Ok. Yesterday my daughter was playing with my phone and she kept trying to unlock with the fingerprint reader. She ended up locking me out of my phone. The backup password I thought I created is not working. I never used the password. Always the fingerprint reader. Just to let you know. It's not a stolen phone. If you look at my post history, you'll see that I've had it for a few weeks. Just wanted to post that because people usually think the phone is stolen. Back to the problem at hand. I let the phone die and it's not letting me get to the boot loader to reset the phone. I can't adb into it either as the phone isn't recognized by the PC. Am I screwed or is there any other options to get back in? Thanks.
cellington77 said:
Ok. Yesterday my daughter was playing with my phone and she kept trying to unlock with the fingerprint reader. She ended up locking me out of my phone. The backup password I thought I created is not working. I never used the password. Always the fingerprint reader. Just to let you know. It's not a stolen phone. If you look at my post history, you'll see that I've had it for a few weeks. Just wanted to post that because people usually think the phone is stolen. Back to the problem at hand. I let the phone die and it's not letting me get to the boot loader to reset the phone. I can't adb into it either as the phone isn't recognized by the PC. Am I screwed or is there any other options to get back in? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can plug it into a computer and back up the files. Then factory reset it
Flyhalf205 said:
If you can plug it into a computer and back up the files. Then factory reset it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I plug it in to my PC it says I need to enter password to access my files. When I try to get into the boot loader it's not letting me. It just boots into safe mode.
I got it fixed. Chatted with HTC.
cellington77 said:
I got it fixed. Chatted with HTC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What did they tell you to do? I'm having the exact same problem!
I have had the phone for a year, never once had to type in the password. Were there any restrictions when creating it? I can't imagine why I didn't just use one of my normal passwords. Nothing I try will let me in. I've tried every password I would have ever used to no avail. My password manager is on my phone and I have not backed it up in forever...I'm desperate to avoid a factory reset. Pretty please tell me there is something I can do to get back to the fingerprint scanner ;-(
I spoke with HTC and it seems there is nothing you can do once the fingerprint scanner locks you out. Only option is a hard reset. Turns out I had fat fingered my usual password, so I found it by trying a dozen permutations or my usual password. Everyone that might not entirely remember there password should go change it, before they get caught without it.
Related
I lose phones... habitually. Sometimes they find their way back to me and sometimes they don't, It is unsettling to me that even if I have a security app installed, or a GPS tracker that anyone with the ability to perform a google search can simply factory wipe my phone and make it their own.
So the question: Is it possible to include a password requirement to access the bootloader or recovery? I realize that if you forget your password there would likely be no way to save your phone in the event you need to, but I don't forget my passwords so this does not affect me.
Just wondering if this is even possible or worthwhile. Any input will be appreciated.
I opened a similar thread. It is possible to do however it seems people just don't care about the security risk.
Xda app
Surely this must be a concern to people. It certainly is for me.
+1
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium
+1
i also wondering about this.
+1
We need it!
-1 this is pointless. someone could just go into download mode or fastboot and reflash the recovery.
What we're looking for is a password protected bootloader which will require password for booting into recovery or using download mode or fastboot.
mightyiam said:
What we're looking for is a password protected bootloader which will require password for booting into recovery or using download mode or fastboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good luck as it would need to boot before anything else and we can see the issues with this. There will never be a fool proof way to lock your phone if lost. It will be as simple as loading up the bootloader and flash a stock rom which will wipe the recovery.
No there is not alot of interest in this as to be honest if the info you have on your phone is that important then its simple. Don't loose your phone.
zelendel said:
Good luck as it would need to boot before anything else and we can see the issues with this. There will never be a fool proof way to lock your phone if lost. It will be as simple as loading up the bootloader and flash a stock rom which will wipe the recovery.
No there is not alot of interest in this as to be honest if the info you have on your phone is that important then its simple. Don't loose your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Perhaps you think I'm talking about an app. No, I'm talking about a modified bootloader.
I read somewhere that samsung galaxy s have that option..
