Still Using Pattern Locks with Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition? Tips, Tricks and Helpful Advice

They have been along for a long, long time now – pattern locks – the easiest of all smartphone locks. You just swipe your finger across to create an easy pattern lock of your choosing and that’s it, it becomes your new screen lock. No more remembering tedious digits! So, why have these easy pattern locks become outdated, and why do people still continue to use them? Let’s take a dive and find out all about pattern locks.

Part I: Things To Know About Pattern Locks

The first cellphone locks were 4-digit number locks. Then came 6-digit codes, and even alphanumeric ones. Pattern locks were all the rage a while ago. Though pattern locks continue to be used, they are not considered safe to use any longer. What is all that about? Here’s what you need to know about pattern locks, whether you are a seasoned pattern lock user or not.

I.I: What Are Pattern Locks?

Believe it or not, technology has advanced at such a rapid pace in the last two decades that you’d be forgiven if you don’t know what a pattern lock is, especially if you have only ever used iPhones, or Android phones in just the last few years.

Pattern locks are patterns you create on your smartphone and designate as a smartphone lock/ screen lock. There is a 9-point keypad of sorts, and you start swiping your finger from any point to any point for any which way you feel like. Android 13 allows a minimum of 4 points registered. They are easy to create, and easy to use, hence called easy pattern locks.

Pattern locks have only ever been offered on Android devices and were commonplace a few years ago until they were deemed not secure enough for use by modern standards because they were easy to figure out by malicious actors.

I.II: Popularity and Usage

Pattern lock is a feature unique to Android and has been so since the start. Naturally, it is one of the preferred ways users have come to unlock their Android devices over the years. Even though modern Android smartphones come with fingerprint recognition and face recognition technologies, there exists a large subset of users still addicted to and acclimatized with the pattern lock feature, opting over fingerprint and face recognition.

There has been, however, research conducted into the safety and security offered by pattern lock in Android.

I.III: Advantages and Drawbacks

Modern smartphones very nearly contain the entirety of our lives; photo memories, video memories, important documents both financial and personal in nature, banking apps, ID and ATM/ credit cards in the “wallet” apps, and whatnot. A smartphone falling into the wrong hands could very nearly be used to devastate the rightful owner, both financially and otherwise. And this is not a claim out of thin air; spyware/ malware/ phishing attacks are on the rise around the world. Locking the smartphone, once considered optional and an unnecessary hassle, is now an absolute must.

Advantages of Pattern Locks

There is no denying that using an easy pattern lock to lock their smartphone seems enough for most users. Swiping your finger across your smartphone to unlock it feels not only cool and futuristic but safer and more secure than remembering and punching in digits. And, for the most part, it is true, given that 4-digit PINs can only have 10,000 unique combinations!

Disadvantages of Pattern Locks

While very easy to use, security researchers and experts have come to agree that the feature is not in the least safe to use, and that is because of how people use the pattern lock feature (discussed in detail below in part II). Some go so far as to say that most pattern locks can be breached in just 5 attempts or less. Imagine that!

What is more, research has found that humans have an uncanny ability to correctly guess a pattern lock simply by viewing the unlocking! The test comprised showing the test subjects videos of users unlocking their phones from different angles and varying distances, and it was found that around 64% of test subjects were able to correctly guess a 6-point pattern lock in one viewing only, and 80% could correctly guess the pattern after just two viewings. By contrast, only 11% were able to correctly deduce a 6-digit PIN after one viewing, and only 27% after viewing twice. This goes to show just how insecure pattern locks are!

Part II: How People Use Pattern Locks

We might wonder how anyone would be able to guess the correct pattern of our device, but believe it or not, it is possible, eerily easily at that! We are all the same humans, after all! You know how people usually set PINs that could be significant dates in their lives? How they get car registration numbers that mean something to them? The same ‘logic’ applies to their setting pattern locks.

At DEFCON 23, Marte Loge, an M.Sc. Computer Science student, presented something that stunned people around the world. She said, “Tell me who you are, and I will tell you your lock pattern.” What followed was an expert presentation outlining and detailing user behaviors around pattern locks.

These are some commonly created pattern locks by people:

• - shapes of alphabets,
• - shapes of numerals,
• - any other easy-to-make, simple shape.

Marte Loge presented the image below, showing how people naturally gravitate towards creating simple shape patterns, in her research.

To further help you see how easy it might be for anyone to guess your pattern, Marte Loge also presented some statistics.

• - 77% of people started their patterns in one of the 4 corners.
• - 44% of Loge’s subjects started their pattern with the first dot, the top-left one. The next number was 15% for the top-right and 14% for the bottom-left.
• - These percentages did not vary much depending on left-handedness or right-handedness.
• - On average, irrespective of gender, people set 5-point patterns, with 4-point patterns being the most common. This means that the number of combinations on average was 7152 for 5-point patterns and a bogglingly low 1624 for 4-point patterns.

