Verizon's 365-Day Phone Lock Policy Explained [2025]

Introduction: A Year-Long Wait for Your Own Phone

Last week, something quietly shifted in the wireless industry that should have you paying attention. Verizon changed the rules on when you can unlock phones purchased through its prepaid brands. Instead of 60 days, you're now looking at 365 days of continuous, paid service before you can even request an unlock, as reported by 9to5Google.

Let that sink in. A full year. And here's the kicker: if you miss a payment or pause your service for even a day, the clock resets. This isn't just annoying. It's a significant reversal that affects millions of prepaid customers across eight different Verizon-owned brands including Trac Fone, Straight Talk, Net 10 Wireless, Clearway, Total Wireless, Simple Mobile, Safe Link Wireless, and Walmart Family Mobile. The timing is suspicious too. Verizon implemented this change less than seven days after the Federal Communications Commission waived the regulatory requirement that forced them to unlock phones automatically after 60 days, according to WebProNews.

The move reveals something uncomfortable about how the wireless industry works. When regulators step back, carriers don't stay the same. They revert to the most restrictive policies they can justify. And in this case, they're doing it under the guise of fraud prevention, as noted by TheStreet.

But the story is more complicated than a simple power grab. Understanding what happened requires looking at the regulatory history, the industry landscape, the actual fraud concerns, and what this means for your ability to switch carriers or sell your phone. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about Verizon's new policy, why the FCC allowed it, and what you can actually do about it.

TL; DR

• Verizon extended phone locks from 60 days to 365 days on prepaid brands including Trac Fone, Straight Talk, Net 10, and others, as detailed by Droid Life.
• The change applies to phones activated after January 20, 2026, and requires continuous paid service (any gap resets your progress).
• The FCC waived the original 60-day unlock requirement, allowing carriers to set their own policies, as reported by PCMag.
• Fraud prevention is the stated justification, though consumer advocates argue Verizon lacks evidence.
• Other carriers have different policies: AT&T allows 60 days postpaid or 6 months prepaid; T-Mobile allows 40 days postpaid or 365 days prepaid.
• Bottom line: You're now trapped with one carrier for a full year minimum if you buy prepaid through Verizon brands.

Estimated data suggests that longer lock periods are perceived to be more effective in preventing fraud, with a 365-day lock scoring highest. However, the lack of concrete evidence from Verizon questions this assumption.

The Policy Change: From 60 Days to 365 Days

What Actually Changed

On January 20, 2026, Verizon updated its phone unlocking policy across its prepaid brands. The new requirement is brutally simple: wait 365 days of continuous, paid service before you can request an unlock. The old policy? 60 days of paid service, and the phone unlocked automatically. You didn't have to ask. It just happened.

Now you have to request it manually. And you have to keep paying the entire time. Miss a single month and you're back to day one. This applies to Trac Fone, Straight Talk, Net 10 Wireless, Clearway, Total Wireless, Simple Mobile, Safe Link Wireless, and Walmart Family Mobile. That's eight different brands, all owned by Verizon, all following the same new rule, as highlighted by Ars Technica.

Verizon's own primary branded service hasn't updated its policy yet, but the company confirmed it plans to change that too. Right now, Verizon's regular postpaid phones still unlock after 60 days of paid service. But don't expect that to last. The FCC waiver removed any legal requirement to maintain that timeline.

Visible Gets the Same Treatment

Visible, Verizon's online-only prepaid brand, also got hit with the same 365-day requirement. The policy is slightly different in wording but identical in impact: you need 365 days of paid service, and if you stop paying, the progress pauses until you reactivate.

Visible's policy explicitly states: "If you stop paying for service, your progress toward the 365-day requirement pauses. It will resume once you reactivate your account and continue until you reach a total of 365 paid days of service."

That "pause and resume" language is actually slightly more forgiving than it sounds, but let's be honest: it's still a year of service before you can switch carriers with your phone.

Why This Timing Matters

The timing here is critical to understanding what's happening. Verizon requested a waiver from the FCC specifically to remove the 60-day automatic unlock requirement. The FCC approved that request on January 13, 2026, as noted by Ars Technica.

