kj1979

I did not sign up for a google email account and someone has locked my phone and I am unable to use it. Is there a way to unlock it (ie. sign up for an account??) without having to do a factory reset?? Any help at all would be appreciated!!!!!

Rxpert83

So your phone is locked.

Is it a pin? pattern?

Hopefully you had USB debugging turned on. If so, there's a way

kj1979

It's a pattern. And I am not sure if USB debugging was turned on. Where would I find this?

Rxpert83

It would have been in the developer options. Most people who aren't rooted don't have it on.

A factory reset is probably the only surefire way to get it

kj1979

If the usb debugging is on, how would I go about unlocking it??

kj1979

Can I just sign up for a google account??

jhawkkw

If usb debugging is on, then you could hook up the phone to the computer, use the adb command line commands and circumvent the lock that way.

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kj1979

Is there any way you can walk me through this step by step?? My apologies but I do not understand.

jhawkkw

Sure thing.

First thing you'll need to do is install the Samsung adb drivers if you haven't already. You can get them here. After the installation has finished, plug your device in and leave it on at the lock screen. Open up the command prompt and you should see an unknown android device. If you do, then this will work. If not, then USB Debugging isn't on and this will not work and you'll have to factory reset.

If it does show up, then right click on the unknown device, and click update driver. Click browse for driver software, then let me pick from a list of drivers. Locate the option SAMSUNG Android Phone and select it. After that then click the newed adb interface driver. Ignore the warning, and let it install.

Second thing is if the android sdk isn't installed on your computer, you'll want to do that. You can grab our forums mini-skd to avoid a lot of the bloat in the normal sdk. It's hosted here.

Once installed, keep that directory open. Next you'll want to

go to the directory where it you unziped it too. You'll want to open the command prompt here by holding control + shift and then right clicking. You'll hit the option open command window here.
Once the command prompt opens, and type the command "adb devices" It should respond with device and a bunch of numbers. If you get to this point, let me know and we'll continue.

jhawkkw

I have to step away for a while, but if you get through all my instructions, then all you have to do is follow the commands here or follow the instructions of this youtube video. If not, give Rx a pm and he can probably pick up from my instructions.

Last edited by jhawkkw; January 6th, 2013 at 06:48 PM.

kj1979

Thank you for the help!! One last question. When I click on the link you provided it brings me to the samsung website. Where do I find the Samsung adb drivers to install them?

jhawkkw

Just look for one of the newer devices, like the s3 or note2, and it should be under all software downloads. The drivers are the same for all samsung phones.

kj1979

No worries I found it!! Thank you again so much for the help!! We will definitely try this!!!