How to unlock I forgot my PIN code. How to unlock Android if you forgot your password? Deleting key files

It often happens that a person forgets the key that locks his mobile device, and does not know what to do next. This is a common problem that any of us can face.

This article provides several unlocking methods that will help forgetful people. How to unlock your phone if you forgot your password?

Standard method

  • Try entering your password first. Then again, until the device locks and reports that too many attempts have been made to enter the key.
  • When the message “Forgot your pattern key?” appears on the screen in front of the user, click on it.
  • The next step is to enter your email address and password. If the device has been connected to the Internet, authentication will occur and then you will be prompted to set a new password.
  • You come up with a key, install it and gain access to the device.

If you do not have access to the Internet, then the problem is more serious. It's the same story if you don't remember your details to connect to your Google account.

Small tricks

Before moving on to more complex unlocking methods, we’ll tell you a few little tricks that will help you unlock your phone on some versions of Android. You can try to call a locked mobile device, and press the Home key during the beeps. This will take you to the device’s desktop, from where you can disable the lock.

Another technique is to wait until the gadget is discharged. As soon as the corresponding message appears, click on it and you will be taken to the control menu. From there it is easy to get to the device settings, where the locking function is disabled.

Reset

If the methods listed above did not achieve anything, all that remains is to try restoring the device to factory settings. Remember - this will lead to the deletion of all information on the device, so use this method yourself at your own peril and risk. Don't forget to remove the memory card first. The algorithm of actions for most Android smartphones is the same.

You will need to turn off the device, and then press the power key and the volume up button. Sometimes you also have to press the “Home” button. The phone will turn on and show you a menu with the option wipe data / factory reset. Select it, and then go to the delete all user data line. We confirm and then reboot the phone. After this, the password will be reset. An important point is that some devices have a special button that allows you to reset the settings to factory settings by pressing.

How to unlock Android if you forgot your screen lock pattern or password. A simple and effective way to unlock Android without losing data.


I want to say right away that you can unlock Android in any case, the only important thing is whether you lose all your data or not.


In this article we will look at unlocking methods:

  1. Using an Internet connection
  2. Unlocking using a Google account
  3. If you forgot your account login and password
  4. Using Aroma File Manager
  5. Factory reset

Instructions for installing Aroma File Manager via recovery
  1. Download the archive from Aroma using the link below (IMPORTANT! Do not unpack the archive! The first archive v1.80 is more stable, the second v2.00 has a program in Russian)
    (downloads: 11087)

    (downloads: 7595)

  2. We drop the archive with the program into the root of the device’s SD card (you may be lucky and when you connect to the device with a USB cable, you will be able to transfer the files, otherwise you will have to use a card reader, don’t run to buy one right away - almost any cellular phone store will help you with transferring the archive to a memory card for a nominal fee)
  3. Enter Recovery and select "Install Zip from SD Card" and specify the path to the archive with Aroma File Manager
  4. After installation, the program will launch directly into recovery
  5. Go to settings and look for the item "Automount all devices on start"
  6. We exit the program or from recovery and enter again, install the program again as in step 3 (this is necessary so that the system partition where the graphical key is stored is mounted)
  7. Now, using the program, go to the folder: “Data Folder” >> “System Folder” and look for >> “gesture.key” or “password.key”
  8. We delete the found file and reboot the device, a surprise awaits you - the device is unlocked :)

5. Factory reset

If you synchronized your data or backed up your Android, then perhaps you shouldn’t waste time looking for another way to unlock Android, but . In this case, you will lose all your data.


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It happens that a smartphone user forgets the password for his device. There are several ways to unlock your phone yourself if you have forgotten the password, but you will have to tinker, since the easiest options may not work. Below are instructions for devices running on different operating systems - Android and IOS.

We should start with the fact that if you have a fingerprint lock, you need to configure this function, since there can be only ten fingerprint options for obvious reasons, and there are an infinite number of digital and graphic password variations. This option is very convenient, since the muscle memory of the hands itself will tell you which finger was used for blocking, and you will not have to remove the blocking with more time-consuming operations.

