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What to Do if You Forget Your Android Phone Password

by on January 26, 2023
in Tips & How-Tos, Phones and Mobile, Cell Phones, Tech 101 :: 174 comments

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Updated on 1/26/2023 with current instructions for resetting phones and a new screenshot

If you forget your Android lock screen password, is there a way to unlock your phone? The short answer is no – you will have to factory reset your device to be able to use your phone again. And because all recent versions of Android encrypt the data on your phone by default, there is no way to recover any photos, contacts, or other data that you haven’t backed up to your Google account; they will be gone forever after the reset. However, at least your phone will be unlocked, and you’ll be able to use it again.

Hand holding phone showing a Wrong Pin notification

There are two ways to factory reset an Android phone if you’ve forgotten the password and can’t get past the lock screen. The first is to use Google’s Find My Device, which allows you to erase your phone online remotely. If you don’t have Find My Device turned on (it should be on by default), you’ll have to use the second method, Android’s “Recovery Mode.”

It’s critical to note that resetting your phone through either of these methods will require you to know your Google account and password that was used to set up the phone. If you don’t have this information, the device will be permanently locked. This security measure is in place to prevent thieves from using your device after factory resetting it.

How to reset your Android phone through Find My Device

  1. Go to android.com/find. If you’re not already, sign into the Google account that is the main profile on your device. And if you have more than one device, select the phone you want to erase at the top left of the screen.
  2. Select "Erase device."
  3. Click the "Erase device" button.
  4. Follow the steps to set up your phone again – note that you will need to verify the Google account information you originally used to set up the phone in order to proceed with setting up the device.

Google Find My Device screenshot showing a map with the location of a Samsung Galaxy A52 5G and the option to Play Sound, Secure Device, and Erase Device.

How to reset your Android phone through Recovery Mode

The steps to enter Recovery Mode varies by manufacturer, but I’ll provide instructions for the major ones below.

How to reset stock Android phones (Google Pixel phones):

  1. Hold down the Power button to power off your device.
  2. Press and hold the Power and Volume down buttons for 10 to 15 seconds.
  3. Use the Volume up and Volume down buttons to navigate through the menu options until you get to "Recovery Mode," then press the Power Button to select it.
  4. You’ll see the words No command.
  5. Press and hold the Power button, then press the Volume up button.
  6. A new menu will pop up. Use the Volume buttons to scroll to "Wipe data/factory reset" and use the Power button to select it.
  7. Use the volume buttons to scroll to "Factory data reset" and press the Power button to select it.
  8. When the reset is finished, you'll see "Data wipe complete." Using the volume buttons, scroll to and select "Reboot system now" and use the Power button to select it.

How to reset HTC phones:

  1. Hold down the Power button to power off your device.
  2. Press and hold the Volume down button, then press the Power button (for some HTC models, it's the volume up button).
  3. Continue to hold the Volume button until you see a menu.
  4. Use the Volume buttons to select "Factory reset" and use the Power button to select it.
  5. If you are prompted to confirm the factory rest, use the Volume buttons to select "Yes" and press the Power button to select.

How to reset Huawei phones:

  1. Hold down the Power button to power off your device.
  2. Press and hold the Volume Up and Power buttons until your phone goes into Recovery mode. (If your phone doesn't have physical volume buttons, press the Power button five times after the phone vibrates while powering on.)
  3. Use the Volume buttons or touchscreen to select the option to clear data. If you're using the buttons, use the Power button to select it.
  4. Use the Volume buttons to select "restore your device to its factory settings" and use the Power button to select it.
  5. Once your phone is restored to factory settings, you'll see the Recovery screen. Select the option to restart your device.

How to reset Motorola phones:

  1. Hold down the Power button to power off your device.
  2. Press and hold the Volume Down button and the Power button.
  3. When the boot menu appears, use the Volume buttons to scroll to "Recovery Mode" and use the Power button to select it.
  4. Select "Factory data reset" using the volume buttons and press the Power button to select it.
  5. Select "Reboot system now" and press the Power button.

How to reset Samsung phones:

  1. Power down your phone by waiting for it to run out of battery. (You can't power down your phone when it's locked without inputting your password.)
  2. For Samsung phones without a Home button or separate Power button (such as the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S21, Note10, Note20, Fold, and Z Flip), press and hold the Volume up button and side buttons until you feel the device vibrate and you see the Samsung logo. For Samsung phones with a separate Power button (Galaxy S8, Galaxy S9, Galaxy S10), press and hold the Volume up button, Power button, and Bixby button until your phone vibrates and goes into Recovery mode. For Samsung phones with a physical Home button (including the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S7), Press and hold the Volume up, Home, and Power buttons until your phone vibrates, and then release just the Power button.
  3. A screen with the recovery menu will appear. When you see this, release the remaining buttons.
  4. Use the Volume buttons to highlight 'Wipe data/factory reset.' Press the Power button to select. Press the Power button again to select "Yes," "Yes - delete all user data," or "Factory data reset."

