Metro by T-Mobile: 64GB Galaxy A23 5G Smartphone + 30 Days of Service Expired

Can't find your sim?

Quote from redRanger : Look inside shipping box again, should be a brown envelope with sim card

Quote from waterchange : Yes, it comes with the phone. Possibly in a brown envelope that can easily be missed as it can look like the packing material.

My phones came in two separate boxes. Each box had the sim contained within a large translucent white / wax paper envelope, separate from the phone but inside the shipping box.


To activate the sim card: visit "https://www.metrobyt-mobile.com/order-status", enter your order number and zip code, click on the "Check status" button, then scroll down on the next screen and hit the "Activate" button.



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Answers to FAQ:

1. This is prepaid. No need to cancel. Just stop paying. Most will pay the forced first monthly fee (that comes with initial order) and then simply stop paying.

2. Phones are locked to Metro ONLY for first 180 days and chances are slim to none that you can get them unlocked before 180 days to use on other carriers.
a. Some exceptions: A few phones will work on TM from Day 1 {keep reading below}

3. Phones will/should unlock after 180 days. even if u only pay for 1 month

4. You can order online or in store.

If ordering on line:
a. if website says find a store. that means it is temporary OOS. Check again later.
b. order may not get through immediately. try again. try different browser.
c. no activation fee.
d. once u receive the package in mail....the Sim card is there, look in a brown/white bag that looks like packing material


If ordering in store:
a. $20 AF (occasionally ,rarely is promo where it gets waived)
b. best discount is if u port a number. this has to be in store only
c. lots so potential scams from employees {read below to find out more}

5. It is unclear if phone has to be in USA to unlock

6. During first 30 days, make sure u activate phone properly, make a call every 5-10 days (just as a example)
a. It is possible that those folks who did not get their unlock in 180 days, never fully activated their phone.

TBD



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Each phone )Android or Apple) has different ways to unlock.
Generally, To unlock the phone after 180 days
Phone's settings, connection, more connection settings, network unlock
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To have the phone unlock automatically in 180 days (6 months)

You need to have activated the phone 180 days ago.
You do not. repeat do NOT have to pay for service for 180 days.

the above has been true for most every metro deal in the past.
both apple and android

Most people get the 1 month service.
Then simply place phone in a drawer [or use as wi fi device].
wait 6 months.

The sim can be left in phone or stored safely.
It does not matter, as long as you DO NOT THROW AWAY THE SIM until you get a confirmed unlock

Phone should/will unlock in ~180 days + 6 -10 days.

best chance of success as follows:
During the ~6 month wait.
YOU can use as wifi device.
keep sim in phone.
when getting near the 180 day , have phone connected to wi-fi.
Try to unlock the device, once 1-2 days from day 180 onwards.

- None of us knows when Metro is going to close this unofficial loophole, .
-However this has been in effect with Metro phone deals for last ~4-5 years

Exercise your own judgement,
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https://www.metrobyt-mobile.com/t...olicy.html
Please read the OFFICIAL Metro by Tmobile unlock policy.

Unlock eligibility requirements
We unlock mobile devices that meet the following eligibility criteria free of charge:

The device must be purchased from Metro by T-Mobile.
The device must not be reported as lost, stolen or blocked.
One hundred eighty (180) days must have passed since the device's activation date

{180 days since activation. no mention of payment requirement during those 180 days}

Countless number of people have reported.
Both iphone + Android have auto unlocked ~180 days from purchase.
Even when paying for ONLY 1 month of service.
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Only a select few "newer" phones work with T-mobile out of box Day 1 without being unlocked.

Phones that work with Tmobile from Day 1:
Oneplus N200
Samsung a53 (don't update the A53 firmware past July 2022 or your T-Mobile sim won't work until 180 days like other phones do)
Moto g stylus 5g 2021

note: Metro may close this loop whole at any time.

phones that DO NOT work with T-Mobile from Day 1:
Moto G Stylus 5g 2022
Moto G 5G 2022
Samsung Galaxy A23 5G
OnePlus N20 5G
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How to activate:
In your shipment confirmation email, there's a link on the bottom that says track your status "here".
Click on that link, enter your order number and zip, it will show you shipment progress. At the very bottom of that page, there's a spot that says activate service. Just click on that and it will populate the phone number and activate the sim.

How to activate and avoid some common issues:
the URL:https://www.metrobyt-mobile.com/order-status

1. after you placed your order and received order confirmation email (subject should be We've received your Metro order!), you should be able to start tracking order and delivery status at the above URL
2. once you received your phone, insert sim and power up the phone. for the initial phone software setup (not activation), I connected phone to wifi and skipped all of the google things so phone would say I'm only XX% through setup which doesn't really matter. I didn't have to download any app either. before next step I'm already at phone's "desktop" without google account or phone maker (ex. moto) account on the phone
3. on your PC or whatever device you know website access would work, go to the same above URL
4. enter your order info to track your order
5. after page loaded the tracking info, scroll to the bottom and click on the button to start activate your phone/sim. go through the activation process which would setup an Metro online account if you don't already have one. make sure your phone is already powered up with sim inserted before you start the activation process!
6. you should be able to do calls and texts if activation went through properly. I have both working within less than a minute where phone shows 5G UC icon and both wifi calling & VoLTE registered for Metro by T-Mobile. you should receive an email with subject You did it! Your phone is active within 24 hours. the email with subject Ready. Set. Activate will come some time later as well. I received both emails one day after I had already activated and started using the phone with full services

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ALTERNATE method to activate your new phone

1. Use the order status page and enter the order# and zip, below the status is a link to activate.
2. Once you click this, you will see your new phone#.
3. Login to your account with your new phone# and the pin you created when creating the order
4. OTP is sent to the phone that is not yet setup - LOL
5. Setup the new phone
6. Repeat #3 and this time you can get the OTP on your new phone
7. Login - confirm auto billing option is OFF
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If purchasing in store:

many times M reps will make up rules...

if it sounds odd...its probably made up

Most common scam=insurance.
they will say it is required. usually `~$10.
total lie.
insurance not required for any promotion to date.
sometimes they will add it as part of monthly fee.
like saying the monthly fee is $50.
when in fact it is actually 40+10 insurance.
know exactly what u r paying for before, i repeat BEFORE u pay.
get it itemized.
specifically say "I do not want insurance"
follow up with "are u adding insurance?'
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Link to this Wiki