Seven days later, Verizon implemented the 365-day policy. This wasn't a gradual transition or a period where customers could grandfather in under old rules. It was an immediate swing from one extreme to another, the moment they had legal cover to do it. For anyone who thinks this was coincidental, consider what happens next: Verizon's main branded service will almost certainly adopt the same 365-day requirement within weeks.

Estimated data shows major carriers hold approximately 80% of the market, while MVNOs account for 20%. This highlights the competitive challenge MVNOs face in gaining market share.

The Regulatory History: How We Got Here

The 2015 Settlement That Started Everything

To understand why Verizon had to unlock phones at all, you need to go back to 2015. That year, the Obama-era FCC investigated Trac Fone for failing to unlock phones for customers enrolled in the Lifeline subsidy program, a federal initiative that subsidizes phone service for low-income Americans.

Trac Fone had promised to unlock phones for Lifeline customers as part of previous commitments, but wasn't actually doing it. The FCC caught them, and Trac Fone settled by agreeing to provide unlocking services.

At that time, Trac Fone's unlocking period was one year. You had to keep service for twelve months before your phone unlocked. This was the standard for prepaid carriers at the time.

Then Verizon bought Trac Fone in 2021. And that purchase came with conditions.

The Merger Condition That Changed Everything

When Verizon acquired Trac Fone, the deal required regulatory approval because it involved spectrum licenses and market concentration concerns. The FCC approved the deal, but imposed conditions. One of those conditions was a requirement that Verizon shorten Trac Fone's unlock period from one year to 60 days.

This was genuinely progressive policy for the time. Sixty days meant that if you signed up for a prepaid service and hated it, you could move your phone to another carrier within two months. That's reasonable for consumers. And it creates competitive pressure on prepaid carriers to actually be good, because they can't lock customers in for a year.

Verizon also had to unlock phones automatically. You didn't have to call and request it. The system just did it.

For five years, this worked. Prepaid phones on Verizon brands unlocked after 60 days. Automatic. No questions asked.

Then the FCC changed hands.

The Trump FCC: A New Regulatory Approach

When the Trump administration took over in 2025, it brought Brendan Carr as FCC chairman. Carr has been openly skeptical of regulations that constrain large carriers. His philosophy is to let the market work and trust companies to self-regulate.

Verizon saw an opportunity. The company filed a waiver request asking the FCC to eliminate the 60-day automatic unlock requirement and allow longer lock periods. The stated reason: fraud prevention.

Verizon's argument was that the 60-day lock period created an incentive for thieves to steal phones specifically to resell them on other carriers. If phones were locked for longer, the theory goes, stealing them for fraud would be less profitable.

The FCC granted the waiver on January 13, 2026, as reported by PCMag.

The Fraud Prevention Argument: Evidence vs. Claims

What Verizon Claims

Verizon's primary justification for the 365-day lock is simple: fraud reduction.

According to Verizon and FCC chairman Carr, the previous 60-day automatic unlock requirement "created an incentive for bad actors to steal those handsets for purposes of carrying out fraud and other illegal acts." The idea is that if your phone is locked to Verizon, thieves can't unlock it and flip it on T-Mobile or AT&T.

Therefore, making the lock period longer and requiring manual requests should reduce theft and fraud.

It's a neat theory. It sounds reasonable on the surface. Longer locks should deter theft.

But does it actually work?

The Evidence Problem

Consumer advocacy groups raised a significant issue when they filed comments with the FCC: Verizon never provided actual evidence that a longer lock period would prevent fraud.

The groups pointed out that "Verizon offers no specific evidence that a longer lock period would have prevented the fraudulent acquisition of the devices it identifies." In other words, Verizon said fraud happens, but didn't show that it actually happens because of the 60-day lock.

That's an important distinction. Just because two things correlate doesn't mean one causes the other. Maybe phone theft is driven by factors completely unrelated to unlock times. Maybe it's driven by phone prices, by theft rings, by international resale markets.

Moreover, consumer advocates argued that Verizon is perfectly capable of detecting and responding to fraud within 60 days. If a phone is stolen and someone tries to fraud with it, that's likely to happen in the first two months. By 60 days, a carrier should know whether a phone's associated account is legitimate or fraudulent.

