Motorola moto G9 PLAY User manual

User Guide

© 2020 Motorola Mobility LLC. All rights reserved.
MOTOROLA, the stylized M logo, MOTO, and the MOTO family of marks are trademarks or registered trademarks
of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC. LENOVO is a trademark of Lenovo. Google, Android, Google Play and
other marks are trademarks of Google LLC. microSD Logo is a trademark of SD-3C, LLC. All other product or
service names are the property of their respective owners.
Certain features, services and applications are network dependent and may not be available in all areas; additional
terms, conditions and/or charges may apply. Contact your service provider for details.
All features, functionality, and other product specifications, as well as the information contained in this help content,
are based upon the latest available information and believed to be accurate at the time of release. Motorola
reserves the right to change or modify any information or specifications without notice or obligation.
Some images in help content are examples only.
You can also read this help on your phone at Settings > Help.

Contents
Set up phone 1
About your hardware 1
Insert and remove SIM and SD cards 3
Copy data from another phone 5
Manage dual SIMs 7
Set up voicemail 8
Set up email 8
Prepare for emergencies 10
Make it yours 11
Accessibility settings 13
Visual assistance 13
Hearing assistance 15
Dexterity assistance 16
Use accessibility shortcuts 17
Learn the basics 19
About your home screen 19
About your lock screen 20
New to Android? 21
If this is your first smartphone 21
If you had an iPhone 22
About your Google account 23
Status bar icons 24
Phone terms you should know 28
Get around on your phone 30
Learn gestures 30
Move between apps and screens 31
Use quick settings 32
Turn screen off and on 34
Adjust volumes 35
Frequently used tools 37
Turn flashlight on and off 37
Take screenshots 37
Control phone with your voice 38
Get directions to a location 39
Use Time and Weather widget 40
Manage time spent on your phone 42
Work with text 45
Use onscreen keyboard 45
Cut, copy, paste text 46
Use voice typing 47
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Fill in forms automatically 47
Personalize your phone 48
Home screen 48
Change wallpaper 48
Customize your Favorites tray 48
Add widgets, shortcuts, or folders 49
Remove widgets, shortcuts, or folders 51
Remake your home screen with launchers 51
Lock screen 53
Use a screen saver 53
Sounds 54
Set ringtones 54
Enhance sound 55
Avoid interruptions with Do Not Disturb 56
Stop phone from speaking 59
Other sound settings 61
Silence “Hello Moto” during power up 61
Turn off charging sounds 61
Apps 62
About your apps 62
View two apps on screen 67
View notifications 67
About Moto experiences 69
Enhance your gaming 70
Manage your apps 73
Install or update apps 73
Manage or delete apps 75
Protect against harmful apps 77
Search and browse 78
Search the web 78
Search your phone 80
Browse websites 81
Text messaging 83
About text and multimedia messages 83
Read, send, manage text messages 83
Add attachments 85
Save attachments from text message 86
Turn group messaging on or off 87
Change default messaging app 87
Control notifications for text messages 87
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Change text message reply to incoming calls 88
Get text messages on your computer 88
Email 90
Read, send, manage emails 90
View email attachments 91
Preview inboxes from home screen 92
Add email signature 92
Control email notifications 92
Calendar app 94
About the calendar 94
Find calendar events 94
Create and manage events 95
Control notifications for calendar events 95
Clock app 97
Set alarms 97
Use timer or stopwatch 97
Set date and time 99
Photos app 100
Share photos and videos 100
Upload photos and videos 100
Calls, contacts, voicemail 102
Phone calls 102
Answer calls 102
Make calls 103
During a call 104
Make video calls 106
Make conference calls 106
Make calls over Wi-Fi 106
Block calls and texts 107
Turn call waiting on and off 108
View and delete call history 109
Make emergency call from locked phone 110
Contacts 111
Add contacts 111
Edit or delete contacts 112
Star your favorite contacts 113
