![Verizon's 365-Day Phone Lock: What You Need to Know [2025]](https://tryrunable.com/blog/verizon-s-365-day-phone-lock-what-you-need-to-know-2025/image-1-1769011671912.jpg)
The New Verizon Phone Lock: A Year of Being Stuck
Picture this: you grab a budget-friendly phone from Visible, excited about the lower monthly bill. Fast forward six months, and you're thinking about switching to another carrier. There's just one problem. You're locked in for another six months. You're paying for service you might not want, on a network you're ready to leave.
This isn't a hypothetical anymore. In January 2026, Verizon made a dramatic move that fundamentally changed how its prepaid customers can access their phones. The carrier extended its phone lock period from 60 days to a full 365 days for customers on Visible, TracFone, Straight Talk, Total Wireless, Net 10 Wireless, Clearway, Simple Mobile, SafeLink Wireless, and Walmart Family Mobile. That's right, a full year. No exceptions, no shortcuts.
What makes this particularly controversial is the timing. Verizon pulled this move just one week after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted the carrier a waiver to lift a 60-day unlocking requirement that had been in place since 2014. The carrier essentially traded one set of regulatory handcuffs for a pair of its own making, one that's significantly tighter.
The implications are massive. We're talking about millions of prepaid customers who now face a year-long commitment before they can switch carriers. This isn't just about freedom of choice anymore. It's about what happens when a telecommunications giant uses regulatory loopholes to strengthen its grip on customer loyalty.
Let me break down what's happening here, why it matters, and what you should actually do about it.
TL; DR
- New Lock Period: Verizon extended phone unlocking from 60 days to 365 days for prepaid customers starting January 20, 2026
- Affected Carriers: Visible, TracFone, Straight Talk, Total Wireless, and six other Verizon-owned prepaid brands now require full-year commitments
- Manual Unlocking Required: Unlike before, customers must now request unlocks instead of receiving them automatically
- FCC Waiver Exploit: Verizon secured an FCC waiver lifting its 60-day requirement, then implemented its own year-long policy
- Financial Impact: Customers who want to switch early face losing service or paying additional fees to complete their year-long commitment
Verizon's new policy extends the phone unlock period from 60 to 365 days for prepaid brands, requiring manual requests instead of automatic unlocks.
The FCC Waiver That Started Everything
To understand how we got here, you need to know about a regulatory decision that most people completely missed. On January 14, 2026, the FCC granted Verizon a waiver from a requirement dating back over a decade.
Since 2014, Verizon had been required to unlock customer phones after 60 days of service activation. This requirement came as part of the regulatory approval for Verizon's acquisition of spectrum licenses. It was a consumer protection mechanism, designed to ensure that customers could switch carriers without being permanently trapped on Verizon's network.
But here's where it gets interesting. Verizon also completed its acquisition of TracFone back in 2022. TracFone came with its own unlocking policy: a full year. When Verizon took over TracFone's operations, those 60-day and one-year policies created a patchwork of requirements across different Verizon-owned prepaid brands.
Verizon petitioned the FCC to resolve this inconsistency. The carrier argued that having different unlocking timelines across its portfolio created operational confusion. The FCC agreed and granted the waiver. But instead of harmonizing toward the more consumer-friendly 60-day requirement, Verizon did something different. It went in the opposite direction.
The FCC's waiver wasn't the problem. It was what Verizon did with it.
How the 365-Day Lock Actually Works
Let's get specific about what this policy actually means in practical terms. Understanding the mechanics matters because there are edge cases that could affect your ability to switch.
First, the basic timeline. Starting January 20, 2026, when you activate a phone on any Verizon-owned prepaid brand, you're locked in for 365 days. That's not 365 days of active service. That's 365 days from the activation date, period.
But here's the catch that actually matters. The policy includes a pause provision. If you stop paying for service, your progress toward the 365-day requirement pauses. It doesn't reset, and it doesn't go away. It just pauses. The moment you reactivate your account, the clock starts ticking again.
What does this mean? Let's run through a scenario.
