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Moto G Phone Guide

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  • User Manuals
    • Moto G8 User Manual for Moto G8 Plus and Moto G8 Play
    • Official Moto G7 user manual
    • Official Moto G6 user manuals, Moto G6 Play user manuals and Moto G6 Plus user manuals
    • Official Moto G5 User Manual and Moto G5 Plus User Manual
    • Moto G4 User Manual: official PDF user guide for Moto G4, Moto G4 Plus and Moto G4 Play
    • Moto G 2015 user guide
    • Moto G 2nd Gen User Manual (Moto G 2014 User Manual)
    • Moto G Manual (Mot G user guide)
  • how-to guide
    • Moto G8 vs Moto G8 Power vs Moto G8 Power Lite vs Moto G Power vs Moto G Stylus vs Moto G Pro vs Moto G fast: What are the differences?
    • Moto G8 Plus vs Moto G8 Play: Differences and common features
    • Moto G5 vs Moto G5 plus: the major differences between Moto G5 and Moto G5 plus
    • How to install Moto G5 SIM card?
    • Moto G5 Plus SIM card guide
    • How to take screenshot on Moto G (without using apps)
    • How to use Moto G camera and change camera settings?
    • How to access developer options menu in Moto G?
    • How to use FM radio on Moto G?
    • Moto G wireless display: the problem and the solution
    • Meaning of Moto G notification icons
    • How to use Moto G voice command?
    • How to use Motorola Assist on Moto G?
    • How to Silence Moto G Notifications and Ringtones
    • How to use dual SIM cards on Moto G?
    • How to connect Moto G with PC through USB cable? (for Moto E and Moto X as well)
    • How to use Bluetooth to transfer files on Moto G, Moto E and Moto X?
    • How to use Wi-Fi Direct to transfer files on Moto G, Moto E and Moto X?
    • How to block certain callers on Moto G, Moto E and Moto X?
    • How to use Moto G safe mode (applies to Moto X and Moto E safe mode as well )?
    • Moto G USB OTG guide (also for Moto X)
  • Online Manual
    • Moto G layout
    • How to remove Moto G back cover?
    • Moto G Home screen
    • Insert SIM card into Moto G and Moto E
    • How to add apps to Moto G home screen (for Moto E and Moto X as well)
    • Add new home screen pages on Moto G, Moto E and Moto X
    • Use widgets on Moto G home screen (for Moto X and Moto E as well)
    • How to update Moto G, Moto E and Moto X?
    • Moto G 2015 camera guide
    • Top 10 new features in Android Nougat update for Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus
    • What’s new in Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus?
  • Accessory Guide
    • Moto G case guide

Moto G How-to Guide

Moto G8 User Manual for Moto G8 Plus and Moto G8 Play

by simon 4 Comments

Moto G8 User ManualThe official Motorola Moto G8 Plus (and Moto G8 Play) user manual help you use the phone effectively.

Without Moto G8, Moto G8 Plus and Moto G8 Play were released in October 2019. This guide compares Moto G8 Play and Moto G8 Plus so that you can make a correct decision if you need to choose between these two phones.

This page lists the official user manuals for Moto G8 Plus and  Moto G8 Plus with Android Pie (Android 9.0), and Moto G8 with Android 10.

Due to the differences in the camera and a few software features, the user manuals for Moto G8 Play and Moto G8 Plus are slightly different. You should check the corresponding user manual.

The Moto G8 user manual will also be added to this page once Motorola/Lenovo announces the phone, very likely in February 2020.

How to download and read these user manuals?

You can simply tap the download link to download the user manual for your Moto G8, Moto G8 Play, or Moto G8 Plus.

All of the user manuals are in PDF format.  Your phone (Moto G8 Play or Moto G8 Plus) is able to read them without installing any apps.

By default, Google Drive’s PDF reader will be used. If you installed other more PDF reader apps, for example, the official Adobe Acrobat Reader, then you can choose a default app to open PDF files.

Official Moto G8 User Manual (English, Android 10)

Official Moto G8 User Manual (English, Android 10)This is the official Moto G8 (2020) user manual in English language (UK/US) for Moto G8  with Android 10.

This user guide applies to all Moto G8 phones sold in all regions.

If you are using Moto G8 Plus or Moto G8 Play, please check the below ones.

Download link: the official Moto G8 (released in 2020) user guide in English with Android 10.

Official Moto G8 Plus User Manual (English, Android Pie)

Official Moto G8 Plus User Manual (English, Android Pie)This is the official Moto G8 Plus (2019) user manual in English language (UK/US) for Moto G8 Plus with Android Pie 9.0.

This user guide applies to all Moto G8 Plus phones sold in all regions.

If you are using Moto G8, please check the above one.

Download link: the official Moto G8 Plus (2019) user guide in English with Android Pie.

