3 Ways to Unlock Your Android Phone if You’ve Forgotten Your Screen Lock Pattern, PIN, or Password

You’ve forgotten your android phone’s screen lock pattern, PIN, or password, and you can’t unlock it. What should you do?

The bad news is that if you don’t remember your android phone’s lock screen pattern, PIN, or password, you won’t be able to access it the usual way. Luckily, if you find yourself in this situation, there are various ways around this problem.

Here are three ways you can use to unlock your android phone if you have forgotten its lock screen pattern, pin, or password;

• Wipe it Using Google Find My Device

Google Find My Device, which was earlier called Android Device Manager, is a Google service that allows Android users to locate their lost phones. It also enables you to wipe your Android device remotely.

You can use this service to reset your phone by wiping it remotely. All you need is to visit the Google Find My Device website on a different device’s web browser or app. Login using your Google account details and select the device you want to wipe. Now click on “Erase Device”. Your phone will be reset and you can set a new screen lock pattern or password.

For this method to work, ensure that the device in question has its location and data turned on.

• Use Smart Lock (If Enabled)

If you had enabled smart lock before you forgot your phone’s screen lock pattern, you could use it to unlock your device. When smart lock is enabled, you can open your phone without using its pattern as long as it is in a recognized location, on-body detection, or use a trusted device. To turn on smart lock on your Android device, go to Settings > Security > Smart Lock.

• Bypass Lock Screen Using Recovery Mode

There are third-party apps for lock screens on Google Play Store. If you had used it as your android phone’s screen lock, you could easily bypass it using your phone’s recovery mode. To access the recovery mode, switch off your phone, then press and simultaneously hold power and volume down buttons.

A menu will appear on the screen. The touch screen function does not work here. So you will use the volume buttons to scroll through the options and the power button for selection. Press the power button when you see “Recovery Mode” to confirm it.

This procedure may differ from device to device. So it is best to search for the exact instructions on your device manufacturer’s website.