How to unlock your Android phone if you’ve forgotten the PIN or Password

So you’ve accidentally locked yourself out of your phone. Don’t worry, we’ve all been there and will probably be there again at some time, but we can teach you how to get yourself back on track.

Even if you’ve forgotten your pattern, pin, or password and are unable to access your phone, all is not lost. While lock screens are intentionally designed to be difficult to enter, we have a variety of potential workarounds.

Most phones nowadays allow you to log in using biometrics, so try using the fingerprint scanner or face recognition software first. If you do not have this setup, you can try some alternative options.

Find My Device on Google

The first thing that comes to mind is Google Find My Device (previously Android Device Manager). You’ll need to sign in using your Google account, and it will only operate on more contemporary devices – but you may use this service from any device.

Select the device to be unlocked, then select Secure Device. Then choose Erase Device and confirm your selection. You will then be able to create a new password.

Some of your photographs and applications may be lost at first, but they will be backed up via your Google account.

Check to see whether Smart Lock is activated.

Smart Lock is an Android feature that allows your phone to unlock without a password if it is in a place that it recognizes. This function, however, must be activated before you lose access to your PIN.

You may enable smart lock to future-proof your device by going to Settings > Security & lock screen > Smart lock.

Smart Lock comes in three configurations:

On-body detection – Leave your smartphone unlocked while it is on you Trusted locations – Include the place where the device should be unlocked.

Devices that may be trusted – Include a gadget that will keep this one unlocked when it is nearby.

The ‘Forgot Pattern’ Option

If you’re using a previous version of Android, such as 4.4 or below, you can utilize the ‘Forgot Pattern’ option. A notice will appear if you have failed to unlock your phone 5 times. A “Forgot Pattern?”

After that, input your Google account information, and Google will send you an email with your new unlock code.

The ‘Find My Mobile’ Service from Samsung

If you have a Samsung device, this is a nice choice; but, if you haven’t already set up your Samsung account, it won’t function.

Tap the device whose password you want to reset, and then click Unlock. This will remove any other passwords you have stored on your phone. Confirm your selection and, if prompted, login into your Samsung account. Your smartphone should be unlocked now.

The Reset Factory

We’re getting into some more serious options now, but if you’ve backed up all of your data and there’s nothing on your phone that you can’t live without, a factory reset is a smart way to start again.

However, there are safeguards in place to prevent Factory Resets, so you’ll need your Google login details to accomplish this step.

Check that your phone or tablet is at least 30% charged.
Launch the Settings app.
Scroll down to Backup & Reset and click it.
Select Factory data reset.
Choose Reset phone.
Choose to Erase everything.
You will be required to enter your Google password immediately if you have one.
You may then sign in to your Google account to recover any lost data.

By passing a custom lock screen using recovery mode

If you’re experiencing difficulties with a third-party app’s lock screen rather than the standard lock screen that comes with the phone, you can circumvent it by booting the phone into recovery mode.

This procedure will vary based on the gadget you use. For precise instructions, we recommend looking for your device on the manufacturer’s website.

In most circumstances, you can bring up the choice by holding down the power and volume buttons at the same time. You may cycle between the settings by pressing the volume up and down keys.

When you’ve reached recovery mode, press the power button to confirm your selection.