Sort contacts 113
Share contacts 114
Voicemail 116
Use voicemail 116
Send all calls from contact to voicemail 117
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Music 118
Listen to music 118
Transfer music files 119
Connect a MIDI device 120
Battery 121
Charge phone 121
Extend battery life 121
Use Battery Saver mode 122
Show battery percentage in status bar 123
Storage 124
About storage options 124
Manage phone storage 124
Manage SD card 125
Find downloaded files 126
Recover recently deleted files 127
Upload music to cloud 127
Upload photos and videos 128
Scan documents and make copies 129
Network and internet 130
Connect to Wi‑Fi networks 130
Use Airplane mode 131
Control data usage 132
Share your internet connection 133
Connect to VPNs 136
Connected devices 137
Connect with Bluetooth™ 137
Connect with Wi-Fi Direct 139
Tap & pay with NFC 139
Share or receive with NFC 140
Cast screen or media to TV 140
Transfer files between phone and computer (USB) 142
Print from your phone 143
About wireless sharing 144
Other settings 147
Apps & notifications 147
Change app settings 147
Choose how apps notify you 148
Display 151
Adjust screen brightness 151
Adjust screen colors at night 151
Change display style 151
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Set Dark theme 152
Show apps full screen 152
See Peek Display notifications 153
Change screen timeout 154
Stop automatic rotation 154
Choose color mode 155
Change font and display size 155
Set lock screen preferences 155
Location 157
Use location services 157
Security 158
About security 158
Protect against harmful apps 159
Be ready to find a lost phone 159
Lock and unlock phone 160
Set screen lock 160
Adjust lock options 161
Unlock with trusted devices 161
Unlock with your face 162
Unlock at trusted places 164
Keep phone unlocked while it's on you 165
Use fingerprint security 165
Pin your screen 167
Lock SIM card 168
Accounts 169
Add or remove accounts 169
Sync accounts and apps 170
Manage information in your Google account 171
System 172
Languages & input 172
Customize the keyboard 172
Use multiple languages 173
Gestures 175
Change System navigation 175
Swipe fingerprint for notifications 175
Turn flashlight on and off 175
Twist phone to open camera 176
Adjust screenshot settings 176
Back up phone 176
Users and guests 178
Share your phone 178
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Add, modify, remove users 179
Add or delete guest 180
About phone 181
Record your IMEI number 181
Find legal and product information 181
Fix a problem 182
Hardware issues 182
Phone is slow or unstable 182
Phone feels warm or hot 182
Phone won't turn on 183
Phone restarts or crashes 183
Screen is frozen or won't respond 184
SD card problems 184
Call and SIM issues 187
Problems making/receiving calls 187
Problems during calls 189
Battery issues 192
Charging problems 192
Battery drains too fast 192
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB issues 193
Bluetooth problems 193
Wi-Fi problems 195
Can't transfer files or connect to computer 196
Account and sign-in issues 197
Forgot unlock code 197
Can't sign in to Google 197
Account sync issues 197
App issues 199
App or widget problems 199
Camera problems 200
Messaging problems 201
Gmail problems 203
Play Store problems 203
Maintenance procedures 204
Update Android software 204
Reset Wi-Fi, cellular data, and Bluetooth 204
Reset phone 205
Get more help 206
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About your hardware
Hardware diagram
1. Tray for SIM and SD card
2. Microphone
3. Headset jack
4. Front camera (To learn more, read help in Camera app.)
5. Earpiece
6. Proximity sensor
7. Google Assistant button
8. Volume up/down button
9. Power button
Set up phone 1

1. Depth camera (To learn more, read help in Camera app.)
2. Macro camera
3. LED flash
4. Main camera
5. Fingerprint sensor
6. Microphone
7. USB-C port for charging, transferring files, sharing connection with tethered devices.
8. Speaker
Care for your phone
To clean the screen:
•While this does not disinfect your phone, the best way to keep your phone clean is to wipe it thoroughly with a
dry soft cloth. Avoid abrasive cloths, including paper towels and other materials with rough surfaces.
