Pattern Locks Are Unsafe: Secure Your Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition Phone Now with These Tips

Pattern locks have been available for about as long as people can remember, and they have been hugely popular with people thanks to how easy it is to simply swipe your screen and unlock your smartphone, as against, say, keying in the 4-digit PIN/ 6-digit PIN. However, pattern locks are easy to crack, and today, we bring you all you want to know about pattern locks and how to create a hard pattern lock. Further to this, we also tell you how to move beyond pattern locks and what to do in case you forgot the hard pattern lock you just set and are unable to unlock your smartphone.

Part 1: What You Need to Know About Pattern Locks

Pattern lock is an Android-only feature that makes it easy for users to have a modicum of security on their smartphones. Most users do not prefer using and remembering a PIN to unlock the smartphone. Creating a pattern makes it easier, somehow.

There is a 9-point grid on which you swipe your finger from point to point, in any direction, and when you take your finger off, that pattern you swiped becomes the key to unlock your smartphone.

Pattern locks were exceedingly common only a few years ago, and they are not recommended for use any longer due to concerns (mentioned later in the article).

1.1: Popularity and Usage

Old habits die hard, or so they say, right? That’s because it is true. We are creatures of habit, and pattern locks have been around for a long, long time. We are accustomed to pattern locks. So, even with even easier technologies such as fingerprint recognition and face recognition, we tend to gravitate towards the familiar old pattern lock.

The only thing is, there is a reason why pattern locks are no longer the preferred option to use for unlocking your smartphones. As it happens, that reason is security, and it can be very easy for humans to take a swipe (pardon the pun) at your pattern lock. And guess what? The research conducted suggests that they would get it right with an unsettling accuracy.

1.2: Advantages and Drawbacks

With on-the-go lifestyles, our smartphones have become indispensable and contain some of the most sensitive aspects of our lives – IDs, credit and debit cards in digital wallets, photo and video memories, business documents – you name it, the smartphones have it, on the go. This has opened our lives up to the public at large, and if someone steals our smartphone or, best case, finds it, the only barrier preventing them from being privy to all that wealth of our sensitive information is that screen lock – the pattern lock that we set on our smartphones. That’s it – the single pattern lock stands between malicious actors and our data. You might be beginning to realize just how crazy this is.

Advantages of Pattern Locks

There are two advantages to using pattern locks. One, they are better than nothing. Two, they are easy to use. And that’s about it. There is no third advantage to pattern locks. We might think we set a hard pattern lock that nobody could guess, but, as research proves, we might be thinking too low of human prowess.

Disadvantages of Pattern Locks

Security, or rather, the lack of it, is the lone disadvantage of using a pattern lock. What good is a pattern lock that can be easily deciphered? Sure, they are easy to use, and they are better than not having anything, but would you really want to protect your life’s data with something that could be, as researchers found out, breached in under 5 attempts? We don’t think you do!

The research found that 64% of test subjects who were shown videos of people unlocking their phones could correctly guess a 6-point pattern lock, that too after viewing the video only once! That number shot up to 80% if they were allowed to see the video again. That is simply astounding and a nightmare for security. When it comes to PINs, only 11% could guess a 6-digit PIN after viewing the unlocking video once, and that number shot up to 27% when they could see the video two times.

Part 2: How To Create a Hard Pattern Lock (Including Remembering Complex Patterns)

Now, if you must continue using a pattern lock, let’s help you know how to create a hard pattern lock that would not be as easy to decipher as easy pattern locks. For that, you should know how people use pattern locks, the kind of pattern locks they create, and the ones that are the most commonly used pattern locks. That way, you can avoid those fallacies and create a hard pattern lock for your smartphone.

2.1: The Pattern Locks People Use Most Commonly

Marte Loge, an M.Sc. Computer Science student, gave a presentation on pattern locks at DEFCON 23 and made a bold claim. She said, “Tell me who you are, and I will tell you your lock pattern.”