You activate a phone on Visible on February 1, 2026. By August, you're unhappy with the service. You decide to stop paying and port your number to AT&T. But wait. You've only got 180 days of paid service. According to Visible's policy, your 365-day requirement is now paused at 180 days.
Now, let's say you change your mind in October and reactivate your Visible account. The clock resumes. You need another 185 days of paid service before you can unlock your phone. That means you're potentially locked into paying for service well into April or May 2027, depending on exactly when you reactivate.
This is where the policy gets genuinely punitive. It's not just a one-year commitment. It's a one-year commitment that can be extended indefinitely if you have any gaps in service.
There's also a new requirement around how unlocking actually works. Previously, phones on some of these Verizon prepaid brands would unlock automatically once the required period elapsed. Now, you have to request an unlock. You can't just wait it out and have it happen on its own.
On Visible's website, you can request an unlock from your account dashboard. But if you're on TracFone or Straight Talk, you might need to call customer service or go through their support websites. This creates friction. It's not a deal-breaker, but it's an extra barrier for an action that used to happen automatically.
Verizon also retained some conditions for non-unlocking. Your phone won't unlock if it's been reported as lost or stolen. That makes sense. But Verizon also won't unlock if your account shows signs of fraud. What constitutes fraud? The carrier doesn't specify. That gives Verizon significant discretion to deny unlock requests if they suspect improper account activity.
BYOD is the most effective strategy to avoid Verizon's 365-day lock-in, offering maximum flexibility. Estimated data based on strategy analysis.
Why This Happened: The Regulatory Loophole
This move wasn't random. It was calculated and strategic. Understanding the regulatory context is crucial because it explains how a company can basically tell millions of customers they're locked in for longer.
The Federal Communications Commission oversees telecommunications carriers in the United States. The FCC has power over major transactions, spectrum allocations, and certain consumer protections. But the FCC doesn't have unlimited authority to regulate every business decision a telecom makes.
When Verizon requested its waiver from the 60-day requirement, it was actually making a sophisticated regulatory move. Instead of asking the FCC to approve a longer lock period, Verizon asked for relief from the existing requirement. The FCC granted that relief. But crucially, the FCC didn't mandate what Verizon had to do instead.
Instead, the FCC said Verizon would now have to follow guidelines from the CTIA, which is a wireless industry trade group. The CTIA's guidelines are less stringent than FCC requirements. They suggest a maximum 60-day lock period, but they're not binding rules. They're suggestions from an industry organization.
So what happened? Verizon followed the CTIA guidelines for a grand total of about zero seconds. The carrier then decided to implement its own policy. A year-long lock. Something the CTIA guidelines don't recommend, but something the FCC didn't explicitly forbid either.
This is regulatory arbitrage in action. Verizon identified a gap in the regulatory framework, exploited it, and emerged with stricter customer lock-in than what the original rule required.
The FCC has indicated it plans to create an "industry-wide approach" to phone unlocking in the future. Until that happens, Verizon and other carriers are operating in a gray zone where the original consumer protection is gone, but nothing clear has replaced it.
Which Carriers Are Affected
If you're using any of these services, you're subject to the new 365-day lock period starting with phones activated on or after January 20, 2026:
Major Brands:
- Visible: Verizon's discount prepaid brand, focused on younger users and low-income customers
- TracFone: One of the largest prepaid carriers in the US, with millions of customers on month-to-month plans
- Straight Talk: Another major prepaid player, particularly popular with budget-conscious families
- Total Wireless: A smaller prepaid brand that competes primarily on price
Additional Affected Brands:
- Net 10 Wireless
- Clearway Mobile
- Simple Mobile
- SafeLink Wireless
- Walmart Family Mobile
What's not affected? Regular Verizon postpaid customers. If you have a standard Verizon plan, you're not subject to this policy. The lock-in applies specifically to Verizon's prepaid brands.
That's an important distinction. Prepaid customers are disproportionately low-income users, people who rely on month-to-month flexibility, and international customers who use prepaid services while traveling. These are exactly the customer segments that have the least financial cushion to absorb the impact of year-long lock-in periods.
The Financial Impact: What This Actually Costs
Let's talk money, because that's where this policy becomes concretely harmful.