    Note: Samsung reports that for some devices running Android 11, you will need to connect your phone to power via USB to go into recovery mode.

[Image credit: Josh Kirschner/Techlicious, screenshot via Techlicious]

Josh Kirschner is the co-founder of Techlicious and has been covering consumer tech for more than a decade. Josh started his first company while still in college, a consumer electronics retailer focused on students. His writing has been featured in Today.com, NBC News and Time.


Discussion loading

Tablet so can't work.

From Nathan Mansour on November 08, 2020 :: 11:01 pm

I have a Samsung Galaxy tab a which is a tablet so it can’t work.

Reply

Try this

From Josh Kirschner on November 09, 2020 :: 3:24 pm

Here’s how to reset a Samsung Tablet, from the Verizon help site:

1. Press and hold the Volume Up and Power buttons until the Android Recovery screen appears (about 10-15 seconds) then release both buttons.
2. From the Android Recovery screen, select Wipe data/factory reset.
3. Select Yes.

Reply

Can't click Factory reset

From Kate on November 29, 2022 :: 7:09 am

I have gotten all the way tothe factory reset screen while not having a password with the keys. But it won’t continue on to the next option for me it’s just stuck on factory reset wipe data. It highlights it in green when I hold the power button down but won’t proceed. What do I do?

Reply

Unexpected locked phone

From Mahmoud AbdelAzim on November 09, 2020 :: 6:13 pm

My wife didn’t put any locking I was beside her she get up doing something while the mobile in her hand she suddenly found that her phone is locked and have been asked for password
Is that common !?

Reply

Lost password

From Juanita Clarke on November 10, 2020 :: 4:04 pm

My husband let his niece borrow phone until she got one. We found out she was involved in drugs so we took it away from her.she changed password and won’t tell us what it is. I have her Google account info but don’t want to loose pictures on phone, Samsung 7. Is there anyway to unlock without losing pictures

Reply

No.

From Josh Kirschner on November 10, 2020 :: 6:38 pm

There is no way to unlock it unless you have the password. I would see if you can convince her to give it to you by mentioning the photos. Though it’s possible she doesn’t want to unlock the phone because there are things of hers on there she doesn’t want you to see, so keep that in mind with your discussions.

Reply

Thank you!!

From M on November 23, 2020 :: 3:05 pm

Thank you so much! My phone broke down so I needen to use my old phone again but I forgot the password (of course). Thanks to you I can log back into my old phone!

X M

Reply

Does not work for my old Samsung

From Em on December 05, 2020 :: 10:15 am

Have a Samsung Galaxy from a while back and cannot recall the password. Tried this, it freezes on the system recovery screen, when I select wipe data factory reset, press the power button to activate but nothing happens.

Reply

Help

From fran on December 29, 2020 :: 11:26 am

How can I open my phone when I can’t remember the lock screen password and email.  But I can remember the email password? I reset the phone to factory settings but it keeps asking for pin number or Google account username. It’s a new phone and I have not used the email. Please, can someone help?

Reply

You need to log in to the Google account

From Josh Kirschner on December 30, 2020 :: 1:41 pm

To access the phone, you need to log in to the Google account that it was originally set up with.  Is the issue you don’t remember the Google email address that was used to set it up? If not, you’re out of luck, so really try to figure that out.

Reply

Phone problem

From Bhekokwakhe Hlongwa on January 27, 2021 :: 7:33 am

I m forget my email address

Reply

Won't turn off w/o lock code

From Lisa Campbell on January 07, 2021 :: 4:49 pm

I have run into the same problem. I have a Samsung Galaxy A10e. I set a screen lock, now forgot it. The phone will not turn off without the lock code or taking the battery out which on this phone is not an option.

Reply

hi..

From Natalie burns on January 14, 2021 :: 2:32 pm

so i got a v mobile and how do you reset that

Reply

still not working

From Marvin Wilson on February 03, 2021 :: 4:38 pm

My galaxy samsung A11 Android 10, forgot my password, when i power off it asked for password, so i use volume down and power to restart it but just keeps coming up with enter password after restarting, this A11 has no bixby or home buttons only has volume up/down and power, any idea how i can get back in?