At the moment, for modern smartphones there are several ways to remove the lock if the key is forgotten:

  • Smart Lock option;
  • Google user account;
  • contacting the service center;
  • Self-reset to factory settings.

Smart Lock is a feature that makes it easier to “unlock” your mobile device and allows you to unlock it when one of the keys (or all) is forgotten. This option is applicable if the option was previously configured.

Through Smart Lock, there are three ways to “smartly” unlock:

  • “Trusted devices” - allows you to bypass the blocking if there are devices nearby with “familiar” Bluetooth. The phone will unlock itself if the third-party smartphone was previously marked in the list as reliable.
  • “Safe places” - unlocking occurs without entering a password if the smartphone is within a specified area.
  • “Face recognition” - removes the lock if the front camera recognizes the face of the smartphone owner. This method will work if the room has good lighting and Android is able to set the features according to the previously specified parameters.

It is important to remember that without first setting up the Smart Lock feature, none of these options will work.

This function has one significant drawback - anyone can unlock the phone using “Unlock by location”.

After repeatedly entering your password incorrectly, whatever it may be, the message “Forgot your password?” will appear at the bottom of the screen. or “Forgot your graphic key?” The inscription may be different depending on the brand of the smartphone. When clicked, an automatic transition to recovery through the account occurs.

Restoring via Google is only possible if an account is linked to the phone. Even if you have forgotten your Google credentials, you can also recover them via email. To do this, you only need a computer.

  • Using your login and password, log in to your existing account linked to your phone number.

  • After automatic unlocking, go to the phone settings and set new security settings.

In order to do this using this method, you will need to be connected to Wi-Fi.

Another quick and reliable way is to contact the brand’s service center. The password reset service is usually not too expensive, but you will have to pay for the operation, since it is not considered a warranty case.

Some phone brands provide additional tools that allow you to find your phone, lock or unlock it, and even format it remotely if the device is stolen.

For example, for Samsung it is Find My Mobile - searching and resetting settings via backup occurs in the same way as with the iPhone. The option is available after logging into your Samsung account on a PC or any other device through which the search is carried out.

To find out whether a specific phone brand has the same functionality, you need to go to the manufacturer’s official website or view the technical documentation (included with the box upon purchase). As a last resort, you can ask the operator a question through the website in the feedback form.

This option works on devices using the Android operating system no older than 4.0.

Resetting to factory settings allows you to bypass the lock on any modern smartphones, including Chinese devices that do not have other built-in functions. The operation will delete all user settings along with the pattern and digital password.

Remember that in this case, all user data will be destroyed if synchronization with Google accounts has not been performed before or the user has not bothered with a recovery point in the absence of an SD card.

First you need to call the system menu using a special key combination. The combination differs depending on the brand of the device and the model configuration, for example, for Samsung and Lenovo. To find out which combination you need to use, you can check the technical documentation of the model that comes with the box upon purchase, or go to the official website in the FAQ section.

After this, follow the instructions:

  1. Turn off your smartphone and hold down the keys to call up the system menu (depending on the model and brand).
  2. Click on "wipe data/factory reset". If the sensor does not work, use the sound keys “-” and “+” to select the desired item.
  3. After this, all settings will be automatically reset and the phone will reboot.
  4. Set a new PIN code.

This option works with all phones running new versions of the OS. This operation may not work with older versions due to the lack of such functionality.

All of the methods mentioned work the same for both a pattern and a digital password. There is another method that may work with some models and brands of phones - an incoming call.

You do not need to enter a password to accept an incoming call. When you receive an incoming call, do the following:

  1. Go to the Contacts menu if such an option is available in the conversation interface. From there, through the “Home” button, you can go to the phone’s desktop and go to the settings to disable the pattern.
  2. If the previous option is not available, try swiping from top to bottom to bring up the top menu of the phone. There, find the “Settings” icon and go to them directly. This option is available on some OS versions.

The mentioned method will not work on all smartphone models, but this option is worth checking first, since it is one of the simplest. You can try to reset your digital password in the same way.