The advocates also pointed out something else: Verizon processes thousands or millions of phone sales. If fraud is occurring, it should show up clearly in their data. Yet Verizon never presented specific fraud statistics showing that fraud was actually a problem with their 60-day policy.

Industry Comparison: What Other Carriers Do

Interestingly, the other major carriers don't lock phones for as long as Verizon's new policy. Here's what the actual industry standard looks like:

AT&T:

• Postpaid: 60 days if the phone is paid in full
• Prepaid: 6 months of service

T-Mobile:

• Postpaid: 40 days if the phone is paid in full (the shortest of the major carriers)
• Prepaid: 365 days of service

Verizon:

• Postpaid (main brand): 60 days, about to change
• Prepaid (all brands): 365 days as of January 20, 2026

So on prepaid, Verizon's new policy actually matches T-Mobile's existing policy. But Verizon's moving from 60 days to 365 days, while AT&T stayed at 6 months, and T-Mobile has been at a year the whole time.

The interesting thing here is that AT&T's prepaid customers can unlock after 6 months, not a year. That's less restrictive than both Verizon and T-Mobile's prepaid policies.

Estimated impacts of the FCC's policy changes show increased switching costs and e-waste, with reduced consumer freedom and device reuse. Estimated data.

Why Prepaid Customers Are Hit Harder

The Prepaid vs. Postpaid Distinction

There's something particularly striking about how this policy breaks down along prepaid and postpaid lines. It reveals something about how the wireless industry views different types of customers.

Postpaid customers (those with contracts and automatic billing) have generally been treated better. Verizon's postpaid phones still unlock after 60 days. You sign up for service, wait two months, and you can switch carriers if you want.

But prepaid customers? They're locked for a year.

Why this difference? The carrier's argument is that prepaid customers are higher-risk for fraud. Without a contract or credit check, someone could buy a phone with a stolen credit card, keep it for 60 days, then sell it. That's the theory.

But here's the thing: prepaid customers are also more price-sensitive. They're more likely to be low-income or to be willing to switch carriers based on cost. Longer locks directly benefit Verizon by preventing these customers from leaving.

So the fraud argument and the business interest are perfectly aligned. Conveniently.

The Real Impact on Low-Income Customers

Safe Link Wireless is one of the Verizon brands affected. Safe Link is a federal program that provides free or heavily subsidized phone service to low-income Americans. Many Safe Link customers are already struggling financially.

Now, if they want to switch carriers, they're locked in for a year. If they decide the service isn't working for them, they're stuck. If a competitor offers something better, they can't switch.

This is particularly problematic given Safe Link's history. Safe Link and Trac Fone were the specific targets of the 2015 FCC settlement that required unlocking in the first place. The agency found that these brands were not complying with unlocking commitments to low-income customers.

Now, ironically, the same FCC is allowing these same brands to lock customers for even longer than before.

Walmart Family Mobile and Budget Customers

Walmart Family Mobile is another brand affected. It's positioned as a budget option for families. People choose it because it's cheap.

But now those budget-conscious customers are locked in for a year whether they like it or not. If they find a better deal, they can't take advantage of it for 365 days.

The E-Waste and Secondary Market Impact

Phone Resale and Reuse

Locked phones have a broader economic impact beyond just switching carriers. When a phone is locked, its resale value drops significantly. A phone locked to Verizon can only be used by Verizon customers. A phone locked to T-Mobile is worthless to AT&T customers.

This creates an artificial scarcity of compatible devices in the secondary market. If you want a specific phone but you're on AT&T, a locked T-Mobile version of that phone is useless to you. You have to buy a new one instead.

The resale market matters more than you might think. A study referenced by consumer advocates showed that unlocking phones facilitates the resale and reuse of devices, particularly in lower-income communities where people can't afford new phones.

When phones are locked for a year, that secondary market shrinks. Used phones that could have been repurposed or resold stay in storage instead.

E-Waste Consequences

There's an environmental angle too. Phones are made from valuable materials: gold, copper, rare earth elements. They're also made from toxic materials like mercury and lead. E-waste is a serious problem globally.