Reply

Added info above

From Josh Kirschner on February 04, 2021 :: 11:58 am

Hi Marvin,

I added details to the article for how to reset Samsung phones without a Home button (such as Galaxy S10, Galaxy S11, Galaxy S20, Galaxy S21, Note 20). Look in the Samsung section above.

Best,
Josh

Reply

working now

From Marvin Wilson on February 06, 2021 :: 4:34 pm

Thank You!

Reply

Help

From Claude on February 06, 2021 :: 3:27 am

I’m trying to reset my phone but I have forget my email password what can I do please I only remember my email .it is Tecno pouvoire

Reply

You have to recover your password

From Josh Kirschner on February 06, 2021 :: 4:17 pm

You have to recover your Gmail password, else you are out of luck.

Reply

Factory reset

From Rickey Perrin on February 09, 2021 :: 6:29 am

What can I do if in as already factory reset my phone and I don’t know my google password

Reply

Screen lock PIN still required after Hardreset

From Philip on February 09, 2021 :: 9:44 am

Hi Josh,
Hope you can help.

My HTC U11 I have unlocked using the pattern and fingerprint recognition since new. Last week, instead of the pattern, it suddenly asked for a PIN to unlock the screen. I have never used a PIN(maybe I did at setup when new 3yrs ago but cant remember).

I followed the HTC Hardreset instructions and was hoping to be asked to enter my google a/c details but my phone still asks for the screen lock PIN.

What can I do to unlock my phone? (i also did the phone locator changing PW but this does not solve the problem).
Thank you. Philip

Reply

You reset using the instructions above?

From Josh Kirschner on February 09, 2021 :: 12:16 pm

Hi Philip,

Want to be clear on what you’ve done so far. You did a complete factory reset per the instructions above and it is still asking for a PIN?

Josh

Reply

You reset using the instructions above?

From Philip on February 10, 2021 :: 5:01 am

Hi Josh,

Yes, I did the complete factory reset.
I then restarted the phone. It asked to set the language, enter the SIM card PIN and connect to WiFi. The next step was to enter the PIN again… It did not ask for my Google a/c.

Philip

Reply

Possibly related to SIM card security

From Josh Kirschner on February 10, 2021 :: 1:51 pm

Try setting up the phone without the SIM card installed using WiFi and see if that works. Then you can put the SIM back in once it is set up.

I have a mz4 it

From Ana on March 10, 2021 :: 8:43 pm

I have a mz4 it asked for the same things and when I got to my pattern I just got it wrong a cupple times and it let be reset it

Nubia Redmagic 5G - Phone Locked

From Isaac on February 11, 2021 :: 1:38 am

Hi,

I bought a ZTE Nubia Redmagic 5G in October last year and have been using it. Last Saturday night when I tried to change the security lock from password to pattern, it refused the new pattern. So I hard reset the phone and erased all data, but it is still asking me for a pattern, which it is still refusing to accept, and it is not giving me an option to login with my google account.

Reply

password re set

From Randle on February 24, 2021 :: 9:08 pm

will taking out battery stop the phone from asking for pass word on star up and turn it off ?

Reply

No, it won't

From Josh Kirschner on February 26, 2021 :: 11:35 am

Taking out your battery won’t affect the security required to get into your device except, in some cases, to require you to use your PIN instead of biometric tools (fingerprint, face recognition) to unlock it.

Reply

Need to unlock my Android phone screen..

From Melissa Wipf on February 27, 2021 :: 4:38 am

The hold the volume botton down along with the power botton is for the birds. My other phone is all cracked up and I just bought this Android phone and only got it this week. Please can someone please help me restore my password

Reply

Screen lock PATTERN still required after Hardreset

From Kiana on February 28, 2021 :: 5:12 pm

Hi Josh
Thank you for the thorough explanations.

I have an HTC U11, it ran out of battery and once turned on, required the pattern to log in, which I don’t remember because I always use the fingerprint. I have already used the factory reset, but still asks for Previous Pattern. I know my Google account information but during these processes, it didn’t ask for the information, it only says: Your phone was reset to factory settings. To use this phone enter your previous pattern.

I also tried to reset it via Android Device Manager but according to the tutorial, the erase and secure options are separate, but I only have them together. And even when I click on it, it says notification sent.

What can I do to unlock my phone?

Thank you!
Kiana

Reply

That shouldn't happen

From Josh Kirschner on February 28, 2021 :: 6:59 pm

You shouldn’t see the pattern request after a full factory reset. I would recommend going through factory reset process again for your HTC U11, as I describe in the article, and see if that fixes the issue.

Reply

I did try the method

From Kiana on March 01, 2021 :: 1:46 am

I did try the method a few times, but the problem is still there.

