How to Break Into Your Locked Android Device

PDF download Download Article
An easy-to-use guide to access a locked Android device
PDF download Download Article

This wikiHow teaches you how to unlock your Android if you don't know the lock screen passcode or pattern. There are a few ways to do this, ranging from using Find My Device to unlock your Android to factory resetting your Android. Keep in mind that you will need to know your Google account's email address and password in order to log back into your Android if you factory reset it.

How to Get into a Locked Android

If you're locked out of your Android, visit the Google Find My Device site and log in to your account. Select the device, and select the "Lock" option to set a new password. Once you add a new password, enter it on your Android to unlock it.

Method 1
Method 1 of 5:

Using Find My Device

PDF download Download Article
  1. Go to https://www.google.com/android/find in your computer's web browser.
  2. When prompted, enter your Gmail address, click NEXT , enter your password, and click NEXT .
    • If you don't know your Google account's password, you'll need to recover it before proceeding.
    Advertisement
  3. If your Android isn't currently selected upon opening Find My Device, click it in the left-hand menu.
  4. It's on the left side of the page, just below your Android's name. Doing so will open a pop-up window.
  5. Type a new password into the top text field, then repeat the password in the following text field.
  6. It's at the bottom of the page. This will replace your Android's lock screen password with your new password.
  7. Open your Android, then type in the password you just set. Doing so should prompt your Android to unlock. [1]
    8. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 5:

Using Samsung's Find My Mobile Tool

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you have a Samsung Galaxy (or other Samsung Android) which you've registered with Samsung, you will be able to use Samsung's version of Find My Device to unlock your Android.
    • If you don't have a Samsung Android or you haven't registered your Android with Samsung, you can't use this method.
  2. Go to https://findmymobile.samsung.com/ in your computer's web browser.
  3. If prompted to sign in, click SIGN IN , then enter your email (or phone number) and password and click SIGN IN .
  4. It's on the left side of the page. [2]
    • If you have more than one Samsung Galaxy item, you may have to select the correct one by clicking the item name in the top-left corner of the page and then selecting the correct one in the drop-down menu.
  5. If asked, you'll need to type in your Samsung account password again. This should unlock your Samsung Galaxy, though you may need to wait for a few seconds before the item recognizes the unlock.
    • After the screen is unlocked, you should be able to set a new password from the Settings menu.
    6. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 5:

Using a Factory Reset

PDF download Download Article
  1. Factory resetting your Android will remove all settings—including your lock screen password—along with any contact and app information from your Android.
    • Unfortunately, if your data isn't backed up, you won't be able to recover the information deleted by the factory reset.
  2. Every Android has its own combination of buttons which must be pressed in order to open the recovery menu; checking your Android's manual or online documentation should help you find this combination.
    • For example, Samsung users will typically use the Power, Home, and one of the Volume buttons to access the recovery menu.
  3. Press and hold the Power button, then tap Power off when prompted. This will cause your Android to shut down.
  4. Holding down your Android's recovery keys will prompt your Android to begin booting into the recovery console.
    • If you see a "No command" error message appear on-screen, keep holding the recovery combination for another 15 to 20 seconds.
  5. Once the recovery menu appears, use the Volume Down button to scroll down to the Recovery mode option, then press the Power button to select it.
    • If you don't see Recovery mode , skip this step.
    • See the next step if you're instead met with a "No command" screen.
  6. If you're on a Pixel Android, press and hold the Power and Volume Up buttons at the same time until the recovery screen opens. [3]
  7. Scroll down to highlight this option, then press the Power button.
  8. It's in the middle of the screen. Doing so will prompt your Android to begin factory resetting.
  9. Your Android should take under 10 minutes to completely erase.
  10. Once your Android finishes restarting, you can set it up as though it were a new phone or tablet.
    • This will usually include selecting a language and a Wi-Fi network.
  11. When prompted, enter the email address and the password for the Google account with which you were previously signed into your Android.
    • If you don't know the password for your Google account, use a computer to recover it before proceeding.
  12. After logging into your Google account, you can proceed with setting up the rest of your Android.
    13. Advertisement
Method 4
Method 4 of 5:

