If you forget your pattern
- you will after 3 faulty attempts be unable to use the pattern to unlock it.
- Instead you are asked for your Google account and password (that is setup with the phone of course). This is where the problem starts.
For many, many users providing the username and password won't change a thing. For some people changing the password via a computer has worked but that is uncommon. Most people ends up with a very expensive paperweight. Have no fear, there are solutions to almost everything
1. Completely power off and power on your phone.
2. Right after you pass and just before the Verizon Wireless logo video ends, immediately tap on the home button extremely fast and repeatedly (at least 4-5 times per second). If the Emergency Call button pops up, click that every now and then (3-5 times) but keep tapping on the home button. During this process your phone may flash the password screen or keypad screen just a few times and your phone will seem to be lagging due to the tapping.
3. Keep tapping until you see your Android home buttons stay steady at the bottom. Voila, you're in your phone! If the emergency keypad constantly shows up or if it shows the Google account screen constantly, you have failed. The success rate can be around 15-50% so keep trying until it works. (You may want to grab a young phone-savvy guy or girl to do it if your fingers are too slow)
4. Find and run the Settings App and go to Accounts & Sync.
5. Under Manage Accounts, remove all accounts except your Google account.
6. Press your power button off and on and enter your correct Google account information.
7. It will ask for a new security pattern. Enter it twice and you are done!
This solution worked for me. If it does for you, please leave a comment with your carrier and phone model to let others know that it worked!
[METHOD 2]
I recommend the tapping method first but if that doesn't work or you don't have a home button, here is a different method to try pretty much based on the same concept. (again, will depend on app compatibility and may not work for all phones)
This method uses a free app called Screen Lock Bypass. (thanks to Michele for introducing this, [UPDATE: free version has been pulled off, only paid full version available which may or may not work on your phone. Try METHOD 3 first!]) Please use this at your own risk as I cannot be responsible for any of the results caused from using this app. Basically, you'll be using this app to bypass the screen lock and delete the other accounts blocking your Google username/password to accept.
1. Go to the Android Market download page on your desktop and install the app. (Yes, you are able to install apps using your desktop instead of your phone) Direct link:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.thomascannon.screenlockbypass.fix (note: You need to login to the Android Market using your Google username and password that you used when you first set up your phone. This is the username and password that "should have" unlocked your phone in the first place.)
2. Select the phone you have (this is why you need to login with the right Google ID) and install the app. Wait about 5 minutes or restart your phone and wait a good amount of time for the app to fully install.
3. On the app instructions, it says to install any other app to trigger the Screen Lock Bypass app. I did not do this but for me, restarting the phone, waiting, soft off and on seemed to trigger it. (may have been triggered by a message though, this is the part where it unexpectedly blanked and disabled my screen for a good while.)
4. If it worked and bypassed the "too many pattern attempts" screen, go to phone Settings and then select Accounts & Sync.
5. Under Manage Accounts, remove all accounts except your Google account. (this should enable your Google username and password)
6. Go to Settings and select Applications, then Manage Applications.
7. Find Screen Lock Bypass and uninstall the app. (this will trigger the "too many pattern attempts" screen immediately)
8. Use your original Google username and password to finally unlock your phone properly.
9. Enter your new security pattern twice to finish!
If Method 2 worked for you, please leave your comments with your phone make and model to let us know!
[Method 3]
This was suggested by commenter Guru and has potential to work with all phones as it was claimed to work with the Galaxy S2.
Pre Condition: You remember the pattern and you remember your Google password and Android account is listed while using instructions below. Data services (Wi-Fi or mobile) should be enabled.
1. Using your computer, log into your Google account. You can verify your correct Google account using the Additional Tip at the bottom of this article.
2. Go to this link directly -
https://accounts.google.com/IssuedAuthSubTokens OR click your Google e-mail on the top right corner, select Account settings, then hit "Visit the previous version of the Google accounts screen" towards the bottom, click "Authorizing applications & sites " under your Personal Settings > Security.
3. Under "Connected Sites, Apps & Services - "Revoke Access" of your Google Account with Android. You will see the screen showing "You have successfully revoked access to Full Account Access"
[Alternate for step 3 - If you have already signed up for 2-Step Authorization previously and are able to generate a new application-specific password at the bottom, go ahead and generate a new password and use that password to unlock your device]
4. Enter Gmail login and password on your phone. It will now accept your login details and will show a pattern screen. Enter the "correct" pattern and you can see the home screen.
Again, if this works for you, let us know!
Good Luck!
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