Verizon hears you: phone unlocks are maddening

By Varun Mirchandani Published February 19, 2026

If you’ve ever paid off your Verizon phone and waited what felt like forever to unlock it, you’re not alone. What’s more, Verizon now appears to agree. Following backlash over a new 35-day waiting period for unlocking fully paid-off devices, the carrier has acknowledged in a statement to Android Authority that the process is frustrating and states that relief is coming soon.

Under Verizon’s updated unlocking policy, postpaid customers who settle a device’s balance through common channels like the My Verizon app, online my account payment, or using a Verizon gift card may face a 35-day delay before their phone can be unlocked for use on another carrier. Previous FCC rules had required automatic unlocks after 60 days, but that requirement was lifted earlier this year, giving Verizon more leeway to set its own terms.

The carrier’s device-unlocking policy defines a “secure payment method” such as paying in person at a Verizon corporate store with cash or using an EMV chip credit card or contactless wallet, as a way to get an immediate unlock after payoff. But because many customers prefer to pay off phones from home or online, the longer wait applies to a wide swath of users.

That has led to public frustration, particularly for travelers who want to use local SIMs abroad or anyone hoping to switch carriers soon after paying off a device. Now, Verizon appears to have taken that feedback seriously. The company reportedly told outlets that it recognizes the unlock experience needs improvement and is working to eliminate or significantly reduce the 35-day waiting window “soon.”

It’s worth noting, though, that Verizon hasn’t yet laid out a firm timeline or detailed exactly how the unlock process will change. Nonetheless, the promise of faster unlocking, including for phones paid for online or via the app, will be welcome news for customers who felt pinned down by the company’s earlier policy shift.