Let me start putting everything on the table – this post will describe how I eventually managed to unlock an unrooted, non-Google account linked Samsung Galaxy Mini Plus (GT-5570I) device without ADB support. There are a lot of guides on how to bypass this pattern lock on Android (and I will provide some links), but the purpose of this post is to show how looking for creative ways to do this can come handy
So a friend gave me a locked device. This device had no Google account linked to it (which prevented me from bypassing the lock with that account), there was no root or ADB access via recovery, and the USB debugging option was disabled.
I found this guide here, which states some commands you can type in ADB shell and should deactivate the pattern lock. So – How do I get ADB access on that phone?
My first try was to flash a recovery image which allows ADB access. This allegedly easy task that is normally done with Odin, turned out to be impossible. I managed to download all the necessary files, but Odin (which for those of you who are unfamiliar – is the software you use with Samsung phones to flash partitions, repartition and basically everything regarding flashing) refused to detect the phone. I had on my PC another version of Odin, for other phones, which detected the phone, but I could not use it with the files compatible with this model.
So, back to snooping the forums. I found a flashable zip file (Link here – remember – Only Galaxy Mini) which allowed me to start ClockworkMod recovery on that phone.
Cool – Now I will had adb access and can type in the commands and go to eat my lunch. WRONG. I need I got CWM to start, but my PC did not recognize any ADB interface. I’m not sure why, either this CWM didn’t support ADB, or that fact that it just “rebooted” into CWM from the normal recovery didn’t allow it to grant the ADB access. My guess was that if I would have been able to flash it properly – it would have worked.
So now I have CWM, no ADB access and commands I’m unable to type.
And then I understood something – What if I could just create a zip file that runs these commands? I was not the first one to think about this.
So.. I tried flashing this zip. Didn’t work. Looking at what the zip is doing – I understood what was the problem. The zip tries to mount /system and /data using busybox. Which… I didn’t have… since I was using stock unrooted ROM.
Last try – I tried mounting /system and /data via CWM.
Did that and Retried flashing that unlock zip. IT WORKED!!
This took a lot of thought and thinking out of the box. But it was worth it.
So, to summarize what I’ve done to unlock the device
- Placed the CWM zip and Pattern Unlock zip on the microSD
- Started the device to stock recovery (When device is off – Middle button + Volume UP + Power
- Chose “Install update zip” and selected CWM zip. Now CWM interface started up
- Go to “mounts and storage menu” and mount /data and /system
- Go back, and flash the pattern unlock zip
- Reboot phone
This process was exhausting, but worth it. I really hope you will find this post useful
P.S – The photo on the right is wrong, mounting /cache is unnecessary 😉 my photographic mistake
32 replies on “A Creative way to bypass Pattern lock on Android”
Whether my contacts and data in internal memory will be saved or not. Please reply to me immediately
Hi Siriam,
Using the method I’ve described, all the data on internal memory will be intact (that was the whole point)
That is if you do exactly what I’ve done.
However – I cannot take responsibility for anything that will happen to your data, as various things might happen along the way.
Good luck
Can I do it for galaxy y duos also?
I don’t really know. You can try. It might work. I don’t think any damage can happen, but again – I cannot guarantee
please tell can I do it for Samsung y duos of android version 2.3
It might work, and it might not. The phone I did this on, had 2.3 on it. I hope it will work for you
thanks for giving this valuable information it really works.
You’re welcome. That’s the purpose of this blog.
Very glad to hear it worked for you
I am trying to flash CWM.zip but I have been getting e: Signature Verification failed. This is on my Motorola Droid X. My phone does not have USB debugging enabled. Please help.
Hi there,
I believe the security on Droid X might not allow you to operate that way.
