What to do if you forgot Android phone password

Have forgotten password for your Android phone? Here's how to reset the password and unlock your Android screen. The article applies for resetting Pattern, PIN code, as well.

Forgetting a phone password and need a quick way to unlock your Android phone screen? You may take a look at Android Unlocker, which offers easy screen lock removal and extra tools.

There's no way to unlock your phone if you forget your Android passcode without factory resetting the device.

Forgot your Android password and now can't get into the phone? You're not alone. It can be an annoying moment when you're locked of your phone without knowing the password, but don't worry. Android owners have a few way to reset a forgotten password, whether you use an Android phone or tablet. All you have to do is sign in to Google Find My Device to execute a remote erase. Another option is to perform a factory reset from Recovery menu, which you can do with buttons. They both do the same things.

The only caveat is that you will have to reset your Android phone to factory settings, which erases all of your data, and log in with your Google account during device setting up if you've forgotten your phone password. You will then can recover your personal data, messages, settings, files, media that have been backed up with Google account.

No matter how strong your memory is, there may come a time when you get locked out of Android phone because you forgot your password. Here is how to unlock your phone to gain access. For iPhone users, see how to unlock iPhone without passcode.

Table of contents

• Make sure you know your Google account
• The first thing to try
• Use Smart Lock
• Use Google Find My Device if you forgot password on Android
• Use Android Unlocker to unlock phone and password
• Use Recovery menu to factory reset Android forgotten password

Make sure you know your Google account

What to do if you forgot your phone password? The first thing you need to do is remember the credentials of the Google account present on your Android phone. After your phone is factory reset, You will need the correct user name and password of Google to bypass FRP (Factory Reset Protection) during the setup process. This security measure is to protect the phone from unauthorized reset and access.

If you don't have the information of your Google account, you will be stuck at "Verify your account" screen and the device will be permanently locked.

The first thing to try

If your Android phone has been unlocked since you last power it on, even if you forgot the password to your Android, you should be able to unlock it with your facial recognition or fingerprint, depending on what biometric feature you have on the device. Once you get in, you should back up all of your important data, as it doesn't help you reset your password, you still need to know the original one if you want to make a change. The bigger problem is you will no longer use your biometric feature to unlock your phone after it has been rebooted.

Use Smart Lock

Google Smart Lock provides convenient and secure access control to your device without a screen lock. If you've set up the Smart Lock feature before forgetting your phone passcode, and have it automatically logged in with a trusted place or device, you may take your phone near that place or device, and it will unlock for you automatically. You then can back up your data and perform a factory reset to remove the password.

Also see: What to do when you forgot iPad passcode

Use Google Find My Device

Ideally, your Android phone will have connected to a Wi-Fi network or mobile data and you have linked your Google ID to your user account on the device, which will make it possible to unlock your phone when you forgot the password using Google Find My Device.

1. Open Find My Device website in any web browser.

2. Sign in with your Gmail ID and enter the password. If you don't remember the password for your Google account, you may click this page to recover it.

3. When you're signed in, select the phone from the list on the left side of the screen.

4. To unlock the forgotten password, click Factory reset device option.

5. A new window will show up, waiting for you to enter your Google account password to verify your identity. This is a necessary step to stop someone from resetting your phone password without permission.

6. Select Reset to proceed.

7. Click Erase to confirm.

Be noted that, while your forgotten password will be removed after the factory reset, all of your data stored on the phone will be erased permanently, as well. However, at least you'll be able to use it again.

Haven't enabled Find My Device on your phone? Don't worry, try one of the following solutions to get into an Android phone you forgot the password for.

Use Android Unlocker

If you have trouble with signing to Googe Find My Device or there isn't your phone in the list, then you can unlock a phone when you forgot the password with a dedicated third-party utility, something like Android Unlocker.

The software provides users with screen lock removal and the ability to override Factory Reset Protection (FRP) that's introduced to prevent an unauthorized person from resetting your phone and accessing your data. In other words, you can quickly remove any screen locks on the Android phone or tablet, including the PIN codes, password, Pattern, facial recognition, and fingerprint, so that you can regain control of the device instantly. The tool can also identify and clean FRP lock when you forgot your Google account password and are stuck at a verification screen for an Android device.

For Android users that have forgotten phone password, follow these steps to unlock the phone with Android Unlocker.

Step 1. Select the unlock mode

Run the software on your computer. The app is easy to use and targets the average Android users who wants to unlock screen locks and bypass FRP.

To reset a password you forgot, select "Remove Screen Password" here. It also can unlock your phone when you forgot Android PIN or pattern.

Step 2. Choose the phone brand

Here you will need to choose what phone brand you has to help the software quickly prepare the configuration file.

Step 3. Connect the Android phone to computer

Go ahead and use a cable to connect your phone into your computer and your device should appear on the screen soon. If not, you may click "The device is connected but cannot be recognized?" link, follow the instruction to boot the phone from Recovery mode.

