Only the carrier that sold a Motorola phone can carrier unlock it: Motorola says the unlock codes belong to the carriers, not to Motorola. Phones from Motorola’s own US store are sold as unlocked models. A carrier Motorola that asks for a “subsidy password” when you insert another carrier’s SIM is locked, and that carrier unlocks it once your plan’s rules are met, which on prepaid usually means about a year.
Motorola’s 2026 lineup
Motorola’s US store currently lists the razr 2026, razr+ 2026 and razr ultra 2026 flip phones, the razr fold, the edge 2026, and the moto g stylus 2026 and moto g power 2026. Motorola sells them unlocked on its own store. Carriers sell many Motorola models as well, and those are the ones that arrive locked.
What the “subsidy password” prompt means
Motorola phones use their own wording for the lock. When a carrier-locked Motorola sees a SIM from another network, it asks for a subsidy password; some carriers call it an unlock code or network unlock PIN. Motorola’s support page says the prompt means the phone is locked to a specific carrier, and that only the original carrier can unlock it. If you don’t know which carrier that is, Motorola says it can check which network a phone is registered to if you give it the IMEI.
Check whether your Motorola is locked
- 1Where it came fromA phone bought from Motorola’s US store is sold unlocked; the razr ultra 2026 page, for example, shows “Unlocked” as the carrier option. A phone from a carrier, or a carrier model from a retailer, is the one to check.
- 2SIM testPower off, insert an active SIM from another carrier and restart. A subsidy password or unlock code prompt means the phone is locked.
- 3Carrier accountThe carrier that sold it can tell you whether the phone is eligible and whether the unlock has been sent.
- 4Reported?Before buying a used Motorola, run a blacklist check from our IMEI checks. A phone reported lost or stolen stays blocked whether it’s unlocked or not.
Each carrier’s route for a Motorola
| Carrier | When it unlocks | How |
|---|---|---|
| AT&T | Postpaid: bought more than 60 days ago and paid in full. Prepaid: 12 months of paid service | Online request; AT&T Prepaid Android phones use the AT&T Device Unlock app |
| T-Mobile | Postpaid: 40 days active and paid in full. Prepaid: 365 days, or more than $100 in refills | Remote unlock within two business days, or a notification with steps; Motorola notes some T-Mobile phones use the Device Unlock app |
| Verizon | Postpaid: once paid off. Prepaid: 365 days of paid, active service | Automatic |
| Cricket | 365 days of paid service on the device | On request |
| Boost Mobile | Postpaid: when paid in full. Prepaid: one year after activation | Automatic, within two business days |
Unlocked Motorola: will it work on my carrier?
An unlocked Motorola still has to support your carrier’s network. Motorola’s US site has a carrier compatibility tool that shows which of its phones work on which US carriers, so check it before you buy an unlocked razr or moto g for a particular network. Unlocking removes the software lock; it doesn’t add network support the phone doesn’t have.
Getting a carrier Motorola unlocked sooner
We list carrier unlocks by carrier, brand and model. Open the carrier your Motorola came from, such as Cricket or Boost Mobile (every carrier is on our carriers page), and look for Motorola and your model. If it’s listed, you’ll see the live price and delivery estimate. If it isn’t, we don’t offer that unlock yet, and the carrier’s own route above is the way. Carrier-locked vs unlocked phones explains what changes once the lock is gone.
