How to Unlock a Moto G Stylus for Any Carrier: The Complete Guide

Motorola’s Moto G Stylus is a popular mid-range smartphone offering a solid blend of performance, features, and affordability. Whether you’re using it for casual browsing or creative sketching with the built-in stylus, it delivers excellent value. But if your Moto G Stylus is locked to a specific carrier, your flexibility is limited. This becomes especially problematic if you’re traveling, switching providers, or want to resell the phone.

The good news? You can unlock your Moto G Stylus—legally and safely—to use it with any carrier worldwide. In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn why phones are locked, how to check your device’s lock status, and how to unlock it step-by-step, including methods with and without an unlock code.

What Does It Mean When a Phone Is Carrier-Locked?

A carrier-locked phone is a device that is restricted to operate only with the mobile network of the carrier that sold it. For example, a Moto G Stylus purchased from AT&T may only work with AT&T SIM cards until it’s unlocked.

Carriers lock phones to:

Ensure customers complete their contracts or financing plans.
Prevent switching networks too soon.
Protect their investment in subsidized devices.

When unlocked, your Moto G Stylus becomes network-unrestricted, allowing you to:

Insert SIM cards from other carriers.
Use the phone while traveling internationally.
Improve resale value.

Check If Your Moto G Stylus Is Locked

Before proceeding with unlocking, you should verify whether your device is actually locked.

Method 1: Insert a SIM Card from a Different Carrier

Power off your phone.
Insert a SIM card from a carrier different than your current one.
Power on the device.

Possible results:

If you see a message like “SIM Network Unlock PIN”, your phone is locked.
If you have signal and can make calls, your phone is already unlocked.

Method 2: Check in Settings (Sometimes Limited)

Go to: Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile Network
If you can’t change network options or add a different carrier profile, your device may be restricted.

Unlocking Your Moto G Stylus: Methods That Work

Unlocking a Moto G Stylus can be done through several methods, depending on the original carrier and device status.

Method 1: Request Unlock from Your Carrier (Recommended)

If your Moto G Stylus was purchased through a major carrier such as AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon, the most official and risk-free method is to request an unlock directly.

Eligibility Criteria (May Vary by Carrier):

Carrier	Eligibility Requirements	Unlock Time
AT&T	Must be paid off; active for 60+ days	24–72 hours
T-Mobile	Device must be active for 40+ days, fully paid	Up to 48 hrs
Verizon	Automatically unlocks after 60 days	Automatic
Metro by T-Mobile	180 days of active use on Metro’s network	1–2 days
Cricket Wireless	6 months of service required	1–2 days

Steps to Request Unlock Code:

Visit your carrier’s unlock request website.
Provide your device’s IMEI number (dial *#06# to find it).
Submit your request.
Wait for confirmation and unlock code (if required).

Entering the Unlock Code:

Power off your phone.
Insert a SIM card from another carrier.
Power on the device.
Enter the 8-digit Network Unlock Code when prompted.

Once accepted, your phone is permanently unlocked.

✅ Pros: Safe, legal, doesn’t void warranty
❌ Cons: May not be available if device isn’t eligible yet

Method 2: Use a Trusted Third-Party Unlocking Service

If your carrier refuses the request or you’re outside your contract’s requirements, you can use a reputable third-party unlocking service.

How It Works:

You provide your IMEI number.
The service processes the unlock with databases or carrier APIs.
You receive the unlock code via email (or remote unlock for some models).

Popular & Trusted Services:

Service	Average Cost	Time to Unlock	IMEI Required
DoctorSIM	$15–$25	1–3 days	Yes
CellUnlocker	$20–$35	1–5 days	Yes
UnlockBase	$15–$30	12–48 hours	Yes

🔒 Warning: Avoid free “unlock generators” or sketchy apps that request root access—many are scams or malware-infected.

✅ Pros: Quick, no carrier involvement
❌ Cons: Paid option, potential for unreliable providers

Method 3: Unlock via Motorola Support (For Factory Devices)

If your Moto G Stylus was purchased SIM-free or directly from Motorola, it’s often already unlocked. However, if you suspect it isn’t, you can confirm by contacting Motorola support.

Visit: https://support.motorola.com
Provide:

Model and IMEI
Purchase details (if requested)

In rare cases, Motorola may provide unlock assistance or confirm device status.

Method 4: Unlocking for International Travel (Temporary Solutions)

If you’re traveling abroad and want to avoid roaming fees, you can:

Rent a temporary unlocked phone.
Use an international SIM card with an unlocked secondary device.
Purchase a local SIM + prepaid plan in your destination country.

If your Moto G Stylus is locked and you don’t have time to unlock it officially, these workarounds offer short-term flexibility.

Troubleshooting Common Unlock Issues

Problem	Solution
Entered unlock code but still locked	Ensure correct code was entered; contact provider for retry
No unlock prompt appears	Try factory reset, or insert SIM from a different region
“Unlock unsuccessful” message	Wait and try again after a few hours; code may be expired
Cannot connect to new carrier network	Manually configure APN settings for new SIM

Does Unlocking Affect Your Phone or Warranty?

No, unlocking is legal and safe, especially if done through the carrier or an approved third-party. It does not void your warranty, and it won’t harm your phone’s software or performance.

However:

Unlocking does not convert CDMA to GSM. Make sure your Moto G Stylus supports the correct network bands for your new carrier.
Unlocking does not remove FRP (Factory Reset Protection). That’s a different security feature tied to your Google account.