Using a Custom Recovery

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you have a custom recovery such as CWM or TWRP already installed on your Android, you may be able to use the custom recovery's file manager to delete the files which maintain the Android lock screen, thus removing the password in the process.
  2. Press and hold the Power button, then tap Power off in the pop-up menu.
  3. This button combination will vary from Android to Android, but will usually involve holding down some combination of the Power button, the Home button, and/or the Volume button(s).
    • Check your phone's documentation for the proper recovery combination if you don't know it.f
  4. You'll find this on the main custom recovery page.
  5. Check the box next to any folder location on your Android.
    • Do not enable the "Mount system partition read-only" option if available.
  6. Tap the "Back" button, then do the following on a computer:
    • Click the AROMA download link .
    • Wait for the ZIP folder to download.
    • Connect your Android to your computer via a USB cable.
      • If you're on a Mac, you'll first need to install Android File Transfer.
    • Place the ZIP folder in your Android's "Download" folder.
  7. This file manager will allow you to delete system files:
    • Open the Install menu.
    • Open the Download folder.
    • Select the AROMA file manager's ZIP folder.
    • Swipe the "Install" slider right or select the Install option, then wait for a confirmation.
  8. To do so:
    • Open the data folder.
    • Open the system folder.
    • Scroll down to view the system files below the list of folders.
  9. Any files starting with "gatekeeper", "locksettings", and/or "lockscreen" pertain to your Android's lock screen, and thus must be deleted:
    • Long-press a file name to select it.
    • Repeat with other lock screen file names.
    • Tap the Menu button.
    • Tap Delete
    • Confirm your choice if prompted.
  10. Return to the main custom recovery screen, then select the Reboot option. Once your Android finishes rebooting, you should be able to open your Android without needing to enter a password. [4]
    11. Advertisement
Method 5
Method 5 of 5:

Removing a Third-Party Lock Screen

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you know your Android's regular passcode but can't unlock due to a third-party lock screen app, you can use Safe Mode to delete the lock screen app.
    • Some apps will install malware apps which password-protect the lock screen. Using Safe Mode will allow you to delete these apps.
    • Keep in mind that you'll need to know your Android's regular lock screen combination or passcode in order to complete this method.
  2. It's usually on the right side of the Android's housing. A menu will appear.
  3. Doing so will prompt another pop-up menu to appear after a few seconds.
    • On a Samsung Galaxy, you'll instead tap Restart , then hold down the Volume Down button while the Android reboots. You can skip the next two steps.
  4. It should be at the top of the menu.
  5. It's at the bottom of the menu. Doing so will prompt your Android to begin restarting.
  6. Once your Android finishes rebooting, you should see "Safe mode" in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
    • For Samsung Galaxy Androids, remember to hold down the Volume Down button while rebooting to open Safe Mode.
  7. Your third-party lock screen app won't load, so you'll just need to know your Android's usual lock screen passcode or password.
  8. Swipe down from the top of the screen (you may need to use two fingers), then tap the gear-shaped Settings
    Android 7 Settings
    icon in the drop-down menu.
  9. It's near the middle of the screen.
  10. Scroll through the list of apps on your Android until you find the app which was locking your screen, then tap the app in question.
  11. It should be near the top of the screen.
  12. This will prompt the app to uninstall without requiring a passcode.
    • You can restart your Android back into the normal mode by holding down the Power button and tapping Restart (or tapping Power off and then pressing the Power button again).
    13. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    What do I do if I can't access my Google account or my password has been changed?
    Community Answer
    You'll need to go through the Google account recovery process. You can fill out the form on Google's recovery options page . If Google is able to verify your identity, you will be able to reset your Google password and log back into your device.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 15 Helpful 29
  • Question
    Is it possible to unlock an Android using a computer?
    Community Answer
    You can turn off the screen lock using ADB if you have previously connected your Android to your computer and allowed it to work with ADB. You cannot unlock your phone using a PC if you have not previously done this.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 22 Helpful 43
  • Question
    How can I factory reset a locked phone?
    Community Answer
    If you can't access the phone, you can try a factory reset by putting the device into Recovery Mode. Turn off the phone and then press and hold the Power and Volume Up buttons. This will launch Recovery Mode, which you can use to factory reset the device.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 30 Helpful 44
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      3 Easy Ways to Reset an Android Phone to Factory Settings
      How to
      Reset a HTC Smartphone when Locked Out
      How to
      Add Widgets on Android
      How to
      Check What Android Version You Have
      How to
      Add an App Back to Home Screen: Tips for Finding Apps
      4 Simple Ways to Turn Off Safe Mode on Any Android
      3 Ways to Unlock an Android Tablet
      How to
      Find Your Phone Number on Android
      How to
      Block All Incoming Calls on an Android Phone
      How to
      Connect Android Phone to Computer
      How to
      Copy an Entire Text Conversation on Android
      How to
      Hide Apps on Android
      How to
      Change Number of Rings on Android
      How to
      Disable Parental Controls on Android
      Advertisement

      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about smartphones, check out our in-depth interview with Brehima Traore .

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/6160491?hl=en
      2. ↑ https://www.androidcentral.com/what-do-if-you-forgot-your-samsung-galaxy-s6-lock-screen-password
      3. ↑ https://www.androidcentral.com/how-factory-reset-android-phone
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iKL6lQnKAM

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Go to https://www.google.com/android/find?u=0 on a computer.
      2. Sign in.
      3. Click your Android.
      4. Click Lock .
      5. Enter a new password.
      6. Click Lock .
      7. Unlock your Android with the new password.

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 978,557 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Brian Ralph

        Feb 8, 2017

        "I'm really glad you helped me get this knowledge that will help me from now on. I tested the second method of ..." more
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement