If you have forgotten your Android PIN, the hard truth is you cannot find or view it on a modern device. Security protocols built into Android deliberately prevent anyone from seeing the stored PIN, so your only option to regain access is to reset the phone, which will erase all your data.
Can you find a forgot Android pin? The honest answer
The operating system hashes the PIN and stores only the hash, making it impossible to reverse-engineer. This means no settings menu, no SIM card tray, and no customer service call will reveal your PIN. The only methods available involve resetting the device, which permanently wipes your data. Accepting this upfront saves you from wasting time on outdated or ineffective tricks.
The old 'Forgot PIN' method (Android 4.4 and older only)
On devices running Android 4.4 KitKat or older, after entering an incorrect PIN five times, a "Forgot PIN" option would appear on the lock screen. Tapping it allowed you to reset the PIN by signing in with the Google Account linked to the phone. This method is no longer available on modern Android versions.
How to reset your phone with Find My Device
If your phone is powered on, connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data, and signed into a Google Account with Find My Device (now called Find Hub) enabled, you can perform a remote factory reset from another device. This is the only official way to erase your phone without using the physical buttons.
- On a computer, tablet, or another phone, go to android.com/find.
- Sign in with the same Google Account that is on your locked phone.
- Select your locked device from the list of associated devices.
- Choose the "Erase Device" or "Factory reset device" option.
- Confirm the action. The phone will reset remotely, deleting all data including the forgotten PIN.
After the reset completes, you can set up the phone as new and create a new PIN. If you had a Google Drive backup enabled, you can restore your data during setup. Note that this method will not work if your phone is offline or if Find My Device was not enabled before you were locked out.
How to factory reset using your phone's buttons
When Find My Device is not an option, for example, if your phone is offline or you never enabled the feature, you can still reset the phone using hardware buttons. This method works even if you cannot unlock the screen.
- Power off the phone completely and disconnect any charging cables.
- Press and hold a specific combination of buttons to enter recovery mode. Common combinations include Power + Volume Up or Power + Volume Down. The exact combination varies by manufacturer, so you may need to search for your model.
- Use the Volume buttons to navigate the recovery menu. Highlight "Wipe data/factory reset" or a similar option.
- Press the Power button to confirm the selection. This erases all data and settings.
- Wait for the process to finish, then select "Reboot system now." The phone will restart with no PIN lock.
This method is a last resort because it permanently deletes everything on the phone, including apps, photos, and files. There is no way to recover the data after this step.
What to expect after the reset: Google account verification
After a factory reset, Android's Factory Reset Protection (FRP) kicks in. You must sign in with the last Google Account that was registered on the device before you can use it. This security measure prevents thieves from resetting a stolen phone. If you have forgotten that Google Account's password too, you will need to recover it through Google's account recovery process. For cases where you cannot remember the account credentials at all, you may need a separate solution such as the [full guide] how to bypass Google account verification after reset. This step is critical for unlocking a locked tablet or phone that you legitimately own but cannot access, and you can unlock Google account on Android phone after factory reset to regain full use of your device. If you are still stuck at the lock screen before a reset, you may need to unlock an Android phone first. Also note that this entire process is different from finding your SIM card pin, which is a separate code used for your cellular network and not related to your lock screen PIN.
For the wider topic, see unlocking a locked tablet.
