Samsung phones on Verizon are now harder to unlock

If you buy a Samsung smartphone in the United States from Verizon, it comes locked to the carrier’s network. Until recently, Verizon automatically unlocked phones sixty days after you purchased or activated them, allowing users to switch to other networks after that period.

This policy applied to both prepaid and postpaid plans and did not depend on whether the device was purchased outright or through a financing agreement. However, with the FCC removing the long-standing 60-day unlocking requirement, Verizon has revised the unlocking policy.

According to Verizon's new rules, it will unlock devices only after you pay for them fully. If you purchase a phone at full retail price, the network carrier will unlock it immediately. If you purchase it through installment plans, Verizon will unlock it only after you pay the financing balance in full.

People purchasing Samsung phones using Verizon Prepaid will face stricter conditions. The network carrier will keep these devices locked for 365 days and unlock them only after you use the services actively for the full year. The new policy went into effect on 27 January 2026.

Verizon's new device unlocking policy makes it harder for people to switch to other carriers or sell their phones, limiting flexibility and reducing resale appeal. Other network carriers using Verizon's network, such as Total Wireless and Visible, have also implemented this policy.