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Help HAAAALP! Son's tablet locked, can't remember password!

G

garybeck

Android Enthusiast
My son recently changed the password on his Galaxy Tab 2 (android 4.2.2). Now he can't remember the password.

I've read a dozen articles online and they all say that if you enter the wrong password enough times, you will have a "forgot password" prompt and then you can log in with your google account.

However we've been trying this all day and we never get a "forgot password" prompt. It lets us enter the wrong password 40 times, and then it says we have to wait 30 seconds before we can try more.

We really don't want to do a factory reset.

Does anyone have any other ideas???? Or an explanation why we don't get prompted for "forgot password"?

any help is appreciated!!!
 
Did you register the tab with Google? Did you have any custom lock screens or security apps installed?

You might try safe mode to see if it will default to Google security.

  1. Ensure the device is powered off.
  2. Press and hold the Power button (located on the right edge) until the Samsung log appears, then release.
  3. When the Samsung logo screen appears, press and hold the Volume down button.
  4. Continue to hold the Volume Down button until Safe mode appears in the lower left corner of the screen. (This may take up to 30 seconds.)
You still may not be able to log in, but this could force the password prompt from Google. Of course you have to have an open data connection for this to work.
 
lunatic59 said:
Did you register the tab with Google? Did you have any custom lock screens or security apps installed?

You might try safe mode to see if it will default to Google security.

  1. Ensure the device is powered off.
  2. Press and hold the Power button (located on the right edge) until the Samsung log appears, then release.
  3. When the Samsung logo screen appears, press and hold the Volume down button.
  4. Continue to hold the Volume Down button until Safe mode appears in the lower left corner of the screen. (This may take up to 30 seconds.)
You still may not be able to log in, but this could force the password prompt from Google. Of course you have to have an open data connection for this to work.
Click to expand...

we are able to get into safe mode but everything is the same. no google login. no "forgot password" link.
 
Okay. Reboot normally and when the password screen comes up, log into Android Device Manager using the gmail account that the device is registered to. From there, see if a.) you can locate it, b.) you can make it ring, and finally, c.) try locking it with a new password. Whatever you do, don't hit erase because that will both reset it and lock it.

If those don't get you anywhere I'm afraid you will have to factory reset it.
 
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