Google Android figure on grey background. Google Android is the operating system for smartphones, tablet computers, e-books, game consoles, and other devices.
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The Android platform offers many ways to secure your data. From the top down, y'all tin can layer security every bit if you were dressing to venture into the frozen tundra of a winter-struck Canada. I of the outermost layers is the screen lock pattern (or pin). With this pattern, you lot tin can set upwards a fairly strong fleck of security that can forbid unwanted users from gaining admission to your data.

But what happens if yous somehow forget that pattern? Believe me, it happens–especially for folks like me who have more than one Android telephone, and each one has a unlike blueprint. Or, what if you lot have sneaky co-workers who place a security pattern without your knowledge? How are you going to go into that phone? Fortunately, the developers of the Android platform accept thought of just that.

I volition discuss two key methods to reset your Android screen lock security pattern.

Method one: Apply Android credentials

If your mobile telephone device still runs on Android version 4.4 or older versions, employ the steps beneath to get past your Android screen lock security pattern when y'all are locked out. Be warned though, you need the Google credentials the telephone was fix with in society to pull this off.

Stride 1: Click the power button on your Android device to bring upwards the screen lock to enter your pattern. On some phones, you'll have to slide the lock screen slider to the right (run into Figure A) earlier y'all can get to the actual lock pattern.

Android draw unlock pattern.
Effigy A: Some handsets go straight to the lock screen pattern, but others require the sliding screen first.

Step 2: If you draw an incorrect pattern five times, you'll be warned you lot've been unsuccessful in unlocking your phone and to try again in 30 seconds. Notwithstanding, you can place an emergency call—even with the screen locked by tapping the Emergency call push button (come across Figure B).

The Emergency call button.
Figure B: The Emergency call button.

Step 3: Earlier the 30 seconds expire, try to become back to the lock blueprint, and you'll see a new button in the bottom right corner of the lock screen (encounter Effigy C).

Android countdown timer
Figure C: A countdown timer will inform yous how much longer y'all have before you can try the pattern again. If you don't think the blueprint, don't bother waiting.

Stride 4: Tap the Forgot blueprint push, and you'll be prompted to enter the credentials of the Google business relationship associated with the device (come across Figure D).

Incorrect pattern on Android
Figure D: Without your credentials, you'll have to do a hard reset of the telephone.

Step 5: In one case you've successfully authenticated the business relationship associated with the telephone, you'll exist prompted to create a new unlock pattern (come across Figure E).

Account unlock for Android
Figure Eastward: Draw the blueprint, click Continue, draw the pattern once again, and you lot're back in business.

Method ii:  Reset your Android telephone with its buttons

For newer versions of Android, it'southward possible not to see the Forgot pattern button option when trying to reset your design from a locked screen. Fortunately, you tin can utilise the power and volume buttons to reset your Android device.

Annotation: This choice will erase all data stored on your device, such as apps, contacts, music and photos. However, if you take these data backed upwards to your Google Account, y'all can restore them afterwards.

Stride ane: Ensure the phone is off.

Step ii: Hold down the Power and Volume Down buttons simultaneously and continue pressing them until the screen comes on.

Step 3: When the screen powers on, use the Book and Power buttons to navigate and select the Recovery Mode option.

Step 4: Once you enter the Recovery Mode option, navigate to Wipe data/factory reset and select the option using the power button.

Step 5: Allow the factory reset to finish. In one case this is done, your Android reboots automatically with the default settings. At this stage, you can gear up a new screen lock pattern from the settings and restore your backed-up data.

Increased security

You tin can also increase the security of your phone by setting information technology to lock immediately when you lot hit the ability button and the display turns off. By default, most devices are set for a two-minute security fourth dimension out. This ways that y'all can shut off the display and get back into the phone without having to enter the pattern before the time expires. In certain situations, that could be a security risk. Here's how to adjust these settings (note that these steps may vary, depending on your Android device):

  1. Tap the Carte du jour button
  2. Tap Settings
  3. Tap Location and Security | Security lock timer
  4. Scroll up and select When display is off

Now, the second y'all close off that screen, the screen lock pattern will be required to get into the phone—no time out necessary.

Check out TechRepublic's latest Android manufactures with this Android xiii cheat sheet, a style to configure calendar and task notifications, and how to discover out which apps are using the almost memory.