factory data reset

How to use Galaxy S20 recovery mode?

By simon Leave a Comment Last Modified: January 10, 2021 · Published on: December 19, 2020

Galaxy S20 recovery mode allows you to access some very special and advanced features to manage, hack and reset Galaxy S20.

This Galaxy S20 guide explains what Galaxy S20 recovery mode is, when you need to use it, how to reboot into the recovery mode, and how to navigate and exit the recovery mode.

The Galaxy S20 recovery mode is identical on all 4 Galaxy S20 modes: Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 FE, and S20 Ultra. So this guide applies to all these phones.

What is Galaxy S20 recovery mode?

All Android phones and tablets come with a recovery mode. Galaxy S20 is not an exception. Android vendors may add or remove some features in the recovery mode.

On Galaxy S20, you can use the recovery mode to (as shown in the picture below):

Wipe cache partition. This would wipe the cache partition to refresh apps without affecting your data on Galaxy S20.
Reset (factory data reset) Galaxy S20. Some geeks may refer this to “wipe” the phone. You can erase all your data and return the phone to factory state. But it does not rollback the Android version or any updates.
Update Galaxy S20 from ADB. If you want to sideload the update from your PC, you can do it using ADB. For example, you may manually update Galaxy S20 to Android 11 if you want
Update Galaxy S20 from the micro SD card. You can also apply updates saved in the micro SD card.
Reboot into bootloader (download mode). It allows you to enter download mode. For example, you want to install third-party recovery.
Mount /system partition. It is supposed to let you edit and correct some errors in the system partition without rooting. But it seems it is not working.
Run graphics test. It simply shows how the graphics (UI) like when the phone in different states, e.g., erasing, updating, optimizing apps. It has nothing to do with GPU or display.
View recovery logs.
Run locale test. Check the locale on the phone.
Repair apps. This allows you to manually optimise apps (rebuild app cache and data cache).
Power off Galaxy S20.

We will explain some of them later on.

When do you need to use Galaxy S20 recovery mode?

Galaxy S20 recovery mode is NOT designed for normal users. Most Galaxy S20 owners … Read the rest

How to unlock Galaxy S20 when you forget the password or PIN (without resetting the phone)?

By simon 2 Comments Last Modified: January 9, 2021 · Published on: May 22, 2020

You can unlock Galaxy S20 in Samsung Find My Mobile if you forget the password or PIN for Galaxy S20, S20+, or S20 Ultra, or any other Samsung Galaxy phones.

This Galaxy S20 how-to guide explains the requirements for you to unlock Galaxy S20 without a password or PIN, steps to unlock Galaxy S20 if you forget the password or PIN using Samsung FGind My Mobile, and how to remotely lock and secure your phone with Samsung Find My Mobile services.

In most regions, you can unlock Samsung Galaxy phones if you forget the password or PIN using Samsung Find My Mobile service. So, this guide applies to most Samsung Galaxy phones, including Galaxy S20, S10, Note 10, S9, Note 9, S8, Note 8, and other popular Samsung Galaxy phones.

Can I reset the password (unlock Galaxy S20) on Google Find My Device (Android Device Manager) if I forget the password or PIN on Galaxy S20?

No, Google removed the remote unlock and password reset features from Android Device Manager (now, Find My Device) in 2016.

So, if you forget the password or PIN on Galaxy S20, Google Find My Device can only help you erase (reset) the phone, i.e., factory data reset (FDR), or lock up the phone.

Google Find My Device will never unlock Galaxy S20, or reset the password/PIN. It can lock the phone (if it is unlocked) remotely. Some users confuse the “lock” and “unlock” feature in Google Find My Device.

Please note, the factory data reset will erase all of your data and settings. This is only useful if your phone is lost or stolen. You can reset Galaxy S20 in the recovery mode as well.

If your Galaxy S20 is still in your hands and you only forget the password or PIN for the lock screen, then probably it is not necessary to reset the phone.

Currently, for Galaxy S20 and other Samsung Galaxy phones, only Samsung Find My Mobile can unlock Galaxy S20 without a password or PIN.

The requirements to unlock Galaxy S20 when you forget the password or PIN

If you need to unlock Galaxy S20 and you forget the password or PIN, you need to meet the following requirements:

The phone is online.
You added your Samsung account to the phone.
You enabled Find My Mobile on the phone. By default, it is

… Read the rest

How to confirm PIN without tapping OK on Galaxy S20 (and other Galaxy phones)?

