Moto G Phone Guide

Insert SIM card into Moto G and Moto E

SIM card is needed when you want to use Moto G phone capabilities (making calls, receiving calls, sending SMS, receiving SMS) or when you want to use mobile data to access internet.

Please note, Moto G (including Moto G 2nd Gen, aka Moto G 2014; Moto G 2015, aka, Moto G 3rd Gen) and Moto E (including Moto E 2nd Gen, aka Moto E 2015)  can function normally without a SIM card. Just imagine a lot of WiFi only tablets.

What is the correct SIM card size for Moto G, Moto E and Moto X?

Currently, there are 4 SIM card  sizes (reference here):

  • Full size SIM card. Actually no smartphones in the market are using it now. It has the size of a credit card (85.60 mm *53.98 mm*0.76 mm).
  • Mini SIM card.  This is usually refer to as normal SIM card. Some old smartphones are still using Mini SIM card. Its size is  25mm*15mm*0.76mm.
  • Micro SIM card. This has been the mainstream in last one or two years. It is smaller than Mini SIM card (15mm*12mm*0.76mm).
  • Nano SIM card. This is currently the smallest SIM card for smartphones. It is not only smaller than Micro SIM card, but also thinner (12.3mm*8.8mm*0.67mm). The Nano SIM card is used in a few high-end smartphones like Samsung Galaxy S6,  Moto X, Moto X 2nd Gen, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 5, Nexus 6,

Moto G, Moto G 2nd Gen (Moto G 2014), Moto G 2015 (Moto G 3rd Gen), Moto E and Moto E 2nd Gen (Moto E 2015) all use Micro SIM  card.

However, Moto X and Moto X 2nd Gen (Moto X 2014) use Nano SIM card.

Can I cut the SIM card with Mini SIM card or use Nano SIM card with adapter?

moto_g_sim_card_moto_e_sim_cardAlthough there are many online guides on how to cut Micro SIM card with Mini SIM card, it is NOT recommended to use such cards on Moto G or Moto E. Moto G and Moto E may have problems with the rough cutting/trimming edge.

In addition, some old Mini SIM card has larger metal part. If you trim such a card to Micro SIM, the metal part may touch the edge. This will cause unpredictable problems on Moto G and Moto E.

If you have the smaller Nano SIM card, some vendors may suggest you to use an adapter to be used in Moto G or Moto E.

This is also not recommended.  Most of such adapters in the market do not have good quality. The dimension, mainly the thickness, is not accurate. This again can cause problems in Moto G and Moto E.

So, you’d better get Micro SIM card for your Moto G and Moto E from your carrier. Some carriers actually now offer 3-in-1 SIM card, which can be used as Mini, Micro and Nano SIM card.

How to insert SIM card into Moto G and Moto E?

To inset SIM card into Moto G and Moto E, please follow these steps.

Step 1: Power off phone.

You should power off Moto G or Moto E before inserting SIM card into the phone.

You can press and hold the power button, then follow the on-screen instructions to power off the phone.

Step 2. Remove the Moto G (or E) back cover.

SIM card slots for Moto E, Moto E 2nd Gen and Moto G are under the back cover (please read this page for Moto G layout). So, you must take off the back cover to access the SIM card slot.

To remove Moto G back cover (or remove  Moto E back cover), please follow this guide.

Step 3:  Insert SIM card

For Moto G:

With the gold contacts facing down, push in your SIM card as shown below.

The SIM card should click in.

If your phone is a dual SIM model, you can insert the second SIM card similarly as shown below.

For dual SIM Moto G or Moto E, it is not necessary to insert SIM card to slot 2 if you want to use one SIM card on the phone. For the usage of dual SIM cards, please check this guide.

insert_moto_g_sim_card_moto_e_sim_card

For Moto E 2nd Gen (Moto E 2015):

As shown below, with the gold contacts facing up, push in a card.

The SIM card should click in.

Insert SIM card into Moto Moto G and Moto E 2015

Step 4: Put back the back cover (for Moto G and Moto E)

After the SIM card is clicked in, you can put back the cover.

Step 5: Power on the phone.

Power on the phone to enjoy it.

How to remove SIM card from Moto G and Moto E?

To remove SIM card from Moto G or Moto E or replace SIM card for the phone, you can follow the similar procedures mentioned above.