She presented the following statistics to support her claim:

• - In her research, she found that 77% of people started with one of the 4 corners when creating a pattern lock.
• - 44% of people started with the top-left dot and 15% with the top-right, while the bottom-left was preferred by 14% of her test subjects.
• - People set 5-point pattern locks on average, and most users were content with a 4-point pattern.

These are some of the most common pattern locks people create:

• - patterns in the shapes of alphabets,
• - patterns in the shapes of numerals,
• - patterns in any other simple shape, such as square, triangle, star, etc.

To understand how this is a security nightmare, the possible combinations for a 4-point pattern are a measly 1624, whereas by adding just 1 more point to the pattern and creating a 5-point pattern, the number of possible combinations becomes 7152, an increase of 5528 combinations. In stark contrast, creating a 9-point pattern would give you over 140,000 possible combinations!

2.2: How to Create a Hard Pattern Lock

Knowing what most people do when creating a pattern lock, it becomes easy to avoid those mistakes and instead create a hard pattern lock for oneself.

• - Do not start creating a pattern lock from any of the 4 corners of the grid.
• - Never use your first initial as your pattern lock.
• - Never use the shape of a numeral as your pattern lock.
• - Use all 9 points on the grid to create your pattern lock, and contrary to popular belief, you can go over the connecting lines several times, creating a hard pattern lock that would not be as easy for people to decipher!

Part 3: Going Beyond Pattern Locks

You might think that now that you have set a hard pattern lock, you are good to go. Hardly. Technology has evolved, so have methods to break into your device.

Step 1: Set a 6-digit PIN

The minimum you should do today is set a 6-digit PIN to unlock your phone. Consider this a necessary investment into the safety of your data residing on your smartphone.

Step 2: Use Fingerprint Recognition (or Face Recognition on Apple Devices)

All modern smartphones released over the last decade have come with fingerprint recognition. Using fingerprint recognition requires you to set a 6-digit PIN and then set a fingerprint to unlock your device. You can set additional fingerprints, too.

This way, your device is the most secure it can be today. In case your fingerprint is not recognized for any reason, the phone falls back on the 6-digit PIN that you can enter and unlock your phone.

While face recognition is available on both Android and Apple devices, it is truly secure only on Apple devices. This is why Apple iPhones released after the iPhone X in 2017 have come only with Face ID. They fall back on a minimum 6-digit PIN (called Passcode in Apple world) to unlock in case the face does not get recognized in the first attempt.

Part 4: How To Unlock Phone If Hard Pattern Lock Forgotten

Just in case you set a hard pattern lock and promptly forgot that abstruse pattern you just set, we have a tool for you to quickly unlock your phone in case of a forgotten hard pattern lock: Wondershare Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock.

Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android)

Remove the Hard Pattern Lock on Your Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition If You Forgot!

• Remove all Android screen locks (PIN/pattern/fingerprints/face ID) in minutes.
• Bypass the FRP lock of Samsung without a PIN or Google account.
• Everyone can handle the lock screen without any tech knowledge.
• Provide specific removal solutions to promise good success rate.

4,008,671 people have downloaded it

Download the latest version of Dr.Fone from the Wondershare website and launch the app.

Step 1: Click Android under Toolbox > Screen Unlock.

Step 2: Click Unlock Android Screen.

Step 3: Select your device manufacturer.

Step 4: Prepare your device to unlock the screen.

When the greyed Next button becomes available, click it and wait for your device to be unlocked.

All data on the Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition device is wiped under this method. Select Samsung phones may be unlocked without data loss. Check this list for devices that may be unlocked without data loss.

Closing Words

Whether it is an easy pattern lock or a hard pattern lock, the fact is that pattern locks are antiquated and a security nightmare. A minimum 6-digit PIN must be used, and using fingerprint recognition is the preferred way to go for Android devices. Using fingerprint recognition will require that users create a 6-digit PIN. On Apple devices launched after 2017, there is Face ID, Apple’s marketing term for face recognition. If you did indeed still set a hard pattern lock, only to promptly forget it, use Wondershare Dr.Fone – Screen Unlock (Android) to seamlessly unlock your phone right now.

