How to Switch to Metro by T-Mobile and BYO Phone

Lauren Hannula Managing Editor

Updated 24 October 2018

In this Guide

Steps to Switch to Metro by T-Mobile
Check Phone Compatibility
Cost of Switching to Metro
Metro by T-Mobile Plans
Why Choose Metro?

Article Summary

To switch to Metro by T-Mobile and BYOP, you'll first need to unlock your phone and make sure it's compatible with a Metro SIM card (can be done online). Then, all you need to do is pick a Metro plan and visit a Metro store in person. A Metro salesperson will help you sign up for a plan, port your phone number, and activate your new SIM card.

If you're happy with your current cell phone, but unhappy with your plan, then why not give Metro by T-Mobile (formerly MetroPCS) a try? As the new name suggests, Metro operates entirely on the T-Mobile network, whose coverage and speeds are improving every year.

Metro offers different plans for different needs which are all available whether you want to buy a new phone or bring your own phone (BYOP).

Steps to Switch to Metro and BYOP

Switching to Metro is easier than ever, even if you want to keep your own phone. The only thing is that all purchases now need to be made in store, but with more than 1,000 stores across the U.S. (and even more scheduled to open), it should be relatively easy to find a store near you.

Simply follow these steps to switch to Metro and BYOP:

Make sure you cell phone is unlocked and compatible with Metro.
- Depending on your carrier, your phone may already be unlocked. Each carrier has their own requirements before they will unlock your phone. The best way to check if your phone is unlocked is to insert a SIM card from another carrier and see if it works.
Choose a Metro cell phone plan
Find a Metro store near you and speak to a sales member in person
A Metro staff member will help you get set up with a new SIM card and activate it for you
If you want to keep your existing phone number, be sure to let the Metro representative know. They will handle the number porting process for you.
- DO NOT cancel your existing cell phone service before signing up to Metro. If you cancel you current service, you risk losing your phone number.
Insert your new Metro SIM card into your phone and you're good to go!

Porting your current cell phone number to Metro should take less than 10 minutes (although you may need to wait a little longer to receive calls). Once this has happened, your line with your previous provider will be cancelled and you'll likely receive a final bill from them that includes any remaining balance on both your phone and plan.

Check Phone Compatibility

Before you even consider switching to Metro and bringing your own phone (BYOP), you need to make sure your phone is compatible first. If your phone is unlocked, check whether your phone is compatible online. You'll just need to enter your IMEI number.

Newer Phones

If you have a newer phone, including the latest iPhone or Samsung Galaxy phone, then you shouldn't have a problem using it with a Metro SIM card, just make sure it's unlocked first. However, if you're using an older phone, then you may have compatibility issues, especially if your previous carrier used CDMA technology.

CDMA vs GSM

Not sure what I'm talking about? In a nutshell, there are two basic technologies used in cell phones—CDMA and GSM. If your phone currently runs on a CDMA network (i.e., Sprint and Verizon), then it won't work on a GSM network (i.e., AT&T and T-Mobile). Of course, there are exceptions to this rule—as mentioned above, newer phones are compatible across all carriers now.

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Cost of Switching to Metro

When you're switching to Metro from another carrier, you will likely need to pay $10 for a new SIM card, but other than that, there shouldn't be any other fees associated with switching, unless you were on a contract* with your previous provider (which is very rare these days).

You will however, receive a final bill from your previous provider that you just switched from. This final bill will include any remaining balance you may owe on your handset and any charges owing from your plan.

Your first payment to Metro will simply be:

$10 SIM card fee
The cost of your chosen plan

Metro includes all taxes and fees in their monthly prices too, so you won't be hit with any surprise fees!

*If you ended your previous contract early, you'll need to pay an Early Termination Fee (varies by carrier)

Metro by T-Mobile Plans

Metro makes it easy to choose a cell phone plan, with the main difference between each of their plans being the amount of high-speed data that's included.

#1	Metro by T-Mobile (MetroPCS)	Metro by T-Mobile (MetroPCS) Unlimited 6-Month Plan (BYOD) Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data T-Mobile 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices No mobile hotspot data Deal: Get this plan for only $120 for six months of service or $20/mo. $20.00/mo Upfront payment of $120 for 6 months <br>(equivalent to $20/month)<br>Taxes and regulatory fees included. View Plan	$20.00/mo Upfront payment of $120 for 6 months <br>(equivalent to $20/month)<br>Taxes and regulatory fees included.	View Plan
#2	Metro by T-Mobile (MetroPCS)	Metro by T-Mobile (MetroPCS) $25 Unlimited Plan (BYOD) \| Online Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data T-Mobile 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices No mobile hotspot data $25.00/mo with AutoPay; $30 for the first month. View Plan	$25.00/mo with AutoPay; $30 for the first month.	View Plan
#3	Metro by T-Mobile (MetroPCS)	Metro by T-Mobile (MetroPCS) $30 Unlimited Plan (BYOD) \| Online Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data T-Mobile 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices 10GB mobile hotspot data $30.00/mo View Plan	$30.00/mo	View Plan
#4	Metro by T-Mobile (MetroPCS)	Metro by T-Mobile (MetroPCS) $40 Period Unlimited Plan Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data T-Mobile 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices No mobile hotspot data $40.00/mo Taxes and regulatory fees included. View Plan	$40.00/mo Taxes and regulatory fees included.	View Plan
#5	Metro by T-Mobile (MetroPCS)	Metro by T-Mobile (MetroPCS) $50 Unlimited Plan Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data T-Mobile 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices 8GB mobile hotspot data $50.00/mo with AutoPay. Taxes and regulatory fees included. View Plan	$50.00/mo with AutoPay. Taxes and regulatory fees included.	View Plan

To make sure you're choosing the best plan for you, check how much mobile data you're using on your current plan. If you only use 2GB of data on average, why pay for an unlimited plan? Knowing your cell phone habits can help you save hundreds of dollars over the year.

If you need more than one line, for your family members or friends, then Metro also offers discounted additional lines on all of their plans.

Why Choose Metro?

Other than offering affordable plan options compared to other carriers, there are other benefits to choosing a Metro by T-Mobile plan, including:

Service on T-Mobile's fast network
Data-free music streaming on some plans
Up to 25GB of mobile hotspot data (unlimited plans only)
Google One storage included (unlimited plans only)
Amazon Prime membership (premium unlimited plan only)
Discounted family plans

Metro also offers a number of great deals from time to time, both on cell phones and their plans.

Lauren Hannula

Managing Editor

Lauren is WhistleOut's Managing Editor. With over 14 years of digital writing and publishing experience, she's developed a passion for breaking down overly complex topics to offer easy, affordable solutions that help make the most of the tech you already have in your pocket. Her work has appeared in industry stalwarts such as CNET, Yahoo! News, and Forbes.

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