There are exactly two ways back into a locked Galaxy S10, and which one you need depends entirely on whether Find My Mobile was switched on before you got locked out. One path costs you nothing. The other wipes the phone. Here is how to tell which applies to you, and how to run either one.
Check This First: Do You Have a Samsung Account Signed In?
Before anything else, think back, did you ever sign into a Samsung account on this Galaxy S10? If yes, there is a real chance Find My Mobile is already active in the background even if you do not remember turning it on, since Samsung enables it by default on setup for a lot of regions. That single detail decides everything below, so it is worth actually trying Method 1 first even if you are not sure.
Method 1: Unlock Remotely With Find My Mobile (No Data Loss)
This only works if Find My Mobile was switched on before your phone got locked. You will need a second device, a laptop, tablet, or a friend phone.
- On any other device, go to findmymobile.samsung.com and sign in with the same Samsung account that is on your locked Galaxy S10
- Once logged in, your Galaxy S10 should appear on the left side under your registered devices
- Select it, then look for Unlock in the menu on the left
- Confirm the action when prompted, this removes the current PIN, pattern, or password entirely
- On the phone itself, it should now boot straight to the home screen with no lock
Once you are back in, go set up a new lock screen password immediately from Settings before you forget again, and this time, actually check that Find My Mobile is toggled on under Settings, Security and privacy, Find My Mobile, it saves you next time.
Method 2: Factory Reset Through Recovery Mode (Erases Everything)
If Find My Mobile was not active, or you are not signed into any Samsung account, this is the only remaining option. Be clear on what this does before you start, it removes your photos, apps, messages, and everything else stored locally. If you have a Samsung Cloud or Google backup running, most of your data can come back afterward, but there is no way to unlock the phone and keep your data at the same time through this method.
I tested this exact sequence on my own Galaxy S10 before writing this, since the button timing on newer Samsung models trips people up more than it should.
- Insert a USB cable into your Samsung Galaxy S10 and ensure it's connected to a computer or laptop (if you don't have that then you can use charger).
- Begin by pressing and holding the Volume Down and Power buttons simultaneously for a few seconds.
- Next, once the screen turns dark, press and hold the Volume Up, Bixby, and Power buttons together for a brief period.
- Release all buttons when the Upload Mode appears, indicating "Upload Mode".
- Afterward, press and hold the Volume Down and Power buttons for a few seconds.
- Finally, swiftly press and hold the Volume Up, Bixby, and Power buttons until the SAMSUNG Galaxy S10 screen reappears.
- Once in recovery mode, navigate using the volume buttons to select "Wipe data/factory reset" and confirm your selection by pressing the "Power" button.
- Next, select "Factory data reset" and confirm.
- Wait for the formatting process to complete, and then select "Reboot system now" to restart your device.
5. Patience is Key:
- After initiating the hard reset, your Samsung Galaxy S10 may take some time to reboot and optimize its settings. Be patient during this process, which typically takes 10-15 minutes.
Prefer to Watch It Instead?
Here is a quick video walkthrough covering the same steps on the Galaxy S10:
What If Recovery Mode Also Asks for a Password?
On some Galaxy S10 units, if Factory Reset Protection (FRP) is active, the phone will ask you to sign into the previous Samsung or Google account after the reset finishes, before letting you use it at all. This is a security feature, not a bug, it exists to stop someone else from wiping a stolen phone and using it. If this happens and it genuinely is your phone, you will need to sign in with the same Samsung or Google account that was on it before the reset to get past this screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will Samsung support unlock my phone for me if I explain I am the owner?
A: No. Samsung does not remotely unlock devices through customer support even with proof of purchase, since this would defeat the entire purpose of the lock. Find My Mobile and factory reset are the only two paths.
Q: I tried Find My Mobile and my device is not listed. What now?
A: This usually means either you are signed into a different Samsung account than the one on the phone, or Find My Mobile was never enabled on this device. If you are sure it is the right account, wait a few minutes and refresh, newly locked devices sometimes take a moment to show their real-time status.
Q: Does a factory reset remove the SIM lock or carrier lock too?
A: No, those are separate. A factory reset only clears your screen lock and personal data. If your Galaxy S10 is also carrier-locked, that requires an unlock request through your carrier separately.
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