+1
a bootloader with password setting is one of the few things i'm missing.
+1
We either need a password protected bootloader + CWM.
Or fulldisk encryption a la Whispercore.
I absolutely HATE the insecure concept of Android. Android is for kids and nerds. But not for serious people.
+1
if it is not being made, I'll look into it myself
+1
Would be awesome!
/edit: There's also this old thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=6182586
/edit2: And here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=19314088
Plus 1 I like 2 see this bootloader password
Sent from my SGH-T839 using XDA App
Yes please
+ 1
I'm glad I'm not the only one wondering about this. I'm sure it would have been done if it was possible by now. Nqmobile + gotta! App is almost good enough for me, but a password protected bootloader would be a sick addition
+I
It is one of the questions bothering me for last few months.
I like all those sec. apps - but Android Lost, Call Back, TouchMyLife nor Avast! Lost will not be able to save me if someone will boot straight into CWM and flash it with whatever just to get rid of the "FindIt" stuff.
cool
i too would like to see a passworded bootloader, or even a passworded version of CWM.
Think about it: how many regular joes on the street know how to flash a phone, or put it into download mode. Im a samsung guy, i know how to put it into download mode. My buddy is an iPhone guy, he wouldnt know the first place to start. An HTC guy might know how to deal with a few HTC devices, but in reality a handfull of people who MIGHT find your phone MIGHT know how to thwart that sort of 'security'.
From a lost phone aspect: Samsung dive is impressive. Found my phone location to within a few houses. with GPS and Wifi off. as long as the phone has battery life and is turned on, i can find it. Unless someone wipes it. which takes my password. Or boots into CWM and wipes it that way.... which currently does not need a password. or uts it into download mode and flashes a new firmware, which knowing my phone is just asking for issues. In reality, i want someone to boot my phone and have to have it on in the state that i lose it and NOT reset it. That yeilds the highest possibility of me finding it again.
So yes, i realize that any security we put on here could be thwarted somehow, but by who? how much time and effort are they going to put into it aside from trying a reset and it fails, trying to reboot into recovery, passworded protected, turn it off and sell it on the street, when the next guy turns it on with their sim card (texts my google account the new number) and now i can get his name and address
what are the chances the guy who finds my phone is going to have a computer handy and know exactly how to flash the phone? Not high.
Definately +1 for passworded protected CWM.
Huge chances. Anytime, everywhere.
You don't need to know anything, apart from taking battery off.
And placing back when you got tools ready. This simply means, lost phone will never again boot into normal android os. Never.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA
I have the possibility of buying a hdx on Craigslist for cheap that is listed as broken. But the error they get on booting the device is that it wants him to type in a password to decrypt storage. I have seen this issue searching Google but everyone says to factory reset, can you do that without being able to boot into android by holding various button combos like other Android phones? Or I think I can root it to fix it? From reading if the device at least powers on this is likely possible.
The owner has given up on it it seems and I can score it cheap but wanted your input if this is a known issue that can't be fixed, like if he failed to root it and is now trying to pawn it off.
arsenic0 said:
I have the possibility of buying a hdx on Craigslist for cheap that is listed as broken. But the error they get on booting the device is that it wants him to type in a password to decrypt storage. I have seen this issue searching Google but everyone says to factory reset, can you do that without being able to boot into android by holding various button combos like other Android phones? Or I think I can root it to fix it? From reading if the device at least powers on this is likely possible.
The owner has given up on it it seems and I can score it cheap but wanted your input if this is a known issue that can't be fixed, like if he failed to root it and is now trying to pawn it off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
power + vol up to boot to recovery
if you can get one for cheap there a pretty good tablet, and if you can get one with lower firmware the better.
i have same issue with you. my kindle ask password to decrypt the device. i already tried to recover by holds uppower button + volume up but didn;t change anything. i don't know what to do
almost the same problem
I have the same boot encryption problem but i am the original owner of my HD 6
I've managed to enter safe mode on my device but this doesn't bypass boot encyption.
I'm waiting for a reply from amazon.