How to Reset your Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition Lock Screen Password

Android phones have the option of locking the screen using a PIN, pattern, or password. This is meant to keep the phone secure and prevent any unwanted intrusion. PINs and patterns are somewhat easy to remember, but it is common to forget the Android lock screen password. The phone gets locked if someone consecutively enters the wrong password multiple times. Then it is a common question to ask, “How to reset your Android password?”

The device becomes inaccessible and requires an Android password reset. But there is no easy way to do that. Either one needs their Gmail account or has to forget about getting back the Android data. Today we will deliver how to reset Android passwords and teach 6 useful ways. They can be used to reset the Android password and use the phone again. But if someone has to perform a factory restore, they need to depend on backups to get back the data. Now let’s begin with the first way and learn how to reset your Android phone password.

safe & secure

Solution 1: Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android): A Direct Way to Unlock the Phone

Using Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android) is a direct way to Android reset the password and unlock the phone. There is no tension of data loss, and this phone unlocking software works for different lock systems. It can reset the Android password, pattern, PIN, and fingerprint lock in under 5 minutes. It is straightforward to operate and does not require any technical knowledge.

Wondershare offers you 100% security as it only authorizes you access. It is simple and user-friendly and keeps all the data on the Android device ( Samsung and LG only) intact.

Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android)

Get into Locked Android Phones Within Minutes

• 4 screen lock types are available: pattern, PIN, password & fingerprints.
• Easily remove the lock screen; No need to root your device.
• Unlock 20,000+ models of Android phones & tablets.
• Provide specific removal solutions to promise good success rate

4,008,669 people have downloaded it

How to reset an Android phone password with Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android)

Step 1: Select “Screen Unlock”

Open the program. After that, select and click on “Screen Unlock” on the right side of the window. With this option, you can Android reset your password and remove the lock screen of PIN, password, pattern, and fingerprints.

Now get the Android phone connected to the PC and select the Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition device model in the list to proceed.

Step 2: Activate download mode

You have to put your device into download mode. For that, follow the instructions given by Wondershare:

• 1. Switch off the Android device
• 2. Tap and keep holding the volume decrease button along with the power and home button simultaneously
• 3. Now tap the volume increase button to initiate download mode

Step 3: Download the recovery package

After the download mode has been entered, the program will begin to download the recovery package automatically. You have to hold your horses until it is complete.

Step 4: Remove the Android password without data loss

Soon the recovery package finishes downloading. Then the program begins to remove the lock screen. After the process is over, you can access all your data on your Android device and reset your Android password.

These simple steps will ensure that you can secure your Android lock screen easily, without any worries. You do not have to worry about data loss, and you will reset your Android phone. Even if you have forgotten your Android password and are thinking about starting your Android phone again, these simple tips will help.

Solution 2: How to reset Android Phone Password with Smart Lock?

Setting up Smart Lock on your Android device adds a convenient and straightforward method for unlocking your screen. Smart Lock provides different alternatives to bypass the lock screen based on specific situations.

These alternatives encompass trusted locations, connected devices, or facial recognition. For devices operating on Android 14, it’s now referred to as Extend Unlock. Here’s a guide on utilizing Smart Lock to unlock your Android device:

Step 1. Set a pattern, PIN, or password for your screen lock if you haven’t already. Open the Settings on your Android device and tap on “Security & Privacy.” Here, tap “More Security & Privacy” and select “Trust agents.”

Step 2. Within “Trust agents,” toggle on “Extend Unlock” and then return to the previous screen. Select “Extend Unlock” and input your pattern, PIN, or password to confirm. Next, pick your desired Smart Lock type and follow the on-screen prompts to activate.

Solution 3: How to Unlock Samsung Phone with SmartThings?

Unlocking an Android phone using SmartThings is an option available for Samsung devices. SmartThings offers remote control and management of Samsung devices. It also includes the ability to unlock your phone under specific conditions. Here’s a general guide on how to use SmartThings to unlock your Samsung phone:

Step 1. Access the SmartThings website, where you should click on the “Sign In” button. Now log in using your Samsung Account, and you’ll be directed to a new screen displaying a map pinpointing your phone’s location.

