In 2026 the big US carriers unlock a postpaid phone once it’s paid off, with a short minimum on some networks, and a prepaid phone after about a year. The details differ: AT&T wants the phone bought more than 60 days ago, T-Mobile wants 40 days of use, and Verizon no longer has a 60-day rule at all. On prepaid, AT&T asks for 12 months of paid service, and Verizon, Metro and Cricket for 365 days. Here is each carrier’s current rule and the date on its policy page.
What changed in 2026
- Verizon: on January 12, 2026 the FCC waived the rule that made Verizon unlock phones 60 days after activation. Verizon’s policy, updated February 18, 2026, unlocks postpaid phones once they’re paid off and prepaid phones after 365 days of paid, active service.
- AT&T: its unlock page, last updated June 29, 2026, asks for 12 months of paid service on AT&T Prepaid. Some older articles quote a shorter wait, so go by the page. It also says eligible Apple, Samsung and Google phones on AT&T plans should unlock by themselves.
- AT&T and Samsung: for Galaxy phones released after September 1, 2025, AT&T’s page points to a Network lock status screen under Settings → Connections → More connection settings.
- Cricket: its policy, revised July 1, 2026, unlocks a phone on request after 365 days of paid service on that device.
Metro by T-Mobile’s policy page is still dated August 11, 2025. T-Mobile’s and Boost Mobile’s pages show no date, so check them before relying on the summary below.
Each carrier’s rules, side by side
| Carrier | Postpaid | Prepaid |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon | Unlocked automatically once bought at full price or paid off. If a Verizon gift card paid for it, the unlock waits 35 days | Unlocked automatically after 365 days of paid, active service |
| AT&T | Bought more than 60 days ago, paid in full, bill not past due. Eligible Apple, Samsung and Google phones unlock by themselves; others by request | 12 months of paid AT&T service |
| T-Mobile | Active 40 days on the line and paid in full. Unlocked remotely within two business days where the phone supports it | 365 days since activation, or more than $100 in refills in that time and more than 14 days since purchase; no more than two unlocks per line in 12 months |
| Metro by T-Mobile | Prepaid only | 365 days since activation; unlocked remotely within two business days |
| Cricket | Prepaid only | 365 days of paid service on the device, on request |
| Boost Mobile | Right away if paid in full, or once financing is finished; automatic within two business days | One year after activation, with any financing paid off and the account active |
What every carrier has in common
Most big carriers follow an industry code adopted in 2014, which the FCC summarizes on its unlocking page. In our own words: carriers publish their unlock policy, unlock postpaid phones once the contract or payment plan is done, unlock prepaid phones no later than a year after activation, either tell you when you qualify or unlock automatically, answer a request within two business days, and make an exception for deployed military customers.
- The phone must come from that carrier. A phone sold by someone else is unlocked by whoever sold it.
- It must not be reported lost or stolen, or tied to fraud.
- For customers who qualify, the carrier’s unlock is free.
- Unlocking doesn’t make a phone work on every network. It removes the software lock, not missing network support.
Do you qualify? A quick check
- 1Find who sold the phoneThe carrier that sold it is the one that unlocks it, not the network you want to move to. Not sure? An IMEI check on our IMEI check page reads the carrier on record.
- 2Find your datesNote the purchase or activation date and, for a financed phone, whether the balance is paid off. Some prepaid counts are days of paid service, so gaps can push the date back.
- 3Check the lockOn an iPhone, Settings → General → About → Carrier Lock. On a recent Galaxy, look for Network lock status in the connection settings. Elsewhere, try another carrier’s SIM.
- 4Ask, or wait for the automatic unlockVerizon, T-Mobile, Metro and Boost unlock eligible phones automatically. AT&T unlocks some brands automatically and the rest by request, and Cricket unlocks on request. Our guide is my phone eligible for unlock covers the general rules.
When the wait is too long
A paid IMEI unlock is for phones the free route can’t reach in reasonable time: a prepaid phone months short of its year, a phone still on a payment plan when you need to switch, or a secondhand phone whose original account you can’t contact. Start on our carriers page, pick the carrier the phone is locked to, and you’ll see the unlocks we offer with live prices and delivery estimates. How long unlocking takes explains the timing.
