The fastest way to unlock your Samsung phone depends on what you remember

If you have forgotten your PIN, pattern, or password, Samsung gives you several ways back into your phone without losing your data. The method that works depends on whether you remember your Samsung account password, whether you set up biometric unlock (fingerprint or face recognition), and how many unlock attempts you have left. Most people can regain access in under an hour using one of these routes.

The most important thing to know: do not keep guessing your PIN or pattern. After five to ten wrong attempts (the number varies by phone model), Samsung locks the screen for 30 seconds, then longer. After many failed attempts, the phone may ask you to wait 24 hours before trying again. Stop guessing and use one of the methods below instead.

Key Takeaways

  • If you remember your Samsung account password, you can unlock most phones by entering that password on the lock screen after a few failed PIN attempts.
  • Samsung Find Mobile is the online tool to unlock a phone remotely if you have already set up a Samsung account on the device.
  • If you set up a fingerprint or face unlock, you can use that method to get past the PIN screen, then change your PIN in Settings.
  • Factory reset through recovery mode erases all data on the phone but works on any Samsung model when other methods are not available.
  • If the phone is locked to a carrier or has an MDM (mobile device management) lock from an employer, you will need to contact that organization directly.

Unlock with your Samsung account password

This is the fastest method if you remember your Samsung account password. After you enter the wrong PIN or pattern five to ten times, the lock screen will show a message saying "Try again in [time]" and offer a link to "Unlock with Samsung account" or "Unlock with Google account." Tap that link.

Enter the email address and password for the Samsung account you set up on this phone. If you do not remember which email you used, check your phone bill or any Samsung emails in your personal email inbox. Once you enter the correct password, the lock screen clears and you can set a new PIN when ready in Settings > Lock screen > Screen lock type.

This method only works if you set up a Samsung account on the phone before you forgot the PIN. If you never created one, move to the next method.

Use Samsung Find Mobile from a computer or another phone

Samsung Find Mobile is Samsung's online tool to locate and unlock a phone remotely. Go to findmobile.samsung.com on any computer or another phone's web browser. Sign in with the Samsung account email and password you used on the locked phone.

Once you are logged in, your phone should appear in the list of devices. Click on it, then look for an "Unlock" or "Unlock my mobile" button. The phone will unlock within a few seconds if it is connected to the internet. You can then set a new PIN in Settings.

This method requires that you set up a Samsung account on the phone before it was locked, and that the phone currently has internet access (WiFi or mobile data). If the phone is offline or you never created a Samsung account, this will not work.

Unlock using your fingerprint or face

If you set up fingerprint unlock or face unlock on your phone, you can use either one to bypass the PIN screen. Place your finger on the fingerprint sensor (usually on the back or side of the phone) or look at the front camera for face recognition. The phone will unlock without asking for your PIN.

Once you are in, go to Settings > Lock screen > Screen lock type. You can now change your PIN to something you will remember. You do not need to enter the old PIN to change it—the biometric unlock is enough to let you into Settings.

This method only works if you actually set up and used fingerprint or face unlock before forgetting your PIN. If you never turned on biometric unlock, you cannot use this route.

Factory reset through recovery mode

If none of the above methods work, you can perform a factory reset through Samsung's recovery mode. This erases all data on the phone—photos, messages, apps, everything—but it will let you set up the phone as new without a PIN.

Turn off the phone completely. Then press and hold the Power button and Volume Up button at the same time for about 10 seconds until the Samsung logo appears. Release the buttons. The recovery menu will appear on the screen.

Use the Volume Down button to scroll to "Wipe data/factory reset" and press the Power button to select it. The phone will ask you to confirm. Select "Yes" and press Power. The reset will take a few minutes. When it finishes, select "Reboot system now" and the phone will restart without a lock screen.

The exact button combination varies slightly by Samsung model. If Power + Volume Up does not work, try Power + Volume Down, or search "[your phone model] recovery mode" to find the correct combination for your device.

Carrier locks and work device locks

Some Samsung phones have additional locks that go beyond the PIN. If your phone is locked to a specific carrier (like Verizon or AT&T), you may see a message about carrier lock when you try to unlock it. If your phone is managed by your employer or school, it may have an MDM (mobile device management) lock that prevents any unlock method from working.

For a carrier lock, contact your carrier's customer service with proof of ownership (your account number or the phone's IMEI number, which you can find in Settings > About phone). They can unlock the phone remotely.

For an MDM lock, contact your employer's IT department or your school's technology support. They control the lock and are the only ones who can remove it. These locks exist to protect company or school data, so the organization will verify your identity before unlocking.

What to do if you cannot remember your Samsung account password

If you know your Samsung account email but not the password, go to account.samsung.com on any computer or another phone. Click "Sign in" and then "Forgot password?" Enter your Samsung account email. Samsung will send a password reset link to that email address.

Open the email, click the reset link, and create a new password. Once you have set a new password, you can use it to unlock your phone through the Samsung account method described above, or through Samsung Find Mobile.

If you do not have access to the email address linked to your Samsung account, you cannot reset the password through this method. In that case, try the factory reset through recovery mode instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many times can I try my PIN before the phone locks me out?

Most Samsung phones lock the screen for 30 seconds after five wrong attempts, then increase the wait time with each additional failure. After 10 to 15 wrong attempts, the phone may require you to wait 24 hours before trying again. Do not rely on guessing—use one of the unlock methods instead.

Will unlocking my phone erase my photos and messages?

Using your Samsung account password, biometric unlock, or Samsung Find Mobile will not erase anything. Only a factory reset through recovery mode erases all data. If you use that method, everything on the phone is deleted.

Can I unlock my phone if it is turned off?

Samsung Find Mobile requires the phone to be on and connected to the internet. If the phone is off, turn it on first. The other methods (Samsung account password, biometric unlock, recovery mode reset) work whether the phone is on or off.

What if my phone is locked to my carrier?

A carrier lock is separate from a PIN lock. Contact your carrier's customer service with proof of ownership. They can unlock the phone so you can use it with another carrier. You still need to unlock the PIN separately using one of the methods above.

Can I unlock someone else's Samsung phone?

No. All of these methods require either the PIN, the Samsung account password, biometric data (your own fingerprint or face), or physical access to the phone's recovery mode. You cannot unlock a phone that belongs to someone else without their permission and their account information.