This wikiHow teaches you how to unlock an Android device if you don't know the passcode or screen lock pattern. You can do this in a number of ways, from using Find My Device to unlock your Android device to restoring it to factory settings (factory reset). Keep in mind that you will need to know your Google account email address and password in order to log back into your Android device if you choose to factory reset it.
Step
Method 1 of 5: Using Find My Device
Step 1. Visit the Find My Device site
Run a web browser on your computer and visit
If you are using a Samsung tablet or phone, visit the Samsung website
Step 2. Log in to your Google account
Enter your Gmail address when prompted, click NEXT, type in the password, then click NEXT.
If you don't know the password for the Google account, do a restore before continuing
Step 3. Select an Android device
If the current Android device is not selected when you open Find My Device, click it in the left menu.
Step 4. Click Lock
This option is on the left side of the page, below the Android device name. A pop-up window will be opened.
Step 5. Type in the new password
Enter the new password in the top text field, then re-enter the password in the next text field.
Step 6. Click Lock at the bottom of the page
The Android device lock screen password will be replaced with the new password.
Step 7. Unlock the Android device using the new password
Open your Android device, then type in the password you just created. The lock on the Android device will be unlocked.
Method 2 of 5: Using Find My Mobile from Samsung
Step 1. Understand when this method might work
If you have a Samsung Galaxy (or another Samsung Android device) that has been registered with Samsung, you can use Find My Device from Samsung to unlock it.
This method cannot be used if you do not have a Samsung Android device or have not registered Android with Samsung
Step 2. Visit Samsung's "Find My Mobile" site
Run a web browser on your computer and visit
Step 3. Sign in to your Samsung account
When prompted to sign in, click SIGN IN, then type in your email address (or phone number) and password, then click SIGN IN.
Step 4. Click Unlock my Device
This button is on the left side of the page.
If you have more than one Samsung Galaxy device, you may need to select the desired device by clicking on its name in the upper-left corner, then selecting the appropriate device in the drop-down menu
Step 5. Re-type the Samsung password when prompted
When prompted, re-enter your Samsung account password. The lock on your Samsung Galaxy will be unlocked, although you may have to wait a few seconds before the device recognizes the unlock command.
If the lock screen has been unlocked, you can create a new password via the menu Settings.
Method 3 of 5: Restoring Device to Factory Settings
Step 1. Understand the consequences of this method
Reverting an Android device to factory settings will erase all settings (including screen lock passwords), as well as contact information and apps that were on the Android device.
Unfortunately, if the data is not backed up, you will not be able to restore the information that was deleted when you factory reset your device
Step 2. Look for the combination button to perform "Recovery" on your Android
Every Android device has a key combination that must be pressed to open the recovery menu. Check the device's user guide or online help pages for combinations.
For example, Samsung devices typically use the Power button, Home, and one of the Volume buttons to open the recovery menu
Step 3. Turn off the Android device
Press and hold the Power button, then tap Power off when requested. Your Android device will be turned off.
Step 4. Press and hold the "Recovery" combination button
By holding down the recovery button, your Android device will start to boot into the recovery console.
If an error message appears that says "No command" on the screen, keep holding down the recovery combination button for about 15 to 20 seconds
Step 5. Select Recovery mode
If the recovery menu has appeared, use the Volume Down key to scroll down the screen to the options Recovery mode, then press the Power button to select it.
- Skip this step if Recovery mode there is not any.
- Skip to the next step if "No command" appears on the screen.
Step 6. Skip the “No command” screen
If you're using an Android Pixel, you can press and hold the Power and Volume Up buttons at the same time until the recovery screen opens.
Step 7. Select Wipe data/factory reset
Highlight this option by scrolling down the screen and then pressing the Power button.
Step 8. Select Yes -- delete all user data in the middle of the screen
The Android device will begin to return to factory settings.
Step 9. Wait for the Android device to complete the wipe
To complete, the device should take no more than 10 minutes.
Step 10. Set up the Android device
After Android restarts, you can set it up as if you had a new tablet or phone.
What you usually have to do is select the language and Wi-Fi network
Step 11. Sign in to your Google account
When prompted, type in the email address and password for the Google account you previously used to log into the Android device.
