I forgot my password and now? How to unlock a cell phone without a password

We have all experienced that moment of panic when we forget our cell phone password, whether it's an Android or an iPhone. The experience of not being able to access your messages, photos, and applications can be frustrating, especially when the device contains important information. So, how can you unlock a cell phone without a password?

This scenario, although disturbing, is not necessarily a “death sentence” for your access to the cell phone. Because there are several available solutions that can help you regain control of your device.

In the following content, we will explore some of these solutions, which range from simple methods to more technical steps. However, all our suggestions have the same goal: to help you get back into your phone, whether it's Android or iOS.

Procedure for Android

If you have an Android device and forgot the password, don't worry. Here are some tips on how to recover access to your device, depending on the system version or the brand of your phone.

For Android 4.4 or earlier

On smartphones running Android version 4.4 or earlier, unlocking is quite simple. After five unsuccessful attempts to enter the password, the option “Forgot password” appears at the bottom of the screen.

With that, just click on it and provide the requested information, which are usually the credentials of your Google account. Thus, if the data entered is correct, the unlock will be performed.

For Samsung phones

Samsung smartphone users who have registered their Samsung account can unlock their devices online through the Find My Mobile website, which also allows you to track the device.

To do this, follow the steps below:

1. First, access the Find My Mobile website, log in, and choose your phone;
2. Then, check if the phone's network status is “Online”. If it is, click “Unlock” in the menu and enter the Samsung account password for confirmation;
3. Once done, the remote unlock will occur next, and a message will inform you about the unlock.

Finally, remember that all screen lock information (password, PIN, pattern, and biometrics) will be deleted, and you will need to set new security credentials at the end of the procedure.

Factory Reset

If none of the above options work or apply to your situation, the last alternative is to restore the phone to factory settings. However, be aware that in this case, it will erase all data from your smartphone, which can be an inconvenience if you do not have a backup of your data.

But, if your data is stored in the cloud, on a memory card, or on another device, you can recover it after restarting the device. To restore the phone to factory settings, follow these steps:

1. First, turn off the device and then simultaneously press the power and volume down buttons for a few seconds;
2. Then, use the volume button to select “Recovery mode” and the power button to confirm the selection;
3. On the next screen, choose “Wipe Data/Factory Reset” and confirm with the power button;
4. Then, select “Yes-Delete All User Data” and confirm with the power button;
5. Finally, wait for the restoration to complete and press “Reboot” to turn the cell phone back on.

Procedure for iPhone

If you forgot your iPhone password, the options to unlock it may result in the loss of the device's data. But don't worry, if you have made a backup, it will be possible to restore all your data later. Below we present two ways to unlock your iPhone:

Unlock via iTunes

The procedure to unlock a cell phone without a password for the iPhone can be done through iTunes.

Check the complete step-by-step:

1. First, connect the iPhone to the computer that has iTunes installed. Open the program and wait for the device synchronization process, then make a backup if you haven't done so previously;
2. Then, when synchronization and backup are complete, click “Restore iPhone”. During the restoration step, select the “Restore from iTunes backup” option on the setup screen;
3. In iTunes, choose your device, check the newly created backup, and wait for the unlock to complete;
4. Finally, at the end of the process, you will be able to set a new access password for your iPhone.

Recovery Mode

If the above method of unlocking a cell phone without a password fails, you will have to use the iPhone's recovery mode. To do this, follow the steps below:

1. Simultaneously press the side button and one of the volume buttons until the option to turn off the phone appears;
2. Then, swipe to turn off your iPhone and connect it to the computer with iTunes, keeping the side button pressed until the recovery mode screen appears. This procedure is valid for iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone X, and newer models (for other models, see the instructions on the Apple website);
3. Once done, click “Restore” and wait for the software to download to the device;
4. Finally, after completion, you will be able to set up your iPhone again and restore the data from the backup.

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Conclusion

In short, forgetting your cell phone password can be stressful, but there are solutions to regain access to your device. In the case of Android smartphones, it is possible to unlock through the Google account or by restoring factory settings. For the iPhone, it is necessary to use iTunes or recovery mode to regain access. However, always remember to make periodic backups of your data to avoid losing important information in cases like this.

In addition, it is important to follow the security measures recommended by manufacturers and choose strong passwords to protect your devices. Through these tips, you will be able to unlock a cell phone without a password in cases of forgotten password and keep your data safe. Thus, it is possible to make the most of your device's functionalities without worrying about unwanted locks.