When a phone can't be resold because it's locked, it's more likely to end up in a landfill. The environmental impact of manufacturing a new phone instead of reusing an existing one is significant.

Consumer advocates pointed this out in their FCC comments: automatic unlocking "reduces e-waste, and enables low-cost carriers and MVNOs to compete on a more level playing field."

The FCC did not seem impressed by the environmental argument.

Verizon and T-Mobile require 365 days of service for prepaid phone unlocks, while AT&T requires only 180 days. Estimated data based on typical carrier policies.

MVNO Competition and Market Consolidation

What MVNOs Are and Why They Matter

MVNO stands for Mobile Virtual Network Operator. These are companies that don't own their own cell towers. Instead, they buy access to towers from the big carriers and resell service to customers.

Examples include Republic Wireless, Ting, Boost Mobile, and many others. MVNOs compete on price and customer service because they can't compete on network coverage (they use someone else's network).

This competition is how wireless stays affordable for price-conscious consumers. If MVNOs couldn't convince people to switch away from Verizon, prices would be higher across the board.

But MVNOs rely on unlocked phones. If all the cheap prepaid phones are locked to Verizon for a year, customers can't easily switch to an MVNO even if the MVNO offers better service.

The Lock-In Effect

Longer phone locks directly harm MVNOs' ability to compete. Here's why:

A customer buys a prepaid phone from Verizon for

So they stay with Verizon and overpay for 6 months. That's $60 in extra money Verizon keeps that they wouldn't have kept if the phone could be unlocked.

Multiply that across millions of customers, and you're looking at hundreds of millions in additional revenue for Verizon, not because they provided better service, but because customers are forced to stay.

Consumer advocates made this argument to the FCC: longer locks are "anticompetitive," they lock out MVNOs and small carriers, and they make it harder for the competitive market to function.

The FCC under Carr apparently disagrees.

Small Carrier Perspective

Small carriers and MVNOs filed comments opposing the waiver. They pointed out that longer phone locks directly harm them. When customers can't unlock their phones, they can't switch to cheaper service.

One small carrier noted that a significant portion of their customer acquisition comes from people who were previously locked into larger carriers' networks. If phones are locked longer, that acquisition path is cut off.

It's a legitimate competitive concern. But it was apparently outweighed by the FCC's deference to Verizon's fraud argument.

How to Protect Yourself: What You Can Actually Do

Buy Before January 20, 2026

The first option is obvious: if you're thinking about buying a prepaid phone, do it before the new policy takes effect. Phones activated before January 20, 2026 are grandfathered under the old 60-day policy.

But this window is already closed for most people reading this. The policy change happened in January 2026.

Buy the Phone Outright and Switch Services

If you already own a phone (maybe you bought it outright a while ago), you can buy a prepaid plan from a different carrier and use your existing phone.

This works if:

1. Your phone is unlocked or you've already requested an unlock
2. Your phone is compatible with the other carrier's network (most modern phones work with all carriers, but check first)
3. You don't need the latest flagship phone

So if you have a 2-3 year old iPhone, you can probably use it on any carrier. Just buy a prepaid SIM and switch.

Get Your Phone Unlocked (If Eligible)

If you have a Verizon prepaid phone that's been active for 60 days or more, and it was activated before January 20, 2026, you can request an unlock right now, before the new policy takes effect.

Call Verizon or visit a store and ask for an unlock. Don't wait. The faster you unlock it, the more options you have if you want to switch carriers in the future.

Switch to a Different Prepaid Provider

If you haven't bought a phone yet, consider buying from AT&T or T-Mobile's prepaid brands instead of Verizon's. AT&T allows unlocks after 6 months, which is shorter than Verizon's year. T-Mobile requires a year too, but maybe you prefer their network.

Alternatively, buy a phone unlocked from a third party (Best Buy, Amazon, etc.) and then activate it on any prepaid network you want. You'll pay more upfront, but you'll avoid lock-in entirely.

Use an MVNO with Lenient Policies

Some MVNOs have unlock-friendly policies. Republic Wireless, for example, will unlock phones immediately. Ting has a 60-day policy.

