How to unlock android phone pattern lock if forgotten

Introduction: What to Do When You Forget Your Lock Pattern

It's frustrating when you want to open your phone and you forgot your lock screen pattern. Getting your phone working again is pretty simple. I know two(2) ways to unlock it if you completely forgot how to unlock it. You can either use your Google account or hard reset your device. I will show you both.

Table of Contents Show

Introduction: What to Do When You Forget Your Lock Pattern
Step 1: Use Your Google Account
Step 2: Boot to Android System Recovery
Step 3: Hard Reset and Done
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How do I perform a factory reset using hardware buttons?

This might not work for all phones as different phones have different designs especially later models (In this tutorial, my phone is running Gingerbread).

Additionally, you can go back to where you bought your device or to a professional but that will cost money; the ones I'm showing you are free.

Step 1: Use Your Google Account

If you don't have data connection or internet access or if you don't have your Google account linked to your phone, then, you can skip this step.

- At the bottom right part of the screen, you'll see "Forgot Pattern" button.

- Tap it and it will ask you to enter your email and password.

- Type in the required information and tap "sign in" and you'll be redirected to Google play.

- There you'll see instructions. Just follow them and you'll be fine.

Step 2: Boot to Android System Recovery

If you don't have google account or data connection, this may be the only way to make your phone usable again but beware: It will DELETE ALL INFORMATION you have on your phone;eg. email accounts(if there are any), cache, installed apps(not built in), settings, and files in the internal storage but it will usually keep the files stored in your external storage. Hard reset will set your device to factory settings. (Just like when you bought it.)

- You can start by powering off your device in any way you can.
- Removing the sd is optional.(It makes sure that the process won't delete the files there.)
- Then, turn the device on by holding down the Power Button and Volume Down rocker simultaneously. In some phones, there may be other combinations like Power + Home / Power + Volume Up / Power + Volume Up and Down / etc.... you can try other combinations on yourself and see which ones work.

- If you're successful, an option will appear. Select "System Recovery" by pressing volume up. On some phones, it goes directly to the Android System Recovery Screen .

- You'll see the Android System Recovery screen (If you don't see it, try again with other key combinations)

Step 3: Hard Reset and Done

After you press the buttons in the previous step, an option will appear. Select "System Recovery" by pressing volume up.

Android System Recovery will be shown

- Using the volume rocker, select "wipe/factory data reset"(in my case, the 3rd option shown)

- Select it by tapping on the left soft key (the key used for menu/options or menu in some phones)

- Confirm it by selecting yes

- Wait for it to finish

- After that, press home button to go back and select "reboot device" (1st option shown).

- This might take longer than usual because your device is configuring.

- After that, you'll see your home screen and you're done. Just like when you bought it.

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If you’ve forgotten or lost your screen lock password, PIN, or pattern, you have up to 5 attempts to try and unlock your phone. If this fails, you'll be given more attempts.First, make sure you enter the password, PIN, or pattern properly. If you're still unsuccessful after several attempts, the only way to unlock your phone is to do a factory reset.

How do I perform a factory reset using hardware buttons?

Before you do a factory reset, please be aware of the following:

A factory reset will erase all data, media, and files from the phone storage. You'll lose them and won't be able to restore them if you didn't sync or back them up before. Make sure you've backed up all important information and files before you proceed.
Make sure the phone is charged to at least 35% before performing the reset, or is connected to an HTC charger and is actively charging.
Make sure you know your Google Account name and password. You'll need them to unlock your phone after the factory reset.
For phones with Android 5 Lollipop or higher, Device Protection may be enabled, which means that after the factory reset, you'll need to sign in using the same Google Account that was logged into your phone. If you forgot your Google Account password, use your computer web browser and go to www.google.com/accounts/recovery to reset your password first.

To perform a factory reset:

Turn the power off.
Press and hold the VOLUME UP button. Then connect your phone to a power outlet with the USB cable and power adapter.
Continue holding the VOLUME UP button while the phone powers on. Release the button when the Android Recovery screen appears.
Use the VOLUME buttons to scroll to the Wipe data/factory reset option, and then press the POWER button.
If prompted to confirm, use the VOLUME DOWN button to scroll to Yes and then press the POWER button.