your identity before proceeding.

Can I Lift a Freeze for a Specific Lender (or a Specific Time Period)?

Yes. You can do a temporary lift for a date range (common for mortgages and auto loans). Some bureaus also allow scheduling in advance (example: TransUnion notes you can schedule up to 15 days ahead).

What if I Forgot My PIN or Can’t Access My Account?

Many bureaus now rely mainly on online account access (PIN often not required). If you can’t log in, you can verify identity and manage the freeze through the bureau’s support process (Equifax and Experian both address PIN/account recovery).

Can I Still Use My Existing Credit Cards if My Credit is Frozen?

Yes. A credit freeze is designed to help prevent new accounts from being opened; it doesn’t stop you from using existing accounts.

Should I Unfreeze My Credit Before Applying for a Mortgage?

Yes—your lender must access your credit report to underwrite the loan. The safest approach is a temporary lift (7–14 days) timed to coincide with pre-approval and underwriting, then refreeze once your lender confirms credit is complete.

Ready for action? Start by securing your credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and freezing your credit for now.  For tailored mortgage guidance about how to lift a security freeze on your credit report, speak to us at Gustan Cho Associates. Stay safe!

This article about “How to Lift a Security Freeze on Your Credit Report” was updated on January 21st, 2026.