Step 2. Select the “Unlock” button located in the top right corner of the menu. Then, proceed by clicking “Unlock,” and entering your Samsung password. Finally, confirm by clicking Unlock once more. This action will reset all your lock settings, comprising biometric security, PIN, password, and swipe pattern.

Solution 4: How to Reset Android Password using Google？

To reset the Android password using Google, it is necessary to remember the Google password and ID. Google account must also be activated on the phone. Also, this method only works on devices running Android 4.4 or below. Follow the steps below for the Android password reset.

Step 1: Access Google login

Enter the wrong password 5 times till the Android device gives you a “Forgot password?” prompt. Click on the tab and choose “Enter Google Account details.”

Step 2: Enter credentials and do an Android reset password

Now enter the Google ID and password and log in. You will be able to Android reset your password and get access to your phone.

Solution 5: How to Reset Android Password using Android Device Manager？

Familiar with Android Device Manager? Well, it has been renamed now as Find My Device. This service provided by Google helps you find, lock, or wipe your Android device. Plus, if you have enabled Find My Device, it might prove very helpful to assist you in unlocking your device. Check out these easy-to-follow steps for unlocking your Android device. For this, you need to use Find My Device, the upgraded Android Device Manager:

Instructions. On a computer or another device, go to the “Google Find My Device ” website. Here, sign in using your Google account linked to the locked Android device. Once you’ve logged in, the website will present a map revealing the most recent location of your device. Next, navigate to the left side and select “Erase Device.” Follow the prompts on the screen to finalize the process.

Solution 6: How to reset Android Phone Password using Factory Reset?

This method can be used when no other means of Android password reset works. This will erase all your data, so it is better to have backups created before. Now perform the steps to Android reset the password.

Step 1: Initiate factory restore.

Turn your Android device off. Press and hold the power button + home button + volume up button. This will bring up the recovery mode to initiate factory restoration.

Step 2: Factory restore

Now use the volume +/- button to navigate to the “Wipe Data / Factory Reset” option and press the power button to select it. Wait till the process complete.

Step 3: Reboot and reset the password.

From the available options, choose “Reboot System Now.” After the Android device powers on, you will be able to do the Android password reset.

Bonus Part: Useful Tips to Prevent Future Lockouts on Android

Here are some helpful tips to prevent future lockouts on your Android device and ensure better password management.

• 1. Use Password Managers: Consider using reputable password manager apps that securely store and manage your passwords. These apps often have features to generate strong, unique passwords for different accounts and help you remember them.
• 2. Set up Biometric Authentication: In case your device supports it, use biometric authentication methods for a better experience. These can be fingerprints or facial recognition. These methods can be more convenient than remembering passwords and offer added security.
• 3. Create Memorable Passwords: If you opt against using a password manager, craft robust yet easily remembered passwords. To improve your security, try to use a sequence of lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Plus, avoid easily guessable details like birthdays or common phrases to make your password strong.
• 4. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Enable two-factor authentication whenever possible for your accounts. Likewise, this provides an added layer of security by requiring a secondary verification method. It could be a text message code or authentication app in addition to your password.
• 5. Regularly Back Up Your Data: Make it a habit to consistently back up your device data . To prevent potential data loss from forgotten passwords or unexpected issues, take precautions. Safeguard your crucial data by creating backups, whether in the cloud or on an external storage device.

Conclusion

This article guided all the possible ways available in 2024 to reset your Android lock screen password, such as using the Smart Lock, Google Find My, Samsung SmartThings, and Wondershare Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android). The most recommended method out of these methods is Dr.Fone because it can handle all Android brands without restrictions.

On the other hand, other methods have their limitations. For example, SmartThings can only work for Samsung smartphones. Moreover, Wondershare Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android) is compatible with Android 14 and can unlock the screen within 2 minutes.