Visible's cheapest plan is
Let's run the math for a Visible customer. You activate a phone in late January 2026. By June, you're not happy with coverage or customer service. You want to switch to T-Mobile. But you're stuck. If you want to continue with Visible to hit that 365-day mark, you're looking at another
For a TracFone customer on a
But here's the real cost. The opportunity cost.
Imagine you buy a Visible phone in February 2026 at $500. You realize in June that you want to switch to AT&T because they have better coverage where you live. You face three choices:
- Continue paying Visible for seven more months ($175) to unlock the phone, then switch
- Port your number to AT&T now and buy a new phone (another $500+), leaving the Visible phone stranded
- Stay with Visible because leaving costs too much
For a low-income user, option 3 is often the only realistic choice. That's the real impact of this policy. It's not just about lock-in. It's about financially coercing customers into staying on a network they might want to leave.
The 365-day lock policy pauses when service is inactive, extending the lock period beyond a calendar year. Estimated data based on policy description.
How This Compares to Other Carriers
To understand how aggressive Verizon's move is, it helps to see what other carriers are doing.
AT&T: Generally unlocks phones after 60 days of active service on prepaid plans. Some legacy plans might have different timelines, but the current standard is two months.
T-Mobile: Also typically offers 60-day unlocking for prepaid customers. The carrier hasn't pushed for longer lock periods even as Verizon went the other direction.
US Cellular: Follows a similar 60-day timeline for most prepaid offerings.
International Carriers: In most European countries, phone unlocking is mandatory within 15-30 days. In Canada, unlocking is typically required within 15 days. The US is already an outlier, and Verizon is now pushing even further away from global norms.
Verizon's move is aggressive by any standard. Even within the US, where regulatory requirements are more lenient than in other developed countries, Verizon stands out.
The timing is also important. Other carriers didn't lobby for longer lock periods when they had the chance. Verizon did. That suggests the carrier saw an opportunity in the regulatory moment created by the FCC waiver and moved aggressively to exploit it.
Who This Hurts Most
Phone lock policies don't affect all customers equally. They disproportionately harm specific segments of the population.
Low-Income Users: Prepaid carriers like Visible, TracFone, and Straight Talk have become the primary way low-income Americans access wireless service. These users can't afford expensive long-term contracts, so they choose prepaid month-to-month plans. A year-long lock-in is particularly burdensome for people living paycheck-to-paycheck who might need to switch carriers quickly if their financial situation changes.
International Travelers: Many international visitors use prepaid carriers while in the US. They might need to switch carriers if coverage changes or they move to a different part of the country. A 365-day lock makes this nearly impossible for short-term travelers.
Job Mobility: People who move for work sometimes need to switch carriers based on coverage in their new location. A year-long lock forces them to either continue paying a previous carrier or buy new phones.
Domestic Abuse Survivors: Prepaid carriers are often used by people trying to establish independence and separate from abusive relationships. A long lock-in period could trap them with a carrier associated with their abuser.
Military Personnel: Service members who are stationed overseas sometimes need to switch to international carriers. A year-long lock complicates the process of securing communication while deployed.
These aren't edge cases. These are real circumstances affecting millions of Americans. The prepaid customer base is significant and disproportionately vulnerable to lock-in policies.
What Happened to the "Pause" Provision
One of the most frustrating aspects of Verizon's policy is the pause provision, which basically says your progress toward unlocking pauses if you stop paying. This sounds almost reasonable until you think about what it actually means.
Let's say you activate a Straight Talk phone in March 2026. By September, you've lost your job and can't afford service. You pause your account. Your 180 days of progress toward the 365-day requirement just sits there. It doesn't expire. It doesn't reset. It's frozen.
Six months later, you find a new job and reactivate. Now you need 185 more days of service. That's another six months before you can switch. You're potentially locked in until early 2028, nearly two years after you originally activated the phone.
For customers in financial distress, this is particularly cruel. You can't leave the carrier because you have months of accumulated progress you don't want to lose. You can't stay because you can't afford service. The policy has no flexibility for life circumstances.
