There are many legitimate reasons why someone may need to access the data on their locked phone without knowing the passcode, including:
Forgotten passcode – People often forget their passcodes, especially if using a longer and more complex code for security. This locks them out of their own device and data.
Obtained a used or broken phone – Getting a used phone from a friend or buying a broken phone can result in a locked device that you need access to.
Lost access after OS update – Some OS updates have been known to erase or reset passcodes, suddenly locking users out.
Sending in for repair – When sending a phone away for repair, users are advised to lock it, which then requires accessing it again afterwards.
Accessing data from deceased – Family members often need to access the data on a loved one’s locked phone after their passing.
Troubleshooting issues – Troubleshooting some software issues requires bypassing the lock screen to access settings and data.
While security is important, there are many valid reasons people need to get past a lock screen. This content will explore responsible ways to access your data so you’re not permanently locked out.
Back Up Data Regularly
It is extremely important to regularly back up the data on your phone to avoid being locked out if you forget your passcode. According to The 2022 Backup Survey, 54% of people have experienced data loss because they don’t back up their devices frequently enough. Only 41% back up their computer data at least once a month.
Backing up your phone data regularly, such as to your computer or to a cloud storage service, ensures you have a copy if you get locked out. You can then restore your data if needed after resetting your device. Experts recommend the 3-2-1 backup method – having 3 copies of your data, on 2 different types of media, with 1 copy offsite or in the cloud.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Make it a habit to plug in your phone to back up every week, or set up automatic cloud backups. Saving copies of your data regularly could save you if you ever find yourself locked out of your smartphone.
Enter Passcode Correctly
For phones with 4-6 digit passcodes, you may be able to gain access by trying all possible passcode combinations. This is known as a brute force attack. Modern smartphones allow 10 failed passcode attempts before locking the device, but you can restart the phone and try another 10 attempts. According to recent research, an Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU can brute force a 6 digit numeric password in under 1 hour.
However, longer and more complex alphanumeric passcodes are extremely difficult to crack this way. A 10 character password containing upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols would take years or longer to brute force. Using cloud computing resources could speed up the process, but complex passwords remain very secure against guessing attacks. To prevent unauthorized access, always use the maximum passcode length available and a random combination of characters.
Use Password Manager
If you used a password manager app like LastPass or 1Password to save your phone’s passcode, there’s a chance the password is still stored in the app’s vault [1]. Open the password manager app and check if the passcode is listed under saved passwords. Many password manager apps can autofill passwords into apps and websites, so it may be able to enter the code and unlock your phone automatically. This method works if you still have access to the password manager app itself, either because it wasn’t locked or you can log into it through your email. If you used a strong master password for the manager app, you may still be able to reset it through email verification or security questions and regain access to your saved phone passcode.
Remove or Reset Passcode
One method to bypass a locked phone is to remove or reset the passcode. This can be done using the device manufacturer’s website or Find My Phone app.
For iPhones, you can use Apple’s iCloud website (https://www.icloud.com/) to erase the device remotely. This will remove the passcode and restore the iPhone to factory settings, but will also erase all data on the device.
For Android devices, you may be able to reset the lock screen passcode using the device manufacturer’s website or Find My Device app. For example, Samsung offers a Find My Mobile service that allows you to remotely reset your device to factory settings if you can’t remember the passcode (https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00083930/).
Resetting your locked phone using these methods will allow you to access it again, but at the cost of losing your data. So only use this if you have no other way to recover the passcode and accessing the device is absolutely necessary.
Factory Reset
A factory reset will erase all data and settings on the phone, essentially restoring it to original factory conditions. This will remove any passcodes and allow you to access the phone again. However, all apps, photos, messages, and other personal data will be deleted. According to a YouTube tutorial, you can factory reset a locked Android phone by rebooting it into recovery mode and wiping the data partition.
For iPhones, you can factory reset by connecting the device to a computer and restoring it via iTunes, as explained in an Apple support thread. This will erase the phone and remove any passcode locks. Just be prepared to lose all data on the device.
So a factory reset gives you access to the phone again, but at the cost of deleting everything on it. It’s an option if you have no way to recall the forgotten passcode and having continued use of the device is more important than recovering its current data.
Bypass Lock Screen
There are some software exploits that may allow bypassing the lock screen on Android devices. One method is using the emergency call function. On Android devices, you can tap the emergency call button on the lock screen and then insert a contact’s phone number to make a call. After ending the call, some devices will bypass the lock screen and go directly to the home screen. This exploit takes advantage of the ability to make emergency calls without unlocking the phone first (Source).
Another potential exploit is using an accessibility service. Accessibility services are designed to help users with disabilities, but they can sometimes be exploited to get past a lock screen. By enabling an accessibility service in the device settings, some phones allow bypassing the lock screen by using certain gestures. However, this exploit doesn’t work on all devices (Source).
While software exploits may allow bypassing the lock screen, they are not guaranteed to work on all devices. The viability depends on the phone model, OS version, and security patches installed. Users should be cautious about compromising their device’s security.
Professional Data Recovery
If a phone is locked and inaccessible, professional data recovery services provide an option to retrieve data. These services have access to specialized tools and techniques that can bypass software locks and retrieve data at the hardware level. For example, chip-off data recovery involves carefully removing the phone’s storage chip and reading it using specialized equipment to bypass any software locks. Other advanced methods like JTAG and ISP may directly access memory chips or other components.
Professional phone data recovery services typically charge $100-$300 per hour depending on the specific phone model, damage, and complexity involved. For example, Secure Data Recovery quotes $100-$300 per hour. Some services like Geek Squad charge a flat rate of $49.99 for initial diagnosis before quoting data recovery costs.
While expensive, professional services may be the only option to retrieve critical data if a phone is locked and unresponsive to all other methods. Their specialized hardware tools can directly access chip data regardless of any software locks.
Replace Parts
Sometimes the only option is to open the phone and directly access the storage chips inside by replacing parts. This advanced method requires taking apart your phone and identifying the storage components like the NAND memory chips. You’ll need to unsolder the storage chip, extract it carefully, then solder in a replacement chip. From there you can read data off the old chip by connecting it to a USB chip reader.
This is a very delicate operation that requires specialized tools, skills, and care not to damage any components. Any mistakes could easily destroy the storage chip and make data recovery impossible. Consider hiring an experienced phone repair technician for this method. They have the proper equipment and expertise to safely open the device, remove the storage component, and swap in a working replacement to regain access.
Summary
Recovering data from a locked phone involves carefully weighing several options depending on your situation. Backing up data regularly to the cloud or computer is always the best way to ensure you have access. For phones that aren’t backed up, your main options are:
– Enter your passcode correctly – this may take patience and multiple attempts.
– Use a password manager if you’ve forgotten the passcode.
– Remove or reset the passcode if you can still access settings.
– Perform a factory reset to wipe the device.
– Use specialized software or hardware to bypass the lock screen.
– Send the device to a professional recovery service but results aren’t guaranteed.
– Replace any faulty parts preventing access.
Evaluate your specific situation to determine the most appropriate solution. With persistence and care, you can likely recover your data and regain access to your locked phone.