I'll post back when i do
---------- Post added at 06:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:15 PM ----------
amazon tech support helped with the problem.
you can factory reset by turning the device off and pressing on and volume up(booting to recovery mode)(only hold for 4 seconds)
the controls in recovery mode are as follows:
up/down = vol up/vol down
enter = power button(tap once)
this will wipe the device and send you back to first setup.
apparently any further info about this is to be sent directly to tech support on +44 203 356 6212 or to call using amazon.co.uk/clicktocall and request amazon tech support
I am getting a boot password prompt every time I boot the device, I did factory reset twice, and it still does not help, still getting a big lock on the screen and request for a boot password
Any help will be appreciated
[email protected] said:
I am getting a boot password prompt every time I boot the device, I did factory reset twice, and it still does not help, still getting a big lock on the screen and request for a boot password
Any help will be appreciated
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no recovery from this type of block if you don't know or have forgotten the password. You can reach out to Amazon to see if they have a code that will reset the device (unlikely).
Davey126 said:
There is no recovery from this type of block if you don't know or have forgotten the password. You can reach out to Amazon to see if they have a code that will reset the device (unlikely).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the suggestion, I already reached out to Amazon 3 times. They have no idea, keep telling me Kindles do not have boot passwords
I never set it, and as I mentioned previously I did factory reset on the kindle. At this point this reset was performed 3 times, when the device boots I keep getting this boot password request
[email protected] said:
Thanks for the suggestion, I already reached out to Amazon 3 times. They have no idea, keep telling me Kindles do not have boot passwords
I never set it, and as I mentioned previously I did factory reset on the kindle. At this point this reset was performed 3 times, when the device boots I keep getting this boot password request
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like most Android devices Kindles (FireOS) can encrypt the data partition which presents a password prompt upon power-up. According to Amazon a factory reset should wipe the device and thus remove the password. Either that is not working for you or the device has been 'locked' by some other app or potentially malware. You may want to post a picture of the screen you are receiving. Someone may recognize it and be able to provide further guidance.
Davey126 said:
There is no recovery from this type of block if you don't know or have forgotten the password. You can reach out to Amazon to see if they have a code that will reset the device (unlikely).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Amazon are telling me now my Kindle was rooted, even though I explain that it was never connected to any network, and no apps were installed on it, just copied some book files from my PC using a USB cable. That's it. Isn't there some kind of re-format, other than reset to factory settings?
[email protected] said:
Amazon are telling me now my Kindle was rooted, even though I explain that it was never connected to any network, and no apps were installed on it, just copied some book files from my PC using a USB cable. That's it. Isn't there some kind of re-format, other than reset to factory settings?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If 'reset to factory' did not work then I'm afraid you are out of luck unless you can convince Amazon to offer an exchange. The device may have been rooted if purchased from a 3rd party. That does not explain why it suddenly 'locked' nor what tool/app is throwing up the password prompt.
Davey126 said:
If 'reset to factory' did not work then I'm afraid you are out of luck unless you can convince Amazon to offer an exchange. The device may have been rooted if purchased from a 3rd party. That does not explain why it suddenly 'locked' nor what tool/app is throwing up the password prompt.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The device was bought from Amazon, not a 3rd party, and it was working fine until my mom let it sit for several months without charging. Which should not have been a problem, but facts sho otherwise
[email protected] said:
The device was bought from Amazon, not a 3rd party, and it was working fine until my mom let it sit for several months without charging. Which should not have been a problem, but facts sho otherwise
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should pound on Amazon for a replacement - especially since they falsely accused you of having a rooted device (how do they know that?). I'm guessing the device may have received an 'over-the-air' upgrade while it was sitting idle but perhaps lacked sufficient charge to complete the update. Or the upgrade just went bad; rare but it happens.
Sorry this happened to your mom. Also regret there is not a (reasonable) way to recover the device and/or its contents.
Davey126 said:
You should pound on Amazon for a replacement - especially since they falsely accused you of having a rooted device (how do they know that?). I'm guessing the device may have received an 'over-the-air' upgrade while it was sitting idle but perhaps lacked sufficient charge to complete the update. Or the upgrade just went bad; rare but it happens.