Official Moto G8 Play User Manual (English, Android Pie)

Official Moto G8 Play User Manual (English, Android Pie)This is the official Moto G8 Play (2019) user … Read the rest

Filed Under: Moto G How-to Guide, Moto G Manual, Moto G8 Tagged With: Android Pie, Moto G8, Moto G8 Play, Moto G8 Plus, Moto G8 user guide, Moto G8 user manual, PDF, user guide, user manual

Moto G8 Plus vs Moto G8 Play: Differences and common features

by simon Leave a Comment

Moto G8 Plus vs Moto G8 Play: Differences and common featuresMotorola announced and released Moto G8 Plus, and Moto G8 Play in October 2019, without Moto G8, which will be very likely announced in February 2020. But what are the differences of  Moto G8 Plus vs Moto G8 Play?

Apparently, Moto G is the most valuable brand asset of Motorola now: Moto X is dead; Moto Z is dying, Moto C has gone, and Moto E is struggling.

Will Moto G save Motorola?

Motorola (Lenovo) cannot wait until 2020. So, they released “part” of Moto G8 for this holiday season. Remember, Moto G7 was just released earlier this year.

Of course, many potential buyers are wondering about the differences between Moto G8 Plus and Moto G8 Play.

This Moto G guide first explains the common features of Moto G8 Plus and Moto G8 Play, then discusses the top 10 differences of Moto G8 Plus vs Moto G8 Play.

The official user manual for Moto G8 Plus and Moto G8 Play is now available here.

Update: Motorola now has totally of 9 Moto G models for the 8th Gen of Moto G. A comparison of all these nine Moto G phones is detailed in this post.

Moto G8 Plus vs Moto G8 Play: the common features

Moto G8 Plus and G8 Play share similar dimensions with significantly different specifications.

As both bear the Moto G8 name, there are surely some common features.

Android Pie

Just like many other Android phones released this year, both Moto G Plus and Moto G8  Play come with Android Pie (Android 9.0).

Very likely, both phones will get the Android 10 update. But based on the recent track record of Motorola’s Android update, you will have to wait at least one year for the Android Pie.

4000mAh battery

The battery capacity in Moto G8 Play and G8 Plus is 4000mAh.  It should be able to last one full day for most users.

The massive battery can also be used as a power bank to charge other devices because both phones use a USB-C port

micro SD card support

Similar to previous generations of Moto G, Moto G8 Play and Moto G8 Plus support micro SD card.

So, you can insert a micro SD card to expand storage if you have an extensive collection of media files.

Please note, there is no dedicated SD card slot on Moto G8 Play and G8 Plus. Instead, … Read the rest

Filed Under: Moto G Buyer Guide, Moto G How-to Guide, Moto G News Tagged With: Android Pie, battery, Bluetooth, camera, CPU, Dual SIM, fingerprint sensor, FM radio, micro SD card, Moto G7, Moto G8, Moto G8 Play, Moto G8 Plus, SIM card manager, SIM card tray, USB-C

What are the differences: Moto G6 vs Moto G6 Plus vs Moto G6 Play (Moto G 2018)?

by simon 6 Comments

The top 6 differences among Moto G6, Moto G6 Play and Moto G6 PlusFor the 6th generation of Moto G (Moto G 2018), Motorola released 3 models: Moto G6, Moto G6 Play and Moto G6 Plus.

These 3 phones may look similar. All come with the latest Android Oreo 8.0.

But the differences are obvious as well.

This post compares the 3 models of Moto G6 (Moto G 2018) and explains the top 6 differences among these 3 Moto G6 modes to help you understand the differences and therefore make the correct decision when purchasing a Moto G6.

You may check the official user manuals for Moto G6, Moto G6 Play and Moto G6 Plus in this page.

1. Moto G6 vs Moto G6 Plus vs Moto G6 Play: Screen size and resolution

The 3 Moto G6 models have different combinations of screen sizes and screen resolution.

Moto G6 and G6 Play both have a screen size of 5.7″. Moto G6 Plus has a 5.9″ screen.

But for the screen resolution, Moto G6 and Moto G6 Plus both have a 1080p (18:9) screen. Moto G6 Play comes with a 720p screen. This suggests Moto G6 has the highest pixel density (higher than both Moto G6 Play and Moto G6 Plus.

Overall, for the screen, the difference between Moto G6 and Moto G6 Plus is small.

2. Moto G6 vs Moto G6 Plus vs Moto G6 Play: CPU (SoC)

Motorola continued to use middle-range CPUs on Moto G6 (Moto G 2018) devices.

Moto G6 Play comes with a Snapdragon 430 CPU (or 427 in the US). There are eight (4 cores for Snapdragon 427) cores up to 1.4GHz.

Moto G6 has a Snapdragon 450 CPU, which is also an octa-core SoC with a higher speed of 1.8GHz.

