What to Do if You’ve Forgotten Your Password on the Galaxy Note 10

Every device, website, forum, and other platform has at least some security features. If you use different passwords for all of them, it’s easy to forget them. Unfortunately, in the digital era passwords and passcodes are becoming more and more difficult to reset. Especially on cell phones.

Manufacturers and software developers have specifically designed our handheld devices to self-destruct if anyone tries to gain unlawful access. This is because we store so much personal information in our smartphones that if someone were to get into it, they could do extensive damage to one’s credit, identity, and even financial security.

If you aren’t able to use your screen unlock code on your Galaxy Note 10, your phone will lock you out completely. It will actually act like you’re a threat and permanently lock if you use the wrong passcode too many times. Fortunately, there is hope if you’re locked out of your phone. These developers understand that people struggle with screen locks so they provided a few fail safes.

Keep reading, and we will explain everything you need to know in more detail.

Things to Know Before Reset

If you’re familiar with Android, it’s a fairly versatile operating system that gives users a lot of freedom over their device. At one time, early Android versions made it really simple to reset a passcode directly from the device as long as it could power on.

These days, it’s still easy to unlock your device assuming a few criteria are met. To unlock your device without a full factory reset you’ll need these things setup beforehand. If you haven’t set these up, you’ll need to skip forware to the reset options.

• Your phone needs to have internet – Whether you’re connected to wifi or cellular data. If you don’t have a stable internet connection this won’t work.
• You need to have a Samsung Mobile account – When you first set up your phone, it would’ve prompted you to setup a Samsung account and also authorize remote access. If you haven’t done this, you won’t be able to unlock your phone after your phone is locked.
• You need your Samsung username and password – If you don’t remember which email account you used to setup your Samsung account, use the search bar in your email client to search “Samsung.” This will help you to identify your username. You can visit the Samsung Account website to reset your password.

If any of these requirements are not met, you will need to factory reset your device using one of the options we have listed below. Even though a factory reset will erase all of the information on your device, we’ll review a few ways you can attempt to recover it.

Galaxy Note 10 Security Bypass – Factory Reset

Forgetting your screen unlock code can be easily corrected with a reset on your phone. The simpler way to do this is from the phone itself. You will have to enter the boot options and wipe all information from your Galaxy Note 10 or Note 10+. If you forgot your PIN, you could turn the phone on, but you won’t be able to enter the Home screen.

Factory Reset From the Device

You can try to power down your phone. But the phone will prevent you from powering it down without a pin. That’s where things get a little more complicated. Instead of turning your phone off, you will have to force it to restart and enter the boot menu during the restart process. Here is what you have to do:

1. With your phone on, press the “Volume down” button and the “Side key” together and hold them for 10 seconds.
2. Switch to “Volume Up” and “Side key” and hold them another 10 seconds to access the Recovery menu. You might not be able to get it to work with the first try, so keep trying until you do.
3. Navigate the menu with the “Volume up and down” keys to “Wipe data/factory reset.”
4. Press the Side button below the volume keys.
5. Select “Yes” to factory reset your Galaxy Note 10 smartphone.
6. The process takes about 15 minutes to complete. Once it’s finished, select “Reboot System Now.”

The process will wipe your device completely, including data, files, and everything else you might have saved on the phone. You will have to download all reinstall all apps and sign in to your phone with your existing Gmail account.

This method may take a few tries because you have to time it perfectly. One of the best things about Samsung phones is that you can’t power it down without the passcode, meaning you can track it if it’s been stolen. But, for our reset purposes it definitely makes the struggle a little more real.

Factory Reset Remotely

Android Device Manager can only be used when you’ve synced your device with your Google Account. Here is what you have to do:

1. Click on this link to access the Android Device Manager.
2. Enter your Google account details. Use the same account you did when you were setting up your Galaxy Note 10.
3. Select “Samsung Galaxy Note” from the list that appears on the screen. If you don’t see it on the list, your phone is not tied to that account.
4. Tap “Erase Device” and follow the on-screen instructions to unlock the phone remotely.
5. Enter your password and confirm.

This will wipe all of your information from your phone, but you’ll be able to access it again.

Unlock Your Device Without a Factory Reset

Samsung provides its users with a security feature that works just like the Android Device Manager, but instead of using your Google credentials, you can sign in with your Samsung account. The method works only if you have registered your Note 10 on Samsung’s website previously. Here is what you have to do:

1. Open this link in any browser to access the “Find My Mobile” site.
2. Sign in with your Samsung credentials and your device will show up in the “Registered Device” tab.
3. Choose “Unlock my screen” in the “Protect my device” tab.
4. Select “Unlock,” and you will get a message that confirms that your phone’s screen is now unlocked.
5. Get your phone and navigate to “Settings.” Go to “Security” to reset your password.

Write Down Your Passwords Somewhere Safe

Everyone forgets an important password or PIN now and then. Forgetting the s your Galaxy Note 10’s PIN is the worst because you will be completely locked out of the phone. However, these methods above will help you recover your device even if you didn’t set up your Samsung account.

Recover Your Data

If you’re one of the unfortunate few who weren’t able to unlock your device using the Samsung Find My Mobile website, you’re now faced with two issues. One is how do you get your data back and the other is the Google Activation Lock. Let’s review how to overcome both of those issues:

Google Activation Lock

You’ve reset your phone and now you’re taken to a Sign-In page for your Google account. Assuming you know your Gmail and Password tied to the Note 10, you’re good to go. Simply input the credentials and set up your phone.

If you aren’t able to get past this screen it’s either because you’ve got the wrong Gmail account or Password. When inputting your login information make sure that you’re inputting the right email address. It will be the one that you originally set the phone up with. Without the proper username and password, your phone will be nothing more than an expensive paper weight.

Recovering Your Data

Once you’ve figured out the right username and password, log into all Gmail apps and email accounts with the original username and password you used when you first got your phone. Google Photos will bring your photos back if they were ever set up. Your email account will bring your contacts back.

You can also sign into your Samsung Account because it has its own cloud service. These options were prompts from when you first set up your Note 10 and many of them are default options set to store your data any time your phone is plugged in and connected to wifi.

How did you regain access to your Galaxy Note 10? Did you use any other methods we didn’t cover? Share your thoughts and experience in the comments below.