How to Unlock a Samsung Phone Without the Code: The Complete Guide

Jason

By Jason

Update on

How To Unlock A Samsung Phone Without The Code

So you forgot your Samsung Galaxy phone’s lock screen password or pattern and now you’re locked out? Don’t panic! There are several ways to unlock a Samsung phone without the code so you can access your device again.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through the best methods to unlock your Samsung, from using Android Device Manager to performing a factory reset. We’ll also provide tips to avoid this situation in the future, and answer frequently asked questions.

Whether you forgot your password, bought a used Samsung that’s locked, or have another reason you can’t unlock your device, this guide has you covered.

Why You Might Need to Unlock Your Samsung Without the Code

There are a few common reasons why you might need to unlock a Samsung phone without entering the lock screen code:

  • You forgot your password or pattern lock. We’ve all done it – set a complicated passcode then totally forgotten it later. Without the proper credentials, you’ll be locked out of your own phone.
  • You purchased a used or refurbished device that’s still locked. Sometimes secondhand Samsung devices still have the previous owner’s lock screen security enabled.
  • A family member is using your old device and forgot the code. If you handed down your old Samsung phone to a family member or friend and they forgot the password, you’ll need to unlock it for them.
  • Your phone restarted and you don’t have credentials set up. Some Samsung devices reset to lock mode after restarting if you don’t have a Google account on the device.
  • You want to use features like Find My Mobile. Samsung’s anti-theft feature Find My Mobile requires bypassing the lock screen to activate it remotely.

Whatever your reasons, don’t worry – you have options to get back into your Samsung device without the code.

Method 1: Unlock with Android Device Manager

If you have a Google account set up on your Samsung device, the easiest way to unlock your phone without the code is by using Android Device Manager.

This free web-based tool from Google allows you to remotely lock, reset, and unlock any Android device that is associated with your Google account. Here’s how to use it to unlock your Samsung:

  1. On a computer, go to android.com/find.
  2. If you’re not already signed in to your Google account, enter your username and password to sign in.
  3. On the map, you will see an icon indicating the approximate location of your locked Samsung device. Click the icon.
  4. On the device information page, click “Unlock” to instantly remove the lock screen code.
  5. Your device will now be unlocked! You can restart it and access the home screen.

The one catch with this method is that it won’t work if you don’t have a Google account set up on your Samsung device. However, it’s by far the fastest and easiest way to unlock your phone remotely if you do have your account configured.

Method 2: Perform a Factory Reset

If the Android Device Manager method won’t work for you, the nuclear option to unlock your Samsung phone without the code is performing a factory reset.

Warning: This will erase all data on your device. So only use this method if you have no other choice to unlock your phone and you have your data backed up.

Here are the steps to factory reset your locked Samsung Galaxy:

How to Unlock a Samsung Phone without the Code by Factory Reset
  1. With the device powered off, press and hold the Volume Up, Home, and Power buttons together until you see the recovery screen appear.
  2. Use the volume keys to scroll to “Wipe data/factory reset” and press the Power button to select it.
  3. Scroll down to “Yes — delete all user data” and select it.
  4. Your device will reboot and restore itself to factory settings, removing the lock screen code.

This factory reset method works on recent Samsung Galaxy models like the S10, S9, S8, and Note 9. The button combination may vary slightly on older devices – for example, Galaxy S7 and below use the Home and Power buttons.

As long as you can access the recovery menu, you can factory reset your Samsung to unlock it. Just know it’s a last resort since it wipes your data.

Method 3: Use Find My Mobile Unlock Remotely

Samsung’s Find My Mobile feature offers a way to unlock your Samsung Galaxy phone remotely using your Samsung account – without deleting data like the factory reset does. Here are the steps:

  1. On a computer, go to findmymobile.samsung.com
  2. Sign in using your Samsung account credentials.
  3. Select your locked device on the map.
  4. Click “Unlock” on the menu.
  5. Enter your Samsung account password to confirm the unlock.
  6. Your device will now be unlocked remotely!

The catch with this method is that you needed to have Find My Mobile enabled on your Samsung device before it was locked. But if you did set it up, this gives you the ability to unlock your phone without losing your files.

Method 4: Use ADB/Fastboot Commands

ADB and Fastboot are advanced tools for managing Android devices through a command line interface. They can be useful for unlocking a Samsung device if you’re comfortable using the command line.

