https://www.tfwunlockpo
"For all cellphones Activated on the Verizon network on or after November 23, 2021, the cellphone will be remotely unlocked automatically 60 days after paid Activation and 60 days of paid active service."
Nothing in that page mentioned anything about 60 days of "continuous" service. Just "60 days of paid active service" is required.
UPDATE: New FCC Ruling on 1/12/26 waived the 60 days requirement.
https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attac...6-43A1.pdf
The new Verizon unlock policy has yet to publish and unknown. Any phone activated after 1/12/26 may potentially be affected.
Effective Date: January 20, 2026
- The cellphone was activated with Verizon Value service by purchasing and redeeming an airtime plan on that specific phone ("Activation")
- For all cellphones Activated on the T-Mobile or AT&T networks on or before January 19, 2026, the cellphone will be remotely unlocked upon customer request after 365 days of paid and active service.
- For all cellphones Activated on the Verizon network on or before January 19, 2026, the cellphone will be remotely unlocked automatically 60 days after paid Activation and 60 days of paid active service.
- For all cellphones Activated on or after January 20, 2026, the cellphone will be unlocked upon request after 365 days of paid and active service.
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But unless you plan on using visible or straight talk or whatever for 12 months these deals are basically dead in the water now. Or unless you plan on using them as a Wi-Fi only device which I suppose could be practical for these Motorola phones since they have headphone jacks and SD cards.
So I mean you could do worse than a Moto G stylus 2025 as a music player but. ... Just terrible he depressing anti-consumer news again from the current FCC
But boy I mean I bought that maybe 80 days ago. I don't know what happens to people that bought a phone a week ago or yesterday. I don't know if the grandfathering in of the 60 day is the date of purchase or the date of activation or the date of delivery.
The worst part is the FCC didn't give them any restrictions at all so far as I could tell in the judgment. It wasn't like 60 days isn't going to work but no more than 180 days or no more than 120 days. Just a complete placating to the telecom industry.
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https://arstechnica.com/tech-poli...-carriers/
https://www.reuters.com/business/...026-01-12/
https://www.reuters.com/business/...026-01-12/
Edit: The actual ruling was posted a few days ago in this thread if anyone wants to read it.
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FYI - for people how want to keep it longer in the closed box without activation : the activation counter of period will start automatically since a date of delivery! I have activated today and I got 28!!! days of the paid service (phone waited 2 days in the box). MetroPCS had 2 week of the waiting period of activation - this company does not like waste a money)))
I'm so sad to see the changing of the unlocking policy - unfortunately it is impossible to return it back and jump back to MetroPCS($55 and 1 year of waiting).
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Guide for rebranding to Tracfone
Centers operate from 8 AM to 11:45 PM (EST) 7 days a week.
1-800-867-7183
Total Time: 15 min call
Have your ST phone turned on, and call from a different phone if your ST service is inactive.
Hold for English
Phone Number: Don't Have One
IMEI: Don't Have One
You need Phone Number or IMEI: Agent
Try this again: Agent
One last time: Agent
To the agent: Hi ____, can you please rebrand my Straight Talk phone to Tracfone so I can use Tracfone service?
Agent will ask for IMEI of ST phone and last 4 digits of the SIM card. They will send a 2FA verification pin to the ST number, which you can get even without active service. They will offer you to choice to keep the ST number or get a new number (I kept mine, not sure if it matters). After they complete rebranding, they will move on to activating service with the phone. You can activate with the agent or activate yourself (tell them you have a service card at home / away from you or make up another excuse).
My phone didn't automatically unlock on day 60 and 2 service months purchased even though the Tracfone unlock portal confirmed it was eligible for unlocking. I tried other SIMs, tried wifi, waited a couple of days, nothing worked. Before calling Tracfone, I decided to factory reset my phone since I debloated all of the crap apps. Upon the first start, with only cell service, the phone showed unlocked in settings. So if you debloated and confirmed that your Tracfone is eligible for unlocking but it hasn't unlocked, you may have to factory reset.
Then you can either keep using the new phone, or transfer line/plan back to the old phone by activating a new line with your number and the old phone's IMEI.
Keep in mind if there no plan active on the new phone, it won't unlock.
As many have said by now, but it's worth repeating:
For ANY of the Verizon MVNO's (Tracfone, Total Wireless, Simple Mobile, Straight Talk, Visible, etc.) and ANY deals now or in the future anything activated after 1/13/2026 will likely have to wait 12-months before the device gets unlocked.
https://www.theverge.co
Verizon can't change the unlock policy for a device that already activated and they alrwady have enough legal troubles to even think about adding this to the list.
As long as you activate BEFORE the anticipated unlock policy update you are guaranteed to get the device unlocked after 60 days.
Verizon can't change the unlock policy for a device that already activated and they alrwady have enough legal troubles to even think about adding this to the list.
As long as you activate BEFORE the anticipated unlock policy update you are guaranteed to get the device unlocked after 60 days.
Personally I'm waiting to see how many months they change it to. Just not worth the risk if you need the phone to be unlocked.
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Verizon can't change the unlock policy for a device that already activated and they alrwady have enough legal troubles to even think about adding this to the list.
As long as you activate BEFORE the anticipated unlock policy update you are guaranteed to get the device unlocked after 60 days.
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