To unfreeze your credit, you need to contact each of the three major credit bureaus—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion—individually. You can do this online, by phone, or by mail. If you used a PIN or password to freeze your credit, you will need that information for the process. There are two main options for unfreezing your credit:

• Temporarily lift the freeze: This allows a creditor to check your credit for a specified period and then refreezes it after that time.
• Permanently remove the freeze: This leaves your credit report unfrozen until you request another freeze.

Online or phone requests to unfreeze are typically processed within an hour. Mail requests take up to three business days. Here are the specific ways to unfreeze credit with each bureau:

• Experian: You can unfreeze online through their website without needing an account or by phone at 1-888-397-3742.
• Equifax: Requires creating a myEquifax account to unfreeze online or by phone at 1-888-298-0045.
• TransUnion: You can create an account online or use the myTransUnion app to unfreeze, or call 1-800-916-8800.

Before unfreezing, have your personal identifying information ready, such as your full name, address, Social Security number, date of birth, and your freeze PIN/password if you have one. Unfreezing your credit is free of charge due to legal requirements.