Pattern Locks Are Unsafe: Secure Your Vivo Y100i 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 Vivo Y100i 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.

Click here

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.

Click here

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

All data on the Vivo Y100i 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.

Click here

## 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 Unlock Vivo Y100i PIN Code/Pattern Lock/Password

I have forgotten the pattern, PIN, or password needed to unlock my Vivo Y100i smartphone. What should I do?

If you have a Vivo Y100i phone and have forgotten the screen unlock PIN code, pattern lock, or password, you can still access it using some tried and tested tricks and hacks. This article will discuss 5 different ways on how to unlock Vivo Y100i smartphone. Some methods might work without erasing your data, while others, like factory resetting, may erase all content from your phone. Regardless of which method you use, you will be able to unlock your phone! So, let’s get started!

1. How to Unlock Vivo Y100i With Google Find My Vivo Y100i?

A way to unlock the Vivo Y100i phone is via Google Find My Device feature. While this method can help unlock your phone, it erases all content from it.

For this method, you need a PC and your Google account details. Here are the steps for it:

Step 1: Open your browser and go to Google Find My Device  on your PC.

Step 2: Log in to the Google account you used to set up your Vivo Y100i phone.

Step 3: It will show you 3 options: Play Sound, Secure Device, and Erase Device.

 And then select “**Erase Device.**”

Selecting this option will erase all content from your device, including screen unlock PIN, password, and pattern.

Step 4: Now, you can access your phone without an unlock PIN or pattern and set a new one.

Use this method only if your phone is backed up so you can restore all your data later.

2. How to Unlock Android device Using Lock Remove Tool?

Another foolproof method on how to unlock Android pattern lock is by using a lock removal tool like Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android) .

safe & secure

Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock is a screen unlock tool that can unlock your Android phone if you forget its screen unlock PIN, password, or pattern in just 5 minutes. It has a simple operation that requires just a few clicks to unlock your phone screen. Plus, this method is reliable, secure, and has a high success rate. However, there’s a possibility that it might not work with older phone models.

### Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android)

Unlock Android PIN Code/Pattern Lock/Password within Minutes

• Remove all Android screen locks (PIN/pattern/fingerprints/face ID) in minutes.
• Unlock 20,000+ models of Android phones & tablets.
• Everybody can handle it without any technical background.
• Save you from ending up with a locked phone after too many pattern attempts.

4,008,669 people have downloaded it

Here are the steps to unlock Android phone using Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android):

Step 1: Launch Dr.Fone on your PC and select the “Screen Unlock” option from the main page.

Step 2: Connect your phone to your PC with a USB cable. Now click on the “Android” > “Unlock Android Screen” option.

Step 3: A device brand will appear. Select your phone’s brand, i.e., Samsung.

Step 4: Now, follow the instructions as you see to unlock your Android device.

Your phone is now unlocked, and you can access it without entering a PIN, password, or pattern.

Now, if you don’t remember your Google account details and don’t have access to a PC to use a screen unlock tool, you can unlock Android phone using the conventional way.

## How to Unlock Vivo Y100i with Google Account?

Almost all Android smartphones, including Vivo Y100i , require you to enter your Google account details when setting up your phone for the first time. This includes the email, password, and security question. These details come in handy later on in situations where your phone is lost or stolen or if you’re switching to another phone. However, they can also help with basic issues like unlocking your phone in case you forget your Vivo Y100i screen unlock PIN, pattern, or password.

You can unlock your Vivo Y100i phone with Google Account in the following two ways:

• Using Google account details
• Using Google security question

### Using Google Account Details

Almost all Android smartphones, including Vivo Y100i , require you to enter your Google account details when setting up your phone for the first time. This account comes in handy later on in situations where your phone is lost or stolen or if you’re switching to another phone. However, it can also help with basic issues like unlocking your phone in case you forget your Vivo Y100i screen unlock PIN, pattern, or password. But to use this method successfully, you need to remember the email address bound to the Vivo Y100i device and its password.