The above data makes it amply clear how using an easy pattern lock is actually worse than using a 4-digit PIN, simply because how people are usually using the pattern lock feature.

Part III: Tips For Using More Secure Pattern Locks

Now, we know how hard it is to break habits cemented over years of use, so in case you must at all costs use a pattern lock only, the least you can do is try and change your easy pattern lock to a better, more secure hard pattern lock.

III.I: How to Create More Secure Patterns

Here are some tips to help you create a better, more secure pattern lock for your smartphone.

• - Avoid using any of the corners to start the pattern.
• - Never use your first initial as a pattern.
• - Never use a digit shape as a pattern.
• - You can pass through the same pattern lines multiple times over. This makes it more difficult for someone to guess your pattern correctly.
• - Use all 9 points on the grid while setting the pattern lock! That simple act takes the possible pattern combinations to over 140,000, significantly more than 10,000 for 4-digit PINs, and vastly superior to paltry 1624 for a 4-point easy pattern lock!

III.II: Forgot Your Pattern? Unlock Your Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition Without Pattern Lock With Dr.Fone

Supercharged with the information above, you went ahead and changed your easy pattern lock to a hard-to-guess pattern lock. Only problem is, your brain is habituated to that old pattern, and you’ve suddenly forgotten what the new pattern was! Well, worry not; Wondershare Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android) will help you unlock your phone without pattern lock !

Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android)

The Best Tool to Unlock Your Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition without Pattern Locks!

• 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.

4,008,669 people have downloaded it

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

Step 1: Go to Toolbox > Screen Unlock and click Android.

Step 2: Click Unlock Android Screen.

Step 3: You will see a list of supported manufacturers on the next screen. Select yours.

Step 4: Now, follow the onscreen guide to prepare your device for screen unlocking.

After completing the process, when the Next button becomes available, click it.

Your device will be successfully unlocked.

Note that this method wipes all data on the Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition device. There is no way around it. You may be able to unlock select older Samsung devices without data loss. Check this list for those devices.

Closing Words

Pattern locks are outdated and not safe to use an easy pattern lock – there are no two ways about it. As such, our recommendation is to start using a 6-digit PIN along with biometric or face recognition. However, we do understand that sometimes, you simply cannot use biometrics or face recognition. For those instances, we recommend that you use this guide and create a more secure pattern lock for your device. In case you forgot your pattern, there is always Wondershare Dr.Fone – Screen Unlock (Android) to save the day.

How to Lock Apps on Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition to Protect Your Individual Information

If you are not a fan of having to go through the process of getting through a pattern or password every time you want to use your phone, the good news is that you don’t have to. There are really just a few Apps on your Android device that have sensitive information you don’t want others getting access to. It would really be great if you could lock those apps individually as opposed to locking the Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition device as a whole.

Well, in light of helping you out, this article will address just how you can lock Apps on your device and not have to type in a code every time you want to use the Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition device.

Part 1. Why you need to Lock Apps on Android?

Before we get down to the business of locking some of your Apps, let’s look at some of the reasons why you would want to lock certain apps.

• You may simply want better access on your device. Locking certain apps will allow you to easily access the Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition device and use it without having to remember passwords and patterns.
• If you are a person who is not good at remembering passwords or patterns, simply locking certain apps will help you not get locked out of your entire device which can cause a lot of problems.
• If your device is used by more than one person, locking certain apps will keep the other users out of information you would rather they didn’t access.
• If you have children, you can eliminate the many accidental in-app purchases by locking the apps your children shouldn’t be on.
• Locking apps is also a good way to keep children from content they shouldn’t be accessing.

Part 2. How to Lock Apps in Android

There is always a good reason to Lock Apps on your device and we have two easy and effective methods you can use to do this. Choose the one that you are most comfortable with.

Method One: Using Smart App Protector

Smart App Protector is a freeware that allows you to lock specified applications.

Step 1: Download and Install Smart App Protector from the Google Play Store and Launch it. You may be required to install a helper application for Smart App Protector. This helper will ensure that the many App services running on your device will not be killed by third party apps.

Step 2: The default password 7777 but you can change this in the Password & Pattern Settings.

Step 3: The next step is to add apps to the Smart App Protector. Open the Running Tab on Smart Protector and tap on the “Add” button.

Step 3: Next, select the apps you would like to protect from the pop up list. Tap on the “Add” button once you have chosen your Apps.

Step 4: Now close the app and the Apps chosen will now be password protected.

Method 2: Using Hexlock

Step 1: Download Hexlock from the Google Play Store. Once it is installed, open it. You will be required to enter a pattern or PIN. This is the lock code that you will use every time you open the app.

