For years, Verizon customers enjoyed a unique perk that set them apart from AT&T and T-Mobile subscribers: automatic phone unlocking after just 60 days. That advantage officially ended on January 12, 2026, when the Federal Communications Commission granted Verizon's request to eliminate this requirement.
If you're wondering what this means for your ability to switch carriers or use your phone internationally, you're not alone. This policy change affects millions of Verizon customers, but the issue is more nuanced than simple headlines suggest. Let's break down exactly what's changing, when it takes effect, and what it means for everyday phone users.
What Does "Unlocking" Actually Mean?
Before diving into the policy change, it's important to understand what phone unlocking is—because this is a concept many people encounter but few fully grasp.
When you buy a phone from a carrier like Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile, it often comes with software that "locks" it to that specific carrier's network. This lock prevents you from simply popping in a SIM card from another carrier and switching service. A locked phone will only work with your original carrier until it's unlocked.
Unlocking removes this software restriction, giving you the freedom to:
- Switch to any compatible carrier whenever you want
- Use local SIM cards when traveling internationally to avoid expensive roaming charges
- Sell your phone at a higher resale value (unlocked phones are worth more)
- Choose prepaid or smaller carriers that might offer better deals
Think of it like this: a locked phone is like buying a car that can only use one specific gas station chain. Unlocking it means you can now fuel up anywhere.
Verizon's Unique 60-Day Rule (And Why It Existed)
For over 15 years, Verizon operated under different unlocking rules than any other major U.S. carrier. This wasn't because Verizon was being generous—it was a condition imposed by the FCC.
The Origins (2007–2019)
Back in 2007, Verizon won a massive auction for 700 MHz wireless spectrum—the airwaves that carry your calls and data. As part of this deal, the FCC required Verizon to adopt "open access" policies, including selling phones that couldn't be permanently locked to Verizon's network. The goal was promoting competition and consumer choice.
Initially, Verizon sold phones completely unlocked from day one. However, this created a significant problem: device fraud. Criminals would buy heavily subsidized phones from Verizon, immediately resell them (since they were already unlocked), and stick Verizon with the loss.
The 60-Day Compromise (2019–2026)
In 2019, the FCC modified the rule to allow Verizon to lock phones for up to 60 days after activation before automatically unlocking them. This was meant to give Verizon time to detect fraud while still providing customers with relatively quick unlocking compared to other carriers.
The key word here is "automatic." Verizon customers didn't need to call, request, or jump through hoops—after 60 days of service, their phones unlocked automatically. No other major carrier offered this.
Meanwhile, AT&T and T-Mobile operated under completely different rules (or rather, voluntary industry standards), typically requiring customers to:
- Fully pay off their devices (which could take 24–36 months)
- Complete their service contracts
- Manually request unlocking
- Meet additional requirements like having a good account standing
What Changed on January 12, 2026
On January 12, 2026, the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau officially granted Verizon's waiver request, eliminating the 60-day automatic unlock requirement. According to the FCC order, this change became effective immediately for any phone activated after January 12.
What This Means in Practice
If you activated your Verizon phone before January 13, 2026: You're grandfathered in—the old 60-day automatic unlock rule still applies to your device. Once you hit 60 days of paid service, your phone should unlock automatically as it always has.
If you activate a Verizon phone on or after January 13, 2026: Your phone now follows the same unlocking policies as AT&T and T-Mobile, governed by the CTIA Consumer Code for Wireless Service. Here's what that means:
For postpaid customers (monthly plans with a contract or device payment plan):
- Your phone will be unlocked once it's completely paid off OR
- After your contract is fulfilled OR
- If you pay any applicable early termination fees
For prepaid customers (pay-as-you-go, no contract):
- Your phone must remain locked for up to one year after activation
- After one year of active service, you can request unlocking
Important caveat: Unlike the old automatic system, you now need to request unlocking from Verizon—it won't happen automatically. Military personnel deployed outside Verizon coverage areas can still request early unlocking.
Why Verizon Wanted This Change
Verizon presented several arguments to the FCC for eliminating the 60-day rule, with fraud and theft being the primary concerns.
The Fraud Problem
According to Verizon's petition, the company lost approximately 785,000 devices and hundreds of millions of dollars to fraud in 2023 alone. The problem intensified after Verizon acquired TracFone (a prepaid carrier) in 2021, bringing millions of prepaid customers and heavily discounted phones under the 60-day unlock policy.
Here's how the fraud worked:
- Criminals would purchase or steal Verizon phones (often heavily subsidized prepaid devices)
- Wait out the 60-day lock period
- Once automatically unlocked, ship the phones overseas to countries like Russia, China, and Cuba
- Resell them on black markets for significant profit
The FCC found this argument compelling. In their order, they noted that Verizon's 60-day rule made it uniquely attractive to device traffickers compared to carriers with longer lock periods. Law enforcement groups testified that these unlocked phones frequently end up in criminal enterprises involving identity theft, drug trafficking, and human smuggling.
The Competitive Fairness Argument
Verizon also argued that being the only major carrier subject to a 60-day requirement created an uneven playing field. While fraud exists across the industry, Verizon claimed the short lock period made its stores disproportionate targets for organized retail theft because the phones were easier to monetize quickly.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr echoed this reasoning, stating: "By waiving a regulation that incentivized bad actors to target one particular carrier's handsets for theft, we now have a uniform industry standard that can help stem the flow of handsets into the black market."
