Verizon just made it harder for customers to leave — what you need to know

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

After winning a waiver from the FCC, Verizon has been quick to update its unlock policies, making it harder for customers to leave with their devices for a rival carrier. The changes don't affect just people who use Verizon, but also several MVNOs that piggyback on Verizon's network.

Compared to AT&T and T-Mobile, the policies are largely the same, especially when it comes to prepaid devices. AT&T appears to still respect the 60-day window that was waived for Verizon.

Verizon

Devices purchased after Jan. 27, 2026 are locked until the device is paid off or terms of contract are fulfilled.
• For post-paid phones, if you have a balance, you can't switch.
• If you pay off a device online or in the My Verizon App, unlocking is delayed 35 days. It also applies if you use a Verizon gift card, paper check or magnetic stripe swipe.
• To avoid the delay, you have to use a secure payment like a credit card with an EMV chip, cash or contactless payment in a Verizon store.
• Devices purchased before 1/27 will automatically unlock after 60 days of service.

AT&T

AT&T requires the device to be purchased more than 60 days prior and paid in full. If you're on an installment plan, it must be at zero.

• Your AT&T bill must be current. If those requirements are met it will unlock on its own after 60 days.

• Additionally, your device can't have been reported lost or stolen.

T-Mobile

Eligibility is determined by four factors.

•The phone must be sold by T-Mobile and not reported lost or stolen.

• Your account must be in good standing. Postpaid phones need to have been active on T-Mobile's network for 40 days. If financed or leased, it needs to be have been paid in full.

• On prepaid plans, the device needs to be active for 365 days on the network. Less than that and it needs to have more than $100 in refills for each line active on the account and more than 14 days need to have passed.

How we got here

In January, the Federal Communications Commission agreed to waive a 60-day phone unlock requirement that had been imposed on Verizon since 2008, when it acquired licenses to use the 700 MHz spectrum. It was reupped in 2021 when Verizon bought TracFone.

Verizon has argued that the shorter unlock window contributed to "device fraud" and increased phone prices. The FCC agreed.

“Today, criminal networks are specifically targeting Verizon handsets due to the company’s unique unlocking policies,” the FCC’s filing said.

As Ars Technica reported in January, the company almost immediately introduced a new unlocking policy for TracFone and other prepaid brands that enforced a 365-day lock period. That affects brands like StraightTalk, Total Wireless and Walmart Family Mobile.

Verizon associated MVNOs

If you're unfamiliar, an MVNO is a mobile virtual network operator. Simply, these are carriers that utilize a larger carrier's network to offer services.

Verizon partners with more than a dozen MVNOs that use its networks. Some of them are partially or wholly owned by Verizon like Visible and TracPhone. The largest and most visible one is Xfinity Mobile, which offers cell service for customers who also get internet from Comcast.

Verizon's key MVNOs are:

Xfinity Mobile
Twigby
Ting
Spectrum Mobile
Page Plus
Pix Wireless
Credo Mobile
Lively
Net10
Reach Mobile
Red Pocket
Straight Talk
Total Wireless
TracFone

Verizon struggling

Reportedly, Verizon is struggling to retain customers. The most recent earnings call reported a 32.6% decline in operating income and a cancellation rate of 0.95% among postpaid phone customers, a much higher rate than in previous quarters.

CEO Dan Schulman blamed it on price increases "without corresponding value," friction in billing, onboarding and customer service, and a shift to MVNO carriers.

A Market Force Information survey from 2025 found that Verizon customers, on average, spend $157 a month on their phone bills, the highest among the big three. Customer satisfaction was quite low as well.

Between price hikes, several major outages in the last six months, and now this harsher unlock policy, Verizon is doing itself no favors.

Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.

More from Tom's Guide

TOPICS

Scott Younker is the West Coast Reporter at Tom’s Guide. He covers all the lastest tech news. He’s been involved in tech since 2011 at various outlets and is on an ongoing hunt to build the easiest to use home media system. When not writing about the latest devices, you are more than welcome to discuss board games or disc golf with him. He also handles all the Connections coverage on Tom's Guide and has been playing the addictive NYT game since it released.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.