How do I unlock a Samsung phone if I forgot the screen lock password?
Answer
If the phone was signed into a Samsung account before it locked, you can often remove the screen lock remotely with Find My Mobile. If that option is not available, a factory reset may be required and will erase data that is not backed up.
Before you start: stop right away if…
- A factory reset permanently deletes local photos, messages, and apps that are not backed up.
- Stop if a site or popup asks you to pay to unlock the phone or install unknown software.
Follow these steps
Open Find My Mobile on another device
On a computer or another phone, go to the official Samsung Find My Mobile site and sign in with the same Samsung account that was used on the locked phone.
You should see: You see a list of devices linked to that Samsung account.
Select the locked phone
Choose the locked Samsung phone from the device list. Confirm the model or nickname matches the phone you are trying to unlock.
You should see: Device options for that phone appear, such as locate, ring, unlock, or erase.
Use Unlock or Remove screen lock
If available, choose Unlock or Remove screen lock and follow the on-screen prompts. Keep the locked phone powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data so the command can reach it.
You should see: The phone removes the old screen lock and lets you set a new one, or shows a clear status message.
Decide on a reset only if remote unlock fails
If Find My Mobile does not offer unlock, or the phone never received the Samsung account, the remaining option is usually a factory reset through recovery mode. Only do this after confirming backups, because local data will be erased.
You should see: You either regain access without a reset, or you knowingly reset the phone after checking backups.
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Extra tips
What to look for: Whether the phone was previously signed into a Samsung account, and whether Find My Mobile shows Unlock or Remove screen lock for that device
Before you change anything: Confirm which Samsung account was signed into the phone before it locked. Check whether photos and files are backed up to Google or Samsung Cloud. Use only the official Find My Mobile website or Samsung account pages. Never share your Samsung password or verification codes with anyone who contacts you unexpectedly.