As expected, Moto G6 Plus has the most powerful CPU (Snapdragon 630) compared to Moto G6 and Moto G6 Play.  The maximum frequency for the CPU is 2.2GHz.

3. Moto G6 vs Moto G6 Plus vs Moto G6 Play: rear cameras

Both Moto G6 and Moto G6 Plus feature dual rear cameras (12MP+5MP). The 5MP f/2.2 camera will be used only when you change to portrait mode. It is designed for depth sensing, not real photo taking.

The 12MP camera sensor in Moto G6 Plus is slightly better with an aperture of f/1.7.  It is capable of capturing 4K (2160p) videos at 30fps. While the 12MP camera in Moto G6 has … Read the rest

Filed Under: Moto G How-to Guide, Moto G News, Moto G6 Tagged With: battery, camera, fingerprint sensor, moto g, Moto G 2018, Moto G6, Moto G6 Play, Moto G6 Plus, processor

How to install Moto G5 SIM card?

by simon 9 Comments

Many Moto G5 owners failed to install SIM card in Moto G5 due to vague illustration in Moto G5 user manual.

This Moto G guide shows you how to install Moto G5 SIM card(s) and micro SD card correctly.

What’s the difference in SIM card slot for Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus?

One of the major differences between Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus is the removable battery in Moto G5.  Of course, Moto G5’s back cover is also removable.

This results in different design of the SIM card slots in Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus.

As explained in Moto G5 Plus SIM card guide, Moto G5 Plus features a removable SIM card/SD card tray.

But in Moto G5, the SIM card slot and micro SD card slot are under the back cover. There is no removable SIM card tray in Moto G5.

This means you must remove the back cover to install Moto G5 SIM card (and micro SD card as well).

For SIM card size for Moto G5, as explained in this post, Moto G5 and Moto G5 plus both use nano SIM card.

How to install Moto G5 SIM card?

Moto G5 has two versions: single SIM version and dual SIM version depending on your region.

The dual SIM version of Moto G5 (and G5 plus) is dual standby only. If you need to keep both SIM cards available at all times without missing any calls, please read How to make two SIM cards always available in dual SIM dual standby Android phones?

Unlike other dual SIM Android phones, Moto G5 has a dedicated micro SD card slot in both single SIM and dual SIM versions. This means you can use two SIM cards and a micro SD card concurrently in dual SIM version of Moto G5.

To install Moto G5 SIM card, you may follow these steps.

Step 1: Power off Moto G5

You must power off Moto G5 before installing SIM card.

You can hold the power button for 2-4 seconds and then follow the on-screen power option to power off Moto G5.

Step 2: Remove Moto G5 back cover

After Moto G5 is powered off, you can now remove the Moto G5 back cover.

As shown below, you can gradually peel off the back cover starting from the small gap (groove) in the bottom of the phone.

You … Read the rest

Filed Under: Moto G How-to Guide, Moto G5 Tagged With: default SIM card, Dual SIM, micro SD card, Moto G5, Moto G5 battery, SIM card, SIM card manager

Moto G5 Plus SIM card guide

by simon 22 Comments

The correct SIM card size for Moto G5 Plus is nono-SIM.  This guide explains to you how to use the Moto G5 SIM card tray, how to insert or remove SIM card for Moto G5 Plus.

Please note, the SIM card slots in Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus are totally different. This guide is for Moto G5 Plus SIM card. For Moto G5 SIM card, please check this guide.

If you want to learn other features of Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus, you may check the official user manual of Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus.

Why you need a SIM card for Moto G5 Plus?

SIM card is not a requirement for Moto G5 Plus and most Android phones.

But without a SIM card, you will not be able to make calls, send text messages or use mobile data.  You probably then will not call it a phone.

Actually, if you do not need mobile services, you can get a decent tablet with bigger screen at an even cheaper price.

If you want to use Moto G5 Plus as a phone, you should get a SIM card from your phone company.

Moto G5 Plus SIM card size

There are different sizes of SIM card.

Over the years, there are 4 different sizes of SIM card for mobile phones:

  1. Full-size SIM card. Full-size SIM is often referred as 1FF (1st form factor). It is “giant” in size: 85.60 mm × 53.98 mm × 0.76 mm. It was phased out already. There are no Android phones using it.
  2. Mini-SIM (2FF) cars. Mini-SIM usually is referred to as “big” or “normal”  or “standard” SIM card in some countries. It measures in 25.mm x 15 mm x 0.76 mm. Mini-SIM card was just phased out in last 2 or 3 years. You can still find some old phones use this “normal” SIM card.
  3. Micro-SIM (3FF). Micro SIM is the most popular size of SIM card for smartphones. Most middle range and budget smartphones are using micro SIM card. In some regions, micro-SIM is referred as “small” SIM card.
  4. Nano-SIM (4FF). Nano-SIM is the smallest SIM card available for smartphone today. Most flagship smartphones requires nano-SIM. More and more middle-range phones also started to adopt this size SIM card.