I would check on the forums if there is a way to install CWM permanantly using fastboot. I hope your phone will not ‘force’ you to perform a full wipe
On another note – if you do not have antyhing important on that phone (don’t worry – photos will not be erased), I suggest you try doing a full wipe
Its is not working for galaxy y , is there any possibilty to unlock for galaxy y
I don’t really know. What you can do is flash a custom recovery via download mode (and Odin). Then you will be able to run the script from recovery
Do you have any idea how to enable android USB debugging when phone is locked?I already downloaded sdk, even moborobo apps because I’m so desperate in finding alternatives to open my phone without hard resetting it. To be honest I’m not really that tekkie. I’m only relying through the instructions/help i could find in the net..
Unfortunately I think you’d have to get a little tekkie for that.
Also, it really depends on what you want to do with usb debugging while the phone is locked 🙂
My guess will be enabling ADB throuhgh recovery. Quick search found this link. I hope it will give you some direction (It’s not a step by step guide but might be a good start)
http://android.stackexchange.com/questions/54487/install-adb-enabled-setting-from-zip
Arnon, thank you for the tip, I had some problems trying to flash the pattern unlock zip, but in the end I got it. It really works in Galaxy Y TV too.
In my case, no internet connection was enabled, after apply the flash, android still required google account, however, when access emergency call, the up menu was available and I could enable wifi connection and enter google account login, and that’s it, everthing came back to the right place.
Thank you again.
Hug,
Alberto.
how to bypass pattern lock in samsung galaxy y (s5360).
pls FORGIVE ME am a novice!
What do u mean by point 5, “Go back, and flash the pattern unlock zip”?
Hiya, wonderful replies.. could it work for a spreadtrum phone (chinese phone i believe)
@ERNETS – This means – return to the main recovery menu, and choose “flash zip” then choose the “pattern unlock” zip
Hi. You need to understand the logic of the procedure. It might work, I cannot guarantee anything.
dear friend,
My mobile pattern was locked because one child has drawn the pattern wrongly for 10 times with my phone and its showing now to verify my google account but my internet setting is in off because of that i could login to my phone
all my contacts are in my phone only how to recover my contacts from my phone please try to help me
Hello. What phone is it?
What ROM do you have? is it rooted?
Hi sir,
thanks for the information .and i have a doubt also. i am using samsung galaxy y. if i do this shoul i loss my contacts data .?
I don’t know. If your contacts are backed up on your google account you will not lose it.
If not, then you might. Unless you unlock your phone and back them up
Arnon, Thank you so much for your help. It worked for me on my Samsung Galaxy y duos(GT S-6102).
I have followed your suggestions. There was no flash zip option for me, there was a option to install zip. I tried that one. It worked. After done things you have suggested I have been asked for Google Account login.
Thanks for Jose Alberto.
I have followed his emergency call suggestion and enabled internet and loges in to my google account and unlocked my phone, thank god I remembered my google account credentials.
Thanks for Arnon and Jose Alberto.
hi
in this way with unlock zip memory sd card , do it delete phone app data or contact and message???
Hi. In this method nothing is deleted.
While the usage may vary from phone to phone, the concept is the same
Hi..
I have a Samsung Galaxy Ace (S580i). It got locked as my daughter kept trying patterns until it was locked. I also tried several times to get to the data folder on this Android phone (to delete the gesture.key file) using ADB and other methods but to no avail.. finally I downloaded the CWM zip and Pattern Unlock zip on the SD card and installed/run on the phone (in recovery mode).
Even though all this didn’t lead me to the “gesture.key” file as the /data folder was still inaccessible but I could now take the backup of my system. After taking the backup I felt safe that now I should be able to retrieve my contacts anytime later.
Then I deleted my /data and /cache folder using CWM and my phone was up again..
Thanks for all this..
Hello there, i have a simillar issue, but with samsung s3.
where can we find the CWM flaahable zip to flash from the external card.
any help is highly appreciated.
Hi.
For galaxy s3 it should be relatively easy, you can look for a guide regarding CWM. You will most likely need to flash it using Odin
Hey, what can I do if I use a Galaxy s6 with no SD Card input?
Hi Sorry for the late response
You could flash a custom recovery using Odin, and then you might be able to access the internal sdcard (and transfer the zip)
One of the options is CWM recovery or TWRP recovery.