Verizon would probably argue this is necessary to prevent people from gaming the system. But the impact is that any service interruption, for any reason, extends your lock-in period indefinitely.
The pause provision also creates perverse incentives. If you know you might not be able to pay next month, do you continue paying to advance the timer, or do you just accept that the timer will pause? For some customers, it might actually be better to let the timer pause, then reactivate later, rather than keep paying to advance it.
This is the kind of policy that seems logical in a spreadsheet but creates real hardship in real lives.
Verizon's 365-day unlocking policy is significantly longer than other US carriers and international standards, which typically range from 15 to 60 days.
The Request-Based Unlock Process
Another change in Verizon's new policy is moving from automatic unlocking to request-based unlocking. After 365 days, your phone doesn't just unlock. You have to ask for it.
On Visible, this is straightforward. You log into your account and request an unlock from your dashboard. It usually processes within minutes.
On TracFone and Straight Talk, it's more complicated. You might need to call customer service, visit a retail location, or navigate their websites. The process is less streamlined than Visible's.
What's the problem with request-based unlocking? Mainly, it's an additional barrier. It adds friction to the process. For some customers, it might even create confusion. If you don't know you need to request an unlock, you might assume you still can't switch carriers.
Verizon could have just automatically unlocked phones after 365 days. That would be more customer-friendly. Instead, the carrier chose to require an explicit request. Why? Probably because it keeps the process under Verizon's control. Verizon can monitor unlock requests, gather data about which customers are trying to leave, and potentially use that information to send retention offers.
It's not a huge barrier, but it's another way the policy favors Verizon over customers.
What About Phones Reported Lost or Stolen
Verizon maintains that it won't unlock phones if they've been reported lost or stolen. This makes sense. You don't want thieves being able to unlock stolen phones and use them on different networks.
But the policy creates a potential loophole for abuse. What if someone falsely reports a phone as lost or stolen to prevent someone else from leaving? In a domestic abuse scenario, an abuser could potentially report a joint account phone as stolen to keep a victim locked to the network.
Verizon does have procedures to report phones found or to restore legitimate access, but the potential for misuse exists. This isn't necessarily a reason to avoid the policy entirely, but it's a consideration in scenarios involving relationship abuse or disputes.
The Fraud Exception
The policy also contains a vague exception for accounts showing "signs of fraud." What counts as fraud? Verizon doesn't specify.
This creates significant discretion for Verizon to deny unlock requests. In theory, it's a reasonable exception. Nobody should unlock phones associated with fraudulent account activity.
In practice, though, Verizon could define fraud broadly. A chargeback. A reversal of a payment. Multiple rapid purchases of service plans. Any of these could potentially be flagged as fraud, giving Verizon reason to deny an unlock request.
Without clear criteria, the fraud exception is a potential tool for Verizon to retain control over unlocking even after the 365-day period.
Estimated data shows that sticking with a plan for a year can cost
The Regulatory Path Forward
The FCC has indicated that it plans to establish an industry-wide approach to phone unlocking in the future. This is important because it suggests the current arrangement might not be permanent.
But "plans to" and "actually does" are very different things. The FCC moves slowly. By the time they establish new rules, millions of prepaid customers could be locked in under Verizon's 365-day policy. The precedent would be set.
What could happen next?
Option 1: FCC Mandates a Shorter Unlocking Period: The FCC could establish rules requiring all carriers to unlock phones within 60-90 days. This would effectively reverse Verizon's policy and align the US with global standards. But the FCC would need to act decisively against industry lobbying.
Option 2: FCC Mandates Automatic Unlocking: Instead of allowing request-based unlocking, the FCC could require carriers to automatically unlock phones. This removes the friction that Verizon introduced.
Option 3: FCC Establishes Consumer Protections for Lock-Ins: The FCC could require that any lock period is paused without exception when a customer stops paying, or that lock periods have maximum limits. This wouldn't necessarily reduce Verizon's lock period, but it would add consumer protections.
Option 4: Status Quo: The FCC does nothing, allowing Verizon's policy to stand. This seems unlikely given the FCC's previous stance on unlocking, but it's possible.
