Freeze Experian

Experian is the trickiest bureau to deal with, because you don’t have any account to log into. This step-by-step guide of how to freeze your credit at Experian aims to cover the many details that may slow down a freeze request.

1. Go to Experian Freeze Center

Experian has a big security freeze landing page on their website, which is where any request starts. Follow this link to Experian’s Freeze Center: https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html

On the left side of the page, there is a big “Add a security freeze” button. Click it to continue.

Tip: Ignore the “Sign In” link in the upper right – it’s for Experian’s other products.

Experian website "Add a security freeze" button, the first step to freeze your credit at the Experian credit bureau

2. Personal Information

Experian doesn’t force everyone to create an account, like Equifax and TransUnion do. Instead, you will enter your personal information each time you freeze or unfreeze, much like a credit application. Fill out the form to continue.

Tips:

If you legally have a middle initial or generation (such as Jr. or III), treat those as required fields.
If you moved in the last two years and need to enter multiple addresses, only enter those addresses that you reported to finance companies, like your bank or credit card company.
Your PIN is not a required field, but entering it helps Experian verify you.

Experian website personal information form, to verify your identity before freezing your credit at the Experian credit bureau

3. Identity Verification

After submitting your personal information, Experian will ask some personal questions to verify your identity. The flow will then ask for you to create (or be given) a PIN. The PIN can be used to toggle your credit freeze on the phone or the web. Experian does not check whether you used the PIN before.

Tip: It is normal if the correct answer to more than one question is “none of the above/does not apply.”

Experian website identity verification multiple choice quiz, to verify your identity

4. Confirmation

That’s it! You just froze your credit at Experian! The only confirmation documents available are optional. You can click on the “Print” or “Email my PIN” buttons for a Experian’s written confirmation. Make sure to keep track of your PIN to make the process easier next time.

Experian website confirmation page, including options to print or email your PIN number

Complete the Freeze

Without an account to sign into like the other bureaus, how to freeze your credit at Experian isn’t as easy as the other bureaus. However, freezing your credit only at Experian will leave your credit files at the other bureaus available and vulnerable to identity theft. If you haven’t already done so, freeze your credit at Equifax and TransUnion to fully protect yourself.

Whenever you want to use your credit in the future, use our guides to unfreeze your credit. The best protection you can get is to temporarily lift your credit freeze when you apply for a new account.