Sorry this happened to your mom. Also regret there is not a (reasonable) way to recover the device and/or its contents.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for trying
I think it will be cheaper to buy a new kindle, new warranty, new features, etc.
So tonight, sometime in the last two hours, my phone, for no apparent reason has done a complete factory reset.
I came home and put my phone on the counter after I'd been using it to listen to Spotify in the car. I watched a show with my wife then was about to go to bed so I went over to pick up my phone. I turn the display on and it's asking me to choose my default language. The setup wizard was running. So I just did a reboot of the phone.
Well, my phone is back to complete stock and EVERYTHING is gone. For absolutely no reason. I tried to boot into recovery. I used to have TWRP. Nope, it's gone too. I am back to stock recovery. Seriously this is the weirdest thing I have EVER seen.
What the F**K????
Did anyone own the phone prior to you? Android device manager?
I am the first owner, but I found out what happened.
My phone as a swipe pattern unlock code on it. My wife for whatever reason thought she'd see if she could crack it while I was upstairs and after 10 retries the phone shut down and did a factory reset. Which I have to say is the most insane security feature I have ever heard of.
Here's more info on this crazy ass feature: http://forums.androidcentral.com/ve...tempts-remain-before-device-data-deleted.html
Holy balls. This is crazy. And terrible.
Trust issues. She wants to know if you have been cheating on her with porn. Lol.
banderberg said:
I am the first owner, but I found out what happened.
My phone as a swipe pattern unlock code on it. My wife for whatever reason thought she'd see if she could crack it while I was upstairs and after 10 retries the phone shut down and did a factory reset. Which I have to say is the most insane security feature I have ever heard of.
Here's more info on this crazy ass feature: http://forums.androidcentral.com/ve...tempts-remain-before-device-data-deleted.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now...time to talk to the lil lady about trusting you a little more She's looking for something if she's trying to crack your pass code. Chix man...chix.
Just jokin...maybe she was just looking for a challenge or something Glad you're fixed up now though.
banderberg said:
I am the first owner, but I found out what happened.
My phone as a swipe pattern unlock code on it. My wife for whatever reason thought she'd see if she could crack it while I was upstairs and after 10 retries the phone shut down and did a factory reset. Which I have to say is the most insane security feature I have ever heard of.
Here's more info on this crazy ass feature: http://forums.androidcentral.com/ve...tempts-remain-before-device-data-deleted.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hopefully nothing important was on the external SD card. This wipes it. Dumbest thing on this phone. It wipes the external SD but leaves the internal one intact.
Had this happen to me once. Had all my backups on the external SD too. Was so pissed. Still haven't found a way to disable it.
Rodeojones said:
Holy balls. This is crazy. And terrible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And if your phone is stolen and you don't have access to android device manager, then what? It's called protection.
Now, a better way might have been like the iPhone where it locks the phone indefinitely and the ONLY recourse is to do a factor reset, period. In other words, it doesn't automatically wipe the device. It forces the user to do so and Apple nor the provider have any means to unlock it once it gets to that stage.
However, you could at least hook it up to your pc, I believe, and still at least get your photos off of it.
So this is for a friend. She has important documents on it for her upcoming child custody case.
While at work her S21 had the dreaded black scree, after only 5 months. When the new screen was installed her pin number didn't work. The repairman told her that after 7 failures it automatically wipes the phone. They wouldn't release the phone back with the working screen without the pin working. So they put the bad screen back on. I can blindly get into recover mode, even into adb sideload. I can see the device, but nothing else works. I was hoping to pull the data off, but have hit a roadblock.
Any help would be appreciated.
Bootloader unlocked? No? Sorry, no one can do that.
You can try sending the device to one of the data recovery companies, choose one that many vouch for.
They'll basically remove the SD card and attempt to decrypt the data from it manually.
