Total by Verizon is Verizon's other prepaid brand, and the unlock mechanics are identical to Verizon Prepaid: the record lives on Verizon's side and the timer counts paid, active days. The brand will submit the request; Verizon releases the IMEI.
The activation policy is held against the IMEI. No code is issued for an iPhone.
Prepaid timers are long, and suspended days do not count — so a device that has been used on and off for two years can still be locked.
The phone is not damaged and it is not stolen by default: the manufacturer holds an activation policy against the IMEI that names the carrier the device may activate on. Until that record changes, every other SIM is refused at activation — Wi-Fi keeps working, which is why a locked handset can look perfectly healthy in a shop.
Total follows Verizon's prepaid unlocking policy — 365 days of paid, active service, automatic release once met, and no release for reported or fraud-flagged devices.
Verizon updated its unlocking policies on 27 January 2026; check the official page for the rule that applies.
The current wording is always on the carrier’s page: Total by Verizon support.
If the timer has not run — the usual case on second-hand devices — the IMEI has to be released from the supply side. The tiers below do that and are refunded on refusal.
| Service | Price | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Carrier+Warranty Check | $0.04 | Apple |
| Apple Carrier+iCloud Lock (FMI)+Warranty Check | $0.09 | Apple |
| Apple MDM+iCloud Lock Check | $0.16 | Apple |
| Apple MDM Lock On/Off Check | $0.18 | Apple |
4 services in this guide. Prices are live; sign in for volume pricing.
Yes — same network, same record.
The Verizon prepaid timer: 365 days of paid, active service.
Not through the brand; the paid tier works from the IMEI.
Yes.
No unlock restores service.
Last checked 2026-10-28. Carrier rules are summarised from the operators’ own pages; where a rule has changed since, the operator’s page wins.