Forgot Pattern Lock? Here’s How You Can Unlock Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition Pattern Lock Screen

Forgetting the pattern lock of a device and getting locked out of it is probably one of the most frustrating scenarios faced by Android users. Nevertheless, unlike popular operating systems, Android provides a seamless way to past the forgot pattern lock feature.

You can either try Google’s native solution or a third-party tool in case you have forgotten the pattern lock on your device and reset it. In no time, you will be able to access your device (or even someone else’s phone by following these techniques). To make things easier for you, we have provided three simple solutions to resolve forgotten patterns on Android devices.

Part 1: How to bypass forgot pattern lock using the ‘Forgot Pattern’ feature?

One of the easiest and fastest ways to fix the forgot pattern lock issue on a device is by using its inbuilt “Forgot Pattern” feature. If you are using an Android 4.4 or earlier version, then you can simply access this feature. Since users can hack an Android device just by knowing the Google credentials of the connected device, the solution was later discontinued (as it was considered a security vulnerability). Nevertheless, if your device hasn’t been updated and you are using an Android 4.4 or previous version, then you can bypass the forgot pattern lock by following these steps:

Step 1. Firstly, provide the wrong pattern to your device. It will let you know that you applied the incorrect pattern.

Step 2. On the same prompt, you can see an option of “Forgot pattern” on the bottom. Simply tap on it.

Step 3. This will open a new screen, which can be used to bypass the forgotten pattern of Android. Select the option for entering the Google Account details and proceed.

Step 4. To reset the forgot pattern lock, you need to provide the correct Google credentials of the account already linked to the Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition device.

Step 5. After signing in to the interface, you will be asked to provide a new pattern lock for the Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition device.

Step 6. Confirm your choice and set a new pattern lock on your device.

Part 2: How to get past forgot pattern lock using Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android)?

One of the major drawbacks of the “Forgot pattern” feature is that it doesn’t work on new Android devices. Since most of the Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition devices out there have been updated, the technique has been outdated. Therefore, you can simply take the assistance of Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android) to bypass the forgot pattern lock on your device. Without causing any harm to your device or erasing its data, your device’s password or pattern would be removed.

It is a part of the Dr.Fone toolkit and is compatible with all the leading Android devices out there. It can be used to remove passwords, patterns, pins, and more. It has an easy-to-use interface and provides a simple click-through process to resolve the forgot pattern Android lock on your device. However, this tool merely retains all the data after unlocking Samsung and LG screens. Other Android locked screens can also be unlocked, and the only thing is that it will wipe all the data after unlocking.

Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock

Save You from Ending up with a Locked Phone After Too Many Pattern Attempts

• It can remove 4 screen lock types - pattern, PIN, password & fingerprints.
• Work for Samsung, LG, Huawei phones, Google Pixel, Xiaomi, Lenovo, etc.
• Unlock 20,000+ models of Android phones & tablets.
• Enable you to break your Android pattern lock without root.

4,008,669 people have downloaded it

Step 1. To start with, visit the official website of Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android) and download it on your system. After installing it, launch the tool and select the option of “Screen Unlock” from the home screen.

Step 2. To use its forgot pattern lock feature, you need to connect your Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition to your system using a USB cable. Once your device has been detected automatically, just click on the “Android”> “Unlock Android Screen” button.

Step 3. Select the correct phone brand. It is important to ensure phone brand correctness to prevent bricking.

Step 4. Then, enter “confirm” in the box to tell the tool that you agree to proceed.

Step 5. Now, in order to fix the forgot pattern Android issue, you need to put your device into the Download Mode. To do this, you need to ensure that your device is switched off. Once it is off, hold the Power, Home, and Volume Down buttons simultaneously. After a while, press the Volume Up button to put your device into Download Mode.

Step 6. After your device enters its Download Mode, it will automatically be detected by the interface. It will start downloading the needed recovery packages to resolve the issue. Sit back and relax, as it might take a while to download the recovery packages. Let the application process the essential operations, and don’t disconnect your Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition until it is completed successfully.

