The FCC is letting Verizon lock your phone for more than 60 days

Verizon has long been hailed as an 'easy-going' carrier, primarily because it gives users the freedom to take their devices elsewhere after a short period.

Phones on Verizon's network automatically unlock after just 60 days, though that's not necessarily by Verizon's choice, but by law — a law that the carrier no longer needs to follow.

As of Monday, January 12, 2026, Verizon no longer needs to automatically unlock customer devices after 60 days, with the FCC quoting fraud and "handset trafficking" for the change (as pointed out by ArsTechnica ).

"The Commission's rules currently require Verizon to unlock its handsets 60 days after activation. Once unlocked, many handsets are effectively stolen from Verizon and resold on the black market, commanding premium prices on the dark web, particularly in countries like Russia, China, and Cuba," wrote the FCC .

While phone trafficking can apply to all carriers, Verizon is especially vulnerable because of the unlocking requirements imposed on it by the FCC in 2007. This had caused the carrier giant to incur "hundreds of millions of dollars each year in deadweight loss," with roughly 750,000 devices lost to fraud in 2023 alone.

New rules for both prepaid and postpaid users

The unlocking requirements were first imposed on Verizon back in 2007, when it got to acquire 700 MHz spectrum at a substantial financial discount. The win at the auction came with FCC's strings attached.

The carrier argues that the mandate has now become an outdated relic that it has abided by for over 18 years, and the FCC agrees. In terms of device unlocks, this should bring Verizon, AT&T and Rogers to an even playing field.

This also means that Verizon will now transition to the CTIA Consumer Code, the same code used by its rivals. Postpaid devices will remain locked until fully paid off or the contract is fulfilled. Prepaid devices can remain locked for up to one year after activation. Military personnel, on the other hand, can still request early unlocking.

It's worth noting that the new rules are now in order, and will remain in effect while the FCC explores a separate rulemaking process that could establish a new, industry-wide standard for all carriers.