Metro by T-Mobile:128GB Google Pixel 6a + 30-Days Service: New Line $90, Port-In Expired

updated 6/18/23

Answers to FAQ:

1. Summary: 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. best to use a virtual credit card like from citi for example or a privacy virtual card. To have the phone unlock in 180 days. You ONLY needed to have activated the phone 180 days ago. You do not, repeat, DO NOT, have to pay for service for 180 days. Phones will unlock after 180 days +/- a few days even if you only pay for 1 month.

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

3. You can order online or in store. [if porting a number it HAS TO BE DONE IN STORE]

If ordering online [suggested/preferred method]:

(best case as there is no $20 activation fee & you don't need to deal with scummy Metro employees in store):
a. If website says "find a store". that means it is temporary OOS. Check again later. preferably in morning time. Stock will come in/out depending on the popularity of deal
b. If order does not go through immediately, try again. Try different browser, try incognito mode, try different computer, try work computer. Consider modifying address like "floor 1." There is no logical explanation of why some can order 5+ (once per day) and some cannot even order once
c. Once you receive the package in the mail....the Sim card is there, look in a brown/white bag that looks like packing material

If ordering in-store (avoid if possible):

a. $20 Activation Fee will be charged (occasionally, rarely is promo where it gets waived)
b. If you port a number, this has to be in store only and sometimes get a larger discount on some phones
c. However, lots of potential scams from employees {read below to find out more}
d. Avoid if possible, the few $ you MAY save is not worth the headache.

4. A few have claimed that the phone can be unlocked even if outside the USA on ~ day 180.

5. During first 30 days, make sure you activate the phone properly, never need make a call
a. It is possible that those folks who did not get their unlock in 180 days never fully activated their phone.
b. Phone will auto activate ~ 21 days from shipping. So you cannot buy now and expect to use in 2+ months from now for the first 1 month that is included.

6. Once unlocked, the phones (in general, not the specific phone in this deal) will 100% work on TMobile & Metro.

It will work on all US carriers such as T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon


7. For Metro, the IMEI of the phone has to be married/associated with the sim.
You cannot simply take the sim card and put it in another phone.

8. Porting into Metro has to be done in store,
or
you can still avoid the store.
i. order online with a new number avoiding the 20 AF + scummy Metro employees
ii. after you receive the number/phone, use for ~ 1 week or so as example
iii. if happy with service, you can contact Metro and port your old number over the one assigned by Metro.
iiii. however, how this impacts unlocking is unclear.

Porting out of Metro:
A few questions on if you can port out during the first 30 days. Generally it is safe to simply let plan die. However, many have reported they ported out and the phone still unlocked.
-if you do want to port out do so during the first 30 days where you have active service.
-if you try to port out after the 30 days, when you don't have active service it may not be able to port

9. Unlocking

Most people get the 1 month service. In months 2-6, the phone can be used as a wifi device, or simply store it away in a drawer. Phone can be left on or off. Wait 6 months.

Best chance of success as follows:
When getting close to day 180 day, have the phone connected to wi-fi.
Try to unlock the device, once 1-2 days from day 180 onwards.

Each phone (Android or Apple) has different ways to unlock.
Generally, to unlock the phone after 180 days:
Go to phone's Settings>> Connection>> more connection settings>>Network unlock

The sim doesn't seem to be important in unlocking.
It can be left in the phone or stored safely. DO NOT THROW AWAY THE SIM until you get a confirmed unlock

x. TBD


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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}
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Only a select few phones work with T-mobile out of box Day 1 without being unlocked.

Phones that work with TMobile from Day 1:
Moto g stylus 5g 2021
Oneplus N200 (only for old batch IMEI starts with:XX0017)
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)

Note: Metro may close this loophole at any time.

Phones that DO NOT work with T-Mobile from Day 1:
Moto G Stylus 5g 2022
Moto G 5G 2022
OnePlus N200 (IMEI starts with:XX0018)
OnePlus N20 5G
Samsung Galaxy A23 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 the 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. Set up 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:

{generally avoid (both corporates stores and authorized dealers).
many SD report bad expierence with both
if you want to port you must go to store.
in which case, go to a CS}

Update: Corporate stores are shutting down.There are very few in number.

Many times Metro reps will make up rules...

If it sounds odd...it's probably made up.
Like force you to buy a sim card for $15. Most common scam=insurance. They will say it is required, usually ~$10.Total lie.
Insurance is not required for any promotion to date.Sometimes they will add it as part of the monthly fee. Like saying the monthly fee is $50 when in fact it is actually 40+10 insurance.
Know exactly what you are paying for before, I repeat, BEFORE you pay.Get it itemized.
Specifically say, "I do not want insurance." Follow up with, "Are you adding insurance?"


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For those that want to know the date when their phone will be unlocked, check this online calculator. [timeanddate.com]

the 180 days may be sooner than u think

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Link to this Wiki