How to Transfer Airtime Between MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9Mobile
Sharing airtime with friends, family, and colleagues is a ubiquitous cultural practice in Nigeria. When someone runs out of credit during an emergency, your ability to instantly send them a few hundreds of Naira can be a lifesaver. Fortunately, all the major telecommunications companies (MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile) have integrated robust internal transfer architectures, typically branded affectionately as 'Me2U', 'Share and Sell', or 'Easy Share'. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the distinct USSD codes and SMS methods required for every network.
Important Prerequisites
Before launching into the transfer codes, there are a couple of golden rules that apply universally across all the networks:
- You cannot transfer airtime if you are currently owing the network (e.g., you borrowed credit). You must clear your debt first.
- You cannot transfer bonus airtime awarded from promos like Awuf4U. Only main balance funds are eligible.
- Most networks have a daily limit for transfers (usually ranging from ₦5,000 to ₦100,000).
- You must configure a secure PIN code before initiating your first transfer to prevent unauthorized access.
How to Transfer Airtime on MTN (Share 'N' Sell)
MTN remains the largest network in Nigeria, making their Share 'N' Sell feature highly utilized. To use it, you must first change the default PIN which is usually set to '0000'.
To change your MTN PIN: Text DEFAULT_PIN NEW_PIN NEW_PIN to 321. For example, to change it to 1234, send an SMS with 0000 1234 1234 to 321.
To Transfer MTN Airtime Method 1 (SMS): Send Transfer Recipient_Number Amount PIN to 321. Example: Transfer 08031234567 500 1234.
To Transfer MTN Airtime Method 2 (USSD): Simply dial *321*Recipient_Number*Amount*PIN# and hit call.
How to Transfer Airtime on Airtel (Me2U)
Airtel's Me2U service is famous for its fast processing. The default PIN for Airtel users is '1234'. For enhanced security, change it immediately.
To change your Airtel PIN: Send an SMS reading PIN Default_PIN New_PIN to 432. Example: PIN 1234 5678 sent to 432.
To Transfer Airtel Airtime (SMS method): Send 2U Recipient_Number Amount PIN to 432. Example: 2U 08021234567 200 5678 to 432.
To Transfer Airtel Airtime (USSD method): Dial *321# and follow the interactive on-screen prompts for Me2U transfer.
How to Transfer Airtime on Glo (EasyShare)
Glo's transfer module goes by the name EasyShare. To initiate sharing on Glo, you have to activate the service and replace the default '00000' PIN.
To change your Glo PIN: Dial *131*1# or follow the USSD menu on *321# to initialize your new 5-digit PIN.
To Transfer Glo Airtime: Dial *131*Recipient_Number*Amount*PIN#. For example: dial *131*08051234567*1000*12345# and press send.
How to Transfer Airtime on 9Mobile
9Mobile has retained a very classic standard for credit sharing. Their default PIN is universally '0000'.
To change your 9Mobile PIN: Dial *247*Default_PIN*New_PIN#. Example: *247*0000*8888#.
To Transfer 9Mobile Airtime: Once your new PIN is established, dial *223*PIN*Amount*Recipient_Number#. For instance: *223*8888*500*08091234567#.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I send airtime from MTN directly to Glo or Airtel?
Intra-network transfers (MTN to MTN, or Glo to Glo) are officially supported. However, native inter-network transfers (e.g., MTN to Glo) are not supported by the core telecom USSD modules. If you need to send credit across different networks, you must use a third-party app like Palmpay, Opay, or Tingtel which converts your balance and purchases it dynamically for the other network.
Are there any charges for transferring airtime?
Yes. Although it historically used to be completely free, several networks have introduced tiered flat-rate charges. For instance, transferring ₦100 to ₦5,000 may incur a small fee of ₦5 to ₦10 deductions from the sender's main balance.