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Help Cannot set security PIN
- Thread starter benlee123
- Start date
SkyJackpot
Android Enthusiast
Hello,
I just bought a new Galaxy Note 3 today. I tried to set the security PIN code ( 4 digit numerals ) but the options were grey out. How do I enable this PIN security option?
Below is a screenshot of the phone. Any help appreciated!
Interesting. Maybe your network carrier/phone network configured Android so that users can't pick a PIN code/number. Have you changed anything on your device before trying to set the PIN number?
Greetings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yyEAP-UVvw
Cannot be. I got another phone on the same network and it's no problem. And before I use the Note3, I got a Note2 where I used the same SIM card also no problem.
Didn't change anything on my device except install some apps like whatsapp, skype, yahoo mail.
SkyJackpot
Android Enthusiast
Indeed. That other phone might be configured by your mobile network closer to standard Android than the way they have configured the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 on their network.
Did you recently upgrade from Jelly Bean to KitKat?
No. The phone comes pre-installed with KitKat. I tried to uncheck all the trusted credentials under securities, restart my phone and still the same. I check under security / administrators and nothing is checked.
SkyJackpot
Android Enthusiast
Go into your phone Settings in the Security section, and look for the "Device Administrators" option, and see if Knox or any other option is checked/ticked.
If any option is checked/ticked then uncheck/untick it.
SkyJackpot
Android Enthusiast
If that doesn't work then unfortunately yoi are going to have to press the "clear credentials" option in the same Security section of your phone's system settings, as well as "Decrypt SD Card" if that option is aavailable and then setting the PIN should be unlocked now.
No, nothing is checked.
SD Card is currently not encrypted. I tried to format it also but still I can't set PIN.
I also tried to clear all the credentials and still the same.
SkyJackpot
Android Enthusiast
No, nothing is checked.
SD Card is currently not encrypted. I tried to format it also but still I can't set PIN.
I also tried to clear all the credentials and still the same.
Upload a screenshot of the Security section of your phone Settings
SkyJackpot
Android Enthusiast
If you have encrypted your device then you won't be able to set anything apart from a password, until you've decrypted your device
How do I decrypt the device? I went to the security password and the phone just keep asking me to re-enter the password again or change the password.
SkyJackpot
Android Enthusiast
In order to decrypt the device you have to factory reset your phone. Maybe the phone should tell people that before they encrypt the device.
You can read the comments of the video below asking the how to decrypt the device as they don't want to use a password either.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bBbXXImv1w
SkyJackpot
Android Enthusiast
You are welcome. While obviously Android as an operating system doesn't consist of just the security encryption, I think it would be advised to encrypt the phone only if you have documents information of high value to yourself or other person's, or of a security requirement put upon you by entities which for any reason you have to adhere to, with a common example being your place of work.
Seeing as you just purchased the device and you want to decrypt it, I'm guessing you aren't bound by any rules brought upon you by anyone else, & that you might have just been testing this feature on your new device and don't like the speed of it while it's encrypted at all.
The process of decryption is intentionally difficult, because it's not a feature that is supposed to be able to be switched on and off like a lock screen pin or pattern, it's mostly for individuals who will have the whole phone encrypted for the whole of the duration that they own the device.
As you said you just purchased your device not much data will be on the phone? So it might be an unfortunate hassle, but you should get back to being unencrypted once you factory reset your device.
Actually I bought the phone brand new from the shop. The device was not encrypted. When I goto the security settings, I already see the PIN option and other options being unavailable ( ie grey out ) except password setting. I prefer to use a 4 digit-numerals PIN code vs password as it is faster to type when I switch on or use my phone. I tried removing trusted credentials, reformat SD card and so far nothing works.
SkyJackpot
Android Enthusiast
In that case you would need to contact your cell network operator and ask them why that option is grayed out, as I've never heard of that particular option being unavailable for a new user before.
I'm pretty sure no network operator would modify that particular setting. You should contact them and hear what they say. I would also like to hear what cell operator you're using & where you bought the phone.
That security setting with which only allows you to set a password is only put in that state by a security administrator (which would be clearly labelled in the Security administrator section of the setting), an encrypted SD Card, or the phone being encrypted, in which case all other options would indeed be grayed out. In fact the photo you showed in your first post details what events are making the other options get grayed out, and those can only be invoked by a user or security administration option, which you said had no options activated.
Since you did post a photo the first time and I did ask you in my previous post to take a photo of the Security settings of your phone to see if anything else needs changing, but unfortunately you forgot.
Hope you can provide that photo.
Greetings