Moto G5 Plus uses nano SIM card only. 

Prior to Moto G5 Plus,  all … Read the rest

Filed Under: Moto G How-to Guide, Moto G5 Tagged With: Dual SIM, dual standby, micro SD card, Moto G5, Moto G5 plus, SIM card

Top 10 new features in Android Nougat update for Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus

by simon Leave a Comment

Top 10 new features in Android Nougat update for Moto G4 and Moto G4 PlusIn almost all regions, Android Nougat update for Moto G4 (and G4 Plus) has been rolled out.  You should check the update now if your Moto G4 is still running Marshmallow.

Android Nougat for Moto G4 is a major Android udpate with many new features and improvement you should try.

This Moto G guide explains to you the top 10 new features in this Android Nougat update for Moto G4.

Please note, although Moto G4 is used in this post, all these new features also apply to all Motorola Moto devices with Android Nougat.

1. Multi window

Android Nougat supports split screen (multi-window) view. You can run two apps side by side on your screen after applying the Android Nougat update.

For example, you can reply to a text message while watching a video, or browse the internet during a video call.

You can activate multi-window view by long-pressing the overview/recent apps button while in a compatible app.

Please note, whether an app is compatible with multi window view is determined by individual app developer.

You may check this guide on how to use multi window feature in  Android Nougat update for Moto G4.

2. Quick switch apps

Android Nougat also allows you to quickly switch between two recent apps.

You can double tap the overview/recent apps button to switch between two most recently used apps.

Quick switch apps works even when you are in Home screen.  In Moto G4 Home screen, you can double tap the overview button to open the last used app. Double tap again to switch the second most recent app.

3. Swipe to shrink the screen

Motorola added one more Moto action in Android Nougat update for Moto G4: swipe to shrink the screen.

You can shrink the screen by swiping up from the navigation bar in the bottom.

If you swipe upwards and towards left, the shrunk screen will align to bottom left. If you swipe upwards and towards right, the shrunk screen will be docked in the bottom right.

To enable this new feature, you need to open the Moto app, tap Actions, then tap Swipe to shrink the screen to enable it.

You can practice this feature before enabling it.

Please refer to this guide (coming soon) on how to use Moto Actions.

4. Change display size (display scaling)

Prior to Android Nougat, you can only change the … Read the rest

Filed Under: Moto G How-to Guide, Moto G News Tagged With: Android Nougat udpate, Moto G4, Moto G4 Play, Moto G4 Plus

What are the differences of Moto G4, Moto G4 Plus and Moto G4 Play?

by simon 6 Comments

differences of Moto G4, Moto G4 Plus and Moto G4 PlayFor the 4th generation of Moto G, Motorola (now under Lenovo), announced 3 different models: Moto G4, Moto G4 Plus and Moto G4 Play.

Then which one is for you? What are the differences of Moto G4, Moto G4 Plus and Moto G4 Play?

This post will try to help you understand the differences of these 3 models so that you can make better decision when you want to buy one Moto G4 (Moto G 2016).

To download official Moto G4 user manual, Moto G4 Plus user manual anf Moto G4 Play user manual in your own language, please check this page.

Initial availability differences of Moto G4, Moto G4 Plus and Moto G4 Play

Although 3 models of Moto G4 were announced, only 2 of them are currently available.

Moto G4 Play will be only available later this summer.

Moto G4 Plus and Moto G4 are currently available in selected countries and regions, mainly India, Brazil, Mexico and a few other countries in Latin America.

In early June, Moto G4 will be available in Europe, the Middle East, and other Asian regions.

Moto G4 Plus will be available in Europe, the Middle East, other Asian regions, and other Latin American regions from the second half of June.

For US and North America, the availability of Moto G4, Moto G4 Plus and Moto G4 Play has not been announced. (Motorola is not a US company any more; it is now a Lenovo company.)

So, many Motorola fans in US, Europe and other regions are a bit disappointed. Apparently, Motorola (Lenovo) is too short-sighted in Moto G4 release.

Will this help the success of Moto G4?

Very unlikely. The availability strategy of Moto G4 is probably a disaster for Moto G4 sales.

With 3 different models (G4, G4 Plus, and G4 Play) combined, Moto G4 probably cannot exceed the sales of Moto G3 (2015) or  Moto G2 (Moto G 2014).

Just may 2 cents.

Screen (display) differences of Moto G4, Moto G4 Plus and Moto G4 Play

Both Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus share similar display: 5.5″ 1080p (full HD. 1980*1080) display.

Moto G4 Play is smaller (5″) with a 720p (1280*720) screen.

So, the size of Moto G4 Play is similar to previous generations of Moto G devices (e.g., Moto G 2015 and Moto G 2014).  Moto G4 and G4 Plus are bigger than previous generations.

