Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority
- Cricket’s new device lock makes 2025 or newer Motorola and Cricket-branded phones unusable without an active Cricket SIM or eSIM.
- The only way around this is to wait six months, after which the phone will be fully unlocked.
- Developer Options are also blocked until the device is unlocked, so Android enthusiasts who care about this should steer clear.
If you thought typical carrier unlock policies were annoying, Cricket’s new Device Unlock system takes things to a whole new level. Instead of just preventing you from unlocking your phone or using a rival SIM for a few months, the new app makes it impossible to use the phone at all without a Cricket SIM or eSIM. No Wi-Fi, no home page, no apps — nothing works unless Cricket is active.
This change rolled out quietly a few months ago and only targets Motorola and Cricket-branded devices released in 2025 or later, though it’s certainly possible that other brands could eventually be impacted. The only official way around it is to stay active with Cricket for six months, after which the lock can be removed.