Step 4. Press "Remove Now"

This should be the simplest step. All you have to do is click the "Remove Now" button and let the Android Unlocker software do its things.

Wait for it to unlock your phone screen and password you forgot until you see a "Removed Successfully" window pop up.

The next step should be to set up your phone from scratch and restore your data that is synced or backed up to the Google account. 

Use Recovery menu

Your last resort to get rid of "forgot Android password" problem is boot your phone into Android Recovery menu where you can choose to factory reset. Depending on your device and manufacturer, the procedure that involves using a combination of the Power and Volume buttons will differ somewhat.

Here's how to reset your Android phone through Recovery menu if you can't remember password.

Reset Samsung phones forgotten password

1. Power down your phone. 

2. Enter Recovery menu. For device that's running Android 11 and newer, you will need to connect your phone into computer first.

For newer Samsung phones such as the Galaxy S20 and later, Note10 and later, Fold, and Z Flip, press and hold the Volume up button and side buttons until the phone vibrates and you see the Samsung logo.

For Samsung phones with a Bixby button such as Galaxy S8, S9, S10, press and hold the Volume up, Power, and Bixby buttons until Recovery mode screen appears.

For older Samsung phones with a physical Home button, press and hold the Volume up, Home, and Power buttons at the same time until your phone vibrates, and then release just the Power button.

3. Release the Volume up button and Home button when you get into recovery menu screen.

4. Use the Volume buttons to scroll down and highlight 'Wipe data/factory reset" option, Press the Power button to select.

5. Press the Power button again to select "Yes," "Yes - delete all user data," or "Factory data reset."

6. Use the volume buttons to scroll and highlight "Reboot system now." Press Power to select, it will restart as normal.

See: How to bypass Google account from Samsung phone

Reset Motorola phones when forgot password

1. Hold down the Power button to shut off your device completely, then charge it to at least 30%.

2. Press and hold the Volume Down button and the Power button until the phone turns on.

3. After the boot menu appears, use the Volume buttons to scroll to "Recovery Mode" and use the Power button to select it.

4. If you see an Android robot with a red exclamation mark, press and hold the Power button and, while holding it down, press and release the Volume up button.

5. Use the Volume buttons to select "Wipe data/factory reset," then Power button to select it.

6. Select "Factory data reset" and then press the Power button to select it.

7. Select "Reboot system now" and press the Power button.

Reset OnePlus phones when you've forgotten password

1. Hold down the Power button to turn your device off.

2. Press and hold the Volume down and Power button until the device vibrates and you see "Android Recovery" screen appear. Then release both buttons.

3. Use the Volume buttons to scroll down to find your language and press the Power button to select it.

4. Select "Wipe data and cache" and then "Erase everything."

5. Select "This can not be undone, continue?" Your phone will reboot when finished.

6. Once done, select "Reboot" or "Done."

Reset Google Pixel phones when forgot password on Android

1. Turn off your phone by holding down the Power button.

2. Press and hold the Power and Volume down buttons for around 10 to 15 seconds.

3. Use the Volume up and Volume down buttons to highlight "Recovery Mode" from the menu options, then press the Power button to select it.

4. The words "No command" should display.

5. Press and hold the Power button. and then press the Volume up button. A new menu will pop up.

6. Use the Volume buttons to scroll to select "Wipe data/factory reset" and use the Power button to select it.

7. Select "Factory data reset" and then Power button to select it.

8. After the factory reset, you'll see "Data wipe complete."

9. Select "Reboot system now" and then Power button to select it. Your phone will restart.

Ret LG phones forgotten password

1. Turn the phone off.

2. Press and hold the Volume Down and the Power buttons at the same time for approximately 10 seconds.

3. Release both of the keys when the System recovery screen is displayed.

4. Press a Volume Down button to scroll to select "Factory data reset," then press the Power button to confirm.

5. Press a Volume Down button to highlight "Yes," then press the Power button to confirm.

6. Your phone will perform a factory reset and erase all personal data from the phone's memory.

Reset TCL phones password if forgotten

1. Hold down the Power button to power off your device.

2. Press and hold the Volume down and Power buttons until the 'TCL' logo appears then release only the Power button.

3. Continue to hold Volume down, until the "Android Recovery" screen appears.

4. Use the Volume buttons to highlight and select "Wipe data / factory reset," and use the Power button to select it.

5. Use the Volume buttons to highlight and select "Wipe data / factory reset" a second time, using the Power button to select it.

6. Your phone will reboot when it's done.

Reset OPPO phones when you're locked

1. Hold down the Power button to turn off your device.

2. Press and hold the Volume down and Power buttons at the same time until the bootloader appears.

3. Continue to hold Volume down, until the "Android Recovery" screen appears.

4. Use the Volume buttons to highlight and select "Wipe data / factory reset," and use the Power button to select it.

6. Your phone will go through a complete factory reset.

7. Select "Reboot system now" and your phone will restore back to normal.