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First identify which password you need to reset: your Samsung Account password or the PIN, password, or pattern that unlocks your Galaxy screen. They are separate credentials, so the right recovery route depends on which screen is asking for a password.
Which Samsung password are you trying to reset?
| What you are locked out of | Recovery route | Effect on data |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung Account sign-in | Verify your identity using a recovery method registered to the account, then create a new password. | Resets the account password; it is not a phone factory reset. |
| Galaxy screen lock | On supported devices, try the previous lock method within 72 hours of changing it. If that does not work, a factory reset may be necessary. | Previous-lock recovery preserves the route to your device; erasing the phone permanently deletes its data. |
Samsung does not reveal your existing account password through recovery. Use the account reset process if the sign-in page asks for your Samsung Account credentials; use the screen-lock process if the phone itself is asking for its PIN, password, or pattern.
Reset a forgotten Samsung Account password
Samsung Account recovery verifies that you own the account and then lets you set a new password. Which verification options appear depends on your account setup and location.
- Open Samsung Account settings or the Samsung Account sign-in page, and choose the password recovery prompt, such as Forgot password?
- Enter your Samsung Account ID. If you have forgotten the ID as well, Samsung’s account recovery guidance explains how to identify it using an email hint or by verifying a recovery phone number or email.
- Select an available verification method. Depending on your account, this may be your primary email, a registered recovery email or phone number, or a security question set up earlier.
- Complete the verification instructions and create a new password.
Recovery by phone is available only in some countries where an account can be created using a mobile phone ID. A recovery email or number must already be registered in your account settings. If the listed destination is unfamiliar, you cannot access it, or you cannot receive the reset message, use Samsung’s regional support rather than a third-party unlock service. Samsung’s Saudi Arabia guidance also covers email, phone, and security-question recovery.
#1 Best Overall
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
Use a previous screen lock after changing it
If you recently changed your Galaxy’s PIN, password, or pattern, Samsung provides a way to use the previous one on supported devices running One UI 6.1 or later. Samsung says the old method remains available for 72 hours after the change, unless you delete it sooner in Secure lock settings. After that period, it is deleted.
- At the lock screen, enter the current lock method incorrectly until the Forgot PIN?, Forgot password?, or Forgot pattern? prompt appears. Samsung says this prompt follows five or more failed attempts.
- Tap the relevant Forgot prompt and enter the previous PIN, password, or pattern.
- Set and confirm a new screen lock.
Samsung’s guidance says the previous lock can be entered incorrectly three times before this recovery route closes, and it can be used once per lock type after a change. Menu labels and availability may vary by model and software version. See Samsung’s India instructions and UK instructions for the region-specific details.
Rank #2
- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro). Battery: 5000 mAh, non-removable | A power adapter is NOT included.
If you cannot unlock the phone
Do not rely on remote unlocking through SmartThings Find
Samsung UK’s current lockout guidance, updated 2026-04-24, says remote phone unlocking through SmartThings Find is no longer possible. Older pages or search results may describe a Remote unlock option; do not assume it is currently available for your phone or region. Check Samsung’s current lockout guidance for applicable options.
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Erase the phone only if you accept losing its data
Samsung describes SmartThings Find’s Erase data action as a factory reset, not a nondestructive unlock. It requires you to sign in with the Samsung Account associated with the registered phone and permanently deletes the data through that action. If the phone is offline, the erase takes effect when it next comes online. Check for an available backup before proceeding; see Samsung’s erase instructions for details.
Rank #3
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
If you can still unlock with biometrics
Samsung UK documents a separate Find My Mobile route for the specific case where you can still enter the device using biometrics. That process removes the stored PIN, pattern, password, and biometric methods; it is not a general remote-unlock method. Follow Samsung’s current device lockout guidance and confirm the steps apply to your model and location.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.After a factory reset
If you reset the phone and have a backup, Samsung says data and settings can be restored afterward. If the recovery steps do not work, use Samsung’s troubleshooting and repair or support channels for your region rather than paying an unaffiliated service that promises to bypass the lock.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist¹ with Galaxy AI.² Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more³
- FAST. POWERFUL. AI-READY: Power through your day with AI-accelerated performance from our fastest, smoothest and most powerful Galaxy processor yet, built to keep up with everything you do
- IMMENSELY IMMERSIVE: No matter where you are or what you’re watching, your favorite videos and more come to life with the vibrant display on Galaxy S26
- FIT EVERYONE IN THE SHOT: Group selfies are easier on your Samsung phone with a wider front camera⁴ that captures more of the scene, so no one gets left out of the moment
Rank #4
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
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