Another simple option is to wait for the battery to drain and go to the battery status menu. Through it, you can go to the phone settings and remove the lock by setting new parameters or resetting them altogether.

Unlocking on older versions of Android

For older versions of Android, there are different ways. The security level of such OSs is lower than on modern smartphones, due to which you can get by with simple options. Older versions of Android (5.0 and below) allow you to unlock your phone during a call.

Most push-button phones (for example, Nokia) that do not run on Android can be unlocked by pressing the “*” or “#” keys (depending on the brand).

How to unlock iPhone

In the case of the iPhone, everything is somewhat simpler, since the manufacturer has provided two simple methods:

  • iCloud;
  • iTunes.

If none of them worked for one reason or another, you should contact the service center and do not try to “hack” the phone yourself using additional utilities or connecting to a PC, as this will automatically void the warranty period due to user intervention in the operation of the OS.

  • Log in to iCloud.com using your Apple ID.

  • Go to the Find iPhone menu. The section will display your phone number.

  • Next, click “Remove Device” and enter your Apple ID password to confirm the operation. After this, you can unlock your smartphone.

The method will only work if the Find My iPhone function was previously enabled and the smartphone is connected to Wi-Fi or a mobile network.

  • Connect your smartphone to your PC via USB cable. It is important that this is the computer through which the synchronization was carried out.
  • After automatic synchronization is completed and a backup is created, click on “Restore”.

  • In the recovery process options, you must select the “Restore from iTunes backup” option.

  • Select your device from the drop-down menu and begin the recovery process, checking the last backup. After recovery, all settings will be reset and you can set a new password.

It is possible to recover deleted data through iTunes when connected to a PC.

If your smartphone is locked and you can’t remember the password (neither digital nor graphic), you can use one of the many methods to bypass the lock. It is important to remember that the simpler it is, the better. And if you can’t unlock the phone yourself, it’s best to contact a service center so as not to disrupt its functionality out of ignorance. This is especially true for iPhone owners, who are forced to comply with stricter operating rules so that the warranty period is not violated due to user intervention.

It's hard to imagine the life of a modern person without a mobile phone. Today it is not only a means of communication, but a place for storing a large amount of information. Therefore, many users try to block the phone and the programs installed on it. If there are a lot of passwords, there is a risk of quickly getting confused in them. Therefore, you should know in advance what to do if you forgot the password on your phone.

How to unlock your phone if you forgot your password

The user can set a password on the phone themselves. This function is provided by many manufacturers. If the code is entered incorrectly or the device is blocked, you will not be able to use it in the future. What to do in this case? Reset the firmware, that is, reset all functions to factory settings. This operation is performed differently on different devices.

For Nokia phones

Let's look at several options for unlocking your phone.

1. Enter the service number - *#7370

Turn off your phone. Press and hold three keys: the green call button, the star key, and the number 3 key. Without releasing these keys, press and hold the phone's power button for a few seconds. If everything was done correctly, then after rebooting the phone it will be reset to factory settings.

2. Contact the official website

After 3 unsuccessful attempts to enter the password, the device will be locked. It can only be restored using a code. The latter can be found on the official website of the manufacturer. A master code is a sequence of numbers designed to unlock your phone. In most Nokia devices, the code is calculated using the IMEI - the international phone number. You can find it in the warranty card or passport for the device.

3. Contacting the service center

If none of the above options are suitable, then you should contact the service center. Specialists will determine what exactly was blocked (SIM card or device) and restore the phone’s functionality.

For Samsung phones

The devices of this manufacturer are equipped with a locking function using a security code. If you lose it, you can restore your phone using a special program - Samsung@home 9.41. You need to install it on your PC and follow the instructions of the application. What else should you do if you forgot your password on your phone?

  • Call from another mobile

    This recovery method is only suitable for modern smartphone models. Dial the blocked number from another phone. Without accepting the call, go to the menu "Phone settings" In chapter "Confidentiality" select item "Reset" and confirm the operation. Reboot your device. If everything is done correctly, the password will be reset.

