Forgot Pattern Lock On Samsung Galaxy S9 And Galaxy S9 Plus (Solution)

The Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus are are some of the most secure smartphone models currently available, it has a good selection of security features which are none too overwhelming. Most of these are often designed to ease the daily activities of their owners, especially if it involves the work and internet connectivity.

Still, this does not mean that it has discarded some of the traditional smartphone security techniques such as the pattern lock, which while not as good as the new security features, still does the job and is actually one of the easiest unlock methods. Also, since this lock method is common for smartphones, people tend to forget their patterns, particularly those complex ones, or simply they have a problem memorizing patterns.

Thankfully there are lots of ways to reset the password for your phone, these range from easy to drastic (hard factory reset), sometimes even requiring a complete user data wipe of the entire phone’s storage. It is recommended to try the easiest one first so that you may not regret your decision regarding which method you picked. Regardless, we got you covered when it comes to resetting your phone’s password should you forget the pattern lock.

Solutions for When You Forget Your Samsung Galaxy S9 or Galaxy S9 Plus Pattern Lock:

Using Samsung’s website service for smartphones to set up a new password

Let’s start with the easiest and most free of consequences, this one simply requires your phone and personal information registered to Samsung. This also comes handy for other problems and not just forgetting your phone’s password.

It is worth noting that this method is also similar to Apple’s Find My iPhone, so those who have had iPhone’s in the past or still do today might find be familiar with this. This essentially allows you to change your phone’s settings remotely and is useful if you cannot find it or are far away from it. However, if you are not registered to Samsung, you might want to do it now, or simply forego this step.

Register your phone to Samsung, it can be done here, unless you have already done it
In the website look for the Find My Mobile service
You can reset your phone’s password using this, though your phone might have to be connected to the internet for this to happen, this can all be done via the Samsung’s website, just navigate through the domain
Once you have set up a new password as a bypass, go back to your locked phone and use it as an alternative to the pattern lock
Your phone should now be unlocked, you should immediately set up a new password which you will be able to remember more easily

Should this happen again, then you can simply go back to the website to set up a temporary password. You can also use this service from Samsung for other purposes such as locating a missing phone, diagnosis, or checking for updates. If this option is not available, then move on to the next step.

Using Your Computer, Android Device Manager

There are some users who regularly turn off the Wi-Fi network for their phones, this is unfortunate if you are one of those and also forgot your pattern lock. This means no Samsung website service for you for an easy password reset since your Wi-Fi is turned off.

Hopefully you have at least a laptop computer that can interface with your phone, this simply needs a cable to connect both devices and you will be able to control the phone using a software from the laptop. Granted you have a computer, this fix involves the Android Device Manager for laptops or PCs, simply connect both devices via wire when you are ready.

Once the two are connected, open Android Device Manager on your computer
Locate your Samsung Galaxy S9 or Galaxy S9 Plus from the UI of the Android Device Manager
Enable the “Lock and Erase” feature of the software
There should be a new page which explains how to unlock your phone using the Android Device Manager, simply follow these steps, they may vary depending on the software version though
This also requires setting a temporary password, so pick one which will be used as a bypass for the pattern lock
Go back to your locked phone and enter the new password instead of the pattern lock
Once you’re in, quickly change the password for your phone to something you can remember more easily

This require you to have already registered your phone with Android Device Manager. It is always worth a try even if you haven’t, assuming you have a computer nearby that you can use for the recovery.

Use Factory Reset

This method is the last and most drastic one and is usually something a lot of people want to avoid doing to their phones often since it can get tedious. It basically means resetting your phone back to it’s factory fresh condition. Essentially, you’re making it a blank slate.

The real reason it is a drastic and tedious method is because it comes with a considerable consequence. It erases all of your user data. This includes all the apps you installed, app updates, photos, videos, documents, contacts, and messages. Basically everything stored on the phone will be gone. This method is fool proof and will work 100 percent of the time. It will definitely reset your password, albeit along with everything else.

Only try this if you have no means of executing the first two solutions. It can get troublesome setting up your phone again. You’ll have to set all your preferences and reinstall all of your apps.

Last Resort:

Since you also cannot access your phone past the lock screen, you will have to do this via Recovery Mode. If you have no other choice though, follow these steps:

Power off the locked smartphone by pressing and holding the Power button. Wait until the screen goes off along with all the lights
With the phone completely turned off, press and hold the Volume Up, Bixby/Home, and Power button all at the same time
Keep holding all three buttons until you see a Samsung logo, then let them all go
Wait a few seconds for the Android logo with the words “No command” on the screen
Tap anywhere and it will take you to the Recovery mode
Be careful not to initiate or select any unnecessary command. This might complicate the procedure or do something unwanted to your phone
You can navigate using the Volume Up or Down keys to select the commands
For now use the Volume Down key until you highlight the “wipe data/factory reset” option
Press the Power button briefly to activate the command
Wait for the procedure to finish. It may take a few minutes depending on the amount of data in your phone
Afterwards, the phone should reboot, just wait for it to complete restarting
After this you’ll have to set up the phone from scratch. You can select any security method you like

If you want more insight on the procedure you can find out more about how to factory reset the Galaxy S8 Plus.

The Aftermath:

Again, you will have to restore everything manually, from every app to every photo or document saved on the storage. As a precautionary measure, you can try a different and easier password. Register your device on the computer for easier recovery in the future.

Additionally, the Samsung Galaxy S9 or Galaxy S9 Plus has other security options. These include the fingerprint scanner, the more advanced face scanner or voice scanner through Bixby. These should provide easier and more secure alternatives to pattern lock or other traditional security options for the smartphone. You should take time and familiarize yourself with these other methods in order to avoid another factory reset.