How to unlock your phone: every carrier's rules in 2026
When Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile unlock phones now that Verizon's 60-day rule is gone, how to request an unlock, and how to check if it worked.
Pay the phone off first. Verizon then unlocks it automatically (365 days on prepaid, and 35 more days if you paid it off online). AT&T unlocks paid-off phones bought more than 60 days ago, and T-Mobile unlocks them after 40 days on the line. Verizon's old 60-day automatic unlock ended in January 2026. On an iPhone, Settings, General, About shows "No SIM restrictions" once it is unlocked.
Unlock rules by carrier
Each carrier sets its own waiting period and payment rules, and prepaid phones wait longer than postpaid ones.
| Carrier | Postpaid phones | Prepaid phones | How it unlocks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon | Once paid in full; 35 more days if paid off online, in the app or with a Verizon gift card | After 365 days of paid, active service | Automatic |
| AT&T | Paid in full and bought more than 60 days ago; account in good standing | After six months of paid service | Automatic for eligible Apple, Samsung and Google phones; others at att.com/deviceunlock |
| T-Mobile | Paid in full and active on the line for 40 days | After 365 days, or sooner with more than $100 in refills | Automatic within two business days on supported phones; limit of two unlocks per line a year |
Prepaid brands follow their parent network's rules: Visible, Total Wireless, Straight Talk and Tracfone (Verizon), Cricket (AT&T), Metro and Mint (T-Mobile).
What changed at Verizon in 2026
Verizon used to unlock every phone 60 days after activation, because of conditions on its spectrum licenses. In January 2026 the FCC waived that rule, and Verizon moved to the industry code AT&T and T-Mobile follow. A financed Verizon phone now stays locked until it is paid off, and prepaid phones stay locked for a year.
Paying off a Verizon phone online starts a 35-day wait before it unlocks. Paying in a Verizon store with a card in person avoids that delay.
How to unlock your phone
The process is the same at every carrier: meet the rules, request the unlock if needed, then confirm it worked.
- Pay off the phone and keep the account in good standing.
- Check the waiting period in the table above.
- Request the unlock if it isn't automatic. AT&T uses att.com/deviceunlock; T-Mobile has an unlock option in its app; Verizon unlocks eligible phones on its own.
- Confirm it worked with the iPhone Carrier Lock setting or another carrier's SIM.
- Then switch. Follow our steps to switch carriers and keep your number.
Buying a used phone
Ask the seller for the IMEI and run it through the carrier's unlock checker before you pay. A used phone keeps its original activation date and payment status, so a phone still owed on at its first carrier won't unlock for you.
If you can't wait
Buy an unlocked phone from Apple, Google, Samsung or a retailer, or pick a carrier that sells unlocked phones. For international trips, a locked phone can't use a travel eSIM until it is unlocked.
Step by step for each carrier
Here is what the request looks like at each of the three big carriers.
- Verizon: no request needed. Once the phone is paid off and any waiting period has passed, Verizon unlocks it automatically. Paying the balance in a Verizon store avoids the 35-day delay that applies to online and app payments.
- AT&T: go to att.com/deviceunlock, enter the phone's IMEI and your account details, and confirm the request from the email AT&T sends. Eligible Apple, Samsung and Google phones unlock automatically.
- T-Mobile: in the T-Mobile app or account website, open the line's device settings and choose the unlock option. Supported phones unlock within two business days.
Exceptions
A few situations change the usual rules, in either direction.
- Military deployment: carriers make exceptions for service members with deployment orders. Verizon, for example, can unlock after 60 days for deployed personnel.
- Lost or stolen phones: a phone reported lost or stolen is blocked by its IMEI and won't be unlocked.
- Fraud holds: unusual payment activity can delay an unlock while the carrier reviews the account.
Avoid paid unlock services
Websites that charge to unlock a phone can't do anything your carrier won't do for free, and some take payment without unlocking anything. If your phone qualifies, the carrier unlocks it for free; if it doesn't, pay it off first.
Questions
Does unlocking erase my phone?
No. Unlocking only removes the carrier restriction. Your apps, photos and settings stay as they are.
Can I unlock a phone from a prepaid brand like Visible or Cricket?
Yes, under that brand's rules, which usually follow its parent network: Verizon for Visible, AT&T for Cricket, T-Mobile for Metro and Mint. Expect a waiting period of up to a year on prepaid phones.
How do I know if my phone is unlocked?
On an iPhone, go to Settings, General, About and look for Carrier Lock: "No SIM restrictions" means it is unlocked. On Android, try a SIM or eSIM from another carrier, or check the network lock status in settings on Samsung phones.
Does Verizon still unlock phones after 60 days?
No. Since January 2026, Verizon unlocks postpaid phones once they are paid off, and prepaid phones after 365 days of paid service. Paying off a phone online or in the app adds a 35-day wait.
Is unlocking a phone free?
Yes, when the carrier does it. You don't need a paid unlock service if the phone meets the carrier's rules.
Can I unlock a phone I still owe money on?
Not at AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon. The phone has to be paid off first.
Will an unlocked phone work on any carrier?
Most recent phones work on all three US networks, but check the new carrier's compatibility tool with your phone's IMEI. Dial *#06# to see the IMEI.
- Refurb.me, "What Is a Locked Phone? 2026 Unlock Rules by Carrier," October 2026 (FCC order DA 26-43)
- Droid Life, "T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon Device Unlock Policies," updated Feb 16, 2026
- Spenza, "MVNO Locked Phone and BYOD: 2026 Carrier Policies"; GreatNumber, September 2026
- Carrier unlock policy pages: verizon.com, att.com/deviceunlock, t-mobile.com
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Jean founded ShopHighSpeed after trying to find one straight answer about business internet in his own town. He has been a Comcast and Verizon Fios customer, and ranks providers on what they actually deliver, not on what they advertise.