Reply

Should I also wipe the

From Kiana on March 01, 2021 :: 1:47 am

Should I also wipe the cache? Till now I did the wipe all/factory reset.

Reply

That's odd

From Josh Kirschner on March 01, 2021 :: 10:40 am

Not sure why it is behaving that way. You can try wiping the cache, though I don’t think that will make any difference and it should have been wiped during the factory reset, anyhow.

Take a look at this YouTube video on resetting the HTC U11 and follow what he is doing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWJZxtwJpqs. Perhaps there is a step that you are missing or is different than what I laid out in the instructions above.

i read how too reset

From braeden on March 02, 2021 :: 7:43 pm

i read how too reset my phone thanks alot this is great i can get back in my phone

Reply

knowing the password

From chandan on March 05, 2021 :: 12:33 pm

my phone can be unlocked through fingerprint and face recognition, but i forgot the password what can be doneto know my phone lock password?

Reply

Biometrics won't help you

From Josh Kirschner on March 05, 2021 :: 6:09 pm

Unfortunately, if the phone is requiring a password unlock because of a reboot, biometric authentication won’t help you. You will have to follow the steps above to regain use of your device.

Reply

Umx

From Jesse Garland on March 09, 2021 :: 12:56 am

My umx says security issue,I’ve done a factory reset but still same what can I do?

Reply

Unlock infocus phone

From Dhaval Shah on March 18, 2021 :: 1:14 pm

I have forgotten my PIN of infocus phone. Please guide me how to unlock the same.

Reply

thank you very much

From ct on March 20, 2021 :: 6:32 am

Dear Mr Josh Kirschner, thank you for the very useful guide provided. I managed to unlock my phone screen.

Reply

You're welcome

From Josh Kirschner on March 21, 2021 :: 9:50 pm

Glad it worked out for you!

Reply

Find my device not working

From Moderator on March 20, 2021 :: 11:13 am

I used my friends phone to log into my account in find my device. Then it showed my phone and tapped reset everything. After i did everything they said reset was successful but your phone is offline now. I dont know the reason but my phone was on at that time but locked. Is it must that your phone is connected to wifi since my phone was not connected and i couldnt because it was locked. Please i need your help

Reply

You can't reset it if your device isn't connected

From Josh Kirschner on March 21, 2021 :: 9:54 pm

You can’t reset your device if it isn’t connected to cellular or WiFi - how would it get the command to reset from Google? If it is offline, you will need to reset it manually through recovery mode.

Reply

Forgot password to unlock screen for a Samsung phone

From Glenn Simmons on March 24, 2021 :: 4:47 am

Good day, all I really need is to recover my voice notes from my old Samsung. Afraid if I keep guessing password it will permanently lock me out.Since which I have a new phone. Gladly looking for assistance, thanks.

Reply

RLM621S

From FRANSINA on April 05, 2021 :: 11:35 pm

Facebook is a great way to success

Reply

It worked thank you

From Tristan on April 07, 2021 :: 6:41 pm

i just changed my password last night and after i woke up i forgot it
then i searched for a solution and i found this gladly

Reply

Handing down and s10 galaxy

From Javier J on April 12, 2021 :: 11:11 pm

My wife had gave my daughter a s10galaxy but she forgot her pin to open phone just want to hard reset phone but when I try to power off it takes me back to enter pin
Any suggestions

Reply

You followed steps above for Samsung?

From Josh Kirschner on April 17, 2021 :: 4:41 pm

Can you clarify - when you try to power off it asks for a PIN or when you try to power on? It should be the latter, but if you follow the steps above specifically for the Samsung S10, is it not taking you to the recovery mode menu?

Reply

Power Off

From Don Axon on April 18, 2021 :: 5:05 am

How do you power off phone, it asks for a pin, and I have forgotten it!

Also, in the section where you give directions for phones without a home button, step 2 says to hold 3 buttons, one of which is the home button, seems impossible as I don’t have one!

Reply

Hold down the power button

From Josh Kirschner on April 18, 2021 :: 10:06 am

If you hold down the power button, it should give you the power off option, even if you don’t have the pin. Else, let it run out of battery. Recharge it, then follow the recovery steps while turning it back on.

Apologies for the confusion in the steps. That should have said “Bixby” button. I fixed it in the article. Also, I found some mentions that Android 11 devices need to be powered via USB to enter recovery mode - I have not been able to test that yet.

Reply

It won't work

From Jason on April 29, 2021 :: 8:45 am

Hey, guys when I am trying to erase my phone because I forgot my password I can’t shut it down if I don’t have the password.

Reply

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