Pixel 6a Forgotten Password - What To Do?

martindow

I've forgotten the password and now can't get in to the phone.  Everything is backed up on Google Drive, so I hope that I can recover it successfully.

I understand that I need to do a factory reset first.  Having watched several Youtube videos I am thoroughly confused.

Can anyone tell me how to do the reset and reinstallation or point me towards somewhere with clear instructions?  Thank you!

PHK

When you say Password. Is that the password to your Google Account. Or the password to access the phone. 

If you know your Google password then resetting the phone, when it starts up it will ask you to  enter your Google password and offer to restore from a previous backup. 

https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/4596836?hl=en-GB

martindow

PHK said:

When you say Password. Is that the password to your Google Account. Or the password to access the phone. 

If you know your Google password then resetting the phone, when it starts up it will ask you to  enter your Google password and offer to restore from a previous backup. 

https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/4596836?hl=en-GB

It's the password to access the phone.  I usually use a fingerprint but it occasionally asked for a 6-digit code.  As I can't provide this I can't open up the phone.  I (hope) I know my Google password.  Thanks for the link.

finbaar

Turn off your phone.

Hold in the power and volume down buttons together. This will boot you into recovery mode.

Use the volume keys to navigate up and down until you get to Wipe data/Factory reset

Press the power button.

Fingers crossed you can get to that option. If that doesn't work then the alternatives are more... involved.

Most importantly, stop forgetting your phones pin code.

martindow

Thanks both.  The link provided by PHK suggests wiring the phone to a PC and using pixelrepair.  Are there pros and cons of doing this rather than finbaar's factory reset using the buttons on the phone?

Regarding the pincode, I am sure that I know what it is but the phone won't now accept it.  Is that even possible or am I mistaken?  I've had 24 hours to consider what the correct code might be, but I can't think of anything else it could be.  I'll write the new one down in a note book in case my memory fails me (again).

PHK

The link also gives finbars method as well. 

jbrassy

In future, save passwords and pin codes to a password manager like 1Password or Bitwarden.

martindow

Thanks all.  I've done the factory reset and am now trying to retrieve everything from the backup.  As part of this is is now asking for the screen lock on 'your othewr device's screen lock' which I clearly can't provide.  Any ideas how to proceed from here?

EDIT:  Despite skipping this step, important things like email, photos, contacts, etc. have reinstalled OK, but I will have to install other apps again.

martindow

An update on this.  It seems that there is no way to get a full backup reinstalled as access to it requires the old pin.  Even without this, photos and contacts have updated OK.  I use gmail for email, so that is accessible regardless as is WhatsApp of course.  I've lost all of the texts and details of phone calls, but the crucial contacts are still there which is the main thing.  I've had to reinstall all of the other apps, but that's no bad thing as I had a lot that I no longer use.

One thing that concerns me is that I was away from home, but luckily at the end of my trip.  Fortunately I had a print out of my Eurostar ticket.  It really brings it home how much I rely on the phone and I will be more wary in the future. With 2FA there is a problem reinstalling as I couldn't get a text sent to the phone and could only do it once I was at my landline to receive an automated call.  Is there any way around this if there is a crisis and I'm away?

Thanks again everyone for your help.