The most likely scenario is that the FCC eventually mandates something closer to the current international standard of 30-60 day unlocking. But that could take years to implement.
What This Means for Your Future Phone Purchases
If you're thinking about buying a phone on a Verizon prepaid network, you need to understand the full commitment you're making.
Actually, let's be clear: if the policy continues, you might not want to buy a phone on a Verizon prepaid network at all. A year-long lock is a long time.
If you do decide to go with Visible, TracFone, Straight Talk, or another Verizon prepaid brand, here's what you need to know:
Phones activated before January 20, 2026: You're still under the old 60-day unlocking requirement. You can unlock after two months if you want.
Phones activated on or after January 20, 2026: You're locked in for 365 days. That's a full year before you have any ability to switch carriers.
If you stop paying: Your lock-in doesn't go away. It just pauses. If you reactivate later, you're starting the clock again from wherever it paused.
To get an unlock: You'll need to request one after the 365-day period. It won't happen automatically.
Edge cases: Make sure your account has no fraud flags and no payment disputes before you request an unlock, or Verizon might deny it.
Given all of this, you should ask yourself: Do I plan to be on this carrier for a full year? If not, are the savings worth the lock-in commitment? If you're not sure, wait. Or choose a different carrier that doesn't have a year-long lock-in requirement.
What Should Have Happened Instead
Let's talk about what a reasonable phone unlocking policy looks like.
First, shorter lock periods. 60 days is already pretty long. 30 days is reasonable. 365 days is punitive.
Second, automatic unlocking. If a customer meets the lock-in period, the phone should just unlock. Don't require requests. Don't add friction. Let the unlock happen.
Third, clear exceptions. If fraud is an exception, define what fraud means. Don't let it be a blank check for Verizon to deny unlocks.
Fourth, no indefinite pausing. If a customer pauses service, the lock-in timer should either keep ticking or reset. It shouldn't pause indefinitely.
Fifth, consider the full cost of ownership. When customers buy phones from carriers, they're making device-carrier decisions simultaneously. Long lock-in periods effectively force customers into multi-year network commitments they might not have consciously chosen.
Honestly, the best option would be no lock-in at all. Most developed countries don't have lock-in periods. Why should the US?
But even within the US regulatory framework, Verizon could have done better. It chose not to.
Lock-in policies have a broad societal impact, with significant effects on market power concentration and equity issues. (Estimated data)
The Bigger Picture: Why Carriers Want Lock-In
Understanding why Verizon implemented this policy helps explain the broader dynamics in the wireless industry.
Lock-in periods create customer stickiness. Once you're locked in, you're less likely to leave even if you have reasons to. You're paying a sunk cost just to get your phone to work on another network. Many customers won't bother.
This reduces churn. Churn is expensive for carriers. When a customer leaves, the carrier loses that revenue stream and faces acquisition costs to replace them.
Lock-in also gives carriers leverage in negotiations. If you're considering leaving, the carrier can offer discounts or promotions to keep you. If you're not locked in, you're already gone.
For low-cost carriers like Visible and TracFone, lock-in is particularly valuable. These carriers compete primarily on price. Once a customer is on the network, locking them in means the carrier doesn't have to keep offering great deals to retain them.
From a business perspective, the lock-in policy makes perfect sense. From a customer perspective, it's just limiting.
Strategies for Dealing With This Policy
If you're stuck on a Verizon prepaid carrier, or if you're considering using one, here are some strategies for navigating the 365-day lock.
Strategy 1: Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
If you already own an unlocked phone, you can activate it on a Verizon prepaid brand without any lock-in commitment. The 365-day requirement only applies to phones you purchase from the carrier. If you activate your existing iPhone or Android phone on Visible, it's not subject to the lock-in.
This is probably the single best way to avoid the policy. If you have an unlocked phone lying around, use it. The carrier still has your service revenue, but you maintain flexibility.
Strategy 2: Purchase Your Phone Elsewhere
You can buy phones from retailers, other carriers, or online marketplaces, and then activate them on a Verizon prepaid brand. Again, only phones purchased from the carrier are subject to the lock-in.
