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Forgot Your Samsung Galaxy Screen Lock? Try These Recovery Steps

Try Samsung’s previous-lock recovery before resetting a locked Galaxy. If you must erase the phone, prepare for lost local data and possible Samsung or Google account verification.

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If you forgot your Samsung phone’s screen PIN, password, or pattern, try recovering with your previous lock before considering a reset. On eligible Galaxy phones, Samsung retains a recently replaced lock for 72 hours. If that option is unavailable, the remaining reset methods erase the phone’s local data and may require the Samsung or Google account already associated with it.

First, identify which password or PIN you forgot

This guidance is for the lock that appears on the phone’s screen. A SIM PIN, Samsung Account password, Google Account password, or carrier network unlock code is a different problem and requires the relevant carrier or account recovery process. Factory-resetting the phone is not the right way to recover those credentials.

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Try the previous screen lock before erasing the phone

Samsung says previous-lock recovery is available on Galaxy devices running One UI 6.1 or later when the screen lock was changed within the past 72 hours and the previous credential was retained. The old PIN, password, or pattern must not have been deleted when the new one was set. Samsung’s instructions for forgotten PINs, passwords, and patterns describe the recovery flow.

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  1. Enter the wrong screen lock at least five times to make the “Forgot PIN/password/pattern?” option appear. Samsung India says the recovery flow allows three attempts to enter the previous lock, so avoid guessing.
  2. Tap “Forgot PIN/password/pattern?” and enter the previous PIN, password, or pattern.
  3. Set a new screen lock when prompted.

If you cannot remember the previous lock, deleted it, or are outside the 72-hour window, this route will not help. Smart Lock, also called Extend Unlock, is a convenience that must have been configured beforehand; it is not a dependable way to bypass a forgotten lock. Samsung also notes that after four hours of inactivity or a restart, the screen lock credential must be entered.

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Choose a reset only if losing local data is acceptable

A factory reset does not reveal or remove the forgotten password while preserving data. It erases data stored on the phone, and setup afterward may require the accounts previously used on it. Check whether you have a current backup and can sign in to the associated Samsung and Google accounts before proceeding.

Option Local data What it depends on
Previous-lock recovery Preserved Eligible software, a recent lock change, an available previous credential, and the recovery window.
Samsung remote erase Erased Access to the Samsung account and the device, network, and remote-control conditions for the region and model.
Google remote erase Erased The phone was set up with a Google account and you can access that account and its device-finding service.
Recovery-mode reset Erased The correct button procedure for the exact model; Google account verification may be required during setup.
Samsung service support May be erased Help from Samsung or an authorized service center; a reset does not restore erased data.

Erase the phone remotely through Samsung or Google

Samsung SmartThings Find

If the phone is registered to your Samsung account and the relevant remote functions are available, sign in to SmartThings Find, select the phone, and choose “Erase data.” Samsung’s regional instructions are not identical: Samsung India’s guide says an offline phone will be erased when it next comes online, while Samsung UK’s guide lists a Samsung account, network connection, and enabled remote-control or remote-unlock settings among the requirements. Samsung US guidance also specifies that the device must be on, connected to a stable network, registered to a Samsung account, and have remote controls enabled for the described Find functions.

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Follow the instructions for your country and phone. The erase permanently deletes device data; Find controls will no longer be available for that phone after it has been erased. Account verification may also be requested.

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Google Find My Device

Samsung US also documents remote erasure through Google Find My Device for a phone set up with a Google account. Sign in to the Google account used on the phone, select the device, choose “Factory reset device,” verify the account if prompted, and confirm the erase. The phone will need to be set up again afterward. This is a data-erasing reset, not a data-preserving unlock. See Samsung’s US instructions for the described flow.

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Reset with the phone’s hardware buttons

Samsung UK describes resetting a locked Galaxy through recovery mode, where the user selects “Wipe data/factory reset” or the equivalent option shown on the device. The button combination differs across models and generations, so use the official instructions for your exact Galaxy model rather than applying a sequence intended for another phone. Samsung’s UK support guide explains the recovery-mode approach.

A button-based reset also erases the phone. Google Device Protection may then require the Google account previously registered on the device before setup can continue. Make sure you know those credentials before starting.

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Get account access or hands-on help if verification blocks setup

If you cannot sign in to the Samsung or Google account requested during recovery or setup, use that provider’s official account-recovery process. Do not treat a reset as a way around account verification. If the self-service options do not work, contact Samsung support or an authorized service center; Samsung’s regional guidance says a service center may reset a phone when the previous lock is also forgotten, but that reset still deletes data.

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Samsung’s instructions and service availability vary by country, model, and software version. The linked SmartThings Find instructions from Hong Kong, for example, are specifically for Hong Kong products: Samsung Hong Kong’s SmartThings Find guide. Use support material for your own region when following any reset procedure.

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