CPU (chips)

… Read the rest

Filed Under: Moto G Buyer Guide, Moto G How-to Guide, Moto G News

Top 5 problems of Android Marshmallow update for Moto G 2015 and solutions (for Moto X and Moto E as well)

by simon 864 Comments

Android Marshmallow update for Moto G 2015 and solutions (for Moto X and Moto E as well)Have you got Android Marshmallow update for Moto G 2015?

Motorola started to roll out Android Marshmallow (Android 6.0) update to Moto X Style, Moto X Play, Moto X Pure, Moto G 2015 (Moto G 3rd Gen), Moto  G 2014 (Moot G 2nd Gen) and Moto X 2014 (Moto X 2nd Gen) in early December 2015.  Only Moto E 2015 (Moto E 2nd Gen) is still on the waiting list.

Now more and more Moto users are enjoying latest Android Marshmallow. Some prominent Android Marshmallow  features are explained on this guide and this post.

Although the overall experience of Android Marshmallow update for Moto G 2015 and other Moto devices is good, some problems of the Android Marshmallow update for Moto G 2015 are also reported.

This post will try to address the top 5 problems of Android Marshmallow update for Moto G 2015, and of course the solutions.

Please note, in the post, Moto G 2015 (Moto G 3rd Gen) is used, but this post also applies to Moto X (Pure, Style, Play, 2nd Gen) and Moto G 2014 devices. The code base for Android Marshmallow update for Moto devices are similar. So, the problems of Android Marshmallow update for Moto G 2015 can also be found on other Moto devices after updating to Marshmallow.

#1. Missing camera shutter sound control in Android Marshmallow update for Moto G 2015

Motorola camera app is functional and yet simple to use.  One of the handy features is togging on/off shutter sound. For Moto G 2015 camera guide, please check this page.

It seems the Android Marshmallow update for Moto G 2015 does not change much on the camera app. But soon you will notice that the shutter sound control is missing in the new camera app.

This is NOT a bug.

Actually, more and more Android phone manufacturers removed the shutter sound control in their camera apps.

There are two main reasons for removing shutter sound control from camera app:

  • Legal considerations. In a few countries (e.g., Korea and Japan), shutter sound is mandatory.  More and more countries are debating on this issue. Privacy usually is in the center in such debates. To avoid possible legal troubles in the future, and to give good impression on privacy consideration, big Android phone manufacturers started to remove the  shutter sound control from the stock camera app even
… Read the rest

Filed Under: Moto G How-to Guide, Moto G News

Moto G USB OTG guide (also for Moto X)

by simon 210 Comments

What’s Moto G USB OTG?

USB On-The-Go (USB OTG) is not a new technology. It allows a device to perform both master and slave roles in USB connections. Android fully supports USB OTG since Android Honeycomb 3.1.

Normally USB uses a master/slave architecture.  A host acts as a master device for the connection, the other USB device acts as a slave.

Devices are designed to assume one role only. For example, when you connect an external disk to the PC, the PC is always the host, and the external disk is always the slave.  When you connect two external drives through USB, nothing happens.

For Moto G, like many other phones, when it is connected to PC, it will be acted as a slave and be mounted as a storage device.  You can access the file on the Moto G from your PC.

But what happens if you connect a USB thumb drive to Moto G?

Moto G can mount it as external storage, and you can use it just like you use an external drive on a PC!

Because Moto G supports USB OTG.

Of course, there are some other requirements to make it work.

We will discuss them later.

How Moto G USB OTG can help Moto G owners?

So, basically, Moto G USB OTG makes it possible for you to use external USB devices on Moto G.

Storage is just an example. The miserable storage in Moto G usually is the motivation for some owners to find ways to expand the storage.

You can also hook many other USB accessories, e.g., even a USB keyboard or mouse.

In this guide, we will focus on storage because it is the most wanted Moto G USB OTG usage.

Also, this guide applies to Moto X and many other Android devices, although Moto G is used.

What do you need to use Moto G USB OTG to expand your storage?

To use Moto G USB OTG to expand your storage, you need one of them:

  • a USB OTG adapter (less than $10). One end of the USB OTG adapter connects to USB storage, which can be a normal thumb drive or even a portable hard disk. The other end connects to Moto G directly.
  • or, an USB OTG flash drive (price depending on the capacity. It is slightly more expensive than normal USB thumb drives with similar
… Read the rest

Filed Under: Moto G Buyer Guide, Moto G How-to Guide

How to remove Moto G back cover?

Why you must remove Moto G back cover

For Moto G (including Moto G 2nd Gen), the SIM card slot is under the back cover. So,  to insert SIMcard, you must remove Moto G back cover.

In addition, the micro SD card slot in Moto G 2014 is also under the back cover. You have to remove the Moto G back cover to put in your SD card.

However, for many new Moto G or Moto E owners,  it can be frustrating to find the correct way to remove Moto G back cover due to Motorola’s unique design for the back cover.

