How to Break Into Your Locked Android Device

Unlocking your Android device when you don’t know the lock screen passcode or pattern can be a challenging task. However, there are several methods to regain access, ranging from using Find My Device to performing a factory reset. Keep in mind that you will need to know your Google account’s email address and password to log back into your Android after a factory reset.

How to Unlock Your Android

By following these methods, you can unlock your Android device even if you’ve forgotten the lock screen passcode or pattern.

Method 1: Using Find My Device

If you’re locked out of your Android, you can use the Google Find My Device website to unlock it by setting a new password.

1. Open the Find My Device Website:
   • Visit https://www.google.com/android/find in your computer’s web browser.
   • If you have a Samsung phone or tablet, use Samsung’s website instead.
2. Log Into Your Google Account:
   • Enter your Gmail address and password to log in.
   • If you don’t know your Google account’s password, you’ll need to recover it before proceeding.
3. Select Your Android Device:
   • If your Android isn’t currently selected, click it in the left-hand menu.
4. Click Lock:
   • Click Lock on the left side of the page, just below your Android’s name. A pop-up window will appear.
5. Enter a New Password:
   • Type a new password into the top text field and repeat it in the next field.
6. Click Lock:
   • Click Lock at the bottom of the page to set the new password.
7. Unlock Your Android:
   • Open your Android and enter the new password you just set.

Method 2: Using Samsung’s Find My Mobile Tool

If you have a registered Samsung Galaxy device, you can use Samsung’s version of Find My Device to unlock it.

1. Open Samsung’s “Find My Mobile” Site:
   • Visit https://findmymobile.samsung.com/ in your computer’s web browser.
2. Sign Into Your Samsung Account:
   • Enter your email (or phone number) and password, and click SIGN IN.
3. Click Unlock my Device:
   • This option is on the left side of the page.
   • If you have multiple Samsung devices, select the correct one from the top-left corner drop-down menu.
4. Re-Enter Your Samsung Password:
   • If prompted, enter your Samsung account password again to unlock your device.

Method 3: Using a Factory Reset

Factory resetting your Android will remove all settings and data, including the lock screen password. Use this method if other options fail.

1. Find Your Android’s “Recovery” Combination:
   • Every Android device has a unique combination of buttons to press to open the recovery menu. Check your device’s manual or online documentation.
2. Power Down Your Android:
   • Press and hold the Power button, then tap Power off.
3. Press and Hold the “Recovery” Combination:
   • This will prompt your Android to boot into the recovery console.
4. Select Recovery Mode:
   • Use the Volume Down button to scroll to Recovery mode, then press the Power button to select it.
5. Bypass the “No Command” Screen:
   • If you see this screen, press and hold the Power and Volume Up buttons simultaneously until the recovery screen opens.
6. Select Wipe Data / Factory Reset:
   • Scroll to this option and press the Power button.
7. Select Yes — Delete All User Data:
   • Confirm the action to begin the factory reset.
8. Wait for Your Android to Finish Wiping:
   • This process should take under 10 minutes.
9. Set Up Your Android:
   • After the reset, set up your device as a new phone or tablet and log in with your Google account.

Method 4: Using a Custom Recovery

If you have a custom recovery such as CWM or TWRP installed, you can use it to delete the lock screen files.

1. Turn Off Your Android:
   • Press and hold the Power button, then tap Power off.
2. Press and Hold the “Recovery” Combination:
   • This combination varies by device but usually involves the Power button, Home button, and/or Volume buttons.
3. Open the Mount Menu:
   • This option is on the main custom recovery page.
4. Enable All Locations:
   • Check the box next to any folder location on your Android.
5. Download and Transfer the AROMA File Manager:
   • Download the AROMA file manager on your computer, transfer the ZIP file to your Android, and place it in the “Download” folder.
6. Install AROMA File Manager:
   • Open the Install menu, select the AROMA file manager ZIP file, and follow the prompts to install it.
7. Navigate to the Lock Screen Files’ Location:
   • Open the data folder, then the system folder.
8. Delete the Lock Screen Files:
   • Delete any files starting with “gatekeeper,” “locksettings,” and/or “lockscreen.”
9. Reboot Your Android:
   • Return to the main custom recovery screen and select Reboot.

Method 5: Removing a Third-Party Lock Screen

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 app.

1. Press and Hold the Power Button:
   • A menu will appear.
2. Long-Press Power Off:
   • A pop-up menu will appear after a few seconds.
   • On a Samsung Galaxy, tap Restart and hold down the Volume Down button while rebooting.
3. Check the “Reboot” Box:
   • It should be at the top of the menu.
4. Tap OK:
   • This will reboot your Android into Safe Mode.
5. Wait for Your Android to Reboot:
   • You should see “Safe mode” in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
6. Unlock Your Android:
   • Your third-party lock screen app won’t load, so you can use your usual lock screen passcode.
7. Open Settings:
   • Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the gear-shaped Settings icon.
8. Tap Apps:
   • Scroll through the list of apps until you find the lock screen app.
9. Tap UNINSTALL:
   • Tap OK when prompted to uninstall the app.
10. Restart Your Android:
    • Hold down the Power button and tap Restart or Power off and then press the Power button again.

Q&A for How to Break Into Your Locked Android Device

What do I do if I can’t access my Google account or my password has been changed? If you can’t access your Google account or your password has been changed, 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 can verify your identity, you will be able to reset your Google password and log back into your device.

Is it possible to unlock an Android using a computer? Yes, you can turn off the screen lock using ADB (Android Device Bridge) if you have previously connected your Android to your computer and allowed it to work with ADB. However, you cannot unlock your phone using a PC if you have not previously set this up.

How can I factory reset a locked phone? If you can’t access the phone, you can try a factory reset by putting the device into Recovery Mode. To do this, turn off the phone and then press and hold the Power and Volume Up buttons simultaneously. This will launch Recovery Mode, where you can select the option to factory reset the device.

How do I bypass the Google account verification after factory resetting the device? It is not possible to bypass this account verification unless you have the original account information. This feature is designed to prevent the theft of Android devices. The original owner will need to log into the device to access and activate it.

How do I go into my locked Android device? Try resetting the device using a computer. If you’ve set up ADB previously, you can use it to unlock your device.

Can you install ADB on a locked phone so you can unlock a computer? No, ADB (Android Device Bridge) is used to access Android internals from a computer. It does not allow you to unlock a computer or provide access to Windows, Linux, or Mac internals from a phone.

I have finished the wipe data/factory reset, and my phone is on WiFi. Should I move away from the WiFi service to finish the process? You don’t need to move away from the WiFi service. Staying on WiFi is recommended to avoid any potential data charges while completing the setup process.

How do I do a factory reset on a Vodafone phone? To perform a factory reset on a Vodafone phone:

1. Power off your phone.
2. Press and hold the Volume Up and Power buttons simultaneously until you reach the recovery mode menu.
3. Use the Volume Down button to navigate through the menu and the Power button to select an option.
4. Choose the factory reset option from the menu.

What does ‘reboot to bootloader’ mean? ‘Reboot to bootloader’ means restarting the phone in fastboot/bootloader mode. In this mode, you can execute fastboot commands and boot into recovery, the system, and other modes as needed.