4 Ways to Unlock an Android Tablet

Learn how you can get back into your Android tablet when it's locked

Written by Darlene Antonelli, MA

Last Updated: March 20, 2023

Unlocking a Samsung Device

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Unlocking Android 4.4 and Older Tablets

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Erasing with Google Find My

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Performing a Factory Reset

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

Did you forget your PIN or passcode to get into your Android tablet? Fortunately, there are a few tricks that you can use to get back into a locked tablet. This wikiHow article teaches how to unlock your Android tablet when you've forgotten the lock screen PIN, pattern, or passcode.

Things You Should Know

Samsung tablets can use the SmartThings Find website to remotely unlock their tablets.
Tablets with Google accounts can use Find My to erase everything from the tablet remotely, which also removes any PINs or passcodes.
Tablets running older versions of Android can use a Google account to unlock the Lock Screen.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Unlocking a Samsung Device

1
Visit the SmartThings Find website. If you have a Samsung tablet that is signed in with your Samsung account and has Remote controls enabled, you can use the SmartThings Find (previously known as Find My Mobile) online tool to unlock your screen.
2
Sign in with your Samsung account. You must be signed in on your tablet with a Samsung device, which you were prompted to create when you set up your tablet.
- If you don't have a Samsung account, you'll need to try one of the other methods in this article.
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3
Click Unlock. You'll see this with the icon of an open lock pad on the right side of the website.
- You'll see a list of all your Samsung devices listed on the left side of the screen. Click any of them to change which device you're accessing.
- Click Unlock to confirm, then enter your Samsung account information to continue. Doing this will also erase any previous passcodes, PINs, and biometric security settings that you had set up previously.
4
Wait for your screen to unlock. It may take several minutes for the unlock signal to reach your tablet.^{[1]
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- After your tablet unlocks, you'll want to reset any passcodes to keep your tablet protected.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Unlocking Android 4.4 and Older Tablets

1
Enter an incorrect PIN or pattern 5 times. If you're using a tablet running Android 4.4 or earlier, you can use a built-in bypass mechanism to unlock your tablet.
- This was removed in Android 5.0 (Lollipop). Newer Androids don't have the option to unlock their tablet with a Google account, so you'll have to try other methods to unlock it.
- This method requires that your tablet currently be connected to a wireless network.
2
Tap the Forgot PIN/pattern/password button. If this button doesn't appear after 5 incorrect attempts, your device does not support this method.
3
Enter your Google address and password. Make sure this is the same Google account that you are signed in with on your tablet.
4
Tap Sign In.
5
Open Gmail on another computer or device. You'll be receiving an email to reset your passcode information.
6
Open the message received from Google. It may be in the Updates tab.
7
Click the link in the email. This will take you to a form to create a new unlock code.
8
Create a new PIN, password, or pattern. This will be your new temporary unlock sequence.
9
Use your new pattern to unlock your device. It may take a few minutes for the tablet to update with the new unlock method.
10
Set a new code. Once you've unlocked the device, set a new code or pattern from the Lock Screen menu in the Settings app.^{[2]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Erasing with Google Find My

1
Go to https://android.com/find. This only works if your tablet is connected to a Google account and has Find My enabled. If you use this technique, you'll be able to reset your tablet remotely.
- If you aren't logged in, you'll be prompted to log in with your Google account.
2
Click your tablet. You'll see a list of all the phones and tablets connected to your Google account that have Find My enabled.
- Click your tablet to see more options.
3
Click Erase Device. Click Erase again to confirm your action and continue. Unfortunately, the site does not offer to unlock the tablet but erasing it will also erase any PINs or passwords it has set up. ^{[3]
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- Once your tablet is erased, you can reboot it and set up a new PIN or passcode.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Performing a Factory Reset

1
Hold the Power button on the tablet. If you can't unlock your device, your only option is to perform a factory reset. This will remove the passcode, but also erase all of the data on your tablet. You'll be able to restore all of your emails, purchases, app downloads, and settings by logging in again after resetting.
2
Tap Power off. This will turn off your Android.
3
Hold the Volume Down button while the tablet is off. You'll be booting into Recovery Mode. The button combination for entering this mode may vary for your device.
4
Press and hold the Power button while holding the Volume Down button. For many devices, this will boot you into the Recovery Mode launcher.
5
Hold both buttons until the Start menu appears. If the Start menu does not appear and your device boots normally, you may need to use a different button combination to enter Recovery Mode. Search online for "recovery mode" + your Android tablet model.
6
Press Volume Down until Recovery mode appears. The Volume Up and Volume Down buttons will cycle through menu options.
7
Press the Power button to select Recovery mode. The Power button will select the highlighted menu option.
8
Select wipe data/factory reset. Use the Volume Down button to highlight it and the Power button to select it.
9
Select Yes. This will begin the reset process, which will delete all of your data.
10
Wait while your device resets. This may take 20-30 minutes.
11
Start the new device setup after the reset. After the tablet finishes resetting, you'll be taken through the setup process that you went through when you purchased it. During this process, you'll be able to log in with your Google account and restore your purchases and settings.

Expert Q&A

Question

I bought a Samsung galaxy active 2 tablet off a friend but it's got his Google account with his password still. it won't let me factory reset it. how can I get past this and set up my new account 🤔

Darlene Antonelli, MA
wikiHow Technology Writer
Darlene Antonelli is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Darlene has experience teaching college courses, writing technology-related articles, and working hands-on in the technology field. She earned an MA in Writing from Rowan University in 2012 and wrote her thesis on online communities and the personalities curated in such communities.

Darlene Antonelli, MA

wikiHow Technology Writer

Expert Answer

You need your friend to remove the device from their Google account. Either they can unlock the tablet and go to "Accounts" and remove the Google account, or they can go to their Google account using any web browser on any computer or phone or another tablet and remove that Samsung from their account. Unfortunately, it's an expensive paperweight for you as you cannot use the tablet without your friend removing it from their Google account. (The only other option is for you to get access to their Google account and do either of the options listed here)
Question

What is the button combo for a factory reset on a Samsung tablet?

Community Answer

With the device off, press and hold the "Volume Up," "Home" and "Power" buttons. Release the buttons when you see the recovery screen and the Samsung logo. Use the volume buttons to navigate the menu and select "wipe data / factory reset." Press "Home" to choose the highlighted selection.
Question

How do I get past the PIN when I bought a tablet that has a PIN lock?

Community Answer

Press and hold the power key, tap restart (if you need the PIN to shut off the tablet). And as soon as the screen turns completely off (no screen, no backlighting), then press and hold power, turn the volume up and wait till you see the Android utility screen.