Forgot Your Android Passcode? 5 Ways to Get Back In

Screen locks on smartphones are a vital way to keep the contents of your device private. In an age when you have personal, professional, and financial information on your phone, locking your mobile has become a necessity instead of a choice.

It goes without saying that if you forget your phone passcode, you can get locked out of your device. There's a greater risk of forgetting thanks to the fingerprint scanners on modern devices that render passwords as a backup.

Here are some ways that you can regain access to your Android phone if you forget your password.

Are You Sure You Forgot It?

If you've just typed "How do I unlock my Android phone if I forgot my PIN" into Google and found yourself in this article, before you proceed any further, it's wise to take a moment to make sure you've actually forgotten your passcode. While this may seem obvious, it will save you a lot of hassle in the long run.

Android lets you choose any number of digits for your PIN. If you're trying to recall a four or six-digit code, consider whether your passcode is actually a different length. This may help you remember it. Another trick to try is allowing your muscle memory to do the work. Go away and do another task, then pick up your phone and see which keys your fingers automatically move to.

But if you have definitely forgotten your Android PIN, then here are some ways to unlock your phone.

1. Unlock With Smart Lock

Smart Lock is an Android feature that lets you specify certain conditions that bypass your lock screen security. You'll find it under Settings > Security > Smart lock on most phones, or Settings > Lock Screen > Smart Lock Type on Samsung devices.

However, you must have set it up before you forgot your PIN!

You're required to input your current lock password to make changes to the feature. Then you can choose five possible options to unlock your smartphone without a password:

• On-body detection: The phone senses that you're carrying it and automatically stays unlocked while it's in your hands or your pocket.
• Trusted places: Uses your location to unlock your phone when you're near an address that you've selected.
• Trusted devices: Keeps your device unlocked when connected to a trusted Bluetooth device, like your fitness tracker or car.
• Trusted face: Uses facial recognition to unlock your phone.
• Voice match: When it recognizes your trusted voice, it unlocks your phone. Unfortunately, this option was discontinued in Android 8 Oreo and beyond, although it still works on earlier devices.

If you've already set up one or more of these options before you forgot your password, you can use it to get back into your phone.

However, you can't change Smart Lock or password settings without entering your current password. Thus, you may still need to factory reset your Android phone, but at least you can back everything up first.