MVNOs can be cheaper than major carriers' prepaid offerings, especially if you don't use much data. Check what's available in your area.

The unlocking period for prepaid phones decreased from 12 months in 2015 to 2 months in 2021, maintaining this policy through 2025. Estimated data.

What Happens Next: Postpaid Policy Changes

Verizon's Main Brand Is Likely Next

Verizon's primary branded service still has a 60-day unlock policy. But that's not going to last.

The policy document for Verizon branded service hasn't been updated since May 2025. When it does get updated, it will almost certainly change to 365 days, or something close to it.

The FCC waiver gives Verizon the legal authority to do this. And given that they immediately implemented the year-long lock for prepaid brands, it would be surprising if they didn't do the same for postpaid.

Industry-Wide Changes

The FCC said in its decision that the Verizon waiver will stay in effect "until the agency decides on an appropriate industry-wide approach for the unlocking of handsets."

In other words, the FCC plans to write a new, industry-wide standard that applies to all carriers, not just Verizon. This new standard will presumably allow longer lock periods across the board.

Under the Biden administration, the FCC was pushing for a 60-day standard for all carriers. The Trump administration is likely to push for a longer period, perhaps aligned with what Verizon is now doing (365 days) or something in between.

AT&T and T-Mobile's Potential Moves

Once the FCC sets an industry-wide standard, AT&T and T-Mobile will probably align their policies with it. Right now they're at 60 days postpaid and 6 months / 365 days prepaid. If the FCC allows longer periods, expect those to increase.

Actually, T-Mobile prepaid already has a 365-day requirement. So T-Mobile is already at Verizon's new level for prepaid. If the FCC standard allows for longer postpaid unlocks, T-Mobile might extend that to postpaid as well.

The Bigger Picture: Regulatory Capture and Consumer Protection

What Regulatory Capture Looks Like

The FCC's decision to grant Verizon's waiver is a textbook example of regulatory capture. That's when the industry being regulated gains so much influence over the regulators that the agency starts making decisions that favor the regulated companies instead of the public.

Here's how it played out:

1. Verizon had to unlock phones because of merger conditions and spectrum license requirements
2. Verizon didn't like this requirement
3. When a new, industry-friendly FCC leadership took over, Verizon filed a waiver request
4. The FCC granted it, accepting Verizon's argument about fraud despite lack of evidence
5. Verizon immediately reversed its unlock policy

The process looked procedurally correct (Verizon filed a formal request, the FCC considered it, they made a decision). But the outcome favors the company, not consumers.

Consumer advocates argued that the FCC should prioritize the public interest. Competitive markets, lower prices, environmental protection, and accessibility for low-income customers are all public interests. Phone locks undermine all of them.

But the FCC prioritized Verizon's unsubstantiated fraud argument instead.

The Role of Political Change

The timing matters. If there had been a Biden FCC when Verizon made this request, it would probably have been rejected. The Obama-era FCC was actively pro-consumer and pro-competition. Biden's FCC continued that tradition.

But presidential administrations change, and with them, the FCC's priorities change. The Trump administration appears to be more favorable to large corporations and less concerned with consumer protection.

This matters for future policy. If the FCC majority changes again, future policies might swing back toward consumer protection. Or they might not. The point is that these policies aren't set in stone. They depend on who's in charge.

What Consumer Advocates Want

Consumer groups have consistently argued for:

• Universal 60-day unlock periods for all carriers, all customer types
• Automatic unlocking (no need to request)
• No resets if a customer pauses service
• Clear, simple unlock procedures

They point out that 60 days is enough time for a carrier to detect fraud. It's enough time for a carrier to justify requiring payment for the phone. It's short enough that customers can switch carriers if they're unsatisfied.

It's a reasonable middle ground. But under the current FCC, it seems unlikely.

Estimated data shows that regulatory capture can negatively impact consumer interests, with accessibility and competitive markets being most affected.

Historical Context: How Phone Unlocking Became an Issue

The Pre-2015 Era

Before 2015, carriers locked phones for extended periods as a matter of routine. A year was standard. Some carriers would unlock after 90 days or 6 months, but it wasn't automatic, and it required manual requests.

