UNDO mobile mistakes

Most PC blunders can be fixed instantly, but how do you correct mistakes on your phone or tablet? Edward Munn explains how to turn back time on your Android or iOS device.

Regain access when you forget your password

ANDROID 

If you forget the lock-screen password or PIN for your Android device, it could result in you being locked out and unable to access your data. Fortunately, there’s an easy way to get back into your phone or tablet if it runs Android 4.4 or earlier and you know your Google account credentials. After entering the wrong password or pattern five times, you’ll see a ‘Forgot PIN?’ button. Tap this and you’ll be prompted to log in with your Google email address and password.

Unfortunately, if your phone runs Android 5.0 or later, things aren’t quite so easy. If you’ve set up Android’s Smart Lock feature, which unlocks your device when you connect to familiar networks and Bluetooth devices, this might allow you to regain access to your phone. Alternatively, if you have a Samsung phone or tablet, you can try logging into the Find My Mobile website (findmymobile.samsung.com) with your Samsung account, where you can use the ‘Unlock my screen’ option to try and bypass the lock screen.