  • Pressing certain keys

    If you couldn’t turn on the phone, you can do Hard reset on older phone models: mini, Duos etc. To do this, you need to press 3 buttons on the phone: power, volume and home. Once the logo appears, you can release the power button. Within 15 seconds the engineering menu will appear. Use the Volume key to navigate to Wipe data/factory reset. Press the Power button to confirm the operation and follow the system instructions.

  • Resetting user settings

    You can reset your password using a key combination *2767*3855# or *#56658378# . An engineering menu will open in which you need to select Hard reset or Wipe data/factory reset, confirm the operation. After rebooting the phone, the password will be reset.

What to do if you entered the wrong PIN code on your phone

A PIN is a password to protect your SIM card. It is issued when you connect to a cellular operator's network. The phone requires a PIN code every time you turn on the device. If desired, the user can independently disable code verification through the phone settings. In chapter "SIM Lock/Security"(or any other item with the abbreviation SIM) you must select the item "PIN/Password Request" and deactivate the option.

After three unsuccessful attempts to enter the PIN, the phone will be locked. What to do if you forgot your password on your phone? Take advantage PUK code. It is indicated on the starter package of the SIM card. If your plastic card is lost, you can recover your password in one of the following ways:

  • Send SMS to the number 9999 with text: 375 XX XXX XX XX code word. The user indicates it when drawing up a contract for receiving communication services.
  • Through the Internet assistant of the cellular operator.
  • At the operator's Contact Center (if you have a passport).

To unlock your phone PUK code stands out 10 attempts. If all of them are unsuccessful, the SIM card will be blocked. In this case, the user will have to change it in the Contact Center.

How to Bypass Password on Android

You can lock your Android smartphone with more than just a password or PIN code. There is also a pattern key, a finger scanner and other security methods. They are very difficult to hack. But you can bypass and gain access to the device. Let's look at the most popular methods.

Using your own Google account

You can reset your graphic password via Google account on devices with OS Android 4.4 or earlier. After several attempts to remove the lock, a link will appear on the screen. Click on it. Log in to the locked device. This will reset the pattern.

Any mobile device can be controlled via a remote service https://google.com/android/devicemanager. The manager page displays a list of all devices connected to the account. If the desired device does not appear in the list, you must refresh browser page. To restore access to your phone, click on the button "Block" in the Manager. A window will appear on the screen for entering a new password, which will replace the pattern key and PIN code. New Password need to be specified twice, and then click on the button "Block".

The data recovery process takes 5 minutes.

Reset picture password using ADB

This method can be used if the user previously managed files on the smartphone via a PC via USB using ADB. Connect the device to your PC using USB. Open a command prompt in the ADB directory and enter the command "adb shell rm/data/system/gesture.key". Reboot your phone. The lock screen should disappear.

Samsung "Find My Mobile" service

The easiest way to reset your password on Samsung devices is through the app. Find My Mobile. It can only be used if the user has previously created an account with Samsung. Go to https://findmymobile.samsung.com/login.do from any available browser and log in in your Samsung account. In the left menu bar, select the option "Lock screen". Enter new code and press "Block". Reboot your device. The lock screen password must be replaced with a new one.

“Forgot pattern key” function

On devices with OS Android 4.4 and below you can restore access to data through the function. After 5 attempts unlock, a message will appear on the screen "Repeat in 30 seconds".

At this time, press the button "Forgot the key" at the bottom. The Google login window will appear. Required to enter login and password from the account. The system will generate a letter with an unlock pattern and send it to the specified address. email address.

What else should you do if you forgot your password on your phone? If the lock screen was created by a third-party application, the easiest way to bypass it is to boot the device in safe mode. To do this, simply press and hold the Power key. In the new menu you should select the option "Turn off power" and confirm the operation. The phone will boot into safe mode. All third party applications will be disabled.

It is enough to delete the program or change the password and reboot the phone again.

How to unblock a phone or tablet if you’ve already tried everything

What to do if you forgot your password on your phone and none of the above options worked?

