General panic: your mobile phone has suddenly turned off and when you turn it back on, it is impossible to unlock it. Because, bad luck, you completely forgot your password. Yes, this is the fear of many users. But, we are so bombarded with number combinations in our heads, that it is becoming more and more common to forget the PIN code, the pattern or the password to access the screen of our devices. Here is how to unlock your mobile if you have forgotten the PIN code
If this kind of setback happens to you, calm down, there are solutions to everything! You may not know it, but there are various ways to unlock your Smartphone without using a PIN code. Thanks to these little tricks, you will quickly be able to breathe and smile again.
PIN code and PUK code: what are the differences?
The PIN code, or personal identification number, is a 4-digit code that serves as a password to protect your SIM card. It is necessary to make calls, send messages or use the internet in 4G/5G. This code is given to you when you buy your SIM card.
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If you enter the wrong PIN code several times in a row, you will be prompted to enter a PUK code, or PIN unlock key. This code, made up of 8 digits, allows you to unlock your phone. It’s usually found on the letter that came with your SIM card or on the plastic holder where the SIM card was.
Any mobile device, smartphone or tablet, comes with built-in security measures. Unfortunately, sometimes the memory can fail and you may forget these unlock codes. However, this is not always a fatality. To anticipate a possible omission, it is important to know how to unlock your Smartphone otherwise.
Here are some options to keep in mind:
Unlock with face or fingerprint
Enter phone PIN – Source: spm
This may seem obvious to some, but the first thing to do is to first check if your Android cell phone might have been set up with some kind of biometric security. It is indeed possible that it can recognize your face or your fingerprints (or perhaps those of another family member). If so, that’s a great boon: you’ll be able to unlock it in the blink of an eye.
Use the “Smart Lock” option
Enter the phone’s PIN code – Source: spm
If you are a predictable user, you can recover your Android device by taking advantage of the Smart Lock option. It is still necessary, of course, that you have previously defined the conditions required to unlock your device. Therefore, if you already allowed the device to unlock in a specific and safe location, you just need to access it in order to reset the PIN, pattern or password. If you have chosen a specific computer to unlock your device, bring your Smartphone closer to this computer, then proceed quietly to reset one of these unlock combinations.
Unlock your mobile with “Find My Mobile” option (Samsung only)
Do you have a Samsung mobile? So, if you also have a Samsung account and you have already enabled the “Find My Mobile” option during the setup process, you will be able to unblock the problem very quickly. Indeed, you can use this function to unlock your mobile phone remotely as if you had lost it. But to do this, you will need to know the email address and password associated with your Samsung account. Also, your device must be turned on and connected to the internet.
Here’s how:
- Enter the “Find My Mobile” website on your computer or other device, to sign in to your Samsung account.
- Your current device and phone number should be displayed in the top left corner of the page.
- Go through the options on the right side and click “Unlock my device”.
- In the Control Panel, click Unblock. A window will appear on the screen. Click the blue Unlock button.
- Enter your Samsung account credentials and click the Next button. This window will close once your cell phone is successfully unlocked.
Unlock the phone using the PUK code
The PUK code is this 4 to 8 digit code located on the original packaging of your SIM card. You may not know it but it is used to unlock your mobile when you entered 3 wrong PIN codes. Forgot your PUK code? Nothing could be easier to retrieve it: you can find it by going to your operator’s customer area or by contacting customer service. To avoid finding yourself in the situation of a forgotten PIN code, we advise you to modify the PIN code as soon as you use your new SIM card for the first time. To do this, follow these simple steps: – Go to your smartphone settings, – Select the “security & lock screen” section, then follow the steps to change the PIN code. Our advice: choose a code that has meaning for you, such as your date of birth, and write it down in a notebook or communicate it to someone you trust to avoid forgetting it again.
Last method: Factory data reset
Finally, your last resort is to perform a factory data reset through the recovery mode menu. This is a fairly restrictive method to use only in an emergency, because as much as warning you, it will delete all the data saved on your mobile phone. Note, by the way, that your device may have Factory Reset Protection which is automatically enabled on all Android 5.1 and later devices.
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If this feature is enabled, you will be prompted for your Google account details even after performing the reset. Once reset, you will need to set up your Smartphone again as if it were brand new.
From there, so as not to relive the same mishap, be sure to write down your new password somewhere in a safe place, away from prying eyes.
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Via SPM