The FCC wasn't really focused on this as an issue. Consumer protection existed, but the focus was on other things like billing practices and network reliability.

The Trac Fone Settlement

Trac Fone changed things. When the FCC investigated Trac Fone in 2015 and found that it wasn't unlocking phones for Lifeline customers who had paid for service, it became clear that this was a consumer protection issue.

The settlement required Trac Fone to unlock phones more readily. This was the first time the FCC explicitly addressed phone unlocking as a consumer protection matter.

Notably, this applied specifically to Lifeline customers (low-income customers receiving federal subsidies). The FCC recognized that locking low-income customers into service they might not want was particularly problematic.

The Verizon Merger Condition

When Verizon acquired Trac Fone, the FCC used the opportunity to impose broader unlock requirements. Not just for Lifeline customers, but for all Trac Fone customers. And it shortened the lock period from a year to 60 days.

This was seen as a win by consumer advocates. It meant that even budget-conscious customers buying the cheapest phones from the cheapest carriers could switch carriers if they wanted to.

The Five-Year Status Quo

For five years (2021-2026), the 60-day policy stood. It wasn't perfect, but it worked. Customers had meaningful flexibility.

And now it's over.

Comparison: How Different Carriers Handle Unlocking

Postpaid Policies (Regular Billing)

Verizon Postpaid:

• Policy: 60 days after paid in full (expected to change)
• How to Unlock: Contact Verizon or request in-store
• Automatic?: No, you must request
• If Payment Lapses: Unclear if clock resets

AT&T Postpaid:

• Policy: 60 days after paid in full
• How to Unlock: Call 611 from AT&T phone or visit store
• Automatic?: Yes, unlocks automatically at 60 days
• If Payment Lapses: No impact if you've already reached 60 days

T-Mobile Postpaid:

• Policy: 40 days after paid in full (fastest of major carriers)
• How to Unlock: T-Mobile unlocks automatically
• Automatic?: Yes
• If Payment Lapses: No impact if you've already reached 40 days

Prepaid Policies (Pay-As-You-Go)

Verizon Prepaid (All brands including Trac Fone, Straight Talk, etc.):

• Policy: 365 days of continuous paid service
• How to Unlock: Must request; no automatic unlocking
• Automatic?: No
• If Payment Lapses: Clock resets back to zero

AT&T Prepaid:

• Policy: 6 months of paid service
• How to Unlock: Must request
• Automatic?: No
• If Payment Lapses: Unclear

T-Mobile Prepaid:

• Policy: 365 days of paid service
• How to Unlock: Must request
• Automatic?: No
• If Payment Lapses: Clock pauses until reactivation

The MVNO Advantage

Many MVNOs have more lenient unlock policies:

Republic Wireless: Unlocks phones immediately, no waiting period

Ting: 60 days of service or full payment, whichever comes first

Boost Mobile: 12 months of paid service

Mint Mobile: No unlock restrictions mentioned; generally unlocks quickly

MVNOs can afford to be more generous because they make their money on volume and customer retention, not on lock-in fees and switching barriers.

What to Know Before Buying a Prepaid Phone

Questions to Ask Before Purchase

If you're buying a prepaid phone, ask these questions:

1. When does the phone unlock? Get a specific timeframe and any conditions.
2. What counts as "paid service"? Does missing a payment reset the clock?
3. Do I have to request the unlock? Or is it automatic?
4. What if I want to pause service? Does that affect my unlock eligibility?
5. Is the phone sold with a SIM lock or account lock? (Some phones have multiple types of locks)
6. Can I unlock it at a store or only online? (Some processes are slow)

Where to Buy

You have options beyond the prepaid brands:

Best Buy: Sells unlocked phones from major manufacturers. Higher upfront cost, but no lock-in.

Amazon: Sells both locked and unlocked phones. Read reviews carefully to see which version is being sold.

Carrier Stores: Cheaper upfront prices, but comes with lock-in. Choose carefully.

Third-Party Retailers: Some retailers specialize in unlocked phones or can unlock phones for a fee.