You cannot peel off the Moto G back cover.

Please follow this guide if you want to remove Moto G back cover properly. Otherwise, you may damage the back cover.

How to remove Moto G back cover? (for Moto G and Moto G2, Moto G3, Moto G4, and Moto G5)

Step 1: Power off your Moto G

It is recommended to remove Moto G back cover only when the phone is powered off.

To power off Moto G, press and hold the power button and follow the on-screen instructions.

Step 2: Turn Moto G upside down

You need to turn Moto G upside down so that the USB port is facing up. This is the most comfortable orientation to take off Moto G back cover.

Anyway, Motorola designs it in this way.

Step 3: Put your finger in the USB charging port, as shown below.

Step 4: Press your thumb of the hand in the centre of the back (Motorola logo), as shown below.

You need to use two hands to remove Moto G back cover.

You also need to press the Motorola logo hard (apply some force, not just put the thumb there) so that it is easy to pry the cover off.

Step 5: Pry the cover off.

remove_moto_g_back_cover

Please remember it is not necessary to use any tools to remove Moto G back cover. Such tools may damage the cover or internal parts

If you still have problems to take off Moto G back cover, you may check this official video.

How about Moto E back cover?

Moto E back cover shares a similar design of Moto G back cover.

So, you can remove Moto E back cover with the identical method mentioned on this page.

This applies to both Moto E and Moto E … Read the rest

How to clear cache partition on Moto G and Moto X after Android Lollipop update?

by simon 450 Comments

Why you should clear the cache partition after updating to Android Lollipop?

Finally, most Moto G (including Moto G 2nd Gen) and Moto X (including Moto X 2nd Gen) owners received the Android Lollipop update.

After getting the Android Lollipop update, you may be excited with the many new features (see this post for top 5 new Lollipop features in Moto G and Moto X) and improved performance.

But for some Moto G and Moto X owners, the phone may behave weirdly. A few owners  may feel the phone is less responsive although Android Lollipop update should bring a faster Moto G or Moto X.

Some owners may face battery drain problems. Again, Android Lollipop should give you slightly longer battery life on Moto G (including Moto X 2nd Gen) and Moto X (including Moto X 2nd Gen).

So, what’s wrong with the Android Lollipop on these phones?

Someone may suggest you to do a factory data reset. But it is usually not necessary.

Very often, the weird behavior or poorer performance is caused by some leftovers in your cache partition.

Clearing cache partition can surprisingly solve most of such problems, without losing any personal settings.

Actually, you should clear the cache partition after any major Android update.

Will clearing cache partition remove my files or accounts or apps or settings?

Clearing cache partition does NOT affect any of your settings. It does NOT delete your files or accounts or apps.

In short, clearing cache partition is totally different from factory data reset, which will erase all your data, apps and settings.

Normally, factory reset is the last resort to solve software related issues. Before trying factory reset, experienced Android support engineer will try to clear the cache partition first. Most of the problems can then be solved without resetting the phone.

Step-by-step guide on how  to clear cache partition on Moto G and Moto X after Android Lollipop update

After the Android Lollipop update, the procedures of clearing cache partition on Moto G and Moto X are slightly changed. If you follow old guides, you may find you cannot get the wipe cache partition option in recovery mode. I will highlight this next.

Step 1:  Power off Moto G or Moto X

Press and hold power button for about 2-3 seconds.

You should get the Power off option on the screen as shown below.

Tap Power … Read the rest

Filed Under: Moto G How-to Guide

Where is the settings for auto-rotate screen after Lollipop update for Moto G and Moto X?

by simon 40 Comments

Update: For Moto G 2015 (Moto G 3rd Gen) or Moto X 3rd Gen (Moto X Pure edition, Moto X Style and Moto X Play), because Android Lollipop 5.1 is pre-installed, you should be able to find the icon in quick settings panel. If not, you can also follow this guide to enable the auto-rotate screen option.

After updating your Moto G (including Moto G 2nd Gen) and Moto X (including Moto X 2nd Gen) to  Android Lollipop (Android 5.0, you may refer to this post on top 5 new features in Android Lollipop update for Moto G, Moto X and Moto E), you may find you cannot enable auto-rotate screen because you cannot find the settings in the Settings–Display as in Android KitKat.

If you go to quick settings in Lollipop in Moto G or Moto X, by default, there is also no icon for auto-rotate screen.

Is auto-rotate screen removed in Android Lollipop update for Moto G and Moto X?

The answer is no. Auto-rotate screen is an essential feature in today’s smartphones.  Motorola is not so crazy to remove such a feature.

In the Android Lollipop update for Moto G and Moto X, auto-rotate screen setting is just placed under Settings—Accessibility as shown below, not  the old location (Settings–Display).

settings_for_auto_rotate_screen_after_lollipop_update_for_moto_g_moto_x_1_settings_accessibility settings_for_auto_rotate_screen_after_lollipop_update_for_moto_g_moto_x_2_enable_auto_rotate_screen

Once you enabled the auto-rotate screen, you will be able to find the corresponding icon in the quick settings panel as shown below.