Step 7. In the end, you will get a prompt like this on the screen, informing you that the password/pattern on the Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition device has been removed.

That’s it! Now, you can disconnect the Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition device safely and use it how you like.

Part 3: How to bypass forgot pattern lock using Android Device Manager?

To make it easier for its users to locate, lock, or erase their devices remotely, Google has developed a dedicated feature of the Android Device Manager. It is also commonly known as “Find My Device” as it is mostly used to locate a lost (or stolen) device. Though you can use this feature to ring your device, lock it, unlock it, or erase it remotely. You can access it from anywhere by providing your Google credentials and resolving the forgot pattern Android problem.

All of this can be done by following these steps:

Step 1. Launch a web browser of any device and go to the Android Device Manager website by clicking right here: https://www.google.com/android/find .

Step 2. You need to provide your Google credentials to sign in. Remember, this should be the same Google account that is linked to your device.

Step 3. After signing in, select the target Android device.

Step 4. You will get the location of the Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition device with several other options (lock, erase, and ring).

Step 5. Click on the “Lock” button to reset its password.

Step 6. It will open a new pop-up window. From here, you can provide the new password for your device.

Step 7. After confirming your password, you can also provide an optional recovery message and phone number (if your device has been lost or stolen).

Step 8. Save your changes and sign out of your account from Android Device Manager.

This will automatically reset the old pattern on your device to the new password.

Part 4: How to bypass forgot Samsung pattern lock using Samsung Find My Mobile

Bypassing a forgotten Samsung pattern lock using the Samsung Find My Mobile service is a method specifically designed for Samsung devices. This method allows you to unlock your Samsung device without losing any data. It’s a convenient way to regain access to your device if you’ve forgotten the pattern lock.

However, it relies on having previously set up Samsung Find My Mobile and linked your device. Here is how to unlock your Samsung device with Samsung Find My Mobile:

Step 1: Access the Find My Mobile (SmartThings Find) website using either a computer or another mobile device. Sign in using the Samsung account details linked to the locked device.

Step 2: After successfully logging in, locate the locked Samsung device. Now, click on the “Unlock” feature. Upon choosing this option, a pop-up window will appear. It will prompt you to input your Samsung account password. Once you’ve entered your password, proceed to unlock the Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition device by pressing “Next.”

Part 5: How to bypass forgot pattern lock using Safe Mode

If you have locked your device using a third-party app, there exists a simple solution. You can use the Safe Mode to remove the problematic app. Safe Mode is intended for troubleshooting and disabling third-party apps. Following are the steps you need to follow to use Safe Mode to unlock your Android device:

Step 1: Initiating Safe Mode requires a simultaneous three-second press of the “Volume Down” and “Power” keys. When the power menu becomes visible, proceed to long-press the “Power Off” icon.

Step 2: In a moment, you’ll see the option “Safe Mode” replacing the other “Power Off” menu options. Proceed to boot your device into Safe Mode and uninstall the troublesome application.

Part 6: How to bypass forgot pattern lock using Factory Reset

Bypassing a forgotten pattern lock on an Android device using a factory reset is a last resort. The reason is it will erase all data on your device, including apps, photos, and settings. However, it can be an effective way to regain access to your device when other methods have failed. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Turn off your Samsung device and connect it to your computer. Now press and hold “Volume Up” and “Power” keys for a while. Release the keys once the Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition device enters Recovery Mode.

Step 2: In Recovery Mode, use the Volume keys to navigate to “Wipe data/factory reset” and select it with the “Power” key. Confirm the action on the next screen by selecting “Factory data reset.”

Wrap it up

If you have also forgotten the pattern lock on your device, then you can simply remove or reset it by following these solutions. In this way, you won’t even lose your important data files or cause any harm to your device. Without facing any unwanted setbacks, you would be able to bypass forgot pattern Android using Dr. Fone - Screen Unlock . It provides a fast, reliable, and secure solution to remove the lock screen security of an Android device in an effortless way.

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