•If the screen gets drops of liquid on it, wipe it with a clean, dry cloth.
To disinfect your phone:
•It is okay to use wipes or cloths moistened with 70% isopropyl alcohol or Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes to gently
wipe your screen.
•When disinfecting or cleaning your phone, turn it off and avoid getting any moisture in its openings, including
the charging port, headphone jack, microphones and speakers.
•Don't submerge your phone in any cleaning agents, avoid using any cleaners with bleach or abrasives, and
avoid spraying cleaners directly on the screen.
The CDC advises to clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.
Set up phone 2

Insert and remove SIM and SD cards
About the SD card
Your phone supports an optional microSD card up to 512 GB.
A Class 2, 4, or 6 card is sufficient.
Your phone uses the card as portable storage for media files: photos, videos, and music. Because it's portable, you
can easily swap the card and its content between devices. After you insert the card, be sure to update settings
within media apps (like camera, music, and podcast apps), so they use the card to store content you create or
download.
You can't store apps on the SD card because it is portable storage.
Insert or replace cards
1. If you are removing an SD card, unmount it first (Settings > Storage).
2. Insert the tool into the hole in the tray and gently push to pop it out.
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3. Insert or remove the cards as needed.
To use an SD card and a SIM card:
Or, to use two SIM cards (dual-SIM models only):
To see if your phone supports dual SIMs, go to Settings > About phone > SIM Status. If you see SIM Slot 1
and SIM Slot 2, then your phone supports dual SIMs.
4. Push the tray back into the phone.
Note: If you need to activate a SIM, contact your carrier.
Fix a problem
Select a problem to see troubleshooting steps.
SIM card
No signal/SIM not recognized
Can’t make calls
Can't answer calls
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SD card
Phone doesn't recognize card
Copy data from another phone
Copy data from iPhone
You’ll use Google Drive to copy files from your iPhone and iCloud account to your new phone and Google account:
•Photos will back up to Photos.
•Contacts will back up to Contacts.
•Calendar will back up to Calendar.
1. Charge both phones and connect them to a Wi-Fi network.
2. To ensure you don’t miss any messages or calls:
a. Turn off iMessage. (Settings > Messages > off. Or, if your SIM has been removed, deregister your
phone.
b. Turn off FaceTime. (Settings > FaceTime > off.)
3. Download the Google Drive app on your iPhone.
4. On your iPhone, open Drive and then:
a. Sign in with your Google account. If you don’t have one, you can create it now.
b. Touch > Settings > Backup and start the backup.
5. Wait for the backup to complete.
6. When complete, on your new phone, sign in with the same Google account (Settings > Accounts > Add
account).
Copy data from Android phone
During setup, you can copy your apps, music, contacts, messages, and more. Learn what does and doesn't get
copied.
If you no longer have your old phone or can’t turn it on, you can copy files using a backup from the cloud with your
Google account.
To copy files:
1. Charge both phones and turn them on.
2. On your new phone:
a. If this is the first time you’ve turned it on, select your language on the setup screen.
b. If you skipped copying files during setup, open the app and touch .
3. Touch Start.
4. Insert your SIM to connect to the mobile network, or touch Skip.
5. Connect to a Wi-Fi network and touch Next.
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6. Select how to copy:
•If you have your old phone, touch A backup from an Android phone.
•If you don’t, touch A backup from the cloud
7. Follow the onscreen instructions to select the old phone or backup associated with your Google account, and
to choose which apps and data to copy.
Tip: Be sure to leave Back up to Google Drive turned on.
What gets copied from Android phone
If you copy data from another Android phone during setup, here's what gets copied:
•Apps and app data
•Music, photos, and videos
•Google accounts
•Contacts stored on your phone or SIM card
•Text messages
•Multimedia attachments in messages
•Most phone settings
•Wallpaper
•Call history
You’ll see these when you sign in to your Google account on your new phone.
