Something that can upset you while trying to access your smartphone is forgetting the password. Regardless of the experience some users have with technology nowadays, this can happen! I agree that this happens often with users who are not familiar with passwords. In this world where security is more than a need, we often see people setting passwords that they won’t remember after a certain time. It can be frustrating and even problematic when you lose access to your Android smartphone due to password loss. Well, fortunately, we can still recover access to the device! There are some valid ways to unlock an Android phone without a password. This guide will provide multiple ideas that may help you recover access to your smartphone.
Getting Ready to Recover Your Password
Before proceeding with the recovery process, it’s important to follow some tips to be ready for this. First of all, you need to ensure your device is signed into your Google account and that some of the critical features, like Find My Device, are activated. Some unlocking options require prior setup, and you’re in the best scenario if you have these options set up. These pre-requisites can save you from some hassle if you get locked out with a forgotten password.
It is also worth noting that manufacturers have been making steps to increase the security of smartphones. Therefore, you might face some protection systems if you simply try to factory reset the smartphone. It makes sense, after all, without protection tools, it would be easy for someone to steal a locked smartphone and simply reset it to factory settings. The security protection steps may vary depending on devices and manufacturers. So you can do some research about your smartphone before proceeding.
How to Unlock an Android Phone Without a Password
1. Use Google Find My Device
GoogleāsĀ Find My Device is one of the best features Google has ever implemented in its smartphones. To make use of this feature, the smartphone needs to be signed into the Google account. It also needs to have services enabled and have the Find My Device feature turned on. Here are some steps on how to activate and use it:
How to Activate Find My Device:
- Open theĀ SettingsĀ app on your Android phone.
- Head to GoogleĀ settings.
- SelectĀ All ServicesĀ and tap onĀ Find My Device.
- Toggle on the option to enableĀ Use Find My Device.
Now, you’re good to go to perform a factory reset via the Find My Device feature. See the steps below:
How to Factory Reset Using Find My Device:
- VisitĀ Find My DeviceĀ from any browser.
- Log in to your Google account.
- Select your phone from the list of registered devices.
- ClickĀ Erase DeviceĀ to initiate a factory reset.
- Confirm by tappingĀ ResetĀ and entering your Google account password if prompted.
This method resets your phone. You will restart from scratch and will need to reinstall apps and set up accounts. However, you can try to sync it with your Google Account to quickly restore apps and some of the settings.
2. Android Extend Unlock
Another feature is Android Extend unlock. For those unaware, the feature replaces the old Smart Unlock feature and simplifies the unlocking process under some conditions. For example, the device will check if the smartphone is in your pocket, at a trusted place, or connected to a trusted Bluetooth device like a smartwatch.
Once again, this feature needs to be set up and enabled beforehand. If you forget your password but have it enabled for home unlocking, for example, you just need to return to the safe place to access your device. After that, you can change the password or restore the smartphone.
How to Enable Extend Unlock:
- Open theĀ SettingsĀ app.
- Go toĀ Security & Privacy.
- Head to More Security & Privacy.
- SelectĀ Extend UnlockĀ and enter your PIN if required.
- Choose from the following options and follow the on-screen instructions:
- On-body detectionĀ (keeps your phone unlocked while itās on you).
- Trusted places (unlock your phone in specific locations, such as home).
- Trusted devices (unlock your phone when connected to a specified device).
Once set up, Extend Unlock can bypass the lock screen in predefined circumstances. It’s a really useful and practical setting, but if you haven’t enabled it beforehand, it won’t help you in a password loss.
3. Using Third-Party Software: DroidKit
If the above methods fail, a third-party software like DroidKit can help you to easily restore your smartphone. This software has a complete set of tools to help you, and one of its most interesting features is the device’s recovery. It can handle data recovery, system cleaning, and bypass lock screens. Whether your phone uses a PIN, password, pattern, fingerprint, or facial recognition, DroidKit can override it. The software provides a step-by-step process, making it accessible even for non-tech users.
Steps to Use DroidKit:
- Download and install DroidKit on your computer.
- Launch the app and connect your phone to the computer using a USB cable.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to bypass your phoneās lock screen.
DroidKit isnāt free; plans start at $60 for three months, but discounts are often available. Itās an excellent investment if you frequently deal with locked devices.
4. Performing a Factory Reset
When all the methods above fail, the last and most obvious resort is to factory reset your smartphone directly. It will erase your data, exclude all apps, contacts, and media. It’s important to keep a backup of your data, so when these things happen, you’ll be safe. Unfortunately, when you have your device locked and haven’t set any of the quality-of-life features that can help in the process of unlocking your smartphone, the last option is to factory reset. In some smartphones, you will need to put the original Google Account you used to set up your smartphone on the first boot.
Unlocking A Samsung Phone Without a Password
Samsung currently stands as one of the most popular smartphone brands in the world. Naturally, it’s important to list some of the brand-specific settings for recovery access to a Samsung phone with lost password. Specifically, Samsung has a service dubbed SmartThings Find. In a certain way, it works similarly to Googleās Find My Device.
However, it has additional features, such as the ability to unlock your phone remotely.
How to Enable Samsungās Remote Unlock:
- Open theĀ SettingsĀ app on your Samsung phone.
- Navigate toĀ Biometrics & Security.
- Tap onĀ Find My MobileĀ and enableĀ Remote Unlock.
How to Unlock Your Samsung Phone Using SmartThings Find:
- VisitĀ SmartThings FindĀ from any browser.
- Log in to your Samsung account.
- Select your device from the left panel.
- ClickĀ UnlockĀ to regain access.
Conclusion
Getting locked out of your Android phone certainly is one of the worst scenarios for a user who needs it daily. For that reason, it’s important to be proactive in this regard by enabling some of the Google Find Security options. After all, they can help you in these scenarios. Fortunately, some third-party app solutions like DroidKit can help you in this regard when other built-in solutions fail.
You can keep a record of the passwords you set up to save from some hassle and unlock your Android phone. Also, make sure to back up your data, so you’ll be safe in case you need to perform a factory reset. We hope these ways help you to sort out this issue and recover access to your smartphone in no time.
