My Galaxy S4 decided to password protect itself... no idea why. I usually use the Lock Screen pattern, when I screw that up enough it prompts me for a PIN. I guess that's what happened, but after I got in after doing entering the PIN, I didn't reset my PIN or pattern, so now it's asking me for a password to get into the phone.
I've tried using Android Device Manager to send the phone a new password... it doesn't work. When I send an integer only password the phone prompts for a PIN, but it doesn't accept the PIN I send, and when I send it a alpha-numeric password, it prompts for a password, but doesn't accept that either. Clearly the phone is acknowledging the receipt of new protocol.... but it's not adhering to the new directions.
Anyone know how get around this? Or another method that doesn't require me destroying all of my data? Or a way for me to retrieve my data without having to manually select "Use as Media Device" (can't do this since I can't access the drop down menu).
Well, if you're rooted you can mount to your computer via the recovery.
You can also try a dirty flash. Will not destroy your data but it may cause bugs and other problems.
Maybe you got some kind of virus.
GDReaper said:
Well, if you're rooted you can mount to your computer via the recovery.
You can also try a dirty flash. Will not destroy your data but it may cause bugs and other problems.
Maybe you got some kind of virus.
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Click to collapse
Not rooted, do I have to be rooted for a dirty flash?
You have to be rooted to install any kind of custom rom.
I think samsung kies has a backup feature. But I may also backup the password.
Related
Is there any way to secure android like ios7. In case if i loose my phone then no one can use it. Is it true a hard reset will remove my pattern or password? My phone is non rooted. Can someone install custom recovery too?
saudiqbal said:
Is there any way to secure android like ios7. In case if i loose my phone then no one can use it. Is it true a hard reset will remove my pattern or password? My phone is non rooted. Can someone install custom recovery too?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is not fool poof way to prevent this. Even on IOS7 the security can be gotten around. Best advice is to make sure you are backing up your files.
Google does have a remote wipe option built into the Android OS. That is your best bet.
There is no full proof way to make render unusable, but you can call up your carrier and ask them to blacklist the IMEI so they can't use sim cards with it anymore.
You could however, protect your data. Do this by: encrypt your device, stock recovery, disable USB debugging, lock the bootloader. At least with this, if the device is stolen, if they don't know how to flash factory image, they'll need to enter the encrypted password to boot into the phone and can't copy over your datas.
You should also look up the app Cerberus, which with root can survive through factory reset (as long as they don't overwrite or format the "system" partition).
My Samsung S5 (SM-G900F, 4.4) device has a fingerprint scanner to unlock the screen. It was working perfectly, but now it only asks for the alternative password, but I forgot it. I tried on the Google webpage to lock my phone, I hoped that the password given there will be overwrite the alternative password on the phone, but it said, that it found the phone already locked, so no need to use the password. I don't want to do a factory reset if it possible, how could I get the fingerprint scanner to be an option again, or somehow unlock the screen and use my phone?
This happened to me today in the morning on my S5 mini with stock OS. At first I typed in the correct alternative password, but it was not recognized. Latter I successfully (?) changed password with "Lock" option on Android Device Manager, and it didn't help either...
At the end I did a factory reset and lost all my data
Is this a common bug? Should we report it somewhere or something?
After too many failed fingerprint attempts, it will only ask for the password
Maybe someone else has been trying to access your phone
Factory reset to regain access if you don't know your alternative password (Probably a good idea to write that down)
*Detection* said:
After too many failed fingerprint attempts, it will only ask for the password
Maybe someone else has been trying to access your phone
Factory reset to regain access if you don't know your alternative password (Probably a good idea to write that down)
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Click to collapse
Yes, you are correct. I tested this again, and I think that, in the morning, I really used wrong password . And the first time I didn't notice the displayed info, about password already being set, on Android Device Manager site, when I tried to change the password.
Thanks for the replay
Device is a SM-N916S from Samsung (Galaxy Note 4 S-LTE Exynos 5433 ver.) for anyone that's wondering. It's current state : Completely stock with no root. USB debugging disabled. No Samsung Account linked to device. Can't change password through ADM. No more guesses left for the password anymore, any more will reset the phone.
So yeah. For the past few days I've been trying to bypass Android Device Manager's remote "Lock" feature that's meant to keep your data safe from thieves. As for why? Long story short : I tried to pull a prank on my brother by remotely locking his device through ADM. I have since forgotten the password (it was a random combination of letters and numbers that I thought I could remember, but obviously not.) and trying to set a new password through Android Device Manager just gives me the infamous "Since Google has verified that a screen lock is already set, the password you entered won't be needed." error message.
Now, if this was a phone that belonged to me, I would just install a custom recovery and remove the password with a password disable zip, but unfortunately, that is not an option here. I probably forgot to mention that I CANNOT void the warranty (as in trip the KNOX counter) under ANY circumstances and would very much like to avoid a factory reset. Am I out of luck here? Or is anyone here aware of a method that can be used to bypass the ADM lock / or a way to backup data with usb debugging disabled. Thanks.
use smart switch to go back to stock firmware
SrikarPrayaga said:
use smart switch to go back to stock firmware
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Click to collapse
Hi, could you explain what you mean by this? Does smart switch work even when the phone is locked? And what would going back to stock firmware do? Thanks.
Hi,
I was changing pattern. Somehow I applied wrong pattern and then locked phone.
Now I can't unlock with fingerprint. There aren't any connect Google Account button even I am connected to internet mobile + wifi.
I didn't install TWRP and my phone is not rooted. Are there any way to unlock without losing any data? I can do anything possible (like root or install twrp) if I wont lose data.
wont a hard reset work
Without TWRP you can't do much...
chester2011 said:
wont a hard reset work
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That will delete data.
Unfortunately, hard reset is the only way out of this. Since the data on the phone is encrypted, you require the pattern to decrypt the data in order to access it. This also includes access to the hash that is generated by your fingerprints which is why you need to enter your PIN or pattern on startup before you can unlock with your fingerprint.
Bottom line, never ever forget your backup authentication method!
Edit: I can't guarantee this will work, but it's worth a try:
Visit https://www.google.com/android/find (Find My Device)
Log in with your Google account
Click "Lock" and enter a new password.
Try that new password on your phone.
Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk
Hey guys
Im in a bit of a trouble.
Sitting in front of my dads phone trying to unlock it.
Cant ask my dad anymore. He died few days ago. To get access to his password safe i really need to unlock the phone. He stored all of his onlinebanking accounts, insurance data and stuff there. Need to pays all his debts but i have no clue about what to pay and what is paid.
Already found his secret note about the master password of keepass but not the unlock pattern.
Factory reset is of course not an option.
Any chance that i can skip the pattern and unlock it with the PIN?
Its also still connected to his google account if this would help.
Bootloader locked, no root, no twrp.
Found a thread from 2013 that says i can boot to twrp without flashing to delete the pin data but im not sure if it works on this one.
Can you access your dad Google account from a computer? if so, you can use Google Device Manager to remove the PIN/password of the device, but I'm not sure if doing this will erase the data. Also, you should contact Google for a solution, considering that isn't unauthorized access, and have a good reason behind. There is a form to contact them. Sorry for your loss.
Hi,
Thank you for your condolences.
I tried to lock the phone but it wont let me change the password.
There is a message. You already have a screenlock on the phone so it wont be changed.
The link you gave me also only let me get access to the account but not the phone.
Any other ideas how to get access?