Here’s how to unlock the Vivo Y100i pattern lock without losing data using your Google account:

• Step 1: Enter the incorrect PIN, pattern, or password 5 times, and click on “Forgot Password” or “Forgot Pattern.”
• Step 2: The interface will then ask you to enter your Google account details as an alternate option. Enter the Google account details you used when setting up your Vivo Y100i phone.
• Step 3: This will unlock your phone. You can now reset the screen unlock PIN, password, or pattern.

If you don’t remember your Google account details, you can still unlock your Vivo Y100i phone using a third-party tool.

Using Security Question

Another way to unlock your Vivo Y100i phone using Google is by answering the security question. When we set up our Google account, we usually choose a security question and an answer. This comes in handy if you want to recover your Google account, reset the password, or if you want to unlock your phone’s screen.

For the latter, here are the steps:

• Step 1: Enter the incorrect PIN or pattern to unlock your screen several times till you see the “Forgot Pattern” or “Forgot Password” option. Click on it.
• Step 2: Now select the “Answer Security Question” option and type in the answer.
• Step 3: Click on “Unlock” after which you will be asked if you want to set a new PIN or pattern. Select “Yes.”
• Step 4: Your Vivo Y100i phone will be unlocked, and you can set a new PIN or pattern for your screen.

How to Unlock Vivo Y100i by Hard Reset?

Hard resetting your smartphone usually solves everything! Hence, it can also help you unlock your Vivo Y100i phone; however, using this method will erase all the data on your phone. So, if you still want to unlock Vivo Y100i phone using this method, only do so if you have backed up your device and have no other way to unlock your phone. This includes forgetting your Google account details or not having access to a PC to download and use Dr Fone - Screen Unlock (Android).

Here are the steps for it:

• Step 1: Power off your Vivo Y100i phone.
• Step 2: Press and hold the power and volume down button until the Sony screen appears.
• Step 3: The “System Recovery” menu will appear. Use the volume up and down button to scroll to the “Factory Reset” option. Use the power button to select this option.
• Step 4: Select “Yes” when asked for confirmation.

Your Vivo Y100i phone will be hard reset, and all the locks will be removed. When you turn it on again, you will have to set it up like a new phone using your Google account details.

How to Unlock Vivo Y100i with Vivo Companion?

If you’ve forgotten the screen lock of your Vivo Y100i device, you can use Sony’s official software, Vivo Companion, to unlock your device. Vivo Companion is a reliable method that can help you regain access to your Vivo without data loss. Here’s how to unlock your Vivo Y100i using Vivo Companion:

Step 1: Install and launch Vivo Y100i Companion from the official website and click “Support Zone.” Move to the “Phone/Tablet Software Update” option on the next screen and tap “Start.”

Step 2: Now, plug in your laptop to power, as the process will take some time, and choose “repair my phone/tablet.” Here, agree to the warning that you will lose your data and click “Next” to proceed.

**Step 3:** Allow the program to download files to prepare for the update process and choose your Vivo Y100i model. Click “Next” and connect your Vivo Y100i to the PC. Ensure that the phone is turned off, and press and hold the "Volume Down" button when connecting the cable to the phone.

Step 4: Once correctly connected to the PC, the program will download the necessary software and upload it to your device. After completing the process, you can unplug the Vivo Y100i device and turn it on.

## How to Remove Operator Lock on Vivo Y100i ?

An operator lock, also called a carrier lock, constitutes a limitation imposed on a mobile phone by a network provider. This measure is implemented to guarantee that the Vivo Y100i device exclusively functions with the services provided by that specific carrier. If you wish to remove the operator lock from your Vivo Y100i device, you’ll need to follow specific steps and meet certain criteria. Here’s how to remove the operator lock on a Vivo Y100i :

Step 1: Begin by checking whether your device can be unlocked or not from its network carrier restrictions. To do that, you need to dial the code “*#*#7378423#*#*” on your device, tap “Service Info” and select “SIM Lock.”