If you don't know the password for the Google account, use a computer to recover it before you continue
Step 12. Complete the setup on the Android device
If you are already signed in to your Google account, continue the process by completing other settings on the device.
Method 4 of 5: Using a Custom Recovery Tool
Step 1. Know when to use this method
If you have installed a custom recovery tool like TWRP or CWM on your Android, you might be able to use a custom recovery file manager to delete the files that handle screen locks on your Android device. In the process, it will also remove the password.
You cannot use this method if the custom recovery tool is not already installed on your Android device
Step 2. Turn off the Android device
Press and hold the Power button, then tap Power off in the pop-up menu.
Step 3. Press and hold the "Recovery" combination button
The key combination will be different on each Android device. However, you usually have to press a combination of the Home, Power, and/or Volume buttons.
If you don't know the correct recovery key combination, check open the device manual to see it
Step 4. Open the Mount menu
This menu is on the main custom recovery page.
Step 5. Enable all locations
Check the box next to all folder locations on your Android device.
If available, deactivate the "Mount system partition read-only" option
Step 6. Download and transfer the AROMA file manager
Tap the " Back " button, and do the following on the computer:
- Click the AROMA download link.
- Wait while the ZIP folder is downloaded.
-
Connect your Android device to your computer using a USB cable.
On a Mac computer, first install the Android File Transfer app
- Save the ZIP folder in the " Download" on Android devices.
Step 7. Install the AROMA file manager
This file manager can be used to delete system files. How to install it:
- Open menu Install.
- Open folder Download.
- Select the AROMA file manager ZIP folder.
- Slide the "Install" slider to the right or select an option Install, then wait for confirmation to appear.
Step 8. Navigate to the location of the screen lock file
How to do it:
- Open folder data.
- Open folder system.
- Scroll down and look at the system files under the folder list.
Step 9. Delete the screen lock file
Any files whose names start with " locksettings ", " gatekeeper ", and/or " lockscreen " are files related to screen locking on Android, and should be deleted. How to do it:
- Select the file by pressing it for a few moments.
- Repeat this action on the other screen lock files.
- Tap the button Menu.
- Tap Delete.
- Confirm when prompted.
Step 10. Restart Android device
Return to the main custom recovery screen, then select an option Reboot. Once your Android device finishes restarting, you can unlock it without having to enter a password.
Method 5 of 5: Removing Third-Party Lock Screens
Step 1. Understand when to use this method
If you know the regular passcode for your Android device, but can't unlock the device because of a third-party screen lock app, use Safe Mode to remove the screen lock app.
- Some applications can install malware programs that lock the screen with a password. You can uninstall this application with Safe Mode.
- Keep in mind that you must know your regular key combination or passcode to unlock the screen before you can perform this method.
Step 2. Press and hold the "Power" button on the Android device
This button is usually located on the right side of the Android case. Once you do that, a menu will appear.
Step 3. Press the Power off button for a few moments
A few seconds later, another pop-up menu will appear.
If using a Samsung Galaxy, tap Restart, then hold down the button Volume Down when Android reboots. After that, you can skip the next two steps.
Step 4. Check the " Reboot " box at the top of the menu
Step 5. Tap OK which is at the bottom of the menu
The Android device will restart.
Step 6. Wait for the Android device to restart
When Android has finished restarting, you'll see "Safe mode" in the bottom-left corner.
On Android Samsung Galaxy, open Safe Mode by holding down the button Volume Down when the device is rebooting.
Step 7. Unlock on Android device
Third party screen lock apps won't load so you just need a passcode or screen lock password as usual.
Step 8. Open Settings
Swipe down from the top of the device screen (you may have to use two fingers), then tap the icon Settings
gear in the drop-down menu.
Step 9. Tap Apps located in the middle of the screen
Step 10. Choose a third party screen lock app
Scroll through the list of apps on your Android device until you find the app that has locked your device's screen, then tap the app.
Step 11. Tap UNINSTALL
The button is at the top of the screen.
Step 12. Tap OK when prompted
The app will be deleted without having to enter a passcode.