Step 2: Once the PIN or Password is set, you are now ready to lock apps. You can create multiple lists of Apps to be locked ba_x_sed on your different needs. As an example, we have chosen the Work panel. Tap on “Start Locking Apps” to start.

Step 3: You will see a list of Apps to choose from.  Choose the Apps you wish to lock and then Tap the down arrow in the upper left when you are done.

You can then Swipe to the left to move to other lists such as “Home” and proceed to lock apps in this group as well.

Part 3. 6 Private Apps that you should lock on your Android

There are certain apps that may require to be locked more than others. Of course the choice of which apps you should lock will depend on your own uses and preferences. The following are some of the apps you would like to lock for one reason or another.

1. The Messaging App

This is the application that allows you to send and receive messages. You may want to lock this app if you use your device to send messages of a sensitive nature that you would rather keep private. You may also want to lock this app if your device is used by more than one person and you don’t want other users reading your messages.

2. Email App

Most people use individual email applications such as Yahoo Mail App or Gmail. This is another critical one if you are going to protect your work emails. You may want to lock the email app if your work emails are sensitive in nature and contain information that is not for all individuals.

3. Google Play Services

This is the application that allows you to download and install applications to your device. You may want to lock this one if you are trying to prevent other users from downloading and installing further apps to your device. This is especially valuable if your device is utilized by children.

4. Gallery App

The Gallery app displays all the images on your device. The main reason you may want to lock the Gallery app may be because you have sensitive images that are not suitable for all viewers. Again this is ideal if children make use of your device and you have images that you would rather they didn’t see.

5. Music Pla_x_yer App

This is the Application that you use to play the music on your device. You may want to lock it if you don’t want anyone else making changes to your saved audio files and playlists or don’t want someone listening to your audio files.

6. File Manager App

This is the App that displays all of the files that are saved on your device. It is the ultimate app to lock if you have sensitive information on your device that you would rather not share. Locking this app will ensure that all of the files on your device will remain safe from prying eyes.

Having the ability to lock your Apps is an easy way to keep information out of the limelight. It also allows you to take full control of your device. Try it, it might just be freeing as opposed to locking your entire device.

7 Ways to Unlock a Locked Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition Phone

“How to get into a locked phone? I have been locked out of my Android device and lost my passcode!”

If you are also facing the same issue, then you have come to the right place. There are plenty of ways to learn how to get into a locked Android phone when it comes to Android devices. From using a third-party tool to Google’s native solution – the sky is the limit. This post will make you familiar with different ways to unlock a device without knowing its passcode. Read on and learn how to get into a locked Android device.

safe & secure

Part 1: How to get into a locked phone with Dr.Fone?

Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android) provides a hassle-free solution to unlock an Android device in minutes. It can remove a device’s PIN, password, pattern, and even fingerprint security without causing any harm to it. Therefore, you would be able to unlock your device without losing your data while using some Samsung or LG Android phones. If you want to break the locked screen with Dr.Fone from other brand phones, including iPhone, Huawei, and Oneplus, it will wipe out your phone’s data after unlocking successfully.

Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android)

Get into Locked Phones within Minutes

• 5 screen lock types are available: pattern, PIN, password, fingerprints & Face ID.
• 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

To learn how to get into a locked phone using Dr.Fone, follow these steps:

• Step 1. Go to the official website of Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android) and download the tool on your computer. After installing it, launch the interface and click on the option of “Screen Unlock” from the home screen.

• Step 2. Connect your Android device to the computer. Click “Android” > “Unlock Android Screen” and select the Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition device brand on the list. If your device is listed in the supported list , you can unlock locked phone without data loss.

• Step 3. Now, you need to put your Android device in Download mode. To do this, you need to turn your device off by pressing the Power button. Afterward, press the Home, Power, and Volume Down buttons together. After a while, let go of these buttons and press the Volume Up button to enter the Download Mode.

• Step 4. As soon as your device is not in the Download Mode, Dr.Fone will automatically start downloading its respective recovery packages.
• Step 5. Sit back and wait as the application downloads the package and performs the required steps to unlock your device. In the end, it will notify you by displaying the following message.

That’s it! By following these steps, you would be able to learn how to get into a locked Android phone without losing any data.

Tips: Cannot find your device model in the supported list or your phone is not Samsung? Worry not, as Wondershare Dr.Fone can also help you to unlock other device models (inlcluding Huawei, LG, Xiaomi, etc) in a matter of seconds. Just install this tool on your computer and connect your phone to start the unlock process!

Part 2: How to get into a locked phone with Android Device Manager?

Google’s Android Device Manager (also known as Find My Device) can be used to locate a lost phone, erase it remotely, ring it, and change its lock. You can access it from any other device and use its features remotely.

