There are a few different apps that claim to be able to unlock phones without needing the password. However, how well these apps work and whether they are safe to use is up for debate. Some of these apps utilize exploits or security flaws in older operating systems to bypass the lock screen. Others may simply not work as advertised. Proceed with caution before downloading or using any app that claims it can unlock a phone for free.
How Phone Lock Screens Work
Modern smartphones use strong encryption and other security measures to protect data on locked devices. When you set a password, PIN, or pattern lock on your phone, this encrypts the data on your device using that code as the encryption key. Without the proper unlock code, it is very difficult for anyone to crack the encryption and access the contents of the phone.
Here are some key facts about how phone lock screens work:
- Lock screen codes are hashed and salted before being used as encryption keys. This makes them much harder to crack through brute force.
- Data decryption/encryption occurs on a dedicated processor like the Secure Enclave on iPhones. This keeps encryption keys protected.
- Encryption has gotten much stronger over time. The iPhone 6 and later use 256-bit AES encryption compared to older phones using 128-bit.
- Newer versions of Android and iOS have extra protections against bypassing the lock screen through exploits.
- Passcodes and patterns have a maximum number of attempts before the device erases itself.
Due to these security measures, it is very unlikely any free app can easily decrypt and unlock modern smartphones. Legitimate apps may be able to unlock phones through exploits, but this is rare as major exploits are usually patched quickly.
Types of Lock Screen Bypass Apps
There are a few main categories when it comes to apps that claim they can unlock phones:
Exploit-Based Unlock Apps
These apps try to use bugs or exploits in older versions of iOS and Android to bypass the lock screen. For example, past vulnerabilities like Android’s Master Key exploit from 2013 could allow bypassing lock screens. However, finding and using major exploits like this is rare today. Developers quickly patch known security flaws. While an app may work for a time on some devices, it will stop working once a patch is released.
Phishing/Keylogging Unlock Apps
Some apps try to get the user to type in their passcode themselves by disguising the input as something else. The app can then record the passcode and use it to unlock the device. This is similar to phishing scams. However, modern smartphones prevent apps from recording secure input in this manner.
Password Guessing Apps
Brute force apps claim they can simply try thousands of different passcode combinations to eventually unlock the phone. However, smartphones are designed to prevent this kind of guessing. After a certain number of failed attempts, the device will erase itself. On iOS, this makes brute force unlocking impossible.
Fake or Scam Unlock Apps
Many apps in this category don’t even try to unlock devices. They are simply scams designed to get users to pay money, download something, or share personal information. You should avoid any app asking for sensitive data like accounts or credit cards.
Specific Apps Claiming to Unlock Phones
Here is a look at some specific apps that claim to unlock phones:
UnlockPhone
This app claims it can unlock any iPhone, even new models, for free without the passcode. However, there is no evidence it uses any valid iOS exploits. The app has poor reviews with users reporting it does not actually unlock devices. It is likely a fake app designed to get downloads and in-app purchases.
LockWiper (Android)
This Android app claims it can crack pattern, PIN, and password locks on Android devices. It says it uses a special algorithm to achieve this. However, there are no details on what this algorithm is. There is no evidence Lockwiper uses any real exploit or vulnerability. User reviews indicate it fails to unlock devices and is a scam.
Cracker (Android)
Cracker claims it can crack lock screens by guessing passwords using a brute force method. As mentioned earlier, this is not possible on modern Android devices due to erase protection after failed attempts. Reviews indicate the app quickly fails and does not work.
iUnlock (iOS)
This iOS app made questionable claims that it could unlock recent iPhones like the iPhone X for free without the passcode. It is no longer available, but likely used phishing techniques or was a fake app. Apple’s security protections make brute force unlocking not possible.
Are Any of These Apps Legitimate?
In general, it is highly unlikely any of these apps can actually unlock a modern smartphone for free without knowing the passcode. Here are some reasons why:
- Strong encryption means guessing passwords via brute forcing is not viable.
- Operating systems patch known exploit vulnerabilities very quickly.
- Apps cannot access the secure hardware component that handles encryption.
- Phishing techniques are blocked by input protections on smartphones.
- Most apps make dubious claims without technical details on their methods.
- Poor user reviews indicate the apps fail to unlock devices.
For older devices with outdated OS versions, it is possible some exploits may work to bypass locks. However, this is temporary until security patches are released. Legitimate penetration testers may use exploits for testing purposes, but freely available apps are unlikely to contain the same sophisticated unlocking capabilities.
Can Professional Services Unlock Phones?
There are professional phone unlocking services that can unlock devices without passcodes in some circumstances. However, they use very different methods than free apps.
Here are some ways professional services may be able to unlock phones:
- They exploit hardware/software vulnerabilities not yet patched.
- They perform advanced techniques like chip-off forensics to reset encryption.
- They have access to unlock tools/methods not available to consumers.
- They assist law enforcement with warrants and legal requests.
However, these services are often very expensive, costing hundreds of dollars. They also typically require physical access to the device to exploit hardware vulnerabilities. They are not a magic solution for the average user locked out of their phone.
Should You Use an App to Unlock Your Phone?
In general, it is not recommended to use a free app promising to unlock phones without knowing the passcode. The reliability and security of these apps is questionable:
- The app is unlikely to work as advertised and may be unable to unlock your device.
- It may damage your device or delete your data if it fails.
- It may try to steal personal data or expose you to scams.
- Malware may be bundled with the app.
- It encourages cracking and bypassing security protections.
If you forget your passcode, a safer option is to factory reset the device through recovery mode or contact the manufacturer for unlock assistance. Do not trust any free apps with dubious claims of being able to unlock your device for free without the proper passcode.
Conclusion
While phones have been unlocked in the past through exploits, it is very rare today due to improved hardware and software security of modern smartphones. Most apps that claim to unlock any phone for free without the passcode use fake methods or are outright scams. It is not recommended to use these apps as they fail to work as advertised and may compromise security or data. If you forget your passcode, use official recovery options, not third-party apps making questionable claims about unlock capabilities.