Total Cost of Ownership

Don't just look at the upfront phone price. Calculate the total cost including:

• Phone price (subsidized by carrier vs. full price)
• Monthly service cost
• Length of lock-in
• Cost to break the contract (if applicable)
• Resale value (locked phones are worth less)

Sometimes buying an unlocked phone upfront is cheaper overall, even though the initial price is higher.

The International Perspective: How Other Countries Handle Unlocking

European Union: The Regulatory Gold Standard

The EU requires that phones be unlocked after a maximum of 12 months of contract, or 12 months from the date of purchase, whichever is shorter. But here's the key: the EU requires this for all carriers, uniformly.

Moreover, the EU requires that carrier bundling of services be transparent. You can't lock a customer in for two years on a three-year service contract without making that very clear.

The result is that European customers have strong protections and more flexibility than U.S. customers.

Australia and Canada

Australia doesn't mandate unlocking by law, but telcos have agreed to industry standards that are relatively generous. Most Australian carriers unlock phones after 24 months.

Canada is similar. There's no legal mandate, but industry standards allow unlocking after 24 months.

Interestingly, neither Australia nor Canada has the year-long lock periods that are now common in the U.S. prepaid market.

India and Emerging Markets

India requires carriers to unlock phones within 40 days. That's faster than Verizon, faster than T-Mobile, faster than most U.S. carriers.

The reason? India has intense carrier competition and a large prepaid customer base. Regulators recognized that lock-in was anticompetitive and acted accordingly.

The irony is stark. India, a much less wealthy country, has better unlocking protections than the United States.

FAQ

What is a phone unlock and why does it matter?

A phone unlock removes the restriction that ties a phone to one carrier's network. A locked phone can only use the carrier that sold it. An unlocked phone can be used with any compatible carrier. This matters because it determines whether you can switch carriers, sell your phone on the secondary market, or use it internationally. Without unlocking, you're forced to stay with your current carrier or buy a new phone.

How does the 365-day requirement work with Verizon prepaid phones?

Verizon's prepaid brands now require 365 days (12 months) of continuous paid service before you can request an unlock. "Continuous" is the critical word. If you miss a payment or pause your service for any reason, the clock resets and you start over from day one. You must maintain active service every single month to count toward the requirement.

Why did the FCC allow Verizon to change the unlock policy?

Verizon requested a waiver from the previous 60-day automatic unlock requirement, arguing that longer locks would reduce phone theft and fraud. The FCC, under chairman Brendan Carr, approved the waiver, accepting Verizon's fraud prevention argument. Consumer advocates argued that Verizon provided no evidence that fraud was actually a problem linked to the 60-day policy, but the FCC prioritized Verizon's argument over consumer protection concerns.

Which Verizon brands are affected by the new policy?

The 365-day policy applies to Trac Fone, Straight Talk, Net 10 Wireless, Clearway, Total Wireless, Simple Mobile, Safe Link Wireless, Walmart Family Mobile, and Visible. Essentially, all of Verizon's prepaid brands are affected. Verizon's primary postpaid branded service still has a 60-day policy, but that's expected to change soon.

How does Verizon's new policy compare to AT&T and T-Mobile?

AT&T allows prepaid unlocks after 6 months of service. T-Mobile requires 365 days for prepaid (same as Verizon's new policy). For postpaid, AT&T unlocks after 60 days if the phone is paid in full, T-Mobile unlocks after 40 days, and Verizon unlocks after 60 days (for now). So on prepaid, Verizon's new policy is more restrictive than AT&T's but equivalent to T-Mobile's existing policy.

What should I do if I want to buy a prepaid phone now?

You have several options: buy from AT&T's prepaid brands (6-month unlock period), buy an unlocked phone from a retailer like Best Buy or Amazon, buy from an MVNO with lenient unlock policies like Republic Wireless (which unlocks immediately), or buy a used unlocked phone. Avoid Verizon prepaid brands unless you're certain you'll want to keep that carrier for at least a year.

Can I get my existing prepaid phone unlocked before the new policy takes effect?

If your phone was activated before January 20, 2026, it falls under the old 60-day policy. If it's been at least 60 days, you can request an unlock right now. Contact Verizon or visit a store and request an unlock for your specific phone. Don't wait—get it unlocked while you're still eligible under the old policy.

