Technology

Troubleshooting and Tips for Fixing Locked Phone Due to Wrong Password Entry

Getting locked out of your phone due to entering the wrong password is a common occurrence nowadays. However, many people still do not know how to fix this problem. So, in this article, let's explore how to unlock a phone that is locked due to entering the wrong password with the help of FPT Shop.

Administrator

8 March, 2024

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Mobile phones being locked due to entering the wrong password is a frustrating issue for many people. Depending on the phone model, there are different ways to fix it. In this article, let’s explore how to fix it and some notes when your phone is locked!

How many times can you enter the wrong password before your phone gets locked?

Currently, most mobile phones are equipped with features such as pattern lock, PIN code, fingerprint, and face recognition. Among them, locking the phone with pattern and PIN code often leads to phone lockouts because users frequently enter the wrong password.

Depending on the phone model, the number of allowed wrong password attempts may vary. For Android phones, users are allowed to enter a maximum of 5 wrong attempts. After each wrong attempt, the waiting time will increase, and the phone will be locked after the final attempt.

Locking the phone aims to ensure the security of information. It prevents unauthorized access to the phone.

How to unlock your phone when it is locked due to entering the wrong password

So, how can you fix your phone when it is locked due to entering the wrong password? Let’s follow the instructions below:

Unlock using Smart Lock

Smart Lock is a feature of Android phones that allows you to bypass the security of the device in certain special cases. This is the simplest and most effective way to unlock your phone when it is locked. To activate this feature, go to Settings, select Security and Location, and choose Smart Lock.

The application will prompt you to enter a password to change the feature. After that, you can choose from 5 different ways to unlock your phone without entering a password:

On body Detection: The device can automatically unlock when it is on your body
Trusted place: The phone automatically unlocks when it is in a location you have chosen before.
Trusted devices: The device will unlock when it has Bluetooth connection with a trusted device.
Trust face: Use face recognition to unlock. This is the easiest and fastest way.
Voice match: The phone will unlock when it recognizes your voice.

Note that you need to set up these options when setting a password to use them when your phone is locked. Also, you can change the settings of the Smart Lock feature without entering the current password. However, you must back up your data in case the phone needs to be restored to factory settings.

Tap forgot PIN

If you enter the wrong password multiple times, you can restore it by resetting your password. However, this method only works on phones running Android 4.4.

To do this, enter the wrong password until you see the message “You have made several unsuccessful attempts. Try again in 30 seconds message”. Then, select Forget Password and enter your Google account information. Now, you can choose a screen lock pattern by tapping on the Sign in tab.

Delete PIN file with Android Debug Bridge (ADB)

You can also use the Android Debug Bridge feature to access your phone from a laptop or computer. With this method, you can delete the security file that locks your phone. However, you should only use this method if:

The USB debugging on your phone has been enabled.
You have previously accessed the Developer Options.
You have granted access to Android Debug Bridge on your computer.
Your device is not encrypted.

If you meet the above requirements, follow the steps below to unlock your phone:

Connect your device to the laptop/computer using a USB cable.
Open the Command Prompt window to access the ADB installation directory.
Enter the command “adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key” and press Enter.
Restart your device. Now, the security lock of your device has been removed.

Restore factory settings for Android phone

If the above methods do not work when your phone is locked due to entering the wrong password, you need to restore the factory settings. This means that all data on your phone will be erased. Therefore, you should back up your data before performing this step.

To restore factory settings, follow these steps:

Turn off your device.
Restart your device.
Press the volume down button twice to select Recovery Mode.
Hold the power button and press the volume up button once to enter recovery mode.
Then, select Wipe/Factory Reset to restore the original settings of your device.
After that, log in to your Google account to restore the backed-up data.

Use the “Find my phone” feature

All Samsung phones are equipped with the “Find my phone” feature, which allows users to manage their phones remotely. To reset the password, simply access findmymobile.samsung.com on your computer. Then, log in with your Samsung account, select Unlock Device, and follow the detailed instructions.

Use backup PIN

If you are using a phone running Android 4.4 or older, you can also set a backup PIN. After entering the wrong password, select Backup PIN and enter the backup PIN. Then, you will be taken to the screen lock settings to set a new password.

Some tips to avoid forgetting your password

To avoid forgetting your phone password, consider the following:

Write down your password on paper and keep it in a safe place only you know.
Make sure your password is not easy to guess but easy for you to remember.
Make sure you have logged into your Google account and enabled the smart lock option.
Back up your phone data in case you need to restore factory settings.

Frequently asked questions

If your phone is locked due to incorrect password attempts, there are a few things you can try. First, if you have a Google account set up on the device, you can use the ‘Unlock with Google Account’ feature. Simply enter your Google account credentials and you’ll be able to reset your password. If you don’t have a Google account set up, you may need to perform a factory reset. This will erase all data on your phone, so make sure you’ve backed up important information beforehand.

If you’ve forgotten your password or pattern, the best option is to use your Google account credentials to reset it. Go to the ‘Unlock with Google Account’ page and enter your email and password. From there, you can create a new password or pattern for your phone.

The ‘Unlock with Google Account’ feature is a security measure that allows you to reset your phone’s password or pattern using your Google account information. Simply enter your Google account email and password, and follow the on-screen instructions to reset your phone’s security settings.

If you don’t have a Google account associated with your device, your options are more limited. You may need to perform a factory reset, which will erase all data on your phone. Alternatively, you can try using a third-party unlocking tool, but these methods may not always be reliable or secure.

To prevent this issue in the future, consider using a password manager to generate and store secure passwords. You can also set up biometric security measures, such as fingerprint or face unlock, which can be more convenient and secure than a traditional password or pattern.