Verizon has won an FCC waiver that ends its unique 60-day automatic phone unlocking requirement. Here’s what changes for prepaid and financed devices, when it takes effect, and what to do if you plan to switch carriers.
On January 12, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau granted Verizon a waiver from a long-standing requirement to automatically unlock phones after 60 days—a rule Verizon had been uniquely bound to because of earlier FCC “open platform” conditions tied to its 700 MHz C Block spectrum and later extended through its TracFone acquisition. The waiver is effective upon release and applies prospectively to devices that become active on Verizon’s network beginning the day after the order’s release—meaning January 13, 2026 is the key start date for new activations.
For consumers, the practical outcome is simple: the “60 days and you’re unlocked” era is no longer guaranteed for new Verizon activations. In its place, Verizon has committed—while the waiver remains in effect—to follow the wireless industry’s voluntary baseline: the CTIA Consumer Code for Wireless Service. That code is generally more carrier-friendly and, crucially, often frames unlocking as something done “upon request” after conditions are met, rather than an automatic unlock at a fixed day count.
Below is what happened, why the FCC approved it, and what Verizon customers should do right now (especially if you’re buying a new phone and expect to switch carriers soon).
What the FCC actually did (and why it matters)
The FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau granted Verizon a waiver of Section 27.16(e) handset unlocking requirements, including the unlocking commitment Verizon made as part of the TracFone acquisition. The bureau framed the decision as a move toward a “more uniform approach” across major carriers—because Verizon was the only nationwide provider subject to the FCC’s 60-day unlocking mandate.
The FCC also leaned heavily on a fraud-and-trafficking rationale. In the order and accompanying FCC messaging, the agency argued that Verizon’s faster unlock timeline made its devices a uniquely attractive target for theft and “handset trafficking,” citing premium resale markets and overseas demand.
That rationale is now the central battleground: Verizon and the FCC call it a security fix; consumer advocates call it a competition killer. (Broadband Breakfast)
When the new Verizon unlocking reality starts
This is the detail many people miss:
- The FCC order is effective upon release.
- The waiver applies to handsets that become active on Verizon’s network beginning the day after the release date of the order.
Because the order was adopted and released January 12, 2026, the “day after” is January 13, 2026.
Translation: If you activated your Verizon phone before Jan. 13, you’re likely under the prior framework. If you activate on/after Jan. 13, you’re under the waiver framework. (Always verify with your specific device/account.)
What replaces the 60-day unlock: the CTIA baseline
While the waiver is in effect, Verizon told the FCC it will align its unlocking approach with the CTIA Consumer Code for Wireless Service.
The CTIA unlocking commitments—summarized in FCC materials and carrier disclosures—generally include:
- Postpaid: unlock upon request after the customer fulfills the service contract, device financing plan, or pays an early termination fee (and is in good standing). (AT&T)
- Prepaid: unlock upon request no later than one year after initial activation, subject to reasonable time/payment/usage requirements. (AT&T)
- Response time: carriers typically commit to act within two business days after an unlocking request (or explain why they can’t or need more time). (AT&T)
That’s a major departure from the old consumer expectation many Verizon customers had: automatic unlocking after 60 days, even if the phone was financed. The FCC’s own 2024 proposal documents explicitly described Verizon’s old regime as requiring automatic unlock even when the device wasn’t fully paid off—one of the reasons the policy was so unusually consumer-friendly compared with typical carrier practices.
Verizon’s official policy pages still show “60 days” (as of today)
Here’s where it gets confusing for consumers trying to make a purchase decision quickly.
As of the currently posted Verizon support policy page (with an effective date of May 22, 2025), Verizon states that many devices are locked for 60 days and then automatically unlocked (unless flagged as stolen or purchased fraudulently). (Verizon)
But the FCC order says Verizon will change policies to follow CTIA during the waiver period, and that the waiver applies to new activations starting the day after the order.
So, if you’re a consumer right now, the safest assumption is:
The FCC has changed Verizon’s regulatory obligation starting Jan. 13, 2026, but Verizon’s consumer-facing support pages may not yet fully reflect the new rules.