What happens to my unlock progress if I pause my Verizon prepaid service?

According to Verizon's policy, if you stop paying for service, your progress toward the 365-day requirement pauses. When you reactivate your account and resume paying, the clock starts counting again. But you have to reach 365 total paid days. Any gap in service extends your unlock date.

Will Verizon's main branded postpaid service also get the 365-day policy?

It's very likely. The FCC waiver that allowed Verizon to change prepaid unlocking applies to all Verizon services, not just prepaid. Verizon has confirmed plans to update the postpaid policy, and given that they immediately implemented 365-day locks for prepaid, it's reasonable to expect the same for postpaid. You should assume that Verizon postpaid unlock times will increase soon.

Can I switch my locked Verizon prepaid phone to a different carrier temporarily and then switch back?

No. A locked phone can only work on the carrier that owns the lock. Verizon can't unlock a Verizon-locked phone, and other carriers can't force an unlock. You're stuck with Verizon until either 365 days pass or Verizon voluntarily unlocks the phone for you. Some special circumstances (military deployment, documented move to an area without Verizon coverage) might qualify for early unlocks, but these are rare and require extensive documentation.

Conclusion: The Bigger Battle Over Wireless Competition

Verizon's shift to a 365-day phone lock policy isn't just a policy change. It's a signpost pointing to a larger regulatory environment shift.

For years, the FCC has been the battleground where consumer advocates and large carriers fight over how much competition should exist in wireless markets. Carriers want less competition and more lock-in. Consumers and advocates want more competition and more freedom to switch.

Under previous administrations, the balance favored consumers. The FCC actively worked to increase competition. That's why Verizon was forced to shorten Trac Fone's unlock period from a year to 60 days in the first place.

But administrations change. When they do, policy shifts. The Trump administration appears to favor large carriers over consumer protection. The FCC under Brendan Carr is granting waivers and reversing protections that were hard-won.

What does this mean for you? Short term, it means you're locked in for longer if you buy a Verizon prepaid phone. It means less flexibility, more expensive switching costs, and less incentive for Verizon to offer good service to budget customers.

Long term, it could mean the beginning of a trend. If the FCC sets an industry-wide standard based on Verizon's 365-day requirement, all carriers will lock phones for longer. That reduces competition across the board.

It also means less device reuse, more e-waste, and fewer options for low-income customers who rely on affordable prepaid services and the secondary phone market.

The good news? This isn't inevitable. Consumer advocates continue to fight for better policies. They file comments with the FCC. They lobby Congress. They bring attention to unfair practices.

Moreover, administrations change again. If future FCC leadership prioritizes consumer protection, these policies can be reversed. The 365-day lock isn't permanent law. It's a regulatory decision made by one FCC under one administration. A different FCC could make a different decision.

In the meantime, the practical advice is simple: avoid locking yourself into Verizon prepaid for a year. Buy unlocked phones, use MVNOs with better unlock policies, or choose AT&T prepaid with its shorter 6-month lock period.

Your phone is your property. The fact that you have to wait a year to do what you want with it is a reminder that consumer protections in wireless are always fragile, always contingent on political leadership.

The carriers want longer locks. Consumers want shorter ones. The FCC decides the balance.

Right now, the balance has shifted toward the carriers. Be strategic about it.

Key Takeaways

• Verizon extended prepaid phone locks from 60 days to 365 days starting January 20, 2026, affecting eight prepaid brands.
• The FCC waived the original automatic unlock requirement, giving Verizon legal authority to set its own policy.
• Continuous paid service is required, meaning any payment gap resets your unlock eligibility clock back to day one.
• AT&T offers the most favorable prepaid unlock policy at 6 months, while T-Mobile matches Verizon at 365 days.
• MVNOs like Republic Wireless offer immediate unlocking and represent the best option for avoiding carrier lock-in.
• The policy particularly impacts low-income customers on SafeLink and budget buyers using Walmart Family Mobile.
• Consumer advocates lack evidence that longer locks actually reduce fraud despite this being Verizon's primary justification.

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