Factory reset

Even an inexperienced phone user can perform a factory reset. This will remove all installed programs. The general algorithm of actions was described earlier. There is no universal instruction, since each model of the device performs reset differently. The process itself takes 5 minutes.

Flashing the phone

If the reset fails, you will have to reflash the phone, that is, change the operating system. This is a more complicated process, so it is better to take the device to a service center.

Removing system files “gesture.key” and “password.key”

On devices with root rights, you can delete system files responsible for unlocking the screen and changing the password. To work you will need to download Aroma manager archive. Reboot the device and go to the menu Recovery while holding three buttons Volume + Power + Home. On the menu "CWM Recovery" select .

Click to view all the latest downloaded archives and find files using the Aroma manager.

Open your file manager. Enter path " /data/system/" and delete the files: "gesture.key", "password.key", "locksettings.db", "locksettings.db-wal", "locksettings.db-shm".

Reboot your device. The password will be reset.

Via TWRP Recovery

TeamWin Recovery Project is a modified Android system recovery application. Its functionality is broader than the official system recovery application. Therefore, on many devices the program is installed simultaneously with the official application. TWRP allows you to change the firmware, fix system errors, reset data, clear the cache and perform other system tasks. In this case, user files remain unchanged.

Clearing internal memory using Fastboot

Fastboot is a tool designed for flashing partitions. It is designed for quick software updates without data recovery mode. It is also used to solve a number of system problems, including unlocking the phone. You need to connect the device to the PC via USB and start the mode "fastboot". A program will appear on your PC to perform command tasks. If this does not happen, then the selected phone model does not support Fastboot mode.

Removing the password on phones with an MTK processor

Device with MTK chip should be reflashed using SP Flash Tool applications. This program allows you to install Recovery without clearing the partitions first. You can also use TWRP or CWM utilities to delete files "locksettings.db", "locksettings.db-wal" And "locksettings.db-shm". This process was described in more detail earlier.

Now many smartphone owners use the method of entering a pattern to unlock. This allows you to protect the device from thieves who simply will not be able to access the contents of the device. However, sometimes this method plays a cruel joke on the user. It is quite possible to forget the direction of finger movements. At such a moment, the owner of the device begins to wonder: “How to unlock Android if you forgot the pattern key?” In today's material we will answer this question in detail.

There are several ways to remove a pattern from Android. Not all of them work in the vast majority of cases. But there is one most reliable way. It consists of installing SMS Bypass.This small and very inexpensive program will allow you to remove the pattern by sending a special SMS message to your smartphone containing the text “ 1234 reset" Of course, this code can be changed in the utility settings.

Attention: The application requires ! Be sure to get superuser rights before installing it!

It should be noted that you can install SMS Bypass or any other application from the Play Store even on a locked device, as long as it has . To install, you need to log in from your computer to Google Play under the same account. Go to the application page and click the " Buy" Then you will be given a choice on which gadget to install the program on. If the smartphone is connected to the Internet, the installation will be completed in the next minute.

Since SMS Bypass has been removed from the Play Store, it will no longer be possible to install it remotely. However, if the application has already been downloaded on your smartphone, you can reset the pattern using it.

Phone call

This method of bypassing the pattern on your phone does not require any investment. There is no need to install an additional application. You just need to make a call to your number from another device.

Attention: This method only works on Android 2.2 or earlier operating systems. The security breach was later fixed.

The method is to go to the settings while receiving a call and reset the pattern. This is done along the way " Settings» - « Safety».

Entering data from your account

This method does not work on all versions of Android. It is sewn into only some branded shells. The method of removing a pattern key consists of five to six attempts to enter it incorrectly. After this you will be asked to wait 30 seconds.

After further fruitless attempts to make the correct movements with your finger, a window with the button “ Forgot your pattern key?" Click on it, after which you will only have to enter the data from your Google account (username and password). If your smartphone is not currently connected to the Internet, you can do this immediately after rebooting it. You can also click the “ Emergency call" and enter the following code: *#*#7378423#*#*


Manually deleting the gesture.key file

Attention: This method only works on smartphones with a modified Recovery menu! If you have never installed third-party firmware, then this method is not for you!

