Verizon’s prepaid services add a 365-day wait to unlock phones | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAICESHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Verizon’s prepaid services add a 365-day wait to unlock phonesComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...NewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsPolicyClosePolicyPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PolicyTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechVerizon’s prepaid services add a 365-day wait to unlock phonesVisible, TracFone, Straight Talk, and Total Wireless customers will have to wait longer to switch to a new network.Visible, TracFone, Straight Talk, and Total Wireless customers will have to wait longer to switch to a new network.by Emma RothCloseEmma RothNews WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Emma RothJan 21, 2026, 3:41 PM UTCLinkShareGiftIf you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.Image: Cath Virgina / The VergeEmma RothCloseEmma RothPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Emma Roth is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO.It’s been just one week since Verizon got permission to lift its 60-day phone unlocking period, and the carrier is already making changes to its policy. Now, Verizon says customers who activate a phone on one of its subbrands, including Visible, TracFone, Straight Talk, and Total Wireless, will have to pay for service for 365 days before switching their phone to a different network, as spotted earlier by Droidlife.In addition to the longer lock period, Verizon will also require customers to request that their phone be unlocked, instead of doing it automatically. Visible’s policy states that “if you stop paying for service, your progress toward the 365-day requirement pauses.” It adds that your progress will “resume once you reactivate your account and continue” until you pay for one year of service.Last week, the FCC granted Verizon’s request to lift a 60-day unlocking requirement stemming from its purchase of spectrum licenses and its deal to acquire TracFone, which had a one-year unlocking policy before Verizon’s purchase, as noted by Ars Technica. As a result of the waiver, Verizon must now follow looser requirements set by the CTIA wireless trade group until the FCC creates an “industry-wide approach” for phone unlocking.The new unlocking period will go into effect for phones activated on or after January 20th, 2026. If you purchased a phone through one of these services at an earlier date, Verizon will still automatically unlock your phone after 60 days. Verizon says it still won’t unlock your phone if it’s been reported lost or stolen, nor if your account shows “signs of fraud.” The policy also applies to Net10 Wireless, Clearway, Simple Mobile, SafeLink Wireless, and Walmart FamilyMobile, though it hasn’t yet been applied to Verizon’s customers.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Emma RothCloseEmma RothNews WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Emma RothMobileCloseMobilePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All MobileNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsPolicyClosePolicyPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PolicyPoliticsClosePoliticsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PoliticsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechVerizonCloseVerizonPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All VerizonMost PopularMost PopularSony’s TV business is being taken over by TCLHow much can a city take?What a Sony and TCL partnership means for the future of TVsHow BYD beat TeslaSamsung’s discounted microSD Express card more than doubles your Switch 2 storageThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adMore in NewsThis midrange Android phone also runs Windows and LinuxAdobe Acrobat uses AI to turn your PDFs into podcastsYouTubers will be able to make Shorts with their own AI likenessesYouTube TV will launch custom multiview and channel packages ‘soon’OpenAI says its data centers will pay for their own energy and limit water usageChatGPT is using age prediction to restrict what minors seeThis midrange Android phone also runs Windows and LinuxAllison JohnsonTwo hours agoAdobe Acrobat uses AI to turn your PDFs into podcastsJess Weatherbed2:00 PM UTCYouTubers will be able to make Shorts with their own AI likenessesJay Peters2:00 PM UTCYouTube TV will launch custom multiview and channel packages ‘soon’Emma Roth2:00 PM UTCOpenAI says its data centers will pay for their own energy and limit water usageRobert Hart10:58 AM UTCChatGPT is using age prediction to restrict what minors seeJess Weatherbed10:23 AM UTCAdvertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adTop Stories12:00 PM UTCWhat a Sony and TCL partnership means for the future of TVs2:15 PM UTCInstagram’s top boss is missing the point about AI on the platform12:00 PM UTCBurritos from Heaven: Are drones the future of delivery?Jan 19It’s worse than it looks in Minneapolis3:33 AM UTCOne year in, Big Tech has out-maneuvered MAGA populistsJan 20How BYD beat TeslaThe VergeThe Verge logo.FacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSContactTip UsCommunity GuidelinesArchivesAboutEthics StatementHow We Rate and Review ProductsCookie SettingsTerms of UsePrivacy NoticeCookie PolicyLicensing FAQAccessibilityPlatform Status© 2026 Vox Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved

Verizon has implemented a significant shift in its prepaid service policy, extending the period required to unlock phones purchased through its various brands, including Visible, TracFone, and Straight Talk. Effective January 20th, 2026, customers activating phones on these services will now face a mandatory 365-day service commitment before being able to switch to a different network. This represents a considerable change from Verizon’s previous 60-day unlocking policy, which stemmed from the company’s acquisition of spectrum licenses and the TracFone business.

The extended lock-in period is a direct response to a recent FCC waiver granted to Verizon. The waiver allows Verizon to operate under looser requirements set by the CTIA (Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association) wireless trade group, a standard that was previously intended for the entire industry. This concession highlights the FCC’s desire to establish a unified approach to phone unlocking, a process that has been historically complicated and fragmented.

However, the policy’s implementation is nuanced. Existing customers who acquired their phones prior to January 20th, 2026, will still be eligible for automatic unlocking after a 60-day period. Furthermore, Verizon will continue to enforce its standard unlocking criteria, refusing to unlock phones flagged as lost or stolen, or those linked to accounts displaying signs of fraudulent activity. This list includes Net10 Wireless, Clearway, Simple Mobile, SafeLink Wireless, and Walmart FamilyMobile, demonstrating Verizon's extended reach across its prepaid service portfolio.

Crucially, the terms of service emphasize a continuous commitment, with the 365-day requirement resuming if service is paused and reactivated. This underlines the considerable effort required to circumvent the new policy. The shift underscores a broader strategic response from Verizon to align itself with industry standards while navigating the complexities of regulatory oversight. The move acknowledges the FCC’s intention to establish a universally accepted framework for phone unlocking, although the specific details remain reliant on the further development of that industry-wide approach.