Could it be that someone changed your unlocking pattern/ password or you simply can’t remember it? Most of us use either a password, pattern or pin code to keep our Android smartphones secure, but what happens when you forget what it was? Don’t fret! Here are a few simple tricks to try when this happens:
For Android KitKat and older versions
If your device is powered by Android KitKat or an older version software, it is pretty simple to access your password or PIN code once again.All you have to do is enter your wrong password, pattern or PIN code at least five times before a “too many attempts” notification pops up on your screen. When this happens, you will be requested for the email address and password for your Google account connected to your Android device, before you can get past the security display screen.
For Android Lollipop Devices
Getting past the locked screen on Android Lollipop can be a bit more complex, especially if you don’t plan on losing your phone’s data. But here are a few ideas to worth a try:
Smart Lock
If you enabled smart lock on your device or a set up a secure location, then you can take advantage of the smart lock feature without need for PIN code input.
Third party security options
Android smartphone manufacturers launch their devices with their own built-in security softwares such as Samsung’s Find My Mobile. These feature can come in handy when you are trying to get past a locked screen, the catch here is of course having already enabled it.If you’ve already set it up, then you can just log in to its corresponding site from a PC or any other device and from there easily unlock your device.
The Last Option
As with all other Android issues, the end result and the most reliable solution is performing a factory reset. The downside of this, is that all the data on your Android device will be completely erased.It is going to be tricky with a locked Android device, but if you already had an active Android Device Manager then it is easier to do. Simply log into the Android Device Manager online and once logged in, you can have the option of performing a full factory reset.If you haven’t previously used the Android device manager, then a hardware reset is what your device needs. This is simply manually entering your device into recovery mode. The steps for doing this differ from device to device, but usually involves powering off your device, then pressing down the volume and power buttons simultaneously.Do you have any other suggestions on how to get past a locked Android screen? Share with us in the comments.
