It can be easy to forget your Android password or PIN, but there are multiple ways to reset or unlock an Android. This guide will tell you how to reset a lock screen password and PIN on most Android devices manufactured by Samsung, Google, Huawei, Xiaomi, and others.
How to Remote Unlock Your Android
There are several ways to remote unlock Android when you can’t get past the lock screen. To gain access to your Android, either reset your PIN or password remotely, root your phone to change its settings, or reset the phone.
Use Google Find My Device
For years, the Google Find My Device web app made it possible for users to change the lock screen PIN. It’s no longer an option. Now, it’s only possible to use Find My Device to locate a phone or tablet using the web or another device and send a message to the screen if someone found your lost device.
If you misplaced your Android phone or had it stolen, there are apps to help you find your phone.
This change doesn’t mean you won’t be able to unlock your Android remotely. It just means that it won’t be as easy. You still have options.
Use Samsung Find My Mobile
If you own a Samsung Android phone or tablet, and if you registered your device with your Samsung account, you’re in luck. Use Samsung Find My Mobile to reset the lock screen.
To enable remote unlock on your Android with Samsung Find My Mobile:
- Open Settings on your device.
- Select Lock Screen and Security. On some Samsung devices, you may need to select Security or Biometrics and Security instead.
- Select Find My Mobile.
- Select Add Account and sign into your Samsung account.
- Turn on the Remote controls toggle.
- To unlock your device, go to the Samsung Find My Mobile web page and sign in.
- Select Unlock.
- The screen lock information on your device is deleted. This could be the pattern, PIN, password, or biometrics that you originally set up.
Use Forgot My Password
If you’re using an older version of Android, specifically Android 4.4 KitKat or older, the ability to reset the lock screen is built into the lock screen itself.
Open Settings on your device.
Select Lock Screen and Security. On some Samsung devices, you may need to select Security or Biometrics and Security instead.
Select Find My Mobile.
Select Add Account and sign into your Samsung account.
Turn on the Remote controls toggle.
To unlock your device, go to the Samsung Find My Mobile web page and sign in.
Select Unlock.
The screen lock information on your device is deleted. This could be the pattern, PIN, password, or biometrics that you originally set up.
Enter the incorrect pattern or PIN five times, and you’ll see a Forgot pattern or Forgot PIN message. Select it and log in to your Google account to reset the lock screen.
Use Minimal ADB and Fastboot (Rooted Phones Only)
One of the easiest ways to reset your lock screen is to use special commands available with Minimal ADB and Fastboot. The catch here is that this method only works on rooted Android phones.
If you’ve never used this tool before, take some time to learn about setting up Minimal ADB and Fastboot and connecting it to your phone using a USB connection.
This advanced feature edits the database on your phone that stores the lock screen PIN. If you’re unfamiliar with rooting your Android or are uncomfortable working with the Minimal ADB and Fastboot tool, skip this option.
Once you’ve followed the instructions to enable USB debugging on your phone and you have the Minimal ADB command window open, enter ADB devices to confirm you’re connected to your phone.
- Enter adb shell and select Enter.
- Enter the following commands one line at a time. Select Enter at the end of each line.
- cd /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases
- sqlite3 settings.db
- update system set value=0 where name=‘lock_pattern_autolock’;
- update system set value=0 where name=‘lockscreen.lockedoutpermanently’;
- .quit
- Reboot your phone and the lock screen will be reset.
Reset Your Android Device
If nothing else works, you have a last resort to recover your device. You’ll need to erase your device and start over. The downside to this is that you’ll lose all the data and files stored on it. The upside is that you won’t have to buy a new phone or tablet.
Enter adb shell and select Enter.
Enter the following commands one line at a time. Select Enter at the end of each line.
cd /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases
sqlite3 settings.db
update system set value=0 where name=‘lock_pattern_autolock’;
update system set value=0 where name=‘lockscreen.lockedoutpermanently’;
.quit
Reboot your phone and the lock screen will be reset.
It is possible to do a factory reset in recovery mode if you can’t get past the lock screen. However, a faster and simpler method is to use Google Find My Device to erase the device.
- Turn on your device.
- In a web browser, go to the Google Find My Device web page.
- Choose the Android device that you’re currently locked out of.
- Select Erase Device in the left panel.
- In the Erase Device pane, read the warnings, then select Erase Device.
- You may be asked to sign into your Google Account before the erase procedure will begin.
Once you’ve erased your phone or tablet, it reboots automatically. The next time you start the device, log into your Google Account and set it up just as you did when you first bought it.
Turn on your device.
In a web browser, go to the Google Find My Device web page.
Choose the Android device that you’re currently locked out of.
Select Erase Device in the left panel.
In the Erase Device pane, read the warnings, then select Erase Device.
You may be asked to sign into your Google Account before the erase procedure will begin.
- Can I unlock my phone without losing my data?
- It is possible to bypass the lock screen on a Samsung phone by booting in Safe Mode. Press and hold the Power button, wait for the menu to appear, then select Power off. When the Reboot to safe mode window appears, confirm by selecting OK. Once in Safe Mode, delete the third-party lock screen application to remove lock screen settings. From there you can reinstall the lock screen app and set a new password.
- How do I turn off Parental Controls without my PIN?
- Open Settings and select Apps > Google Play Store > Storage. Select Clear data to reset the Play Store app and remove Parental Controls.
It is possible to bypass the lock screen on a Samsung phone by booting in Safe Mode. Press and hold the Power button, wait for the menu to appear, then select Power off. When the Reboot to safe mode window appears, confirm by selecting OK. Once in Safe Mode, delete the third-party lock screen application to remove lock screen settings. From there you can reinstall the lock screen app and set a new password.
Open Settings and select Apps > Google Play Store > Storage. Select Clear data to reset the Play Store app and remove Parental Controls.
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