How to Unlock a Metro by T-Mobile (MetroPCS) Phone

If you have a Metro by T-Mobile (formerly MetroPCS) phone, the device is carrier locked for 365 days after it is initially activated. As long as it's been longer than 365 days, and the phone has not been reported lost or stolen, Metro will unlock your phone so you can use it on any network. Read on to learn how to unlock your Metro phone, and what to do if you run into problems.

Unlocking a Metro Phone

If your phone was activated at least 365 days ago and there are no alerts on your account, Metro will unlock it for free so you can use it on any carrier. The process happens automatically 2 days after the term ends. If the phone doesn't unlock automatically, check your settings or contact Metro at 888-8-METRO-8.

Section 1 of 6:

Metro Unlock Policy

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It's easy to unlock your Metro phone once you've met the requirements. In fact, Metro by T-Mobile will automatically unlock your phone once you've met the following eligibility criteria:^{[1]
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- The phone was purchased from Metro by T-Mobile (formerly MetroPCS)
- The phone has not been reported lost or stolen
- It has been at least 365 days since the phone was activated
  - If you're in the military and have been deployed, you can bypass the 365-day requirement by providing a copy of your deployment papers to Metro. Call Metro at 888-863-8768 for more information.
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In most cases, your Metro by T-Mobile phone will unlock automatically 2 days after the requirements have been met.
- If your Android is still carrier locked, see Unlock an Android Phone for additional steps.
- If you have an iPhone, jump down to Unlock an iPhone to learn how to check if your phone is still locked, and what to do if it is.

Section 2 of 6:

Unlock an Android Phone

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Samsung
- Open the Settings app and select Connections.
- Tap More Connection Settings.
- Tap Network Unlock.
- Tap Permanent Unlock.
- Once the phone is unlocked, restart it.^{[2]
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If you get an error message when trying to unlock your Android, jump to the Troubleshooting section.
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TCL & Motorola
- Open Settings and tap System.
- Tap About phone.
- Tap Device unlock.
- Tap Permanent unlock.
- Once the phone is unlocked, restart it.
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OnePlus
- Open Settings and tap Wi-Fi & Internet.
- Tap Advanced or Network Unlock.
- Tap Permanent Unlock.
- Once the phone is unlocked, restart it.
4
DeviceLock App (older phones)
- Open the Device Unlock app.^{[3]
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- Tap Permanent Unlock.^{[4]
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- Once the phone is unlocked, restart it.

Section 3 of 6:

Unlock an iPhone

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Your iPhone will unlock automatically 2 days after you meet all qualifications. There are no specific steps you must perform to unlock your iPhone on Metro's network. Two days after the 365-day period ends, Metro by T-Mobile will unlock your iPhone automatically.^{[5]
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- Open your iPhone's Settings.
- Tap General.
- Tap About.
- If you see "No SIM Restrictions" next to "Carrier Lock," your iPhone is unlocked, and you can use it on any supported network.
- If your iPhone is still locked but shouldn't be, you can have Metro by T-Mobile unlock it for you at a Metro retail location, or by calling Metro at 1-888-8-METRO-8.^{[7]
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Section 4 of 6:

Contacting Metro to Unlock Your Phone

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If your phone is still locked after 365 days, contact Metro to unlock it. In some cases, you may need to have a customer service representative unlock your phone for you. If you live near a Metro by T-Mobile retail location, you can visit the store with your phone and ask them to unlock it. You can also call Metro by dialing *611 from your Metro phone, or by calling 888-8-METRO-8 from any phone.^{[8]
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- When you speak to Metro, they may ask for the phone number on your account, the name on your account, your account billing PIN, and possibly your email address.
- When having customer service unlock your phone, the instructions they provide you will vary depending on the make and model of your phone. For example, you may have to turn off your phone, insert the SIM card of the new network, turn the phone on, and enter a code when prompted.

Section 5 of 6:

Unlocking Apps and Services

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If you want to unlock your Metro phone early, an unlocking service may help. Just keep in mind that unlocking services–typically a website or an app designed to remove a phone's carrier lock before eligibility requirements are met–don't always work, and many are scams. We don't have any specific recommendations for a service to try, but you can try searching for "metro phone unlocking service" and researching any companies that pop up.
- To unlock your phone with an unlocking service, you will need to provide the service with your IMEI number. To get the IMEI, open your phone dialer and dial *#06#.

Section 6 of 6:

Troubleshooting

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Error Messages
- "Device not recognized by your service provider. Please call customer care."
  - This error pops up if you've rooted your phone. You will need to unroot your phone to unlock it.
- "Unlock Failed: This mobile wireless device is not eligible for unlock."
  - You will see this error if your Metro phone is not yet eligible to be unlocked.
- "Failure in applying the unlock settings. Please try again."
  - This error appears if you're not connected to Metro's mobile network when you attempt to unlock your phone.^{[9]
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- Network errors – If you experience any of the following errors, try connecting to a stronger Wi-Fi signal or mobile data network:
  - "Data corrupted during transfer. Please try again. Error during data transfer. Please try again."
  - "Server not responding. Please try again later."
  - "No internet connection available. Please try again when internet connection is available."
  - "Unable to connect to the server at this time. Please try back again later."
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Other issues If you can't unlock your Metro phone, your best bet is to contact Metro customer service for help. In most cases, a customer service rep will be able to help you unlock your Metro phone in no time.

Community Q&A

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Question

How do you make a request for your device's unlock code?

Community Answer

You can place an order for an unlock code. All you have to do is to fill an order form with your IMEI (dial *#06#) and the country and network you originally bought your phone from. Try such unlocking companies as UnlockScope.com and UnlockUnit.com. They have good reviews on Trust Pilot and Google Play.

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Question

What do I do if I unlocked my phone and now my SIM card doesn't work?

Michael McPeters

Community Answer

Go to your carrier and get a new SIM card. They typically don't charge you for them.

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How can I tell if my phone is eligible to unlock if it's MetroPCS?

Community Answer

You must have 90 days of active service per their policy. Call customer service or find the unlock app located in some models of their phones.

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Warnings

Unlocking the phone while still within the agreed time period of the contract will void any warranty on the phone. If your account is not paid up, you will be responsible for all remaining payments.

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Unlocking your MetroPCS phone does not guarantee that your device will be fully compatible with services and features offered by other wireless providers. Keep this factor in mind when using your unlocked MetroPCS phone on another network.

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