What you can do when your Samsung phone is locked

If you cannot unlock your Samsung phone because you have forgotten the PIN, pattern, or password, you have three main routes: use your Samsung account to unlock it remotely, perform a factory reset through recovery mode, or contact Samsung support. The fastest option depends on whether you set up a Samsung account on the phone and whether you can access a computer.

A factory reset will erase everything on the phone — all photos, messages, apps, and settings — so it should be your last choice if other methods are available. Recovery mode is built into every Samsung phone and does not require internet access, but it takes longer than a remote unlock.

Key Takeaways

  • If you created a Samsung account on the phone, you can unlock it from another device by visiting findmobile.samsung.com and signing in with your account credentials.
  • A factory reset through recovery mode erases all data on the phone but does not require a Samsung account or internet connection.
  • To enter recovery mode on most Samsung phones, hold the power button and volume up button together until the recovery menu appears.
  • If you cannot remember your Samsung account password, you will need to reset that password through Samsung's website before you can use it to unlock the phone.
  • After a factory reset, the phone will ask you to sign in with a Google account or Samsung account that was previously registered on the device.

Unlocking remotely with your Samsung account

If you set up a Samsung account when you first used the phone, you can unlock it from any computer or another phone. Go to findmobile.samsung.com, sign in with your Samsung account email and password, and select your phone from the list of devices. Choose the unlock option and follow the on-screen steps.

This method works only if the phone is connected to the internet and the Samsung account was registered on it. If you do not remember your Samsung account password, visit account.samsung.com, click "Forgot password," and follow the recovery steps using your email address or phone number.

The unlock usually takes a few minutes. Your phone will ask you to confirm the unlock by entering your Samsung account password, then you can set a new PIN or password.

Factory reset through recovery mode

Recovery mode is a built-in menu on every Samsung phone that lets you erase and reset the phone without unlocking it first. To enter recovery mode, power off the phone completely, then hold the power button and volume up button together for several seconds until the Samsung logo appears. Keep holding both buttons until the recovery menu shows up — this usually takes 10 to 15 seconds.

Once the recovery menu is open, use the volume buttons to move down to "Wipe data/factory reset" and press the power button to select it. The phone will ask you to confirm — select "Yes" using the volume buttons and power button. The reset takes 2 to 5 minutes.

After the reset completes, the phone will restart and show the initial setup screen. You will be asked to sign in with a Google account or Samsung account. If you sign in with an account that was previously on the phone, you may be asked to enter that account's password before you can proceed — this is a security feature called Factory Reset Protection.

What happens if you do not know the previous account password

If the phone was set up with a Google account or Samsung account and you do not know the password, you will need to reset that account's password before the phone will let you past the setup screen. For a Google account, visit accounts.google.com on a computer, click "Forgot password," and follow the recovery steps. For a Samsung account, use account.samsung.com.

Once you have reset the account password, return to the phone's setup screen and enter the new password. The phone will verify it and let you proceed to the home screen.

Using Samsung Find Mobile on a computer

Samsung Find Mobile is the web version of the phone's Find My Mobile feature. Open a web browser on any computer, go to findmobile.samsung.com, and sign in with your Samsung account. The site shows a map of your phone's location (if location is turned on) and gives you options to lock, unlock, or erase the phone remotely.

To unlock, click the unlock button and follow the prompts. The phone must be connected to the internet for this to work. If your phone is offline, the unlock will not go through until it connects again.

This method is faster than recovery mode if you have internet access and remember your Samsung account password, but it does not work if the phone is powered off or has no network connection.

Contacting Samsung support

If none of the above methods work — for example, if you do not have a Samsung account, do not remember any account passwords, and cannot access recovery mode — contact Samsung support directly. You will need to provide proof of ownership, such as the original receipt or the IMEI number (dial *#06# on any phone to see it).

Samsung support can help you unlock the phone, but the process takes longer than self-service methods and may require you to send the phone in or visit a service center. Call Samsung at 1-800-726-7864 or visit samsung.com/us/support to start a chat or schedule a callback.

Preventing lockouts in the future

Set up a Samsung account on your phone during initial setup and write down the password in a find place. Turn on Find My Mobile in Settings > Samsung account > Find My Mobile so you can unlock remotely if you forget your PIN or password.

If you use a pattern or PIN, consider writing it down and storing it somewhere safe, separate from your phone. You can also set up a backup PIN or recovery email in your phone's security settings so you have multiple ways to regain access.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a factory reset remove my Google account from the phone?

A factory reset erases all data and settings, but it does not remove the Google account from the phone's security system. After the reset, the phone will ask you to sign in with the Google account that was previously registered. This is Factory Reset Protection, and it prevents someone else from using your phone after a reset.

Can I unlock my Samsung phone without a computer?

Yes. If you have internet access on the phone, you can use the Samsung Find Mobile app (if it is installed) or go to findmobile.samsung.com in the browser. If you do not have internet access, recovery mode is your only option, and it requires holding buttons to access the menu.

How long does a factory reset take?

The reset itself takes 2 to 5 minutes. After that, the phone restarts and shows the setup screen, which can take another 5 to 10 minutes to complete depending on your internet speed and how many accounts you need to sign into.

What is the IMEI number and why do I need it?

The IMEI is a unique identifier for your phone. Dial *#06# on any phone to see it. Samsung support may ask for it to verify that you own the phone before they unlock it remotely.

Can I unlock my phone if it is powered off?

Remote unlock through Samsung Find Mobile requires the phone to be powered on and connected to the internet. Recovery mode also requires the phone to be powered on. If the battery is completely dead, charge it first before attempting any unlock method.