By simon Leave a Comment Last Modified: May 23, 2020 · Published on: May 9, 2020

When you unlock Galaxy S20 with a PIN, you can confirm PIN without tapping OK to unlock the phone directly to Galaxy S20 Home screen.

This Galaxy S20 guide explains why you may need to confirm PIN without tapping OK, then shows you how to enable and disable this feature. Some FAQs related to conforming PIN without tapping OK on Galaxy S20 are answered.

This feature is available in most Samsung Galaxy phones including all 3 models of Galaxy S20 (Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra), Galaxy S10, Galaxy Note 10, Galaxy S9 and many others.

Please also note, this feature works only for screen lock type as a PIN. If you set the screen lock type as password, you always have to manually confirm the password.

Why do you need to confirm PIN without tapping OK on Galaxy S20?

By default, when you unlock Galaxy S20 with a PIN, you have to type the PIN, then tap OK on the keypad to confirm.

Many owners think this is “natural” because they have done this from day one of using a smartphone.

If you want to unlock the phone more quickly without tapping the OK to confirm the typed PIN, then the solution exists on Samsung Galaxy S20 and many other Galaxy phones.

In other words, you can just type the PIN and unlock the phone instantly. When typing, if the typed PIN matches the lock screen PIN, then Galaxy S20 will be unlocked automatically.

Obviously, this is a more efficient way to unlock the phone with a PIN.

Unfortunately, this feature is not enabled by default. You can enable it when setting up the phone, or you can enable and disable it at any time. Read on.

Of course, this feature is not for everyone. But it can be beneficial if you can confirm PIN without tapping OK for many Galaxy S20 owners.

If you need to unlock the phone faster.

Without tapping OK not only save you one tap but also save the time for you to switch from tapping to mentally confirm the PIN.

If you use a similar PIN on different devices, you can just use a PIN with different length.

It is a bad practice to use the identical PIN on all devices.

But if you use totally different PINs, it is a pain to remember all … Read the rest

Master Galaxy S20 lock screen settings

By simon 3 Comments Last Modified: January 14, 2021 · Published on: March 30, 2020

You can customize Galaxy S20 lock screen settings to better protect your Galaxy S20 and use the phone more efficiently.

This Galaxy S20 guide explains the meaning and usage of all items in Galaxy S20 lock screen settings including screen lock type, smart lock, secure lock, always-on display, wallpaper services, clock style, roaming clock, faceWidgets, contact info, notifications, and app shortcuts.

These settings are identical on all three models of Galaxy S20 (S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra), although Galaxy S20 is used in the text.

How to access Galaxy S20 lock screen settings

You can access Galaxy S20 lock screen settings from Galaxy S20 Settings — Lock screen.

There are a couple of different ways to access Galaxy S20 Settings including:

Use the Settings app icon on Galaxy S20 Home screen or Apps screen.
Use the Settings (gear) icon in the notification panel.
Use the Settings (gear icon) in the Galaxy S20 quick settings panel.
Use voice commands (Google or Bixby).

Galaxy S20 lock screen settings explained

As shown in the screenshot below, you can customize the settings for Galaxy S20 lock screen.

Here is the explanation of each item of Galaxy S20 locks screen setting. Each item matches the number in the following two screenshots.

I. Screen lock type

By default, when you set up the new Galaxy S20, you need to choose lock screen security type as one of the following:

Swipe. There is no security. Anyone can swipe to unlock Galaxy S20. If you skip it during the initial setup, this method will be used. It is NOT recommended.
Pattern.
PIN.
Password.
None. This option actually turns off Galaxy S20 lock screen. So, it is NOT recommended.

Normally, the PIN is recommended. It offers moderate security for the phone. You can also choose to confirm PIN without tapping OK button. You can also hide PIN or password on Galaxy S20 when typing them.

If you set the lock screen type as pattern, PIN, or password, then you can use secondary biometrics to unlock Galaxy S20:

Face. Face recognition is usually fast. But it requires good light conditions.
Fingerprints. The in-display fingerprint sensor on Galaxy S20 (S10 and Note 10 as well) is inferior to the traditional capacitive fingerprint reader. It is the worst feature of Galaxy S20.

Galaxy S20 will asks you to use PIN/Password … Read the rest