What to do when you cannot unlock your Samsung phone

If you cannot unlock your Samsung phone, you have three main paths: use your Samsung account to unlock it remotely, perform a factory reset through the recovery menu, or contact Samsung support. Which one works depends on whether you remember your Samsung account password, whether you set up Find Mobile, and whether the phone will still power on and respond to button presses.

The fastest route is usually your Samsung account if you set it up when you first configured the phone. If you did not, or if you cannot remember the password, a factory reset through recovery mode will erase everything on the phone but will let you start over. Both methods take 10 to 30 minutes once you begin.

Key Takeaways

  • If you remember your Samsung account email and password, you can unlock the phone from the lock screen itself without erasing anything.
  • A factory reset through recovery mode erases all data on the phone but does not require your Samsung account password.
  • Recovery mode is accessed by holding Power and Volume Up together while the phone is off, then navigating with Volume buttons and confirming with Power.
  • If the phone will not power on or respond to button presses, contact Samsung support or visit a carrier store, because the phone may have a hardware problem.
  • After a factory reset, you will need to set up the phone again from scratch, including signing in to your Samsung account and restoring from a backup if you have one.

Unlock using your Samsung account from the lock screen

If you remember your Samsung account email and password, this is the simplest method. On the lock screen, tap Forgot pattern, Forgot PIN, or Forgot password — the exact wording depends on what type of lock you set. A screen will appear asking for your Samsung account email.

Type in your Samsung account email address, then tap Next. You will be asked to enter the password for that account. Once you do, the phone will unlock and you can set a new lock code when ready. Nothing on the phone is erased. This method works only if you set up a Samsung account when you first configured the phone.

If you do not remember your Samsung account password, go to the Samsung account website on a computer or another device, click Forgot your password?, and follow the steps to reset it. You will need access to the email address you used to create the account. Once you have reset the password, return to your locked phone and try again.

Perform a factory reset through recovery mode

If you do not remember your Samsung account password, or if you did not set up a Samsung account, a factory reset is your next option. This erases all data on the phone — photos, messages, apps, settings — but it does not require your account password. After the reset, you can set up the phone again from scratch.

First, 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 appears on screen. This usually takes 5 to 10 seconds after the logo shows.

Once you see the recovery menu, use the Volume Down button to navigate to Wipe data/factory reset. Highlight it and press the Power button to select it. A confirmation screen will appear asking if you are sure. Use Volume Down to highlight Yes and press Power to confirm. The phone will erase all data and restart. This process takes 2 to 5 minutes.

When the phone restarts, you will see the initial setup screen, the same one you saw when you first bought it. You can now set a new lock code and sign in to your Samsung account (or skip that step if you prefer). If you have a backup of your data stored in your Samsung account or Google account, you can restore it during setup.

What to do if recovery mode will not open

If holding Power and Volume Up does not bring up the recovery menu, the phone may not be responding to button presses. Try plugging the phone into a charger for 15 minutes — sometimes a completely drained battery prevents the phone from responding — then try the button combination again.

If the phone still does not respond, or if it will not power on at all, the problem is likely hardware-related and not something a reset can fix. Contact Samsung support through their website or call the number on your phone bill. You can also visit a carrier store (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or your local carrier) and explain that the phone is locked and will not respond to button presses. They may be able to help or discuss repair or replacement options.

Restore your data after a factory reset

After you set up the phone again, you can restore your photos, contacts, and other data if you backed them up before the phone was locked. During the initial setup, when the phone asks if you want to restore from a backup, choose Restore and sign in to the account where your backup is stored.

If you backed up to your Samsung account, sign in with that account during setup and the phone will offer to restore your data. If you backed up to Google, sign in with your Google account and choose to restore from that backup. If you did not back up your data, you will not be able to recover it after a factory reset.

Prevent lockouts in the future

Set up a Samsung account during initial phone setup and write down the password in a safe place. This account is the fastest way to unlock the phone if you forget your lock code. You can also enable Find Mobile in your Samsung account settings, which lets you unlock the phone remotely from a computer if you are locked out.

Enable automatic backups to your Samsung account or Google account so that if you ever need to do a factory reset, your photos and contacts are not lost. Go to Settings > Accounts > Samsung account (or Google) and turn on backup. The phone will back up your data regularly without you having to do anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. After a factory reset, the phone is wiped completely and you will need to sign in to your Samsung account again during setup. If you want to use the same account, have your email and password ready. If you do not sign back in, you will not be able to restore your backed-up data.

Can I unlock my Samsung phone without erasing it?

Yes, if you remember your Samsung account password. Use the Forgot pattern/PIN/password option on the lock screen and enter your account credentials. A factory reset erases everything, so use it only if you cannot remember your Samsung account password.

How long does a factory reset take?

The reset itself takes 2 to 5 minutes. Setting up the phone again from scratch takes another 10 to 20 minutes, depending on how many accounts you sign into and whether you restore data from a backup.

What if I forgot my Samsung account password and the email address I used is no longer active?

Contact Samsung support and explain the situation. You may be asked to verify your identity using the phone's serial number or other information. If verification is not possible, a factory reset is your remaining option, though you will lose all data on the phone.

Can I unlock my Samsung phone using Find Mobile?

Find Mobile lets you locate your phone, lock it remotely, or unlock it if you set it up before the phone was locked. Go to findmobile.samsung.com on a computer, sign in with your Samsung account, and look for the unlock option. This works only if you enabled Find Mobile in your settings before you were locked out.