A phone with buttons is a thing of the past, you might think. However, models without touch screens can still be found in mobile phone stores or on marketplaces. And they are really in demand. For example, if you need to give a first-grader a means of communication or make a gift to a grandmother who, due to her age, does not understand how a sensor works and is much more comfortable with a push-button device.
If you find such a device useful, it will be useful to remember how to open it. Usually, the lock is removed using the device’s keyboard, by long pressing the combination of the “Menu” button (the large central button) and the “*” or “#” keys.
However, it may not always work. For example, if access to personal data was previously restricted using a protective digital password, also known as a PIN code. In this case, the question arises of how to unlock a push-button telephone, which will require other methods of removing the lock. This trouble can happen to both owners of gadgets of a well-known brand and less popular devices – no one is immune from losing a password.
Normal unlocking method
This is how push-button telephones are usually turned on:
- Press and hold the power button , usually the power button is located on the top of the phone or on the side. Or the end call button – it is also used as a trigger to turn the device on and off. Press and hold this button for a few seconds (usually 2-3 seconds) until the manufacturer’s logo appears on the screen or the power-on process begins.
- Wait for the boot process : After pressing and holding the power button, the phone will begin the boot process. Typically, the manufacturer’s logo will appear on the screen, followed by the boot screen. Wait for the phone to boot completely.
- Unlock (if necessary): If your phone has an unlock code, you may need to enter it after booting up to access the device’s features.
This is the basic process of turning on a push-button telephone. However, in some models and devices there may be slight differences in the turning on procedure.
Via SOS call
There is another way to remove the lock from a push-button phone. If the PIN code has been safely forgotten, you can try to reset the device itself to factory settings. To perform this function, enter one of the combinations suggested in the list. The current code is different for each phone model, so you can try several.
- 1122;
- 1234;
- 0000;
- 8888;
- 1111;
- *2767*2878# — partial reset of user settings;
- *2767*3855# — full gadget rollback.
Let’s look at an example of entering such a code on a Samsung device:
- Turn on the phone, it must be charged.
- We call the rapid response service – 112. Immediately after that, we press “*” until the dialing function appears inside the call state.
- If it doesn’t work and the automated informant starts talking, drop the connection and start over. Usually one cycle takes ten seconds.
- When the additional dialing has worked, enter the engineering code *2767*8451#.
- A reboot screen appeared. We agree.
The code is not a universal solution to all problems. Digital combinations may differ from device to device, depending on the model and software version of a particular gadget. If this method was not useful for you and you did not find the desired version of the combination, then we suggest you try a few more options.
SIM card error
If you have learned the engineering code, you can try to reboot the device in another way, without calling special services. In order for this method to be useful, you will only need free access to the SIM card slot. Using the same device as an example, we will consider this method of unlocking a push-button phone.
- First, turn off your phone by holding the power button until the device turns off completely. Make sure the phone is completely off, then insert the SIM card into the slot, but not all the way in so that you can move it freely inside the slot.
- Turn on the phone by holding the power button until the device starts to boot up, and immediately begin to move the SIM card inside the slot. Move the card smoothly but firmly, trying to break its contact with the slot.
- Continue moving the SIM card until the message “Please wait” appears on the screen. This step may take several attempts. If the message does not appear, repeat the process from the beginning. Once the message “Please wait” appears, continue moving the SIM card until the message “SIM card failure” appears. This means that the phone has temporarily lost contact with the SIM card.
- After that, immediately enter the universal engineering reset code: *2767*3855#. This code will initiate the automatic reset process of the phone, and it will reboot automatically. Wait until the device is completely rebooted.
Please note that the factory reset process deletes all data on your phone, so make sure you have a backup of any important data. Be careful not to damage the SIM card or the slot when handling them.
Utilities for unlocking your phone
Using special utilities to unlock the phone or perform a hard reset and delete information can be useful, but it is recommended to do this only after the warranty period has expired, otherwise you will not be able to repair the device under warranty. As an example, consider a Nokia device, in addition, you need a computer or laptop with the Mynokiatool program installed on them.
Unlocking using the utility can be done as follows:
- Download and install the utility on your computer.
- Connect your phone to your computer using a USB cable.
- Select the language when starting the program.
- Sync your phone with your computer.
- Click on the “Connect” button and wait for the “Phone connected” notification.
- Select the “Read Code” option.
- Click on the “Stuff” button and then on “Reset settings”.
- Confirm the action by clicking the “OK” button.
Once the process is complete, the phone will be reset to factory settings and all stored information will be lost. Typically, the security code in this case will be the default one set by the manufacturer, usually “12345”.
To identify the security code (using Nokia as an example), you can use the NSS — Nemesis program. To do this:
- Download and install the drivers.
- Select the “Virtual USB Disk” option during the boot process.
- Perform a phone scan.
- Click on the “Read info” button to get information.
Once the process is complete, the program will determine the code, which will be saved in the file 0000000000000.pm. Open this file in Notepad and delete the number “3” in the fifth line to get the desired cipher.
Reflashing the gadget
To flash your phone, you will need a desktop computer and a suitable cable, software and drivers for your PC, as well as the official firmware version from the manufacturer or from 4pda.ru. Before you begin, make sure your phone is fully charged.
- Connect your phone to your computer and make sure it appears in the devices menu on your PC.
- Then open the software reinstallation utility and follow the flashing instructions. It is important not to deviate from the instructions and recommendations provided by the creator of the program, as failure to follow these instructions can brick your phone.
If you are unable to reset the PIN code yourself or you are not confident in your abilities when reinstalling the system, contact the manufacturer’s service department or a repair shop. Keep in mind that this may cost a lot of money and take some time, depending on how busy the repairman is. The service center may also tell you the data reset codes or where to find the official firmware version.
Every year it is becoming more and more difficult to find the necessary version of the operating system, a cable for connecting to a desktop computer and software for home reflashing of an outdated phone. In case of problems, you increasingly have to contact a service center. We give you this recommendation if you doubt your abilities or were unable to unlock a push-button phone.