Your pattern key is contained in a text file gesture.key. If you delete it, the graphic key itself will be reset. You can eliminate it without unlocking the device using the following Recovery menus:

  • CWM;
  • TWRP.

Your actions are incredibly simple:

Step 1. Download the utility archive file to your computer Aroma File Manager .

Step 2. Move it to .

Step 3. Insert the card into your smartphone.

Step 4. Go to Recovery menu and install the application.

Step 5. Follow the path "/data/system/».

Step 6. Delete files gesture.key, locksettings.db, locksettings.db-wal And locksettings.db-shm.

Step 7. Restart your smartphone.

Step 8. Enter any pattern key - the device should unlock.

If you have the Recovery TWRP menu installed, then you don't even need to download a separate utility. You can find the file manager along the path “ Advanced» - « File Manager».

Using a Second User

This method only works on devices with root access installed by the application SuperSU and at least two registered users. It is also important that SuperSU must have multiplayer mode enabled.

In order to remove a graphic key from Android, you must:

Step 1. Switch to the second user.

Step 2. Go to Play Market and install Root Browser .

Step 3. Open the installed utility and go to the path “ /data/system/».

Step 4. Delete the following files:

  • gesture.key;
  • locksettings.db;
  • locksettings.db-wal;
  • locksettings.db-shm.

Reset data

This method will work on many smartphones that have the Recovery menu installed (TWRP, CWN or Standard). Using this method, you will not only have to reset the pattern, but also delete all other user data - phone book, SMS messages, notes and some other data. Fortunately, if you have a Google account and synchronization is enabled on your device, you can easily restore everything. When it comes to photos, videos and music, they're here to stay.

To reset your data, you need to log out. Recovery menu and select the item in it Wipe data/Factory Reset. Different manufacturers have different methods for accessing the Recovery menu:

  • The smartphone must first be turned off, then hold down the center key, the volume up key and the power button. On models released before 2012, you only need to hold the power button and the center key.
  • On smartphones, you hold down the volume down button and the power key. After the Android image appears, both buttons are released. Instead of Factory Reset, the desired menu item may be called Clear Storage. It is advisable to remove and insert the battery (if it is removable) before going to the Recovery menu.
  • On smartphones, it is also recommended to remove and reinsert the battery. Then you need to hold the Power key and the Volume Up button. After the Android picture appears, the buttons are released.
  • On smartphones, one of the above methods of going to the Recovery menu usually works. Older models are an exception - they may require connecting the device to the computer and installing the program Sony Ericsson PC Suite, where you need to go along the path " Tools» - « Data recovery».
  • On a smartphone, it usually helps to hold down the power button and press the volume up key at a certain time (then you also need to hold it down). You can also reset your data by pressing the "" button on the lock screen. Emergency call» and set combination *983*987# .
  • On devices from , , and , hold down the power key and the volume down button. Sometimes the volume up key is used instead of the latter.

Going to the service center

The ideal method that works in almost 100% of cases. Just take your smartphone or tablet to a service center. But please note that repairs will not be considered under warranty. Specialists will be able to remove the pattern lock from Android, but they will ask for money for their work.

Using a Samsung Account

Of course, this method can only be used if you have a smartphone or. You also had to register a Samsung account, which allows you to use branded South Korean services. If these conditions are met, then do the following:

Step 1. Go to the Samsung Account website from your computer and log in by clicking the “ To come in" and entering your username and password.

Step 2. Go to the section " Find device».

Step 3. Click the button Find» and re-enter your username (the email address specified during registration will do) and password. After that, click the blue button " To come in».

Step 4. If you have several South Korean devices, then select the one you need in the corresponding list (located in the upper left corner). Then all you have to do is press the “ More».

Step 5. Click the button Unlock my device».

Summarizing

Today's guide covers almost all the ways to unlock your smartphone. When you forgot your password or pattern, you can use one of them. You can also try to reflash the device, for which programs are used ODIN, Flashtool, Fastboot and many others. But this is a completely extreme case, which should be resorted to when absolutely necessary.

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