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To change the screen-lock PIN, password, or pattern on a Samsung Galaxy S21, open Settings > Lock screen > Screen lock type, enter your current credential, choose a new lock type, and follow the prompts to set and confirm it. Depending on the software version, the menu may instead be under Lock screen and AOD.

Change your Galaxy S21 screen-lock credential

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Tap Lock screen. On some software versions, tap Lock screen and AOD instead.

  3. Tap Screen lock type.

  4. Enter the phone’s current PIN, password, or pattern when prompted. You must know the existing credential to authorize the change.

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  5. Choose the lock type you want, such as PIN, Password, or Pattern.

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  6. Enter the new credential and follow the on-screen prompts to confirm it.

Samsung notes that menu names and locations can vary by device and Android version, so follow the labels shown on your phone if they differ.

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Choose a screen-lock option

  • PIN: A numeric code.

  • Password: An alphanumeric credential.

  • Pattern: A drawn pattern.

  • Fingerprint or face unlock: Biometric features that Samsung documents separately from the basic screen-lock type; availability and setup depend on the device and software.

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  • Swipe or None: These options may be available on supported configurations, but they remove the credential-based lock barrier.

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The options displayed can vary by model and software. Samsung’s current general Galaxy instructions place screen-lock controls under Lock screen and AOD > Screen lock type; other versions may show Lock screen > Screen lock type.

If you forgot the current lock

The normal Settings procedure requires the existing PIN, password, or pattern; it does not bypass a lock you cannot enter. Samsung says that forgetting the configured lock may require repair or a web-initiated reset. On supported Galaxy devices running One UI 6.1 or later, Samsung describes a limited recovery option: the previous PIN, password, or pattern may be used to reset a newly forgotten lock within 72 hours. Support depends on the device and software, so do not assume the option is available on every Galaxy S21.

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Samsung explains this previous-lock recovery option in its lock-screen password and PIN reset guidance. For other forgotten-lock cases, consult Samsung’s guidance on a forgotten screen lock.

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Screen lock type versus other lock settings

Screen lock type is where you select or change the credential used to unlock the phone. Options such as automatic locking are separate: Samsung places those under Secure lock settings after a screen lock has been set. Those settings change when or how the phone locks, not the PIN, password, or pattern itself. See Samsung’s Secure lock settings guidance.

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This procedure changes the phone’s screen lock. It does not change a SIM PIN or the password for a Samsung account.

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