This costs more upfront because you're paying full retail price instead of buying from the carrier. But if you want flexibility without being locked in, it's the option.
Strategy 3: Accept the Lock-In But Understand the Commitment
If you buy a phone from a Verizon prepaid carrier, you're making a 365-day commitment. Accept this. Plan to be on the network for a full year. Build your decision around that commitment rather than treating it as a shorter relationship.
If you do this, at least you won't be surprised when you can't leave after six months.
Strategy 4: Calculate the Full Cost of Ownership
When you're considering buying a phone from a Verizon prepaid carrier, calculate the full cost of ownership over 365 days, including the service plan. If you're going to be locked in for a year anyway, at least know what you're paying.
Let's say you buy a
Strategy 5: Know When Your Lock Period Ends
Mark your calendar for exactly 365 days from when you activate your phone. On that date, you can request an unlock. Don't wait longer than necessary. Request it as soon as you hit 365 days.
Verizon isn't going to chase you down to unlock your phone. You have to request it. So remember to do so.
What This Means for Competition in the Wireless Market
One of the unstated consequences of Verizon's lock-in policy is its impact on market competition.
Competition in wireless depends partly on customer mobility. If customers can easily switch carriers, carriers have to compete on price, coverage, and service quality. The threat of losing customers to competitors keeps prices down and service quality up.
Lock-in policies reduce customer mobility. This reduces the competitive pressure on carriers. When it's hard to leave, carriers don't have to try as hard to keep you.
Verizon's 365-day lock, applied to its budget prepaid brands, is particularly significant because these brands compete in the price-sensitive segment. This is where competition is most intense and where lock-in policies have the biggest impact.
By locking in budget-conscious customers, Verizon is reducing the competitive pressure from lower-cost carriers. This could eventually lead to less price competition overall, benefiting Verizon and other major carriers at the expense of budget carriers.
It's too early to see the full market impact, but this is worth watching. If other carriers follow Verizon's lead, lock-in periods across the industry could increase, reducing customer flexibility across the board.
Will Other Carriers Follow Verizon's Lead
Here's the big question: will AT&T and T-Mobile also move to longer lock-in periods?
Both carriers have indicated they're monitoring the situation. Neither has announced plans to extend lock-in periods to 365 days. But that could change.
If the FCC doesn't intervene and Verizon's policy doesn't face significant pushback, there's a realistic scenario where other carriers adopt similar policies. Why wouldn't they? If Verizon can lock customers in for a year without legal consequences, why shouldn't AT&T and T-Mobile?
If this happens industry-wide, the impact would be significant. The entire prepaid market could shift to 365-day lock periods. That would be a major shift in customer flexibility and market competition.
Right now, though, AT&T and T-Mobile haven't done this. So if you're unhappy with Verizon's policy, switching to another carrier's prepaid offering might still give you more flexibility. But don't assume this will remain true forever.
The FCC's Response and Advocacy
Consumer advocacy groups, including the Consumer Federation of America and Public Knowledge, have already criticized Verizon's policy. These groups are likely to file comments with the FCC when it opens its proceeding on industry-wide unlocking standards.
The question is whether the FCC will listen. The FCC has varying political orientations depending on the administration. A consumer-friendly FCC would establish strict unlocking requirements. A business-friendly FCC might allow carriers more flexibility.
Right now, the FCC seems inclined to eventually establish industry-wide standards. But what those standards look like remains unclear. Will they mandate 60-day unlocking like the original requirement? Or will they allow longer periods?
If you care about this issue, now is the time to contact the FCC or your congressional representatives. Advocacy matters, especially during regulatory proceedings. If the FCC receives thousands of comments from customers opposed to year-long lock-in periods, it's more likely to establish stricter requirements.
What This Costs Society
Beyond individual customer impact, there's a broader societal cost to these policies.
Lock-in reduces innovation in the wireless market. If customers are locked in, startups and smaller carriers can't easily acquire new users by offering better service or lower prices. The barrier to switching is just too high.
This concentrates market power among large carriers. It makes it harder for new entrants and upstart carriers to compete. Over time, this reduces the diversity of options available to consumers.
