How long does it take to unlock credit?

In most cases, if you make the request online or by phone, the credit bureaus can lift a freeze in as little as 15 minutes, although the Federal Trade Commission gives them up to three business days.

What does it mean when your credit is locked?

A security freeze prevents prospective creditors from accessing your credit file. Creditors typically won’t offer you credit if they can’t access your credit reporting file, so a security freeze, also called a credit freeze, prevents you or others from opening accounts in your name.