Here’s an overview of how to use ADB and Fastboot to unlock a Samsung Galaxy phone without the code:

  1. Download and install the Android SDK Platform Tools on your computer.
  2. Enable USB debugging in the Developer options on your Samsung device.
  3. Connect your device to your computer via USB.
  4. Open a command prompt/terminal and navigate to the adb tool location.
  5. Type adb devices to verify your device is connected.
  6. Type adb reboot recovery to restart your device in recovery mode.
  7. Type adb shell to get a remote shell on your device.
  8. Run the command rm /data/system/gesture.key and rm /data/system/locksettings.db to delete the lock databases.
  9. Reboot your device, which will now be unlocked!

This is a simplified overview – looking up specific ADB/Fastboot commands for your Samsung model is recommended. But if you’re comfortable on the command line, this method can be very effective.

PS: if you are looking for how to activate Samsung Private Mode, even how to disable Screen Time without the passcode, click to read more.

Method 5: Use a Lock Screen Removal App

There are also some third-party apps available that claim to unlock Android devices without deleting data:

YouTube video

We recommend doing thorough research before downloading third-party apps. Look for positive reviews and evidence the app works on your specific Samsung model before trying it.

These apps do provide an alternative method to unlock your phone without a full factory reset, but the device manager and Find My Mobile options will be safer choices in most cases.

Beside, learn more about how to use Samsung Reset Code to erase the data files on the Samsung phone.

Tips to Avoid Forgetting Your Lock Screen Code

Once you’ve successfully unlocked your Samsung device, take steps to avoid finding yourself locked out again in the future:

  • Set up password recovery. Use fingerprint unlocking in combination with a password/pattern so you have a backup if you forget the main code.
  • Write it down. Keep a written record of your lock screen PIN/password in a safe place in case you forget it.
  • Use password management apps. Apps like LastPass can save your lock screen credentials securely and autofill them on your device when needed.
  • Don’t use complex codes. As tough as it is, avoiding hard-to-remember codes with repeating digits and patterns reduces the chance you’ll forget your password.
  • Enable Find My Mobile. Samsung’s anti-theft feature allows you to unlock devices remotely using your Samsung account.
  • Backup your data. Before you factory reset your device if needed, make sure you backup your important files, photos, contacts, etc.

Taking these preventative measures will reduce the chances of winding up locked out of your Samsung phone again. But if it happens, just use one of the unlocking methods in this guide!

Besides, here, you will find out how to unlock Huawei Mate and how to fix Samsung Tablet Frozen with ease.

Key Takeaways and FAQ

Hopefully by now you have a good understanding of how to unlock a Samsung phone without the password or pattern lock code. Here are some key takeaways:

  • Use Android Device Manager if you have your Google account configured on the device.
  • Factory reset your phone through recovery mode as a last resort if you can’t use other methods.
  • Samsung’s Find My Mobile service lets you unlock phones remotely if enabled beforehand.
  • ADB/Fastboot advanced commands provide an unlock option for technical users.
  • Third-party apps may work but research them thoroughly before downloading.
  • Enable password recovery measures and don’t use overly complex codes to avoid lockouts.

Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about unlocking Samsung devices without the code:

What is the easiest way to unlock my Samsung without the code?

The easiest way is using Android Device Manager if you have a Google account on your phone. It allows instant remote unlocking.

Will factory resetting delete my data and files?

Yes, a full factory reset will wipe all data, photos, files, apps, and settings from the device.

Can I unlock without the code if I bought a used/refurbished Samsung?

Yes, you can factory reset it or use ADB/Fastboot options even without the original owner’s Google account.

What if Find My Mobile is not enabled on my locked device?

Unfortunately, you cannot use Find My Mobile remotely if it wasn’t already turned on before the device was locked.

Are third-party Samsung unlock apps safe to use?

Research them thoroughly first, but the top-rated, well-known options generally work to safely unlock devices without data loss.

What if my device restarts and asks for credentials I don’t have?

This failsafe kicks in when no Google account is configured. You’ll need to factory reset it to access the device.

Hopefully this guide has given you the knowledge to successfully unlock your Samsung device without losing your data in the process! Let me know if you have any other questions.

Jason
Jason

Skilled software testing specialist with expertise in comparisons and research, passionate about blogging, reviews, and creating video tutorials.

THERE’S MORE TO READ.