Android is an operating system that allows users to make modifications. And because this puts data security at risk, it is necessary to implement protection measures. One of them is the screen lock, with which we manage to prevent other people from having access to the information on the device.
The screen offers three ways to lock: PIN, pattern, and password. Any of them can be configured by accessing the device settings. The real problem occurs when the computer crashes, and we forget the security element used .
It is quite common for the user to forget the unlock information. And with that you lose access to the device. This situation can be quite stressful. However, there are alternatives that will help you unlock the screen . In today’s post we explain in a simple way the steps to follow to recover the security information, and thus be able to enter your computer again. Let’s go there!
Unlocking the screen of devices with Android operating system
Most of the mobile device users panic when they find their phone locked. It is quite common that they do not remember the PIN, pattern or password, which they generally use to access the screen. Google has developed recovery methods, because it is a situation that occurs very regularly. And changing teams is not an option that can be resorted to at any moment.
There are several ways to solve this problem. Next, we will describe the most common ones, which are not necessarily the simplest. The user can explore these different alternatives, although it is not guaranteed that they will always be successful.
1- Find my device
It is an option available only within the Google platform. Android devices need a Gmail account to be able to access all its functions. If Find my device is active , then from a computer it will be possible to block or erase the device. However, also with this same tool we can create a new password that will allow us to unlock it.
The way to do this unlocking is to access the website myaccount.google.com/find-your-phone . You will need to enter your Google account login information . Then, choose the device that is locked and click the Lock your phone option.
It will allow you to create a new password. After creating this new password, enter it on the locked device. Now, access the settings and configure the locking system again.
2- Recover your password through Gmail
It is a valid alternative when the blocked device is a computer that has an old version of Android. The easiest way to unblock it is through your Gmail account. To do this, you must try to unlock the equipment five times without success.
This will activate the “Forgot your password” option. Then we can enter the PUK code to unlock the phone. We can also enter our Gmail account and log in to unlock the screen of the device (of course, it must be the same account as the main account of the phone). Remember that to carry out this action you must have an Internet connection.
In short, a great unlocking method, but as we mentioned we must have a version of Android 4.4 or lower , which is very unlikely at this point in 2021.
3- Smartlock
With every Android update, more and more security methods are available. One of the options is the previous configuration of Smartlock . That is, once you purchase the equipment, it is necessary to activate this option. It will save you many future problems related to screen lock. Here’s how to use it.
It is a Google administrator that allows you to store information related to security and that is necessary for certain applications. To use this option, go to this site https://passwords.google.com . Here you will be shown a list of all the passwords that have been stored in your account. Locate the PIN, and enter it to unlock the phone.
4- Safe mode for disabling locks by third parties
It is useful if the crash occurs through the well-known third-party lock apps. For this, the best option to unlock the mobile is through the so-called “safe mode . ” It can be activated by restarting the phone, but third-party applications will be disabled.
The use of this option will vary from one device to another, but in most of these, it can be activated by pressing and holding the power button. This will allow a window to be displayed with the option turned off. Press and hold on Shut down until a message appears to start in safe mode, which you must accept. After this, directly uninstall the lock app.
ADB for removal of lock system
This is the most complicated way to unlock your mobile phone screen. This option is ideal for those who are knowledgeable in using the ADB commands . Before starting the procedure, you must have the USB debugging option activated and the ADB pack installed on the PC (you can see all the details in THIS OTHER POST ).
The first thing will be to connect your Android device to the computer. Now, enter the ADB directory. The following command should be executed: “adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key” . After this it is necessary to restart the device, the locking system will be deactivated.
One detail that should never be forgotten is that this possibility will work as long as USB debugging is activated . The computer must also be granted permissions to access the information on the device. Otherwise, it will not be possible to execute the ADB commands for unlocking.
Apps like iMobie’s DroidKit?
Honestly, I do not know to what extent the use of these types of applications is legal, but in principle DroidKit does just that: remove the lock pattern or PIN from a phone “by force”. That is, it does not ask for any method to verify that we are the owners of the terminal, which can be a bit tricky in more ways than one and can bring us many problems.
In any case, it is an application for PC (Windows and macOS) with which we must connect the mobile using a USB cable and let the unlocking program do its magic. It has a free trial version and a paid premium version that unlocks all the functionalities of the tool.
We cannot recommend its use as we have not tested DroidKit, and most of the reviews we have seen on other sites seem to be sponsored reviews so its input reliability is very low.
In short, we must always be clear that the unlock pattern is for that: to have the phone locked. It seems a bit sad, but if we forget the pattern or the password we have many ballots so that we cannot get back on the phone. On Google’s own support page, the first thing they tell us in this regard is that we will have to erase the data from the mobile, so you can imagine that unlocking a forgotten pattern is not something that happens very often.
