How do you take the password off of an Android when it’s locked?

by
How do you take the password off of an Android when it's locked

There are a few different ways to remove the password from a locked Android device:

Enter Wrong Password 10 Times

One of the quickest methods is to simply enter the wrong password 10 times in a row. After 10 failed attempts, Android will display a message saying that you have entered the wrong password too many times. It will then prompt you to enter your email and password associated with the Google account on the device in order to unlock it.

If you don’t enter the Google account details, the device will perform a factory reset after 30 seconds. This will remove the password and all data from the device. Just be aware that you will lose everything on the phone this way.

Factory Reset from Recovery Mode

Another way is to perform a factory reset from recovery mode. Here are the steps:

  1. Turn off the Android device.
  2. Press and hold the Volume Down button and the Power button at the same time until you see the recovery menu.
  3. Use the volume buttons to scroll to “Wipe data/factory reset” and select it with the power button.
  4. Select “Yes — delete all user data” to confirm the reset.

This will erase all data and settings on the device, including the password, and return it to factory default state.

Remove Google Account

If you have access to the device but can’t get past the lock screen, you may be able to remove the Google account associated with it:

  1. On the lock screen, tap on “Forgot pattern?” or “Forgot password?” at the bottom.
  2. Enter your Google account details when prompted.
  3. Go to Settings > Accounts > Google and tap on the account.
  4. Tap on the Menu button in the top right and select Remove account.

By removing the Google account, it will essentially deactivate the factory reset protection and you’ll then be able to reset the device through recovery mode to bypass the password.

Unlock with Google Find My Device

If you still have access to the Google account associated with the locked Android device, you can use Find My Device to unlock it:

  1. On a computer, go to android.com/find and sign in to the Google account.
  2. Select the lost device from the list.
  3. Click on Lock or Unlock to remove the lock screen password.

This will instantly allow you to unlock the device without needing the password, as long as you’re able to sign in to the Google account.

Use ADB or Fastboot Commands

For more advanced users, you can use ADB or Fastboot commands to reset the password. This requires connecting the Android device to a computer and using command line tools.

With ADB, use:

adb shell
rm /data/system/gesture.key
rm /data/system/locksettings.db
rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal
rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm
exit

With Fastboot:

fastboot erase password

This will wipe the password and unlock the device, but requires some technical knowledge.

Other Options

A few other options include:

  • Taking it to a phone repair shop – they can use specialized tools to bypass the password.
  • Performing a firmware update – some manufacturers have firmware updates that reset passwords.
  • Purchasing unlocking software or hardware – there are solutions like drilling past the lock screen, though they have risks.

Conclusion

In summary, the main methods are factory resetting through recovery mode, removing the Google account, using Find My Device, or entering incorrect passwords until the device resets. Just be aware that factory resetting will erase all data. Professional services are also available if you need assistance getting back into a locked phone.