I can't unlock the note 9 from the lock screen

[Android Central Question]

Just got a new unlocked note 9 directly from Samsung. I set up the biometric data to unlock phone instead of pw. Retina scan, fingerprint and pw. Yesterday when I went to unlock screen, instead of the usual retina scan, the phone kept asking for the pw. I didn't restart or turn the power off. I entered the pw but it wouldn't take. I've tried every pw variation, Samsung find my device to remotely unlock, a hard reset, called Samsung support and my carrier. No one can help. I've been locked out all night. At this point I'm ready to return it. Any ideas?

 

[kevinpleasants]

Just got a new unlocked note 9 directly from Samsung. I set up the biometric data to unlock phone instead of pw. Retina scan, fingerprint and pw. Yesterday when I went to unlock screen, instead of the usual retina scan, the phone kept asking for the pw. I didn't restart or turn the power off. I entered the pw but it wouldn't take. I've tried every pw variation, Samsung find my device to remotely unlock, a hard reset, called Samsung support and my carrier. No one can help. I've been locked out all night. At this point I'm ready to return it. Any ideas?

I'm sorry you're having that problem. If you keep entering the pw it should tell you it's gonna reset after so many pw failures. Let it reset and then setup your phone again.

 

[Gary02468]

If you keep entering the pw it should tell you it's gonna reset after so many pw failures.

I don't think that feature is enabled by default.

 

[Gary02468]

I've tried every pw variation, Samsung find my device to remotely unlock, a hard reset, called Samsung support and my carrier. No one can help. I've been locked out all night.

Even with biometrics set up, the phone will require a password occasionally, both as a backup security measure and as a way to keep the password fresh in your mind. It's good that neither Samsung nor your carrier can help you unlock the phone without the password--if they could, they'd be bypassing your security, which is supposed to be impossible.

When you say you tried a "hard reset", do you mean a factory reset? If so, what happened when you tried?

 

[jmhinkle]

My Note9 has done this twice now.

The Note 9 is having issues where it says enter your pin and won't use your biometrics, but gets stuck in a loop back to the enter your pin screen. If you enter the correct pin it sticks in the loop. If you enter the wrong pin it will say incorrect pin so don't fool yourself into thinking you forgot your pin.

To clear this hold the physical power button on the side until the 3 options appear on your screen. Then hold the power off button until enter safe mode appears. It will ask your pin and actually accept it then boot into safe mode. Once in safe mode you can restart to normal mode when the question appears and it will be working normal again.

 

[DARK Vader777]

Yes this happened to me. What I did was wait about 15 minutes and then all was well. Wasn't sure what happened so I backed up phone and Smart Switched everything into my S9+ the first chance I was able to get into my note 9.
Everything was fine even though I did a full factory reset after the failed unlock. And once I seen that it was fine, I transferred everything back into my my note 9.
Working excellent now.

The S9 plus was a casualty of the S10+ pre-order that I couldn't resist.

That failed unlock happened in about a 5 minute period before I decide to just let phone sit before I tried unlocking again for
about 10-15 minutes. It was extremely frustrating.
Never knew what the problem was and so far it never happened again.

 

[alwalls]

Thanks very much for your post.

My Note 9 just did this a little while ago. I tried to restart it but was unsuccessful, obviously.

I searched on the problem and found your post. I followed the steps and successfully got into my phone.

Thanks jmhinkle

 

[anon(45526)]

My Note9 has done this twice now.

The Note 9 is having issues where it says enter your pin and won't use your biometrics, but gets stuck in a loop back to the enter your pin screen. If you enter the correct pin it sticks in the loop. If you enter the wrong pin it will say incorrect pin so don't fool yourself into thinking you forgot your pin.

To clear this hold the physical power button on the side until the 3 options appear on your screen. Then hold the power off button until enter safe mode appears. It will ask your pin and actually accept it then boot into safe mode. Once in safe mode you can restart to normal mode when the question appears and it will be working normal again.

You are a life saver!!!!

 

[pizza_pablo]

Is this happening only on Pie or Oreo as well?

 

[syeda komal]

i am going through from same problem, i used my finger or password to unlock but suddenly it asking me direction lock instead of password and finger print.
even not showing option of password as well.i tries to open it from my find mobile and try to unlock but i was unsuccessful then i restart and now still asking me for direction lock i attempt many time and if i ll do again then they will reset my device on factory reset i dnt want to do

can anyone help me please

 

[mustang7757]

i am going through from same problem, i used my finger or password to unlock but suddenly it asking me direction lock instead of password and finger print.
even not showing option of password as well.i tries to open it from my find mobile and try to unlock but i was unsuccessful then i restart and now still asking me for direction lock i attempt many time and if i ll do again then they will reset my device on factory reset i dnt want to do

can anyone help me please

If you signed into your Samsung account this method will help

Find mymobile Samsung.com

 

[syeda komal]

My note is not connected to WiFi now its off and when I restart it still asking me for direction lock instead of password. I see this first time that after restarting any mobile asking direction lock instead of password.
When my cell is on I tried to done with Samsung account but when I press unlock they give me command that remotely unlock option is lock.
But now it's restarted I have just one attempt left for direction lock if I do then it factory reset

 

[NotAnAppleGuy]

PIN PIN PIN. Even if you use biometrics, you can set it so the fail safe is the PIN. I understand that retina scan/face/fingerprint is cool and all but from what I have seen it's just not consistent enough. Four numbers (PIN) that you will never forget never fails.

 

[hooligan03]

PIN PIN PIN. Even if you use biometrics, you can set it so the fail safe is the PIN. I understand that retina scan/face/fingerprint is cool and all but from what I have seen it's just not consistent enough. Four numbers (PIN) that you will never forget never fails.

I agree 100 percent with this. I always setup a pin even though I mainly use finger print or iris for most part. PIN is definitely failsafe.

 

[adegbenroagoro]

I agree 100 percent with this. I always setup a pin even though I mainly use finger print or iris for most part. PIN is definitely failsafe.

I dislike pins. I use the fingerprint reader plus a 9-point pattern. I've used the pattern (and its mirror image for Knox/Secure Folder) for about 6 years. I definitely won't forget them.