Why Verizon wanted the waiver: “fraud, theft, and trafficking”
Verizon’s core argument was that the 60-day automatic unlock requirement made it easier for bad actors to obtain devices, wait out the short window, and then resell them—often overseas.
Reporting based on Verizon’s filings and the FCC’s findings says Verizon estimated it lost about 784,703 devices to fraud in 2023 across prepaid and postpaid, costing the company hundreds of millions of dollars. (Reuters)
The FCC echoed those concerns in its own language, citing “criminal networks” and pointing to black-market resale demand “particularly” in countries including Russia, China, and Cuba.
Why critics say this is “bad news” for switching carriers
Consumer advocates and device-rights groups opposed the waiver, arguing that unlocking is one of the few real levers consumers have to lower wireless costs by switching providers—especially when promotions and trade-in deals change month to month.
As reported by Broadband Breakfast, New America’s Open Technology Institute (OTI) described the decision as anti-consumer, arguing it will increase prices and reduce choice—and pointing to other countries that require unlocking without reporting a surge in smartphone theft. (Broadband Breakfast)
Tech outlets also emphasized the competitive impact: with longer locking, leaving Verizon becomes harder if your phone can’t be activated on another network, even if another carrier is offering a better plan. (The Verge)
Even industry coverage acknowledged the churn angle. Light Reading noted the waiver could help Verizon by reducing fraud losses and potentially reducing customer churn—precisely because it becomes harder to take a device elsewhere quickly. (Light Reading)
Who is affected the most
Not every Verizon customer will feel the same impact. The biggest differences come down to how you buy your phone and when it was activated.
1) New prepaid activations
Under CTIA-style commitments, prepaid unlocking can be up to one year after activation (with conditions), versus the 60-day unlock consumers may have expected. (AT&T)
2) Financed devices (installment plans)
If your phone is tied to a device payment plan, the CTIA-style framework typically unlocks after the financing plan is fulfilled (or ETF is paid), and the process may be “upon request” rather than automatic. (AT&T)
3) People who switch carriers frequently
Anyone who moves carriers for price, coverage, or travel flexibility is more likely to notice the policy shift—because an unlocked phone is often the difference between switching in minutes vs. being forced to wait months.
4) Used-phone buyers and secondary markets
Longer locks can also complicate resale and reuse, because a locked phone is less valuable and harder to activate elsewhere. Critics say that can reduce device reuse and harm competition. (Broadband Breakfast)
What Verizon customers should do now
If you’re buying a phone or planning to switch, these steps reduce surprises:
- Check your activation date. The FCC order applies to devices that become active starting the day after the order’s release (Jan. 13, 2026).
- If you need flexibility, consider buying unlocked. Unlocked phones purchased directly from manufacturers or retailers (not tied to a carrier) generally avoid carrier locking entirely. (Still confirm network compatibility.)
- If you’re on Verizon and want to leave, start the unlock process early. Under CTIA-style commitments, unlocking may be request-based and conditional. (AT&T)
- Verify the current Verizon unlocking policy page—but treat it as “in transition.” The publicly posted Verizon policy currently still describes a 60-day automatic unlock, but the FCC waiver indicates changes for new activations. (Verizon)
- Watch the FCC’s broader unlocking rulemaking. The Verizon waiver is explicitly temporary—lasting until the FCC adopts an industry-wide approach.
What happens next: a temporary waiver in a bigger fight
The FCC made clear this waiver remains in effect until the Commission decides on an industry-wide approach to unlocking.
That matters because the FCC has already been considering broader unlocking requirements, including proposals that would require carriers to unlock devices after a set time period (with fraud exceptions). The record around that policy debate is still active, and industry groups—including cable operators via NCTA—have been pushing for different timelines (such as 180 days) rather than a strict 60-day rule.
For now, Verizon has won its immediate objective: the end of a unique 60-day unlocking obligation. The open question is whether the FCC eventually responds with a uniform national rule that restores a predictable unlock timeline across all major carriers—or whether unlocking becomes even more fragmented, plan-by-plan and carrier-by-carrier.
