A thief won’t be able to unlock your phone without your passcode. … However, some types of personal information remain visible, even if you’ve protected your device with a passcode. For example, the thief can see any notifications that arrive on your phone without unlocking it.
How do you reset a stolen Android phone?
To do this, make sure you first select the lost/stolen device from the main drop-down, and then tap Erase. You’ll be prompted to confirm the process (one that will delete apps, media, settings, and user data). Again, tap Erase, and the process of a factory reset will begin.
What do thieves do with stolen Android phones?
What do thieves do with your phone once they’ve pinched it? They go searching for data. … The best thing to do is to remotely wipe your phone as soon as you find out it’s stolen – this can be achieved with apps such as Find My Device (free – Android and iOS). They take over your accounts.
How do you reset a stolen Samsung phone?
Before you reset the phone, make sure to back up your data, so you can retrieve it later. From the Find My Mobile website, select Erase data on the right side of the screen. Read the important information, and then select Erase. You may be asked to verify your Samsung account before the reset starts.
Will a hard reset unlock my phone?
The most common way of resetting an Android phone screen lock is by hard reset. You can hard reset your Android phone to unlock it. … So hard reset will unlock your phone, but you will not get your stored data back on it. So if you have no recent backup for your phone data, beware of that before going for a hard reset.
Can thieves unlock your phone?
If you’re not using a PIN or you’re using something easy to guess—like 1234—a thief can easily get access to your device. Just like on an iPhone, your Android phone will continue displaying notifications on your lock screen.
How do police find stolen phones?
Yes, the police can track a stolen phone using either your phone number or the phone’s IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity). Whether or not the police prioritize looking for your stolen phone is another matter.
What to do if someone steals your phone and turns it off?
Call the police and report the theft. You should give them the phone’s registration number (IMEI), which you can get from your phone provider if you don’t know it (CDMA phones, like those from Verizon and Sprint, use a similar number called an ESN).
How do you reset a Samsung phone when it is locked?
Simultaneously press and hold the power button + volume up button + home key until the Samsung logo appears, then release only the power button. Release the volume up button and home key when the recovery screen appears. From the Android system recovery screen, select wipe data/factory reset.
Can you unlock a phone that has been blacklisted?
If you check your device as mentioned above only to discover that your iPhone has been blacklisted, you can still unlock your phone, regardless of the carrier you use. Most people who discover that they possess blacklisted devices choose to contact their carrier, as it’s absolutely free.
Can a stolen phone be reset?
Yes, it’s possible for the thief to factory reset the phone from recovery menu. However, if you had a screen lock set on the phone and your Google account set up on it, the phone would become unusable after the reset, as the thief would need one of these to set up the phone again.
How do I master reset?
How to perform Factory Reset on Android smartphone?
- Tap Settings.
- Tap General & Backup and reset.
- Tap Factory data reset.
- Tap Reset device.
- Tap Delete all.
Do you have to reset your phone to unlock it?
If you can’t unlock your phone, you’ll need to erase it. Then you can set it up again and set a new screen lock. If you can’t sign in to your Google Account, learn how to recover your account.
How can I factory reset my phone without unlocking it?
Press and hold the Volume up button, the Power button and the Bixby button. When you feel the device vibrate, release all the buttons. The Android recovery screen menu will appear (may take up to 30 seconds). Use the Volume down button to highlight ‘Wipe data/factory reset’.