Quick answer: MTN Nigeria currently lets you transfer data from your balance through its Data Gifting service using the harmonised 312 service, the 321 Data Gifting menu, SMS to 312, or the myMTN app. MTN’s official Data Gifting page has the current direct-transfer format and menu steps.

Older tutorials may still show the retired 131 route. MTN Nigeria’s current documentation now points customers to its 312 and 321 Data Gifting routes instead.

How to transfer data from your MTN balance

MTN provides a direct USSD transfer option through its 312 service. Open the official Data Gifting page linked below to see the current direct format, then enter the recipient’s MTN number and the amount you want to send.

You can also use the menu method:

  1. Open MTN’s Data Gifting menu through the current 321 or 312 route.
  2. Choose the option to transfer from your data balance.
  3. Enter the recipient’s MTN number.
  4. Choose the data amount.
  5. Check the number and amount before confirming.

Share MTN data by SMS

MTN also supports data transfer by SMS to 312. Its current Data Gifting page gives the required Transfer, phone-number and data-amount format.

Do not add MB or GB to the numeric amount when following MTN’s SMS format.

How much data can you transfer?

MTN’s current FAQ lists transfer sizes of 100MB, 200MB, 500MB, 1GB, 2GB, 3GB and 5GB.

MTN says at least 100MB must remain in the relevant data balance after a transfer. The current general daily transfer limit is 5GB.

Do you need a PIN?

MTN’s current Data Gifting FAQ says a PIN is not required for the Gift Data service. You need the beneficiary’s number and the data amount or plan you want to send.

Can every MTN bundle be shared?

No. MTN says some customised, tariff-based, bonus and promotional plans are not eligible for sharing. If you have several bundles, their balances cannot necessarily be combined to make one transfer.

MTN data transfer not working?

First check that you have enough eligible data and that at least 100MB will remain after the transfer. Confirm that the recipient number is an MTN line and recheck every digit before submitting.

If the direct method fails, use MTN’s Data Gifting menu or the myMTN app. Also consider whether you have reached the current 5GB daily transfer limit or whether the bundle you are trying to share is ineligible.

To check your data balance, use the current harmonised data-balance service documented in our new USSD codes in Nigeria guide.

Sharing data vs buying data for someone

Transfer from balance moves eligible data you already own to another MTN line. Buy for a friend purchases a new bundle for another person and charges your airtime. MTN makes both available through Data Gifting.

For related help, see our data plan codes for MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile and current MTN Night Plan guide.

Official MTN sources

These instructions were verified against MTN Nigeria’s live documentation on 13 August 2026. Telecom procedures can change, so MTN’s official pages should take priority if a later instruction differs from this guide.

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