If you’ve forgotten the passcode, PIN, or pattern to unlock your Google Pixel phone, don’t panic – you’re not alone. Many Pixel owners find themselves in this stressful situation at some point. The good news is that there are several methods you can use to regain access to your device without losing all of your important data, photos, and files. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to unlock your Pixel and get back to using your phone with minimal hassle.
Key Takeaways
- You can unlock a locked Pixel phone without losing data by using your Google account credentials
- If you can’t remember your Google password, you can reset it or use the Forgot Pattern feature
- As a last resort, you can perform a factory reset, but this will erase all data on the device
- To avoid getting locked out in the future, set up a secure unlock method and backup your data regularly
Can I Unlock My Google Pixel Phone Without Losing Data?
Yes, you can unlock your Google Pixel phone without losing data. You can try rebooting into Recovery Mode, or use Google’s Find My Device to remotely reset your password. Another option is the Pixel Repair Tool, which can remove screen locks from a locked Android phone without deleting your data.
Check If You Have a Google Account Linked
The first thing to check is whether you have a Google account linked to your Pixel phone. If you set up the device with a Google account, you can use those credentials to unlock it:
- After entering the wrong passcode, PIN, or pattern five times, you’ll see a “Forgot Pattern,” “Forgot PIN,” or “Forgot Passcode” button appear on the bottom of the lock screen. Tap on it.
- You’ll be prompted to enter the username and password of the Google account linked to the phone. Enter your Google account credentials.
- If you enter the correct username and password, your Pixel will unlock and you’ll regain full access to the device and all of your data, without anything being deleted.
However, this method only works if you remember your Google account’s password. If you’ve forgotten that as well, don’t give up hope just yet – skip ahead to the next section for additional options.
Reset Your Google Account Password
Can’t remember the password to your linked Google account either? No worries, it happens. You can reset your Google password and then use the new password to unlock your Pixel phone. Here’s how:
- On a computer or another device, go to Google’s account recovery page.
- Enter the email address or phone number associated with your Google account and click “Next.”
- Follow the prompts to verify it’s your account and reset the password. You may need to enter the last password you remember, answer security questions, or use two-factor authentication if enabled.
- Once you’ve reset the password, return to your Pixel’s lock screen and tap “Forgot Pattern,” “Forgot PIN,” or “Forgot Passcode.”
- Enter the email and new password for your Google account.
- Your Pixel phone should unlock without any data loss.
If you’re still unable to reset your Google password, contact Google support for further assistance. But in most cases, resetting the password will allow you to regain access to both your Google account and locked Pixel device.
Use the Forgot Pattern Feature
Did you forget the pattern you use to lock your screen? Recent versions of Android include a handy Forgot Pattern feature that can help:
- On the lock screen, attempt an incorrect unlock pattern five times.
- You’ll see a message saying “Try again in 30 seconds.”
- Tap “Forgot Pattern.”
- Enter the Google account username and password linked to the device.
- Reset your screen lock pattern.
- Use the new pattern to unlock your Pixel phone. No data will be lost.
This method requires that you remember your Google password. If you’ve forgotten that as well, go back and try the steps in the previous section to reset it first. Remember, you can always contact Google support if you need additional help recovering account access.
Perform a Factory Reset as a Last Resort
If all else fails, you can perform a factory reset on your Pixel phone to remove the passcode, PIN, or pattern lock. However, this will erase all data stored on the device, returning it to like-new condition. Here’s how it works:
- If your Pixel has a removable battery, power off the phone and remove the battery. Reinsert it after about a minute.
- If the battery isn’t removable, press and hold both the power and volume down buttons until the phone vibrates and the recovery screen appears.
- Use the volume buttons to highlight “Recovery mode” and press the power button to select it.
- When you see an Android icon with an exclamation mark, press and hold the power button, then press the volume up button once. Release both buttons.
- Use the volume buttons to select “Wipe data/factory reset” and press the power button.
- On the next screen, highlight “Yes – delete all user data” and press power to confirm.
- After the reset completes, select “Reboot system now.” Your Pixel will restart with factory settings and no lock screen.
The major downside is that this method deletes all data, settings, and files stored on the device. The phone will be like it just came out of the box. But if you regularly back up your Pixel’s data to the cloud or a computer (which we highly recommend), you can restore it and pick up where you left off. Some data may be automatically restored when you link your Google account.
Prevent Lockouts with Secure Unlocking Options
Now that you’ve unlocked your Pixel phone, let’s make sure you don’t get locked out again in the future. Google offers several secure options for unlocking your device:
Fingerprint Scanner
Most newer Pixel phones have a fingerprint scanner that allows you to unlock the screen with a tap of your finger. To set it up:
- Go to Settings > Security > Pixel Imprint.
- Follow the prompts to scan your fingerprint from multiple angles.