It also affects digital inclusion. People who can't afford premium plans rely on prepaid carriers. If those carriers lock them in, those people have reduced flexibility and control over their telecommunications.
And there's an equity issue. Wealthier customers can afford to take losses if they overpay under a lock-in. Poorer customers can't. Lock-in policies have a regressive impact, harming those least able to bear the cost.
Looking Ahead: What Happens Next
The wireless industry is in flux right now. Verizon made an aggressive move with its 365-day lock-in policy. The industry and regulators are watching to see what happens next.
Several scenarios are possible:
Scenario 1: FCC Intervenes: The FCC establishes new rules reducing lock-in periods to 60 days or less, effectively reversing Verizon's policy. This is plausible given the FCC's prior stance on unlocking.
Scenario 2: Industry Backlash: Consumer advocacy, media coverage, or political pressure forces Verizon to reconsider the policy before the FCC acts. This has happened before with controversial telecom policies.
Scenario 3: Widespread Adoption: Other carriers adopt similar 365-day policies, making long lock-in periods the industry norm. The FCC eventually intervenes, but not before millions of customers are affected.
Scenario 4: Status Quo: The policy remains in place, customers gradually adapt, and lock-in becomes an accepted part of prepaid wireless. This seems unlikely but is possible.
Most likely, the FCC will eventually establish rules that reduce lock-in periods. The question is how long it takes and how many customers are affected in the interim.
FAQ
What is Verizon's new phone unlocking policy?
Starting January 20, 2026, Verizon requires customers on its prepaid brands (Visible, TracFone, Straight Talk, Total Wireless, and others) to maintain service for 365 consecutive days before they can unlock their phones and switch to different carriers. Unlike the previous 60-day requirement, customers must now request unlocks manually instead of receiving automatic unlocks, and the requirement applies only to phones purchased directly from the carrier.
How does the 365-day lock-in period actually work?
When you activate a phone on a Verizon prepaid brand on or after January 20, 2026, a 365-day countdown begins. If you stop paying for service, the countdown pauses rather than resetting, resuming only when you reactivate. This means gaps in service can extend your total lock-in period indefinitely. After 365 days of cumulative paid service, you can request an unlock from the carrier, but it won't happen automatically like it used to.
Why did Verizon implement this policy?
Verizon implemented the policy after the FCC granted a waiver from its previous 60-day unlocking requirement. This waiver was part of regulatory relief Verizon requested due to conflicting policies across its various prepaid brands after acquiring TracFone. Instead of harmonizing toward the more customer-friendly 60-day period, Verizon moved in the opposite direction, extending the lock-in period to one year for all its prepaid brands.
Which carriers are affected by the 365-day lock period?
The policy applies to phones activated on or after January 20, 2026 on these Verizon-owned prepaid carriers: Visible, TracFone, Straight Talk, Total Wireless, Net 10 Wireless, Clearway Mobile, Simple Mobile, SafeLink Wireless, and Walmart Family Mobile. Regular Verizon postpaid customers are not affected. If you activated your phone before January 20, 2026, the old 60-day requirement still applies.
What are my options if I want to avoid being locked in for a year?
You have several options: activate an unlocked phone you already own on a Verizon prepaid brand (only phones purchased from the carrier are locked); purchase a phone from a third-party retailer and activate it on the prepaid service; choose a different carrier with shorter lock-in periods; or accept the 365-day commitment if you plan to stay on the network for a full year anyway. Bringing your own device is the most flexible option.
How much does the lock-in actually cost me?
The financial cost depends on your service plan and how long you're locked in. For a Visible customer on a
What should I do if I'm already a customer on one of these networks?
If you activated before January 20, 2026, your phone will still unlock after 60 days automatically, so no action is needed. If you're considering signing up after January 20, 2026, carefully evaluate whether you'll definitely be using the carrier for a full year. Mark your calendar for exactly 365 days from activation so you remember to request an unlock when eligible. Consider using a BYOD (bring your own device) option if you have an existing unlocked phone to avoid the lock-in altogether.
Is there any way to get an early unlock?