Aight so I have this Samsung Galaxy J7 Max that I've been trying to unlock for more than 2 years now. I of course, don't want to lose the super important data it holds. It got locked out randomly and hasn't been able to take up the pattern I had put on it till date. I'm absolutely sure no one changed its lock screen pattern and its the phone that is unable to recognize the exact same password it had before this happening. I got hold of it today and yet again, started looking for solutions on YouTube and the internet itself. After all of my research, one thing is clear. There is only one way that the pattern lock can be removed in such a condition; by deleting this system folder called gesture.key that lies within the phone itself. I am by no means a nerdy software dev or something but I do have very little knowledge about these workarounds. I used an ADB via a cmd terminal to contact my phone. But it turns out that due to my usb debugging setting not being turned on in my phone, the adb didn't have the required authorization to make any changes to the target. I then got my phone into stock recovery mode and chose the Install through ADB option there. Now when I input the command adb devices, the prompt showed me my device ID, but instead of the "unauthorized" indicator beside it, it now had the indicator "sideload". I had no idea of what had to be done when such happens, so I tried the adb shell > cd data/system > su > rm *.key [taken from an XDA forums thread] commands again. But right on the second step it displayed error this time. I have tried using a key eraser via sd card too, but it just doesn't happen, the sd card folder in the stock mode does not display the contents of the folder.
Now the phone isn't being an obstacle in my life right now, but I really hope there's a way to fix it. Early help would be appreciated. Thank You.
If the data is super important why isn't it redundantly backed up?
Having a set lock screen and storing data on the OS is a sure fire way to lose data, eventually.
Maybe you'll get lucky... is that drive encrypted?
If not it may still be corrupted and unusable.
Don't put yourself in this position again... been there, done that
@blackhawk As I said, this was an absolutely random incident, had never even thought this could've been the case someday. Its not like the phone crashed and then this happened, I turned off my phone's display and the next time I woke it up, the pattern wasn't working anymore. Furthermore, the timed attempts that happen after 5 incorrect tries wasn't existing anymore. Now it could be that someone did get the timed attempts wrong as well [it isn't my own phone]. But I really don't see any other reason to that occurrence.
About the backups, I mean cmon, I was 15 back then, a medico student even more so. I never got my hands around backing up anything. But yes, have been backing up every single bit of data within these two years.
The storage drive shouldn't be encrypted. It was a regular phone bought online that had pdfs, images, recordings and videos stored. The google account was not that of the owner either! It was my uncle's account that was being used ever since he bought it. And since there was never a problem having used his account for quite a while, we never cared to change it to a new google account. Now my uncle's google account itself handles another device, his own phone, exact same model, Galaxy J7 Max. I have tried using his account at the Google Find My Device app to locate and unlock the phone that way [I hope you know it has the three options Ring, Secure and Erase Data]. But it happens so that the Secure phone with password option only for devices that have been lost and don't have a security lock already setup, which wasn't, unfortunately, my case. So that option was greyed out.
For the data corruption, you might be correct. But that phone still does receive SMS texts, calls, whatsapp texts and other notifications. They just don't show up on the lock screen anymore. I honestly had the "Screw the data, I'll erase it anyway" thought yesterday, but during my latest tries, I found the XDA forums website to be quite helpful. Had not it been the damn USB debugging, the solution I approached from this forum would've got the job done in a couple minutes. Again, if the data might've gone corrupted, I will erase the data [I mean I would have to]. But this little glimmer of hope that I experienced yesterday is what is preventing me from doing that. I really hope there is a fix to my situation.
@Chinmay47
a phone can get booted into these modes
Normal ( AKA Android OS )
Recovery
Fastboot
Sideload
EDL
Sideload mode is used to flash OTAs and/or ROMs.
Recovery mode allows you to perform some ADB actions as e.g. pull userdata, but this reqires ADB ( read: USB debug ) got enabled.
So my guess is you can't recover phone's userdata at your own, this would have to be done by an external service who can pull out phone's internal SD-card and has the forensic tools to read it.
