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Yes—in a specific regulatory sense. As of the FCC’s Covered List dated May 18, 2026, ZTE telecommunications equipment remains listed, and covered ZTE phones cannot receive FCC equipment authorization. That is not the same as a blanket rule making every existing ZTE phone illegal to own or use. The FCC has also created a case-by-case process for restricting some previously authorized devices, so whether a particular phone can be sold, imported, or activated depends on details the general rule alone does not settle.
What does “banned” mean for ZTE phones?
“Banned” can refer to several different activities. The clearest general restriction concerns FCC equipment authorization: the FCC no longer reviews or approves covered equipment on its Covered List for authorization. The agency’s rules include ZTE telecommunications equipment, including phones. Without the required authorization, covered equipment cannot obtain approval under that process.
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The FCC’s Covered List entry identifies “Telecommunications equipment produced or provided by ZTE Corporation, including telecommunications or video surveillance services provided or provided by such entity or using such equipment.” The entry gives March 12, 2021, as ZTE’s inclusion date. Read the FCC Covered List appendix dated May 18, 2026.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe restriction is not a single rule that answers every question about a phone. Authorization, the sale or import of an older model, use of public funding, personal possession, and carrier activation are distinct issues.
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| Activity | What the FCC rule establishes | What it does not establish by itself |
|---|---|---|
| New equipment authorization | The FCC will not authorize covered ZTE equipment, including phones, under the Covered List rules. FCC 22-84 | It does not make every ZTE phone already in someone’s possession illegal. |
| Import, marketing, or sale of previously authorized devices | The FCC adopted a case-by-case process for restricting these activities for covered devices. FCC 25-71 | The process does not mean that every previously authorized ZTE model has automatically been prohibited from sale. |
| Purchases or support using Universal Service Fund money | USF recipients may not use those funds to obtain or support ZTE equipment or services. FCC DA 20-691 | This funding restriction is not, by itself, a general consumer sales or ownership rule. |
| Personal ownership or carrier activation | The cited FCC rules do not establish a blanket prohibition on owning or activating every existing ZTE phone. | Whether a particular handset works or can be activated requires model- and carrier-specific checks. |
Can you buy a ZTE phone in the US?
There is no basis in the cited FCC actions to say that every old or previously authorized ZTE phone is automatically barred from sale. The FCC’s 2025 action created a route to prohibit importation, marketing, or sale of previously authorized Covered List devices on a case-by-case basis. That is a mechanism for device-specific action, not a declaration that all older ZTE phones have been prohibited.
For a particular listing, check the exact model and whether the FCC has taken a device-specific action affecting it. The regulatory status of one model should not be inferred from another model’s status. This general overview does not establish whether a specific seller may currently offer a particular handset.
Is it illegal to own or use an older ZTE phone?
The FCC materials cited here do not establish that consumers must surrender or stop using every ZTE phone they already own. The equipment-authorization restriction concerns approval of covered equipment; it is not the same as a general law prohibiting possession of every existing device.
That distinction does not guarantee that an older phone will continue to work. Its practical usability may depend on its model, supported radio bands, software and security support, and the network it is meant to use. Those factors are separate from whether the FCC will authorize new covered equipment.
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Can you activate a ZTE phone with a US carrier?
The FCC rules discussed here do not answer activation for a specific handset or carrier. Before relying on an older ZTE phone, verify the exact model against the carrier’s current supported-device information and confirm that the phone’s radio bands and software are suitable for that network. A general FCC status cannot confirm that a particular carrier will accept or support the device.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why is ZTE on the Covered List?
The FCC describes Covered List equipment and services as an unacceptable national security risk. In an October 14, 2025 advisory, the Commission strongly recommended that organizations and individuals review the list and consider the risks when using or considering covered communications equipment and services. That statement is the FCC’s security position; it does not establish that every individual ZTE phone has been found compromised or is unusable.
In its June 30, 2020 final designation order for Universal Service Fund purposes, the FCC concluded that “ZTE poses a national security threat to our nation’s communications networks and communications supply chain.” This was the Commission’s stated conclusion in that order. Read the FCC’s October 2025 advisory.
Quick Recap
How the restrictions developed
- June 30, 2020: The FCC designated ZTE for the USF restriction. Recipients may not use USF funds to purchase, obtain, maintain, improve, modify, or otherwise support ZTE equipment or services. FCC DA 20-691.
- March 12, 2021: The FCC Covered List records this as ZTE telecommunications equipment’s inclusion date. Covered List appendix.
- November 11, 2021: Congress enacted the Secure Equipment Act, directing the FCC to stop reviewing or approving equipment-authorization applications for covered equipment on the list. The FCC discusses the law and authorization rules in FCC 26-60.
- November 25, 2022: The FCC adopted rules implementing the authorization prohibition. Its order covers ZTE telecommunications and video-surveillance equipment, including phones. FCC 22-84.
- 2025: The FCC adopted a case-by-case process to restrict importation, marketing, or sale of previously authorized Covered List devices. FCC 25-71.
- October 14, 2025: The FCC issued its national security advisory about Covered List equipment and services. FCC DA 25-927.
- May 18, 2026: The latest FCC Covered List cited here continued to list ZTE telecommunications equipment. Covered List appendix.
What to check before buying or relying on a specific ZTE phone
- Identify the exact model. Do not rely on a brand name or a seller’s generic description; model differences can matter.
- Check the FCC authorization history. Authorization status is distinct from whether the device is on sale or whether a carrier supports it.
- Look for a device-specific FCC restriction. The FCC’s process for previously authorized Covered List devices is case by case.
- Confirm the seller and transaction status. A phone’s previous authorization does not alone answer whether its current import or sale is restricted.
- Check the carrier’s supported-device information. Ask the carrier about activation for that exact model and verify network compatibility and ongoing support.
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