Forgot my phone passcode or locked out
Being locked out is scary. But there is an official way back into your own phone.
Be careful: A reset erases everything on the phone that is not backed up. Only do this on your own phone. Never pay anyone online to 'unlock' a phone. Kids: ask a parent first.
What to do
Pick your kind of phone:
Not sure? How to tell which phone you have
Step 1: Did you change your passcode in the last 3 days? Tap Forgot Passcode? at the bottom of the lock screen. Then tap Enter Previous Passcode.
Step 2: After many wrong tries, you see iPhone Unavailable or Security Lockout. Look for Forgot Passcode? in the corner.
Step 3: Tap Forgot Passcode?, then Start iPhone Reset.
Step 4: Type your Apple Account password. This erases the phone and removes the lock.
Step 5: Set up the iPhone again. Choose to restore from your iCloud backup to get your things back.
Step 6: No Forgot Passcode? button? Or no Apple Account password? Use a computer to put the iPhone in recovery mode. This also erases it. Or take it to an Apple Store with proof you bought it.
Step 1: Use another phone or a computer. Open Google's Find Hub (it used to be called Find My Device).
Step 2: Sign in with the Google account that is on the locked phone. Choose Factory reset device. This erases the phone.
Step 3: Can't do that? Turn the phone off. Use its buttons to open recovery mode and choose factory reset. The buttons differ by phone, so search your phone's name plus 'recovery mode'.
Step 4: When the phone restarts, sign in with the same Google account as before. This is a safety check.
Step 5: During setup, bring back your apps, photos and contacts from your Google backup.
Step 1: Did you turn on Remote unlock before? Then use another device. Sign in to Samsung Find (or SmartThings Find) with your Samsung account. Choose Unlock.
Step 2: If not, use another phone or a computer. Open Google's Find Hub (it used to be called Find My Device).
Step 3: Sign in with the Google account that is on the locked phone. Choose Factory reset device. This erases the phone.
Step 4: Can't do that? Turn the phone off. Use its buttons to open recovery mode and choose factory reset. Search your phone's name plus 'recovery mode' for the buttons.
Step 5: When the phone restarts, sign in with the same Google account as before. This is a safety check.
Step 6: During setup, bring back your apps, photos and contacts from your Google backup.
Still stuck? Forgot your Apple or Google password too? Get it back first with the official Forgot password option. Or visit an Apple Store, your carrier's store or the phone maker's service center with proof the phone is yours.