A Galaxy S26, S26+ or S26 Ultra sold as the Unlocked version works with any compatible carrier. One bought from AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon is locked until it meets that carrier’s rules, which mostly come down to paying it off, plus 40 days of use on T-Mobile or 60 days since purchase on AT&T. To check yours, open Settings → Connections → More connection settings → Network lock status.
The Galaxy S26 lineup
Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series went on sale on March 11, 2026 through carriers, retailers and Samsung.com, in three models: the S26, the S26+ and the S26 Ultra. On Samsung’s US store the S26 Ultra is offered as an Unlocked version or as versions for AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. Samsung describes its Unlocked phones as free to use with the carrier of your choice, with the freedom to change plans whenever you like.
A phone bought from a carrier on a payment plan is locked to that carrier until it qualifies for an unlock. If you pick a carrier version anywhere else, ask the seller whether it ships locked before you pay.
Check whether your S26 is locked
- 1Network lock statusOpen Settings → Connections → More connection settings and look for Network lock status. AT&T’s help page sends owners of Galaxy phones released after September 1, 2025, which includes the whole S26 series, to this screen.
- 2Try another carrier’s SIMIf you have an active SIM card from a different network, power off, insert it and restart. A request for a network unlock PIN means the phone is still locked.
- 3Check the IMEIDial *#06# for the IMEI. A Samsung report on our IMEI check page shows the carrier on record, which helps with a phone you bought secondhand.
How each big carrier unlocks an S26
| Carrier | What the phone needs | How the unlock arrives |
|---|---|---|
| AT&T | Bought more than 60 days ago, paid in full, bill not past due, not reported lost or stolen | Some eligible Samsung phones unlock by themselves; otherwise request it on AT&T’s unlock page |
| T-Mobile | 40 days active on the line, paid in full, account in good standing | Remotely within two business days, or a notification on the phone with the next steps |
| Verizon | Bought at full retail price, or the device payment balance paid in full | Automatically; 35 days later if a Verizon gift card paid for it |
Those rules come from each carrier’s own policy page, read on October 1, 2026 and linked below. On prepaid plans the waits are longer: Verizon asks for 365 days of paid, active service, AT&T for 12 months of paid service, and T-Mobile for 365 days or more than $100 in refills.
A new S26 on a payment plan won’t qualify until the balance is cleared, which is the usual reason people look for another route. For Galaxy phones in general, our Samsung Galaxy unlock guide covers older models and other carriers.
If you can’t wait, or bought it used
An IMEI unlock removes the carrier lock without the original account: you order it with the IMEI and the phone stays with you. Open the carrier the phone came from, our AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon page, then pick Samsung and your S26 model to see the live price and delivery estimate. If your model isn’t listed for that carrier yet, we don’t offer that unlock yet.
Buying a used S26? Check the IMEI for lost or stolen reports first, and make sure the seller has signed out of their Google account, a separate lock explained in iCloud and FRP locks vs carrier locks. The full routine is in checking a used phone’s IMEI before you buy.