The Consumer Impact: What You Need to Know
This policy change creates clear winners and losers, depending on your situation.
Who This Hurts
Frequent switchers: If you like to evaluate carriers annually or switch for better deals, you've lost significant flexibility. Instead of switching after 60 days, you'll now need to wait until your phone is paid off—typically 24 to 36 months.
International travelers: Business travelers and frequent international visitors who relied on the 60-day unlock to use local SIM cards abroad will face longer waits or need to buy unlocked phones upfront.
Budget-conscious consumers: The 60-day rule allowed customers to access affordable subsidized phones with relatively quick unlocking. Longer lock periods mean being tied to a carrier for years, reducing your ability to chase competitive promotions.
Prepaid customers: This group takes the biggest hit. A one-year lock period for prepaid phones—which are already less flexible than postpaid plans—significantly limits mobility for consumers who often rely on prepaid service due to cost or credit constraints.
Who This Might Help
Device theft victims: If the FCC and Verizon are correct, reducing the organized theft and fraud targeting Verizon stores could theoretically lead to fewer stolen phones and better device availability.
Verizon's business stability: Reducing fraud losses could allow Verizon to continue offering competitive device subsidies and financing options, though there's no guarantee those savings will benefit consumers.
The Real Question: Will Fraud Actually Decrease?
Consumer advocacy groups, including Public Knowledge and the Open Technology Institute, strongly opposed Verizon's waiver request. They argue that fraud is not unique to Verizon—AT&T and T-Mobile also report significant device fraud despite having much longer lock periods.
Michael Calabrese, director of the Wireless Future Project at New America's Open Technology Institute, called it "a profoundly anti-consumer decision that will do nothing but raise prices for smartphone consumers." He pointed out that both Canada and the United Kingdom require shorter unlocking periods without experiencing surges in smartphone theft.
Critics also note that Verizon already has fraud detection tools at its disposal within the 60-day window and could pursue legal or contractual remedies against bad actors. The real issue, they argue, is that Verizon wanted to match competitors who benefit from longer customer lock-in periods.
What About the Broader FCC Rulemaking?
Ironically, this waiver decision comes while the FCC has a separate pending rulemaking that could impose a universal 60-day unlock requirement on all carriers.
In 2024, under then-Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, the FCC proposed requiring all major wireless carriers to unlock phones after 60 days—essentially extending Verizon's old rule industry-wide. That proposal received bipartisan initial support but hasn't moved forward.
The current FCC, under Chairman Brendan Carr, has taken a decidedly deregulatory approach. Carr has championed a "Delete, Delete, Delete" initiative aimed at eliminating what he considers unnecessary regulations, and Verizon explicitly cited this initiative in its waiver request.
According to the FCC order, Verizon's waiver will remain in effect until the agency completes its broader rulemaking on unlocking standards—which could establish new industry-wide rules for everyone. However, given the current regulatory direction, that rulemaking may never reach completion.
Practical Advice for Verizon Customers
Given these changes, here's what you should do:
If You're Buying a Phone Soon
Consider buying unlocked: If flexibility matters to you, purchase an unlocked phone directly from the manufacturer (Apple, Samsung, Google, etc.) or retailers like Best Buy. Yes, you'll pay full price upfront, but you'll have complete freedom from day one.
Evaluate financing carefully: If you're financing through Verizon, understand that you're now committing to that carrier until the phone is paid off—likely 24 to 36 months. Make sure you're confident in Verizon's coverage and pricing for that duration.
Ask about military provisions: If you're active military, make sure you understand Verizon's unlocking policy for deployment situations.
If You Already Have a Verizon Phone
Activated before January 12, 2026: Your phone should still unlock automatically after 60 days. You can verify your unlock status through your Verizon account online or by calling customer service at *611.
Activated after January 12, 2026: You'll need to wait until your device is paid off (or one year for prepaid) and then actively request unlocking from Verizon. Mark your calendar and don't forget this step—it won't happen automatically.
For Future Flexibility
Monitor FCC proceedings: The FCC's broader rulemaking on unlocking could still result in industry-wide changes. Follow technology news or check the FCC's website periodically for updates.
Understand your contract thoroughly: Read the fine print on device payment plans, early termination fees, and unlocking eligibility requirements before signing up.
Consider prepaid alternatives carefully: If you're on prepaid service, understand that you're now potentially locked in for a full year—longer than many postpaid contracts.
The Bigger Picture
This policy change highlights the ongoing tension between consumer freedom and industry business models in the wireless market. On one hand, carriers invest billions in network infrastructure and subsidize expensive devices to attract customers. On the other, those subsidies create lock-in that reduces competition and limits consumer choice.
The 60-day rule represented a middle ground—short enough to provide meaningful consumer flexibility while long enough (theoretically) to deter fraud. Its elimination moves Verizon closer to industry norms, but whether that's better for consumers or just better for carriers remains hotly debated.
What's clear is that American consumers now face longer device lock periods across the board, with no major carrier offering quick, automatic unlocking. If you value the flexibility to switch carriers, travel internationally with ease, or maximize your phone's resale value, you'll need to either buy unlocked from the start or commit to longer waits.
The FCC framed this as a security decision—reducing organized crime and device trafficking. Consumer advocates see it as sacrificing customer freedom to bolster carrier profits. The truth, as usual, likely sits somewhere in between.
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