What won't copy:
•Downloads, like PDF files
•Apps that aren’t from Play Store
•Accounts other than Google accounts
•Contacts and calendars for services other than Google (such as WhatsApp)
•Ringtones
Import contacts from SIM
If you have a SIM card with contacts saved on it, you can import them into your Google account.
1. Insert the SIM in your phone.
Or, if your old phone is an Android phone and can connect to Wi-Fi, turn it on.
2. Open the Contacts app.
3. Touch > Settings > Import > SIM card > OK.
4. If you have multiple Google accounts, choose the account where you want to save them.
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Manage dual SIMs
About dual SIMs
When two SIMs are inserted:
•You see at the top of the home screen. If you see , troubleshoot the issue.
•Both SIMs can make and receive calls and text messages.
•Only the owner of the phone (not additional users or guests) can access dual SIM settings.
Set up SIM profile
Set SIM options based on how you expect to use the cards:
1. Go to Settings > Network & internet > SIM cards.
2. Select the option that best meets your needs:
•Smart SIM: Automatically select SIM for voice calls based on your call history. In Brazil, selection is also
based on your contact's carrier.
•Personal and Work: Use one SIM for personal and the other for work-related voice calls.
•Manual: Choose which SIM to use for voice calls, for data, and for SMS.
3. Follow onscreen instructions to complete setup.
Change SIM profile
1. Go to Settings > Network & internet > SIM cards.
2. Touch Dual SIM usage profile.
3. Select a different profile and touch CHANGE PROFILE.
4. Select a new profile.
5. Follow onscreen instructions to complete setup.
To keep the same profile but adjust options for data, SMS, voice calls, video calls, or contacts:
1. Go to Settings > Network & internet > SIM cards.
2. Touch each preferred SIM and contact option to change.
This information applies only to phones that support dual SIM cards and have both cards inserted.
Change SIM name, color, ringtone
When two SIMs are inserted, you'll see them referenced in apps like Contacts, Messages, and Phone. The SIM
name shows your carrier and, if you're using the Personal and Work profile, shows which it’s assigned to, but you
can rename it. You can also change SIM icon color to make them easy to differentiate.
1. Go to Settings > Network & internet > SIM cards.
2. Touch the SIM to change.
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3. Change settings as needed.
Set up voicemail
Set voicemail password
Contact your carrier for help setting or recovering your password/PIN for voicemail.
Set mailbox greeting
Your carrier provides and manages your voicemail.
To set your greeting:
1. Touch > .
2. Touch & hold to dial into your mailbox.
3. Follow your carrier’s system prompts. If your voicemail is not set up, contact your carrier for instructions.
Change voicemail options
1. Touch > > Settings.
(If you don't see , swipe down on the screen.)
2. Touch Voicemail.
3. If you have dual SIMS, touch the SIM for the account to change.
4. Touch Advanced Settings.
5. Change any of the options:
•To change voicemail service from your provider to another voicemail service or app, touch Service.
•To change the number dialed to access voicemail, touch Setup.
Set up email
Set up personal email
You can add multiple email accounts of the following types:
•Gmail
•Personal email from other providers (IMAP/POP)
If you added a Google account on your phone:
•When you open the Gmail app for the first time, you'll see your email for that account. You're already set up.
•To set up additional accounts, open Gmail, touch your profile icon , then touch Add another account.
Set up phone 8

If you didn’t add a Google account to your phone and want to set up email for an IMAP/POP provider (an address
that's not Gmail):
1. Open the Gmail app.
2. Follow the onscreen instructions to enter your email address, password, and account options.
If you have problems setting up the account, read Google's help for Gmail.