Step 1: Power off the phone.

Step 2: Remove the back cover.

Step 3: Remove the SIM card

To remove a SIM card, push it in to release it. Then you can slide it out.

Please do NOT pull it without releasing it.  It may damage the SIM card slot.

Step 4: Put back the back cover.

Step 5:  power on the phone.

Can you insert or remove SIM card  for Moto G and Moto E?

If you have problems or questions to insert SIM card into Moot G or Moto E, or remove it from Moto G or Moto E, please let us know them in the comment box below.

The community will try to hep 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. Kathleen Mitchell says

    I was able to remove SIM card but have had a lot of trouble getting it back in; even without sim card (the tray)

    Reply

  5. Eddie says

    Hi, I have a Moto G 3rd Generation, problem I have is it does not recognise any sim card. The sim cards work in other phones, but I can’t get my Moto G to work at all. Any ideas as to how to fix this?

    Thanks in advance, Eddie.

    Reply

  7. Aravindan says

    Which model in moto series having the facility of 3 slots (2 for SIMs and remaining 1 for Memory card (SD card) like moto c plus

    Reply

  8. Linda says

    I bought an unlocked Moto 4G Play in Calif. but I spend most of my time in Mexico. I have a Mexican sim card installed right now. I can call the U.S. on a simple plan from Baja ($200 pesos per mo.). Do you think I will be able to use my pone in Calif. or will I have to put in another sim card from the U.S.? Love my phone!!

    Reply

  9. M says

    Hi! My boyfriend just purchased a Moto G+ 5th gen phone. The phone came without a Nano Sim card. He purchased a Nano Sim and plan from Total Wireless.

    Although the nano sim is the proper size, he cannot insert into his Moto G+. He followed all directions precisely, to no avail. There are side rails on the removable sim tray that prevent insertion. It simply will *not* snap in.

    I even tried inserting my Verizon nano sim as a test (it is the same size). No dice.

    Please explain exactly how you get the nano sim into the tray. We are pulling our hair out.

    Thank you very much.

    Reply

  11. Ram says

    Hi
    My name is ram. I am using moto e 2 my mobile is unable to show any other sim of same network and when I insert it is showing no sim card.
    And it is showing only the sims which I were used before. Can any one help me please

    Reply

  12. Calums Whyte says

    Hi I’m having a problem with my Motorola Moto E 1st Gen. My phone suddenly stopped working about a week ago and I thought it was one of these random reboots but no. When I turned the phone back on it said no sim card. I have never taken the sim card out since I got the phone in December of 2014. I have taken it back to tesco (my provider) but they just said send it away but I could cost up to £90 so I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem and if there is anything I can do because I don’t want to send it away and for them to say it’s a £90 fix.

    Reply

  14. Kris says

    I am a first time costomer of Motorola and I have had problems with my phone not ringing, etc. List is to long. I went back to where I purchased it, they couldn’t help so sen me to another kiosk far away to only hand it to him and he looked at it for about 2 sec to realize it was GLITCHY. I read that the sim may be the problem but neither attempted to look at it. I opened the back cover a d the sim metal contacts are faced the right way but the writti g on the card is upside down. I can’t remove it and don’t want to try as I may be blamed. That said I can’t tell where the corner cu off is in relation to phone as I cannot see. Maybe the pictures with sim card diagram could include the writing. Anyway does it being upside down matte. The writing is anyway, and one red coloured corner is on the outside. Any help in this would be great as I am at a loss and very unhappy with service and phone performance. Thank you

    Reply

  15. Christa says

    Consumer Cellular’s SIM cards are compound. The frame that makes the nanoSIM into a MicroSIM is fragile and can break inside the SIM card reader. This has happened to me twice on new MotoG 3rd Gen phones; I never had this problem with my Huawei or Blu phones.

    Is this just a problem with Motorola phones? Or this an issue only with Consumer Cellular compound SIM cards.

    Since GSM phones require SIM removal/replacement as first step in trouble-shooting, this is a deal-killer for me.

    Is there any service provider which uses a one-piece micro SIM? Or is my only option using a CSMA phone?

    Reply

  16. Cristina O. Bobis says

    I have a Motorola XT1540, my problem is ,one of the gold thing on the sim card slot which reads the sim card was removed, can it get fix?

    Reply

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