Moto G Phone 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 2nd Gen (Moto E 2015).

But for newer Moto E devices, for example, Moto E6, there is a notch on the side for you to remove the back cover, as explained in this guide.

Which Moto G models have a non-removable back cover?

For the following Moto G phones, you cannot remove the back cover unless you break it (or use a heat gun :

These Moto G phones were designed with a non-removable back cover.  The back cover in these phones is usually glued to the phone. If the material is glass, you need a heat gun to remove the back cover. If it is plastic (usually in the Play or Power models), then you cannot use a heat gun.

Please note, for these Moto G phones, it is NOT necessary to open the back cover. The SIM card slot can be accessed from the side or top of the phone.

So, you should NOT remove the back cover of these Moto G phones.

Can you remove Moto G back cover or remove Moot E back cover now?

If you have problems or questions to remove Moto G back cover or to remove Moto E back cover, please let us know them in the comment box below.

The community will try to help you.

For more Moto G online manual pages, please check this page.

For detailed step-by-step guides, please check Moto G How-to guides page.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Archie says

    You have to just slide your thumbnail in that starting point grove on the lower left side and keep sliding your thumbnail along the whole perimeter groove, it starts to lift on the right side, start pulling it away while keeping sliding your thumbnail around the whole perimeter, it eventually releases. It takes a few tries and one heck of a sore thumb later.

    Reply

  3. Ace Foulds says

    Simon, Thanks for the response, I have used 2 official ejection pins sent with my sim card when I recently changed carriers. When both of those broke, I then tried a paper clip. I gave up and took the phone to a shop. The tech took it in back so I don’t know how he opened it, but he did. He took out the previous carrier’s sim card and was reluctant to put in the new one because he said the eject mechanism inside the phone was gone so no amount of pushing on the eject pin would ever open the slot again. I said i didn’t anticipate having to change sim cards again so go ahead. We put the new card in but it turned out to be defective. The carrier has sent a new card but I have no way to replace it now. In the absence of installing the new card, I am often unable to get and send texts and there are other issues that don’t work properly.

    Reply

  4. Ace Foulds says

    The sim card door on my G6 will not open. I’ve broken 2 tools and it simply will not eject. I really need to replace the card. Any suggestions?

    Reply

  5. jmcdhome says

    Absolutely cannot get the cover off my G5S Plus (US version). I can’t watch the YouTube video either. It says “Video unavailable. This video is private.”

    Reply

  7. Glen says

    My wife’s G4 play does NOT have a notch contrary to the user manual.
    I found a tray on the upper left side that holds the nano SIM and SD card.

    The tray is designed to open using a “sim tool”, but a small paper clip will work.
    Just push the paper clip into the hole and the tray pops out.

    The Moto phones are great because they’re cheap, unlocked, not loaded with crap-ware, and the radios are amazing, but I have to ask if the Moto execs ever read the user manual and change their SIM cards or they use iPhones???

    Thank you to this web site for hosting this forum!
    Hope this helps.

    Reply

  8. Tracy says

    Total B.S.. it shouldn’t be this damn hard to get this stupid back off this phone . I so regret getting this phone. Total design error

    Reply

  9. Dianne DeThomaso says

    Hi I have a moto e5 and even after watching a YouTube video of it I still can’t open it. This is insane!!!! Can I take it to a store that sells tracfones. Is there another way to open this?

    Reply

  10. Eric says

    This Motorola Moto G6 is easily the worst PoS phone I have ever owned. Horrible design overall. Never seen a phone where even opening the rear cover is so difficult. All I need to do is add a SD card, so I can finally get my contacts loaded (Motorola will not pull contacts from Verizon like my previous LG, Samsung, etc. I have given up trying) I may have no choice but to simply break the rear cover off and look for a replacement later.

    Reply

  13. James Buchanan says

    I have just bought a motog5. Getting the cover off was a genuinely painful experience even using the proper little indentation thing. This is literally terrible design. I’ve also slightly damaged the phone in the process.

    Reply

  14. Susan says

    Just like all above I can NOT get the cover off. The cover in the instructions is NOT the same as on my Moto G5.
    Can’t change my SIM Card, so how the hell am I supposed to use my phone……!!!!

    Reply

  15. Steve says

    I lost all my nails and was enormously frustrated too. But then saw a YouTube video that makes it clear that THE INSTRUCTIONS ARE WRONG. DO NOT USE the USB Charging Port slot to attempt to open the phone. Use the small slot that is to the right of the USB port. Then it comes right off!!

    Bad marks got to the dreadful instructions & illustration

    Reply

  16. Hazel Jenkins says

    Went from a g4play which was easy to open to this nightmare!
    Taking mine back after having for 4 hours!

    Reply

  17. Fingernailless says

    3 hours, no nails left, no one speaking to each other the worst phone ever dont think we will ever get in the thing

    Reply

  18. James says

    One hour of trying…no nails left. Simply won’t open. Will have to return for a phone that I can take the back off. The designer should be hunted down….unbelievable. Just peel off the back my arse………

    Reply

  19. Ellie B. says

    This is the most ridiculous design I’ve ever seen. Can’t imagine how this was judged by the manufacturers as being user friendly. I would tear my hair out but I’ve got no nails left 😫

    Reply

  20. Steve says

    Moto make it so hard to open back cover because they are mentally ill, like all board meetings, they discuss and work out how to Anger Millions

    Reply

  21. Robyn says

    So disappointed. Just purchased the Moto G5 and I can’t get the cover off. Can’even keep trying to get it off at present as my finger tips are so sore from attempting to. Why make it so difficult?

    Reply

  24. Pete says

    Why design a back cover that’s so hard to remove. What about people who do not have strong fingers and hands. Not very inclusive or accessible.

    Reply

  26. Melanie says

    This is a nightmare. I have ripped my fi ngers to shreds and the cover won’t budge. Why is it so damn hard?

    Reply

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