Set up corporate email
If you use Microsoft Office Outlook on your work computer, your phone can synchronize emails, calendar events,
and contacts with the Microsoft Exchange server. Before you start, you'll need the following information from your
company's IT department:
•Email address
•Email password
•Domain name
•Username
•Server name
•Security type/SSL settings
•Client certificate requirement
To set up corporate email:
1. Open the Gmail app.
2. Do one of the following:
•If this is your first time opening the Gmail app, touch Add another email address.
•If you have been using Gmail with another account, touch your profile icon , then touch Add another
account.
3. Touch Exchange and Office 365.
4. Follow the onscreen instructions to enter your email address, password, and other information from your
company's IT department.
Switch account views
In the Gmail app, touch your profile icon , then select an account.
To open each inbox with one touch from your home screen, add task shortcuts:
1. Touch & hold .
2. Drag for each account to a blank space on your home screen.
Set up phone 9

Prepare for emergencies
Set up emergency information
You can set up emergency information for first responders or others to view from your lock screen, such as your
emergency contact and medical information (blood type, allergies).
To set up your emergency information:
1. Go to Settings > About phone.
2. Touch Emergency information.
3. Set up your information.
Note: Anyone who picks up your phone can see your emergency info without unlocking your phone.
View emergency information
1. From the lock screen:
•Swipe up and touch Emergency below the keypad.
•Or, press and hold the Power button, then touch Emergency.
2. Touch Emergency information twice.
Add message to lock screen
To add your name or a short message to your lock screen for anyone who finds your phone:
1. Go to Settings > Display > Advanced > Lock screen display.
2. Touch Lock screen message.
3. Type the text to display and touch Save.
Tip: Don't put your mobile number as your contact info unless you can access your voicemail from another
device.
Send your location to emergency services
Not all carriers and countries support this feature.
If Android Emergency Location Service (ELS) works in your country and on your carrier's network and if you
haven't turned off ELS, when you call or text an emergency number, ELS sends your location to authorized
emergency responders to help them locate you.
If ELS is off, your carrier might still send the phone’s location during an emergency call. For more information,
check with your carrier.
To turn ELS on or off:
1. Go to Settings > Location > Advanced.
2. Touch Emergency Location Service.
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3. Turn it on or off .
To learn more about ELS, read Google's help.
Turn emergency alerts off/on
Your phone can receive free, life-saving emergency alerts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) to inform you of extreme weather or other threatening emergencies in your area, AMBER Alerts, and
Presidential Alerts during national emergencies.
When an emergency alert is sent out, appears in the status bar. Touch the notification to read the alert.
You can turn most alerts off or on (Presidential Alerts cannot be disabled) and adjust alert notification settings.
Note: Because alerts are intended to save lives, please consider carefully before turning alerts off. For more
information, visit http://www.fema.gov/wireless-emergency-alerts.
1. Go to Settings.
2. Touch Apps & notifications > Advanced > Wireless emergency alerts.
3. Adjust settings as needed.
Make it yours
Now that you're up and running (battery charged and stuff moved from old phone), it's time for fun.
Touch a task to learn more:
•Set the wallpaper.
•Assign ringtones or photos to friends you call.
•Find some games.
•Play some music.
•Start taking and sharing those selfies.
Protect your phone
•Set up a screen lock.
•Set up fingerprint security to unlock your screen safely and quickly with a touch.
•In case you ever lose your phone, set up Find My Device and record your IMEI number.
Learn to use your phone
Here are some articles to get you started:
•Move between apps and screens with gestures or with buttons
•Turn on the flashlight
•Make calls
Set up phone 11

•Take screenshots
Set options
You'll probably want to set up:
•Your Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections.
•Your schedule for Do Not Disturb, to automatically silence your phone when you don't want to be interrupted.
You can use either the buttons or gestures to move between apps and screens. Choose which to use.
You can customize your phone to:
•Change the style (font size, color scheme).
•Use a dark background.
•If you use multiple languages, set them up so they appear on your keyboard.
Find your phone number
1. Go to Settings.
2. Touch About phone > Phone number.
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