Step 2: Carefully check the information provided on the screen. If there is “X” before the “Network” option and the number in front of it is larger than 0, it means your device can be unlocked. If the number in front of “Network” is 0, your device can’t be unlocked as it is hard-locked.

**Step 3:** The next step involves getting your device’s IMEI number. To accomplish this task, simply input "\*#06#" on your device. Once you have the IMEI number, use a reliable service from the internet to the unlocking code. Insert the SIM card of another network and provide the code you gained to unlock your Vivo Y100i device.

## Bonus Tip: How to Unlock Bootloader?

Unlocking the bootloader on your Android device provides significant advantages. These actions encompass obtaining root access, installing custom ROMs, configuring custom recoveries, and carrying out advanced procedures. Here’s an essential guide on unlocking the bootloader of your Sony device while keeping all precautions in mind:

Step 1: To start with the process, verify the bootloader status for your Sony smartphone. On opening the “Dialer” app, dial the number “*#*#7378423#*#*“ and access the “Rooting Status” option within the “Service Provider” settings.

Step 2: If the bootloader status displays “Yes,” ensure that the Sony USB drivers and ADB tools are installed on your computer. Enable “USB Debugging” and “OEM Unlocking” on your smartphone and switch it off.

Step 3: Connect the Vivo Y100i smartphone with a USB cable and press the “Power + Volume Up” keys for a few seconds. Open the Windows computer and access the “Devices and Printers” directory. Right-click on the “fastboot driver” file, select “Update,” and select the location of the “android_winbus.inf” file. Verify the fastboot connectivity through the CMD command.

Step 4: Open the official “Sony Unlocking Site” and add in the IMEI number. On acknowledging, use the commands as follows: adb reboot bootloader

Unlock the bootloader with the following command: fastboot oem unlock 0x<insert your unlock code

Verify the bootloader is unlocked and use the command to reboot the system; if not done automatically: fastboot reboot

## Conclusion

Forgetting your Vivo Y100i screen unlock password, PIN, or pattern is quite common. For such instances, there are several methods that you can use to unlock your screen, 5 of which we have discussed in this article.

If you’re looking for ways that are time-effective and reliable, you can use your Google account or other ways to unlock Vivo Y100i and set a new screen lock. However, with these methods, you can lose your data, so we only recommend using them if your device is backed up.

How to Unlock Vivo Y100i Phone Pattern Lock without Factory Reset

Have you been locked out of your Android device and can’t seem to recall its pattern? Do you wish to learn how to unlock an Android phone pattern lock without a factory reset to access someone else’s device? If your answer is “yes”, then you have come to the right place. Lots of readers these days ask us about a foolproof way to learn how to unlock an Android phone pattern lock without a factory reset. To help you, we have decided to come up with an in-depth guide on the same. Read on and learn in 4 different ways.

## Part 1: Unlock the Android Phone Pattern with Lock Screen Removal Tool

If you are locked out of the phone because forgot pattern lock, and fail to enter the phone after many times try with the word “phone has been locked”. No need to worry, there are many solutions to fix the issue. And Dr.Fone –Screen Unlock (Android) can be your first saver in the dilemma. It is a highly efficient pattern lock removal tool for over 2000+ mainstream android phones, like Samsung, Oneplus, Huawei, Xiaomi, Pixel, etc.

Except for pattern locks unlocking, it works for the PIN, fingerprints, Face ID, and Google FRP bypassing as well. It’s helpful even if you don’t know the OS version of your devices. So, now follow the below steps to unlock the pattern and regain access to your locked phone in minutes.

Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android)

Get into Locked Phones within Minutes

• Pattern, PIN, password, fingerprints & face screen lock can all be unlocked.
• Easily remove the lock screen; No need to root your device.
• Everybody can handle it without any technical background.
• Provide specific removal solutions to promise good success rate

4,008,669 people have downloaded it

Step 1. Download Dr.Fone –Screen Unlock on your PC or Mac.

