Setting up a PIN code or pattern to unlock your Android phone is a crucial security measure if you want to protect your data and keep your messages and photos safe from prying eyes.
But what do you do when Android does not accept your PIN or pattern although you know you’re using the correct one? There are plenty of reports about PIN codes or patterns that suddenly stopped working one day. While this is very frustrating, rest assured, you’re not the only one experiencing this problem.
If the Android OS does not recognize your PIN code anymore, stop after the second attempt. Entering a PIN code that the system no longer recognizes as being the correct one will block your phone and you’ll need to use the PUK code.
Luckily for you, we did the heavy lifting work and we found a few solutions to this problem.
Fixing an Android Phone That Doesn’t Recognize the Correct PIN or Pattern
1. Reboot your phone
Maybe this is only a temporary glitch. Try waiting a few minutes. Many users confirmed the phone unlocked all of a sudden without them doing anything.
You can also restart your phone. Press and hold down the Power button until the Restart option appears on the screen. Tap Restart and wait until your phone reboots.
But don’t enter the PIN code or pattern as soon as your device has rebooted. Wait one or two minutes and only then check if the phone recognizes your PIN or pattern.
2. Use your Google credentials
Use this solution if your phone is not accepting your unlock pattern. It is worth mentioning this method usually works for Samsung phones and only if there’s an active Google account signed in on the device.
After making a series of incorrect patterns on your phone (at least 10), you should be prompted to enter your Google account username and password to unlock the phone.
2. Factory reset your phone from Recovery Mode
Recovery Mode is a useful built-in troubleshooting option that can help you to fix your Android phone.
While the steps to follow to enter Recovery Mode may be different depending on your phone model, you should be able to enable Recovery Mode by using the instructions below.
Keep in mind that factory resetting your phone will delete all the data on your device. Don’t forget to back up your data before proceeding.
- Turn your phone off
- Press and hold the Volume down and Power buttons at the same time until your phone turns on
- Use the Volume down button to navigate to Recovery mode
- Use the Power button to select it
- Once you’re in Recovery mode, hold the Power button, and press the Volume up button once
- Release the Power button now
- Use the Volume down button to scroll down to Factory reset
- Use the Power button to select this option.
If this method didn’t work on your phone, go to your phone manufacturer’s support page for detailed instructions. Or you can contact directly your phone manufacturer’s support team and have them help you troubleshoot this problem.
As you can see, there is really not much that you can do if your phone is not accepting the correct PIN or pattern. If you’re not lucky enough for this glitch to go away by itself after rebooting your device, you need to enter Recover mode and factory reset your device.
Melisa says
Hi all, This happened to me now as well. Has anyone found a solution that works yet? After I followed the instructions above it did not even accept my fingerprint log in, which was still working before I followed these instructions.
daniel says
Please help, i have the same issue on my huawei Nova. Suddenly correct pin is not working after reboot. I don’t want to loose any data from my phone.
Sabrina says
My Samsung J3 Achieve 2018 pattern stopped allowing me access the beginning of the second week of November. Spoke with a number of technicians and sales people, even a technician at .Samsung in Palo Alto included. Finally got a Samsung rep on the phone to “admit” that an update for security issues “may have” been the culprit, knocking out the software that recognizes the pattern. My phone is two years old and have thousands of photos on it. I don’t give a crap about the phone or corporate bs, I just want my photos/vids/docs. Anyone want to do a class action?
Jeremy says
Just started getting this problem on my Huawei phone since upgrading from Android 9 to 10. Fortunately Restart solves the problem, and I am not aware of missing data. Also very slow response when typing – text takes several seconds to appear after pressing the keypad.
Sam says
It’s unbelievable that Samsung does not acknowledge this issue or provide a fix. Had this happen to a S9 and an S4.
Deborah says
Same thing happened to me right now! 12/24/2020. Samung Galaxy S5, Set the phone down for a minute, picked it up and phone will not recognize my pattern/pin. Now only recognized a zero! Ridiculous to do a factory reset! Pressing the power and volume button for 10 sec DOES NOT WORK. Nothing works!
Co says
So.. if you have the same problem, your phone does not recognize the pin and you cannot restart, shut down…just keep pressing the power and volume buton for 10 sec. Happened to me as well, very frustrating..
Jen says
$1400 phone and THIS is what I have to deal with?
Jennifer says
I appreciate your efforts here. I attempted the second step; however, there is no Google Account Option; once I reached a number of attempts it did not like, it stated the phone would be reset!
I recommend to all DO NOT USE THE RESTART option or else you will be forced to lose everything.
I’m going to plug the phone into the computer and hope I can still access everything to save it; otherwise, it’s a bummer at the moment.
CaveBatMatt says
Same issue here. Went to make food. Came back to my phone not accepting my pin. I know I’m entering it correctly.
Managed to access the battery. Disconnected /reconnected many times. Tried Rebooting without disconnecting the battery many times. Tried disconnecting USB cord/ reconnecting USB cord before and after boot.
Unable to access wifi options without pin. I was able to find the phone through my google account. But no options were provided to unlock it. Just to lock it and erase it. I’m trying to avoid losing data / pictures / etc.
Yudo says
Whoa it seems that previous comments happened last month, got stuck with same issue as well.
New bug?
Jahnvi says
I have the same issue going on. I can’t even reboot my tablet because it is asking me the pin for rebooting. I have no idea what to and I am a student who is stuck with online classes.
Mp says
How can I turn off or restart when it says I needed to put in the pattern inorder to restart or turn off!!
Kimberly A Wells says
NO it is my tablet that has the problem