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Samsung Galaxy • Accounts • 20–45 minutes

I forgot my Samsung passcode — Samsung Galaxy

Read this firstWithout Remote unlock turned on in advance, a forgotten Samsung passcode means the Galaxy must be erased: there is no other way in. Samsung cannot bypass it, your carrier cannot bypass it, and paid unlock services cannot bypass it. Anyone who offers to unlock it for money is running a scam: never pay them.
Samsung has one option the other brands do not: if Remote unlock was turned on while you could still use the phone, you can unlock the Galaxy from the web without losing anything. Try that first. If it was never turned on, the only way back in is a factory reset, which erases the phone.

  1. Try unlocking from SmartThings Find

    Why: If Remote unlock was turned on in advance, Samsung can unlock the Galaxy over the internet and nothing on the phone is erased.

    What to do: On a computer or another phone, open a browser and type smartthingsfind.samsung.com yourself. Sign in with the same Samsung account that is on the locked Galaxy. Choose your phone from the list, then choose Unlock and follow the prompts.

    What to look for: The Galaxy unlocks and its PIN, pattern, or password is removed. If you are told Remote unlock is off, it was never set up, and you will need the reset in the next step.

  2. Factory reset it with the buttons

    Why: When remote unlock is not available, erasing the Galaxy with its buttons is the only way back in.

    What to do: Turn the Galaxy off. If it asks for the passcode before it will turn off, connect it to a computer with its charging cable first. Hold Power (the Side button) and Volume Up together until the Samsung logo appears, then let go of both. On the recovery menu, press Volume Down until Wipe data/factory reset is highlighted, press Power to choose it, highlight Factory data reset, and press Power again. When it finishes, choose Reboot system now.

    What to look for: The Galaxy erases and restarts to the setup screen.

  3. Set the Galaxy up again and restore your backup

    Why: Your Samsung Cloud and Google backups are how your photos, contacts, and apps come back after the reset.

    What to do: Follow the setup screens and sign in with the same Google account that was on the phone; Google asks for it to prove the phone is yours. Restore from your Samsung Cloud or Google backup when offered. Then set a new PIN, pattern, or password you will remember, and write it down somewhere safe at home.

    What to look for: Your apps and photos return as they download. Anything that was never backed up cannot come back.

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