• Step 1. Firstly, go to the Android Device Manager’s website right here . Log in with the Google account that is already linked to your Android device.
• Step 2. Once the interface is loaded, you can select your phone. It will locate the Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition device automatically and provide various options.

• Step 3. Choose the “Lock” option to proceed.
• Step 4. This will display a new prompt. From here, you can get the new password for your device and confirm it.

• Step 5. Additionally, if your device is lost, you can display an optional message and contact number on the lock screen. Click on the “Lock” button to save changes and exit the screen.

Part 3: How to get into a locked phone with Samsung Find My Mobile?

If you are using a Samsung device, you can also use its Find My Mobile service to unlock your device remotely. It is an excellent tool that can be accessed remotely and perform a wide range of operations that can be performed on the Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition device. Follow these easy instructions to learn how to get into a locked Android Samsung device.

• Step 1. Open Samsung’s Find My Mobile website right here on any device of your choice.
• Step 2. Login using the credentials of the Samsung account linked to your existing device that is needed to be unlocked.
• Step 3. On its dashboard, you can access various features associated with your device. If you have multiple devices linked to your account, you can select it from the top-left panel.

• Step 4. From the provided options on the left panel, click on the “Unlock My Screen” option.
• Step 5. Click on the “Unlock” button again to move past the lock screen of your device.

• Step 6. After waiting for a while, you will get the following prompt. From here, you can set up a new lock for your mobile or can click on the “Lock My Screen” option to do the same.

Part 4: How to get into a locked phone using the ‘Forgot Pattern’ feature?

If your device is based on Android 4.4 and earlier versions, you may also use its native “Forgot Pattern” feature to unlock it. Though, you should have access to the Google account credentials linked to the Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition device beforehand. To learn how to get into a locked phone with this technique, follow these steps:

• Step 1. To get the Forgot Pattern option, enter the wrong PIN/pattern on your device.
• Step 2. This will display the “Forgot Pattern” button on the bottom of the screen. Just tap on it to continue.

• Step 3. On the next screen, you can unlock your device by providing the backup PIN of your device or sign in using the Google credentials of the account linked to the Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition device.

• Step 4. After bypassing this feature, you can unlock your device and set up a new PIN or pattern.

Part 5: How to get into a locked phone by factory reset?

If nothing else seems to work, then you can also choose to factory reset your device. Even though this will unlock your device, it would also erase its content and saved settings. To know how to get into a locked Android phone, follow these steps:

• Step 1. Turn off your device by pressing the Power button.
• Step 2. Now, you need to put your device into recovery mode. This can be done by applying the correct key combinations, which can differ from one device to another. Some common combinations are: Volume Up + Home + Power, Home + Power, Volume Up + Power + Volume Down, and Volume Down + Power button.
• Step 3. Once your phone has entered the recovery mode; you can navigate with the Volume up and down button and use the Power button to make a selection.

• Step 4. Select the option of “wipe data/factory reset.

• Step 5. This will display the following prompt. Confirm your choice by selecting the “Yes” option.

• Step 6. Wait for a while as your phone will be restarted with factory settings.

Part 6: How to get into a locked phone in Safe Mode?

If you are using a third-party application to lock your device, you can easily disable it by restarting your phone in safe mode. In this way, you can get rid of the respective app without causing any damage to the Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition device. You can learn how to get into a locked Android phone by following these steps:

• Step 1. Long-press the Power button to activate the Power option on the screen.
• Step 2. If you don’t get the option to restart the phone in Safe Mode, then long tap the “Power off” option.
• Step 3. It will provide the following prompt regarding Safe Mode. Just tap on the “Ok” button to confirm your choice.

Part 7: How to get into a locked phone using Custom Recovery?

Since custom recovery provides a third-party recovery environment, it can learn how to get into a locked Android device. Additionally, you need to flash it via an SD card since you won’t access the phone storage on a locked device.

• Step 1. To start with, you need to download the password/pattern disable file from right here and copy it onto your SD card.
• Step 2. Mount the SD card on your device and restart it in recovery mode by providing the correct key combinations.
• Step 3. From the provided options, choose to install zip from the SD card.
• Step 4. Confirm your selection and let your phone be restarted with no lock screen.

Bonus Tip: General tips for unlocking phone successfully

By following these tips, you can increase the chances of successfully unlocking your phone while safeguarding your data and security.

1. Data Backup: Regularly back up your data that ensures you have a recent backup of all your important data, such as contacts, photos, videos, and documents. This will prevent data loss in case the unlocking process results in a factory reset.
2. Reputable Methods: Use reputable and official unlocking methods whenever possible, such as Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock.

Conclusion

By following these simple steps, you would learn how to get into a locked phone. If you are looking for a trouble-free way to unlock an Android device, then give Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock a try. It is a highly reliable solution to learn how to get into a locked Android phone and unlock your device in minutes with no complications.