@jwoegerbauer Surprisingly the idea of taking the phone to a forensic service struck me yesternight too. As you mentioned, since I can't recover the phone's data myself, all tips and tweaks on the web should now be struck off of my list of solutions. I'll leave the data to some forensic services then. Let's hope the recovery is worth the hassle. The thread is still open to more suggestions though. Thanks for the replies everyone. Really appreciate it!
Chinmay47 said:
@jwoegerbauer Surprisingly the idea of taking the phone to a forensic service struck me yesternight too. As you mentioned, since I can't recover the phone's data myself, all tips and tweaks on the web should now be struck off of my list of solutions. I'll leave the data to some forensic services then. Let's hope the recovery is worth the hassle. The thread is still open to more suggestions though. Thanks for the replies everyone. Really appreciate it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It not a card they can pull. More than likely it's on a BGA chipset, the hardest kind there is to work with.
If they can't access the data on/with the mobo they will have to unsolder the chipset without damaging it then put it into a test jig or another mobo (after pulling that mobo's matching chipset).
If they can access the data on the mobo, not so bad. Otherwise not so good.
Let us know how this plays out for you.
Here's one I found showing you this complex procedure: https://flashfixers.com/recover-data-dead-phone-chip-off-data-recovery/
They may be able to help you, but I have no personal knowledge of this company.
blackhawk said:
If they can't access the data on/with the mobo they will have to unsolder the chipset without damaging it then put it into a test jig or another mobo (after pulling that mobo's matching chipset).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually thought of this idea right after a couple days from the beginning of the problem. Yes its gonna take loads of precision and patience but it does sound doable. Maybe that's what is gonna be the last option for the forensic service too in case, god forbid, they aren't able to do it the "simple" way. Can't say yet, but I'm gonna keep this thread updated with all the developments that take place.
Chinmay47 said:
Actually thought of this idea right after a couple days from the beginning of the problem. Yes its gonna take loads of precision and patience but it does sound doable. Maybe that's what is gonna be the last option for the forensic service too in case, god forbid, they aren't able to do it the "simple" way. Can't say yet, but I'm gonna keep this thread updated with all the developments that take place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If they need to remove the chipset the chances of failure increase. Flash memory retension is generally good for 10+ years but it may be damaged in the removal process if so, snake eyes.
Get price quotes up front for the whole process.
Once they got the phone, they got you by the balls. Not saying they aren't trustworthy but feel them out. If it's a couple hundred and you get the data back, you did good.
No idea of the cost though, my guess is $400-1000+ especially if they need to pull the chipset.
That's high risk even if they do it by the book.
If their policy is no data, no charge... expect higher rates to cover their loses.
@blackhawk All of that sounds kinda terrifying if you ask me. Well I mean, there is always a first option that can be tried without any mentions of pull-aparts. Yet I will surely judge the person well before I hand my device in his hands. I would try my level best to not take it to the critical stage, but if it needs be and there is a really high chance of losing my data, I can factory reset my data at home by myself too can't I? Future shall tell I suppose.
If you factory reset it all data will be lost.
It will not be recoverable!
If you want the data you will need to use a service like I showed you. They will need physical access to the phone to recovery the data.
The phone may be scrape afterwards
@blackhawk Sure does look like it would be! But paying to get your phone reset for you is way to harsher than doing it yourself. It is only in case the data is nearly impossible to recover that I'll reset the phone myself.
Chinmay47 said:
@blackhawk Sure does look like it would be! But paying to get your phone reset for you is way to harsher than doing it yourself. It is only in case the data is nearly impossible to recover that I'll reset the phone myself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Reset? Most likely destroyed.
Do you really want the data?
blackhawk said:
Reset? Most likely destroyed.
Do you really want the data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually do though. But well, if it ain't coming back then why wish for it. Yeah the data was really important.
Chinmay47 said:
I actually do though. But well, if it ain't coming back then why wish for it. Yeah the data was really important.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Call them up and see what they say.
Since it's not physically damaged they may be able to access it none invasively.
blackhawk said:
Call them up and see what they say.
Since it's not physically damaged they may be able to access it none invasively.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll do that and report back ASAP. Thanks for the help sire!