You only enable auto-rotate screen once from Settings–Accessibility.

From now on, you can just use the quick settings panel to quickly toggle on auto rotate screen or lock it to Portrait mode as shown below.

If you are not familiar with the quick settings panel in Android Lollipop, please check this guide.

settings_for_auto_rotate_screen_after_lollipop_update_for_moto_g_moto_x_3_auto_rotate_screen_in_quick_settingssettings_for_auto_rotate_screen_after_lollipop_update_for_moto_g_moto_x_4_auto_rotate_screen_portrait

Please note, you can only lock the screen in portrait mode. There is no way to lock the screen in landscape mode for Moto G and Moto X because most pages of the Google Now launcher only work in portrait orientation.

If you need to work in landscape orientation in your Moto G or Moto X, your only option is to enable auto-rotate screen.

Another exception of screen orientation is the Camera app.  Camera app does NOT respect the auto-rotate screen settings.

In other words, even if you turn off auto-rotate screen  (i.e., lock the screen in portrait orientation), the camera app may still … Read the rest

Filed Under: Moto G How-to Guide

How to connect Moto G with PC through USB cable? (for Moto E and Moto X as well)

Update 1, at the bottom of this page, added section: My phone is shown as empty in Windows Explorer after updating to Android Marshmallow.  If your phone is recognized, but there are no files shown in Windows Explorer, you should read this section to change the USB option to MTP mode.

USB cable connection is probably the fastest way for transferring files between your Moto G and PC.

This guide works for Moto E, Moto E 2nd Gen (Moto E 2015), Moto G 2013 (Moto G 1st generation), Moto G 2014 (Moto G 2nd generation), Moto X 1st generation and Moto X 2nd generation, although in the text, Moto G, not all these 8 devices, is mentioned.

Why/when do I need to connect Moto G with a PC?

All Android devices can connect to a PC through a USB cable. For developers, this is very useful for them to test and debug the apps through the ADB shell.

For most Android users, we use this feature mainly for transferring files, photos and videos.

Moto G is not an exception.

You can easily connect Moto G with a PC through a USB cable. Once Moto G is recognized by the PC, you can:

  • Transfer files between Moto G and the PC;
  • Take screenshots for Moto G if you want to take a lot of screenshots. For occasional users, you can always use this guide;
  • Share your mobile data connection on Moto G with the PC (USB tethering);
  • Run ADB commands;
  • Update Moto G firmware;
  • And more…

How to install Motorola USB driver on PC so that you can connect Moto G with PC?

To connect Moto G with a PC through USB, you must install the Motorola USB driver on the PC.

Motorola named the software as Motorola Device Manager, which contains USB drivers and software to connect your Moto G  with a PC using a USB cable.

You can download the Motorola USB driver for your PC or Mac from: https://motorola-global-portal.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/88481

connect Moto G with PC_download_motorola_usb_driver_

Once the software is downloaded, you can then install it as other software packages.  You need Administrator privileges to install the Motorola USB driver.

On Windows Vista or Windows 7, it is better to run the Motorola USB driver installer as Administrator (even if you are already a member of administrators). You can right-click (instead of double click) the downloaded … Read the rest

How to use dual SIM cards on Moto G?

how-to-use-moto-g-dual-sim-card-customizationUpdate: if you want to make both SIM cards available at all times in dual SIM version of Moto G (all Moto G generations) so that you will not miss any calls (even when you are talking over one SIM card) , you may follow this guide to set up call forwarding and call waiting.

In some regions, Moto G supports dual SIM cards. In other words, you can use up to two SIM cards simultaneously.

But Moto G dual SIM (and Moto E, Moto X and Moto Z) phones are dual standby, NOT dual active. Please refer to this dual SIM Android phone guide on differences between dual standby and dual active in dual SIM phones.

For correct SIM card size for Moto G (Moto E and Moto X as well) and how to insert SIM card  into Moto G, please check this guide.

How to access Moto G dual SIM settings?

All the settings related to Moto G dual SIM cards can be accessed through Settings— Dual SIM settings.

You can choose icon colors for each SIM card, choose the SIM card used for mobile data.

Please note, only one SIM card can be used for 3G. The other one can only be on 2G.

If you are using one SIM card, you can ignore all setting here.  The settings here are only relevant to owners who are using two SIM cards on the Moto G.

How to get rid of the Moto G SIM card selection when making a call?

how-to-use-moto-g-dual-sim-card-sim-selectionBy default, when you dial a number, you will be asked for the SIM card to be used for that call. This is useful if you want to use different SIM cards for different numbers, and you need switch them frequently.