Verizon's policy doesn't explicitly mention early unlock exceptions for hardship cases, though customer service representatives might have discretion in unusual circumstances. Your best option is to contact Visible, TracFone, or Straight Talk customer service directly to ask about your specific situation. Phones reported lost or stolen won't unlock, and accounts flagged for fraud may also be denied, but the fraud definition is vague.
What happens if I can't afford to pay for service every month?
If you stop paying, your progress toward the 365-day requirement pauses. Once you reactivate, the timer resumes from where it paused. This means any gap in service extends your total lock-in period. If you skip two months and then reactivate, you still need 365 full days of paid service from that point forward, regardless of the time that has passed. This pause provision makes the policy particularly problematic for customers experiencing financial hardship.
Is the FCC likely to change this policy?
The FCC has stated it plans to establish an industry-wide approach to phone unlocking in the future. Most likely, this will result in shorter lock-in periods (60 days or less) to align with international standards and the FCC's previous stance. However, regulatory changes move slowly, and millions of customers could be affected during the interim period. Consumer advocacy groups are already pushing back against the policy, so FCC action is reasonably likely within the next couple of years.
What's the international standard for phone unlocking?
Most developed countries, including those in Europe, Canada, and Australia, require carriers to unlock phones within 15-30 days of purchase. The European Union mandates unlocking within 15 days. The United States at 365 days is dramatically out of line with global standards. This reflects the relatively lighter regulatory environment for telecommunications carriers in the US compared to other developed democracies.
The Bottom Line
Verizon's 365-day phone lock-in policy is a significant shift that affects millions of prepaid customers. It's aggressive, it's timed strategically after an FCC waiver, and it reflects how companies exploit regulatory gaps to strengthen their competitive position.
The policy isn't illegal. Regulators allowed it to happen. But that doesn't mean it's right or that it will persist.
If you're a prepaid customer, you now need to make deliberate decisions about whether to accept a year-long lock-in commitment or find alternatives like BYOD or switching carriers.
If you care about market competition and customer flexibility, this is worth paying attention to. The FCC will likely establish new rules eventually, but that could take years. In the meantime, your choices are limited.
The good news is that AT&T and T-Mobile haven't followed Verizon's lead yet. Competition still exists at the edges. The bad news is that if this trend spreads across the industry, the wireless market becomes less competitive and less flexible for everyone.
Verizon bet that its position in the market was strong enough to absorb the customer backlash from a 365-day lock-in policy. Time will tell whether that bet pays off or whether regulators and competitors ultimately push back.
For now, the best advice is simple: know what you're signing up for. If you can't commit to a carrier for a full year, don't buy a phone from them. Your future flexibility is worth the extra effort to find alternatives.
Key Takeaways
- Verizon extended phone lock periods from 60 days to 365 days for prepaid customers starting January 20, 2026
- The policy applies to Visible, TracFone, Straight Talk, Total Wireless, and six other Verizon prepaid brands
- Service interruptions pause (not reset) the lock-in timer, potentially extending commitments indefinitely
- Customers must now request manual unlocks instead of receiving automatic unlocks after the period
- The policy affects low-income users, travelers, and others disproportionately who rely on prepaid carriers
- Verizon exploited an FCC regulatory waiver to implement a stricter lock-in than previously required
- BYOD (bring your own device) strategy allows customers to completely avoid the 365-day lock-in
- The US requirement dramatically exceeds international standards where unlocking typically occurs in 15-30 days
- FCC plans to establish industry-wide unlocking standards that may reverse Verizon's policy
- Total financial impact for typical users ranges from $300-600 in forced service payments over the lock-in period
Related Articles
- 430 Tbps Fiber Optic Speed Record: What It Means for 7G [2025]
- Verizon's Visible Outage Credits: What You Need to Know [2026]
- Iran's Internet Shutdown: Longest Ever as Protests Escalate [2025]
- Trump Mobile FTC Investigation: False Advertising Claims & Political Pressure [2025]
- Verizon's $20 Credit After Major Outage: Is It Enough? [2025]
- Grok AI Regulation: Elon Musk vs UK Government [2025]
