MTN USSD Codes 2026: Data Balance, Share Data, Cancel Plans

The MTN codes that work in 2026 are *323*4# for your data balance, *310# for airtime, *321*2# to share data, *312*1# or *904# to buy a plan, and NO plus the bundle code sent to 312 to stop auto-renewal. Every code below comes from an MTN Nigeria help page, apart from borrowing airtime, which is flagged where it appears.

What this guide adds: one table of MTN codes, each tied to the MTN page that lists it, plus what has changed since the old codes such as *556# retired. Our guides on sharing MTN airtime and checking your MTN number cover those two tasks step by step.

This is for MTN prepaid users in Nigeria who want the working code for a task without scrolling through five blogs that disagree with each other. Last reviewed 24 October 2026.

The MTN code table

Check your data balance

Dial *323*4#. It shows your main data, your bonus data and the validity date. You can also text 2 to 323, or open the myMTN NG app or the Zigi chatbot. For the general airtime balance, dial *310#.

If you only get a short "request is being processed" message, wait a minute and dial again. If you hold several bundles, the reply lists each one, so scroll through it before concluding that your data is gone.

Share data with another MTN number

MTN's data gifting page gives four ways to do it:

1. USSD shortcut: dial *312*PhoneNumber*DataAmount#. MTN's example is *312*08031235678*100# for 100MB.
2. Menu: dial *321*2#, choose 1, enter the number and amount, then confirm.
3. SMS: text Transfer, the number and the amount to 312.
4. App: myMTN NG, then Share, then Data Share.

The limits matter more than the code, because they are why most transfers fail:

• You can send 100MB, 200MB, 500MB, 1GB, 2GB, 3GB or 5GB at a time.
• At least 100MB must stay on your line after the transfer.
• The daily cap is 5GB.
• Only 20 percent of an eligible bundle can be shared. A 75GB plan allows 15GB.
• You get 10 free transfers a calendar month. After that, a prompt asks you to accept a fee.
• The gift menu appears after a recharge of N500 or more.
• Some plans cannot be shared: the 7GB 2 day plan, the Value Data 6.75GB and 14.5GB plans, Xtradata More 2500 and the Pulse 1.2GB YouTube, Instagram and TikTok bundle.
• Transferred data does not auto-renew and carries no bonus.

To ask a friend for data, dial *321*2*3# or *312*8#. To buy a bundle for a friend instead, dial *312*BundleCode*FriendNumber#. Requests stay active for 48 hours.

Some blogs, including a VTpass guide, say to text 131. MTN's own page names 312 for SMS, so use 312.

Borrow airtime

Borrowing is the code readers search for most. MTN's Zigi chatbot page lists "Borrow Airtime and Data" as a service, but MTN does not print the borrowing code or fee on its help pages, so the details below come from other publishers.

• The code is *303#. It is on the unified code list Techpoint reported on 18 May 2023, and a December 2025 VTpass guide still uses it.
• VTpass says MTN keeps a 15 percent fee upfront, so N100 borrowed gives you N85. It says the line must be at least three months old with a recharge history of N200 or more a month.
• The debt is taken from your next recharge.
• There is no published USSD code for borrowing MTN data. Ask Zigi or call 300 for that.

Cancel auto-renewal

When you buy a plan by USSD, MTN makes you choose Auto-renewal, One-off or Buy for a Friend before the purchase completes. If you buy by SMS and the choice times out, the plan defaults to one-off. Per MTN's data bundles page:

• To stop renewal, text NO followed by the bundle code to 312.
• To turn it on later, text R followed by the bundle code to 312. MTN's example is R104.

Find the bundle code in the plan table on MTN's data plans page, or in the *312*1# menu. Check the size in your confirmation SMS, because MTN's R104 example mentions a 120MB plan while its plan list shows 110MB for code 104. If a plan keeps renewing after you opted out, you may have renewed a different bundle, so check *323*4# for every active bundle.

Buy a data plan

Dial *312*1# or *904# and pick a plan, or text the plan keyword to 312. The table below is a selection of MTN's plans from its data plans page. Use it for the keywords, and confirm the price on the *312*1# menu before paying, because MTN adjusts prices.

If you do not want browsing charged when your plan ends, pay as you go opt-in is *312*200# and opt-out is *312*201#. Browsing on that setting costs N3.07 per MB, so opting out stops surprise deductions.

What changed

• May 2023: the NCC pushed all networks onto shared codes. Techpoint listed them: *310# for balance, *311# for recharge, *312# for data plans, *321# for sharing, *323# for data balance, *303# for borrowing, *996# for NIN. TechCabal reported that MTN's old *556# data balance code was going defunct under the change.
• 30 June 2026: MTN moved FibreX and home broadband short codes from three digits to five, in line with the NCC directive. Innovation Village reports 461 became 49061 and 217 became 49117. This covers broadband only, not the mobile codes in this guide.

When a code fails

If nothing works, call customer care on 300 from an MTN line, or use Zigi on WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook Messenger or the myMTN NG app.

If your line is barred over NIN, see our guide to linking your NIN to your SIM and fixing a barred NIN.

Frequently asked questions

What is the MTN code for data balance? *323*4#, or text 2 to 323.

What is the MTN code to share data? *321*2# for the menu, or *312*Number*Amount# for a shortcut. The daily cap is 5GB.

Is there a fee to share data? MTN says 10 transfers a month are free. After that you accept a fee prompt.

How do I cancel MTN auto-renewal? Text NO plus the bundle code to 312.

Also see our guide to sharing data on Airtel if you move between networks.

Codes change without warning. If one fails, check MTN's help pages or ask Zigi before you try a code from a blog.

Sources: MTN data bundles, MTN data gifting, MTN Share, MTN manage data, MTN data plans, Techpoint, Innovation Village, VTpass on borrowing.