General panic: your mobile has suddenly turned off and when you turn it on again 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 combinations of numbers in our heads that it is increasingly common to forget the PIN code, pattern or password to access the screen of our devices. Here is how to unlock your mobile if you have forgotten the PIN code
If this type of setback happens to you, don’t worry, there is a solution for everything! You may not know it, but there are several 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 purchase your SIM card.
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If you enter the wrong PIN code several times in a row, you will be asked to enter a PUK code or PIN unlock key. This 8-digit code allows you to unlock your phone. It is 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 memory can fail and you may forget these unlock codes. However, this is not always a fatality. To anticipate a possible bypass, it is important to know how to unlock your Smartphone otherwise.
Here are some options to consider:
Unlock with face or fingerprint
Enter phone PIN – Source: spm
This may seem obvious to some, but the first thing to do is first check if your Android cell phone might have been set up with some form of biometric security. In fact, it may be able to recognize your face or your fingerprints (or perhaps those of another family member). If so, that’s a big help – you’ll be able to unlock it in no time.
Use the “Smart Lock” option
Enter phone 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. So, if you’ve already allowed your device to unlock in a specific, secure location, you just need to log in to reset your PIN, pattern, or password. If you have chosen a specific computer to unlock your device, move your smartphone closer to this computer, then proceed silently to reset one of these unlock combinations.
Unlock your mobile with the “Find my mobile” option (Samsung only)
Do you have a Samsung mobile? So if you also have a Samsung account and you already enabled the “Find my mobile” option during the setup process, you will be able to unlock the problem very quickly. In fact, you can use this feature 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.
That’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 appear in the top left corner of the page.
- Go through the options on the right hand side and click on “Unlock my device”.
- In 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 phone using PUK code
The PUK code is this 4-8 digit code located on the original packaging of your SIM card. You may not know, but it is used to unlock your mobile when you entered 3 wrong PIN codes. Forgot your PUK code? Nothing is easier to recover: you can find it by going to the customer area of your operator or by contacting customer service. To avoid being in the situation of a forgotten PIN code, we recommend that you change 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 the settings of your smartphone, – Select the “security and lock screen” section, then follow the steps to change the PIN code. Our advice: choose a code that means something to you, such as your date of birth, and write it down in a notebook or tell someone you trust so you don’t forget 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 rather restrictive method to use only in an emergency, since in addition to notifying you, it will delete all the data saved on your mobile phone. Please note, by the way, that your device may have Factory Reset Protection that 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 restarted, you will need to set up your smartphone again as if it were new.
From there, to avoid experiencing the same mishap again, make sure to write down your new password somewhere safe, away from prying eyes.
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