Step 2. Connect your Android phone to the computer using a USB cable. Next, click the “Unlock Android Screen“ from the interface.

Step 3. Choose the model version according to your android phone. For people who don't know the operating system version, tick the circle "I can't find my device model from the list above".

Step 4. Enter and download the recovery package as the instructions show on the PC or Mac.

Step 5. It will be finished when the recovery package downloading is completed. Then, click "**Remove Now**".

Once the whole progress is over, you can access your Android device without entering any password and view all your data on the Vivo Y100i device with no limits.

safe & secure

## Part 2: How to unlock the Android phone pattern lock without resetting using a Google account?

If you have an older Android device, then you can simply move past its lock by taking the assistance of your Google account. All you need is access to the same Google account that is linked to your device. Though, this technique will only work on devices running on Android 4.4 and earlier versions. To learn how to remove pattern lock on Android without a factory reset, follow these steps:

Step 1. Simply provide any pattern on the Vivo Y100i device. Since the pattern would be wrong, you will get the following prompt.

Step 2. Tap on the “Forgot Pattern” option located at the bottom of the screen.

Step 3. This will provide different ways to access your phone. Select the Google Account details and tap on the “Next” option.

Step 4. Sign in using the credentials of the Google account that is linked to your device.

Step 5. Great! Now you can simply provide (and confirm) the new pattern for your device.

After following these instructions, you would be able to learn how to unlock an Android phone pattern lock without factory reset or causing any harm to your device.

## Part 3: How to unlock Android phone password without factory reset - Android Device Manager

The Android Device Manager, which is now known as “Find My Device” is one of the best ways to locate your Android device remotely. Besides that, you can also use the interface to ring your device or change its lock from anywhere. All you need to do is access its interface from any other device and log-in with your Google credentials. You can follow these steps to learn how to unlock the Android pattern lock without factory reset.

Step 1. Log in to Android Device Manager (Find My Device) using your Google credentials.

Android Device Manager website: https://www.google.com/android/find .

Step 2. From the interface, you can select the Android device that is linked to your Google account.

Step 3. You will get options to ring it, lock it, or erase it. Select the “Lock” option to proceed.

Step 4. This will launch a new pop-up window. From here, you can provide a new lock screen password, confirm it, and also set an optional recovery message or phone number (in case your device has been lost).

Step 5. Confirm your choice and save it to remotely change the lock screen password on your device.

In the end, you would be able to learn how to unlock an Android phone pattern lock without a factory reset after following these above-mentioned steps.

## Part 4: How to unlock Android phone pattern lock without factory reset using ADB?

By using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), you can also learn how to unlock the Android pattern lock without a factory reset. Though, this is a more time-consuming and complicated process than other alternatives like Dr.Fone. Nevertheless, you can learn how to remove pattern lock on Android without factory reset using ADB with these instructions:

Step 1. To start with, you need to download ADB on your system. This can be done by visiting the Android Developer’s website https://developer.android.com/studio/command-line/adb.html .

Step 2. Afterward, launch the installer and download all the essential packages on your system.

Step 3. Now, connect your phone to the system. Make sure that its USB debugging feature is on.

Step 4. To do this, go to Settings > About Phone and tap the “Build Number” option seven consecutive times. This will enable the Developer Options on your device.

Step 5. Go to Settings > Developer Options and turn on the feature of USB debugging.

Step 6. After connecting your device to the system, launch the command prompt in the installation directory on your respective ADB.

Step 7. Type the command “ADB shell rm /data/system/gesture.key” and press enter.

Step 8. Simply restart your device and access it the usual way, without any lock screen pattern or pin.

Conclusion

Now when you know how to unlock the Android phone pattern lock without a factory reset, you can easily access your device in a trouble-free way. Out of all the provided options, Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android) is the best alternative. It provides a fast, secure, and reliable way to unlock your device without causing any harm or removing its content. Go ahead and give it a try and share these solutions with your friends and family as well.