Leaving Verizon? Not So Fast According to A New 1-Year Rule

Verizon just made it significantly harder for customers to switch carriers. Following a recent FCC victory, the company has officially extended its phone-locking period from 60 days to a full year for its prepaid brands.

The New Rules

Effective January 20, 2026, devices purchased through Visible, StraightTalk, Total Wireless, and Tracfone will remain locked to Verizon’s network for 365 days. To unlock a device, customers must now meet strict requirements:

• 365 days of continuous, paid service.
• The account must be active; missing a payment pauses your progress.
• Unlocking is no longer automatic—you must manually request it.

While postpaid customers are currently still under the 60-day rule, they must now ensure their devices are fully paid off before they can be unlocked.

Why the Change?

Verizon argued that the previous 60-day window fueled a "global black market" for stolen handsets. The FCC agreed, citing a 55% surge in fraud since 2021. FCC Chair Brendan Carr noted that the change creates a "uniform industry standard" to help curb device theft and resale in countries like Russia and China.

Consumer Backlash

The move has sparked outrage on social media, with customers calling the waiver "anti-consumer." For many, the 60-day rule was a rare path to affordable, unlocked hardware.

"It’s a shame that one of the few affordable ways for low-income folks to get a decent unlocked cell phone was closed," wrote one Reddit user.

The timing is critical: Verizon lost 7,000 postpaid customers in late 2025 following price hikes. With nearly 23% of its users considering a switch to smaller, cheaper carriers like Mint Mobile or Consumer Cellular, this policy serves as a powerful new anchor to keep customers from leaving.