Help Phone stuck on PIN/Emergency Call Only screen

[Cam]

I tried search and didn't come up with anything to help.

My wife's VZW GNex is mysteriously stuck on a slate-grey PIN lock-screen that will allow emergency outgoing calls only. The phone allows incoming calls, and the notification bar is present and normal.

The problem is that she never set up a PIN on this phone, so we have no clue what to enter at the PIN unlock screen. This seems to have occurred spontaneously and inexplicably, and I've never seen this on any of our Android devices.

Here's what I tried to no avail:

1. Reboot
2. Battery pull
3. SIM pull
4. Various PIN combinations, including the last 4 of her phone number, the last 4 of her account number, her voice mail PIN, and the default SIM PIN number 1111.

Details about her device:
VZW Galaxy Nexus
Stock/Official ICS 4.0.4 (locked bootloader, not rooted, stock kernel)
Device has performed flawlessly until this morning

Any ideas out there?

 

[Cam]

My first thought on this was a bad SIM card, but I figured I'd see if any of you know how to fix this easily before I take my wife's phone over to our local VZW store

Edit: However, the "No SIM card" error message isn't present and there is no "no SIM card" icon on the notification bar, so maybe the SIM card isn't the issue...? *sigh*

If she'd let me I'd just wipe, unlock, root, and ROM this thing, but she doesn't want me messing with her phone. Go figure...

 

[lordj]

Well, there's only 10,000 possible PINs it could be, start typin!

 

[Cam]

She's adamant that she never set a PIN on this thing. If the issue was that she set a PIN a long time ago I'd just wipe/factory reset and press on. However, I'm not sure that will even work.

She had all security settings turned off. No pattern, no pin, no face unlock, nothing. She had it set such that when you powered the phone on or woke it up it went straight to her home screen. That's what's so weird about this to me.

 

[AJ McKay]

I believe if you enter an incorrect PIN enough times it will ask you for the gmail account and password or something similar. I do believe there is a fail safe to unlock it with the account if you try enough times, but I'm not for sure what it is.

Also I found this in another forum:

Just used the new paid version of Screen Lock Bypass called Screen Lock Bypass Pro. It was $2.00 and it worked flawlessly! No need to reset the phone once you're in!! I give it 5 stars. You just download it from the market from your pc and once it installs on your phone, plug in your charger and poof! It takes you to a screen to manage/reset your password.

Seems like it's worth a shot since you and push apps from the market on your PC.

 

[val88]

She's adamant that she never set a PIN on this thing. If the issue was that she set a PIN a long time ago I'd just wipe/factory reset and press on. However, I'm not sure that will even work.

She had all security settings turned off. No pattern, no pin, no face unlock, nothing. She had it set such that when you powered the phone on or woke it up it went straight to her home screen. That's what's so weird about this to me.

I think I had something similar happened and it required something that needed to be done via verizon's website. I remember finding the solution here. I'll see if I can find it.

update: found the thread:
http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-nexus/464450-puk-code-verizon-galaxy-nexus.html

Basically, I follow this guy's direction and unlocked my phone.

I know its a little late to solve the OP's problem, but for those that might stumble across this thread. Login to My Verizon on vzw.com, then go to My Verizon > My Device. The bottom option to the right of the phone picture should be "Unlock SIM (PUK) Now". Clicking through should give you the unlock code for your SIM.

 

[Cam]

If she never set the pin then try the last 4 digits of the phone #. I think thats the default.

Tried that. No dice.

 

[Tim K]

I'd just keep trying PINs until the phone locks you out. I'd try last 4 of your/her SSN - whichever the account is under, 0000, and then just random #s. There has to be a predetermined # of incorrect entries before it locks 'permanently' and requires some other form of verification.

 

[Cam]

Thanks for the replies folks. While I was at work today she took the phone to the Verizon store, and they did a wipe/factory reset. *sigh*

Oh well... the good news is that after this experience she decided to let me root and ROM her phone, so she's now rocking Jelly Bean. lol