- Lock your screen and test out the fingerprint scanner.
Face Unlock
Some Pixel models offer face recognition technology that unlocks your phone simply by looking at the front camera:
- Go to Settings > Security > Face Unlock.
- Follow the on-screen guide to set up facial recognition. You’ll need to position your face inside a circle from a few different angles.
- Once enrolled, your Pixel will automatically scan your face when you look at the lock screen and unlock the device if it recognizes you.
Smart Lock
Android’s Smart Lock feature keeps your Pixel unlocked in certain trusted situations:
- On-body detection: Keeps phone unlocked while it’s on your person and in motion.
- Trusted places: Set safe locations like home or work where your phone will stay unlocked.
- Trusted devices: Specify Bluetooth devices, like a smartwatch or car stereo, that keep your phone unlocked when connected.
- Trusted face: Uses facial recognition to keep phone unlocked (different from Face Unlock method above).
To configure Smart Lock, go to Settings > Security > Smart Lock and choose your preferred options. You’ll still need a secure backup unlocking method, like a PIN or password, for added protection.
Two-Factor Authentication
For maximum Google account security, enable two-factor authentication (2FA). With 2FA, you’ll need both your password and a second form of verification, like a code sent to your phone number or generated by an authenticator app, to sign in. This makes it much harder for anyone to hack your account, even if they have your password. To set up 2FA:
- Go to Google’s 2FA page and sign in.
- Click “Get Started.”
- Enter your phone number to receive text message codes.
- Whenever you sign in to your Google account, you’ll be prompted for the texted code after correctly entering your password.
For additional 2FA options, like using an authenticator app or backup codes, click “Add a backup option” on the 2FA setup page. We strongly recommend setting up at least two 2FA methods in case you lose access to your phone number.
Back Up Data Regularly
As a final precaution, make sure to back up your Pixel’s data on a regular basis. That way, even if you do need to factory reset the device, you won’t lose your photos, videos, contacts, calendar, and other important information. There are two main ways to back up a Pixel phone:
Back Up to Google One
Pixel phones come with free, automatic backups to Google One cloud storage. To enable backups:
- Go to Settings > System > Backup.
- Make sure “Back up to Google Drive” is toggled on.
- Under “Backup details,” check that the data you want to back up (like apps, call history, device settings, photos, and videos) is selected.
Your Pixel will automatically back up once per day when it’s plugged in, connected to Wi-Fi, and the screen is locked. You can also tap “Back up now” to manually initiate a backup anytime.
Back Up to a Computer
You can also copy data from your Pixel directly to a computer for safekeeping:
- Connect your Pixel to the computer with a USB cable.
- On the phone, tap the “Charging this device via USB” notification.
- Under “Use USB for,” select File Transfer.
- On the computer, open the Pixel’s storage and copy the desired files and folders, like Photos, Music, or Documents, to the computer’s hard drive.
For a full backup, consider using third-party software like dr.fone or Smart Switch to create a complete image of your Pixel on the computer.
Wrapping Up
Getting locked out of your Google Pixel phone can be a frustrating experience, but it doesn’t have to end in losing all of your data. By using your Google account credentials, resetting your password, trying the Forgot Pattern feature, or factory resetting as a last resort, you can regain access to your device. To prevent future lockouts, set up secure unlocking methods like fingerprint or face recognition and enable two-factor authentication on your Google account. And always remember to regularly back up your phone’s data to the cloud or a computer. Stay safe out there!
FAQs
Can you unlock a locked phone without losing data?
Yes, the Find My Device feature developed by Google allows you to find, locate, and lock your Android device remotely. With this feature, you can also unlock your device without losing data.
How can I recover data from a Pixel phone?
To recover data from a Pixel phone:
- Go to Google Drive.
- On the left, click Storage.
- Click Backups next to the icon.
- You’ll find a list of backups from devices and when they were last modified.
Are Google Pixels always unlocked?
No, your Pixel phone can come SIM-locked or SIM-unlocked, depending on where you bought it. However, all Pixel phones work with all major carriers, but not all Pixel 4a (5G) and later phones work on all 5G networks.
Can you unlock a locked Google Pixel?
Yes, you can unlock a locked Google Pixel, but you must factory reset the device first. It’s important to back up your smartphone because it can restore your files after completing the factory reset.
Does Google Pixel automatically backup?
Yes, Google Pixel phones have an automatic backup feature that can be turned on at any time. It will backup an unlimited amount of data from your calendar, contacts, photos, and videos. You get up to 25 MB of data per app for all other apps, call history, device settings, and SMS messages.
How do I transfer data from Pixel if the screen is broken?
If your Pixel’s screen is broken but the phone still powers on, you can use a USB cable to connect the phone to a computer. If you have previously set the phone to file transfer mode, you can access the files and transfer them directly.