However, this can be annoying when you mainly use only one of the SIM cards for outgoing calls.

It is easy to designate one of the SIM card for all of your outgoing calls. You can go to Settings–Dual  SIM settings– Call settings, tap Making calls. Then you have 3 options:

  1. use SIM card 1
  2. use SIM card 2
  3. let you select each time (this is the default setting).

How to use Moto G  automatic SIM selection?

how-to-use-moto-g-dual-sim-card-automatic_sim-selectionMoto G also has a nice feature in dual SIM cards models for those who have to switch between SIM cards for outgoing … Read the rest

How to use Motorola Assist on Moto G?

by simon 191 Comments

motorola-assist-on-moto-gUpdate: If Motorola Assist does not read messages in home or driving mode (i.e.. it does not respond to your voice) after it asks you say Listen, please follow this guide to fix it.

What is Motorola Assist on Moto G?

Motorola Assist on Moto G is one of the most useful apps you can find.  It was provided by Motorola and, of course, it works on Motorola devices.

Motorola Assist on Moto G simply suggests actions to automate tasks, based on how you use your device. The app  works like your personal assistant, and works quietly.

Driving Assist is not available in the Motorola Assist on Moto G

The  Motorola Assist in Moto X and Droid (Droid MAXX, Droid Mini, and Droid Ultra) has three assists: driving, sleeping and meeting.

The Driving Assist lets you keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. Meeting and Sleeping will eliminate interruptions unless it’s an emergency.

But in Moto G, the Motorola Assist only comes with 2 assists: Sleeping and Meeting. The Driving assist is NOT available on  Motorola Assist on Moto G.

The explanation from Motorola is due to hardware limitation in  Moto G. So, do not waste time to find driving assist in your Moto G. Even if you manage to get the APK file, Driving Assist would not work.

Sleeping Assist on Moto G

motorola-assist-on-moto-g-sleeping-assistOnce you let your Moto G knows your normal sleeping time, Motorola Assist on Moto G will automatically silence your phone. of course, if you want, certain callers can still get through if needed.

You need setup your normal sleeping time first in the Motorola Assist on Moto G. Then , you can enable “Silence”  to turn on the sleeping assist..

If you want,  by tapping the “>” button (in the right column of  Silence, see attached image), you can create exceptions for favorite contacts, or someone who calling you twice within 5 mins.

If you change the phone volume when it is in sleep mode,  the sleeping assist will stop working and un-silence the phone .

If you manually silence your phone when Moto G is in sleep mode, you must un-silence the phone the next day. In other words, Motorola Assist on Moto G will not un-silence your phone if the silencing is set by you manually.

Sleeping Assist only silences the notification and ringer. All other apps and … Read the rest

Filed Under: Moto G How-to Guide

Moto G wireless display: the problem and the solution

by simon 52 Comments

moto-g-wireless-displayWhat is Wireless Display?

As some Android users know that Miracast is officially supported since Jelly Bean 4.2. Most Android phone manufactures usually name this feature as wireless display. Of Course, some vendor give it a different name for marketing purpose, for example, Samsung uses the name of “screen mirroring” for Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3.

Moto G wireless display simply does not work

Moto G come with Jelly Bean 4.3. In last December, Motorola updated the phone to Android KitKat 4.4.2. But you may find out that there is no option to enable Moto G wireless display no matter it is in Jelly Bean 4.3 or KitKat 4.4. There is no way to get wireless display in Moto G.

Of course, if we check the brother of Moto G, you can find out that Moto X fully supports wireless display.

So, missing Moto G wireless display is not an inadvertent mistake; it is done deliberately.

Why Moto G wireless display is disabled?

The question is why Motorola disable this very useful feature.  We haven’t got any official clear answer from Motorola on disabling Moto G wireless display.

The untold truth about Moto G wireless display is that wireless display is enabled in hardware level, but disabled in software level. It is actually due to hardware limitations.

Motorola chose to disable the Moto G wireless display for two reasons:

  1. WiFi connection and Miracast cannot be used simultaneously in Moto G. If the wireless display is enabled (it uses WiFi direct per Miracast standard), the WiFi connection to your router will be shutdown and therefore you have to use mobile data for internet connections.  Some Sony devices (2013) suffer from this issue either. To avoid negative feedback, and inadvertent usage of mobile date (remember that Moto G is targeted at users with moderate mobile data usage), Motorola has  to disable this feature.
  2. Even you manage to enable Moto G wireless display (root is needed, and it is not a simple task. Do NOT ask me how to do this. I do not show things that I do not recommend), the performance is not so good. There is noticeable delay and sound sync seems not good as well. Probably due to hardware issue, or Motorola did not do any optimization, or both  (because it will be anyway disabled).

Alternative solutions

… Read the rest

Filed Under: Moto G Buyer Guide, Moto G How-to Guide Tagged With: chromecast, miracast, moto g, wireless display

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