Lock Screen Pattern not working on my Samsung Galaxy S7

[AC Question]

I have a new Galaxy S7 and have been using the fingerprint authentication for some time now with no problems. As a backup I have a pattern set for unlocking it as well. I have used the same pattern for quite some time, but in the last few days the phone stopped accepting my pattern, telling me that it is wrong. I can still unlock my device fine with my fingerprint, but if I attempt to update or change any security related settings it prompts for my pattern, but refuses to accept it. My pattern is fairly simple and I know that I am inputting it correctly, and no one else has had access to my phone. Is there anyway to reset the pattern using my fingerprint authentication?

 

[stevecr25]

I was having the same issue... Just made the switch from my HTC M9 to the Samsung Galaxy S7. Using the same pattern to unlock for over a year now. This morning after using the phone without problems all of a sudden it stopped taking my unlock pattern. WTF?? After an hour or so of trying the pattern and the failed login delays I rebooted the phone. Tried again... Pattern still not working... Rebooted again after wanting to throw it against the wall and it finally accepted my pattern. Immediately went in and activated PIN & fingerprint and disabled the pattern option.

I'm curious to know how many other users have had this problem... Major flaw in my opinion...

 

[Hanny89]

I am having this problem as well. Have you found a solution?

 

[Lucas Hammer]

My wife had the same problem. We reset it with the Samsung Tools and set everything back up again. As long as your fingerprint is working, that should solve it. At least for now...

 

[tertmagert]

I am having this same issue where the pattern lock suddenly stopped working and now I am locked out for 60 minutes. This is absolutely ridiculous.

 

[willowonyx]

Must be a flaw in the software. Mine started doing this same thing 2 days ago, so glad I had the fingerprint also setup. All I had to do is "restart" the phone by the power button. Now my pattern works. Good luck!

 

[A2pfunk]

Having the same problem in my s7. I'm afraid to reboot because after a reboot I'm always required to use my swipe code instead of the fingerprint for the very first unlock.

 

[randomdude]

still no solution to this? hate having to restart every time...

 

[EmSch]

Yepp-- same thing just happened to me. I can't throw it against a wall so I had to completely wipe it. BAHHh!!!

 

[mhjell]

Sheesh. Me too. It's happened twice now. Currently stuck in #2. First happeneds about 31 days after purchase. Happened again after about 39 days. ARGH! Verizon store could only send me a replacement. @SamsungSupport Twitter account says only carrier can help. ARGH!

 

[mhjell]

After I don't know how many resets during a 60 minute "wait" interval, it accepted my original pattern. Crimonies! Be sure to turn OFF "Auto factory reset" under "Secure lock settings." That will give you more than 15 retries although the forced time interval between attempts will increase.

 

[Nohaha]

Someone please help,

This just started happening to me. Is there a work around or patch available? I'm not happy!

 

[spotts4]

This just started happening to me on my Samsung s7 edge. Is a factory reset the only solution?

 

[tandlaguilera420]

The same thing just happened to me also. It was the first time. It wouldn't take my pattern or pin to unlock my phone. Had to restart my phone to get into it.

 

[GodHandComplex]

Hey guys, to solve this issue DO NOT FACTORY RESET:

Go ahead and reboot your phone. Try the same pattern. If it does NOT work, just do it again. It took me two tries.

Hope it helps you all.

Cheers!

 

[Mysticislemom2003]

This just happened to my S7 Edge also. 4 more attempts & it does a factory reset & I lose everything!

 

[Emsix]

This is a new feature of Galaxy S7. Its called SMART LOCK, meaning your phone knows if you're in a safe place such as your Home, your Car or if you paired a smart watch with your phone and added it as trusted device, as long as you're connected to your watch, the phone knows you're in a safe place so you dont need to enter password to your phone. Or if youre in your car or at Home, then you wont need to enter password to open your phone. But if you want to remove this feature and want to swipe or enter your pin no matter where you are then do this..go to:
SETTING>LOCK SCREEN & SECURITY>SECURE LOCK SETTING>SMART LOCK. Here you'll see "Trusted Places" and "Trusted Device" Just edit or press and hold whatever is in there, e.i your watch, your home address etc...then remove and you should be good to go.

 

[RoseVerdict]

I don't think I'm having this trouble because of smart lock. I don't have any "trusted devices" or anything. All I know is I've got a pattern it won't recognize and I'm afraid to reboot it because I have it set to wipe everything if the pattern isn't correct on startup. Are you sure rebooting is the smart thing to do?

 

[mariz calinog]

Re: Lock Screen Pattern not working on my Samsung Galaxy S7p

Please help me unlock screen samsung s7, pattern do not work i trued many times every 60 minutes, but still denied, please
Help

 

[VanBCguy]

This is a new feature of Galaxy S7. Its called SMART LOCK, meaning your phone knows if you're in a safe place such as your Home, your Car or if you paired a smart watch with your phone and added it as trusted device, as long as you're connected to your watch, the phone knows you're in a safe place so you dont need to enter password to your phone. Or if youre in your car or at Home, then you wont need to enter password to open your phone. But if you want to remove this feature and want to swipe or enter your pin no matter where you are then do this..go to:
SETTING>LOCK SCREEN & SECURITY>SECURE LOCK SETTING>SMART LOCK. Here you'll see "Trusted Places" and "Trusted Device" Just edit or press and hold whatever is in there, e.i your watch, your home address etc...then remove and you should be good to go.

This post is a joke, RIGHT?

I don't have anything on my phone. Brand new and just now going thru the set-up. The PIN worked a few times but then suddenly stopped. I have no trusted devices or anything silly like that set up. I'm not even half way thru the initial set-up to begin with.

Don't make a post saying "HERE'S THE SOLUTION!!!" when you don't know what you're talking about.