How to fix a Galaxy S9+ that is not accepting Pattern to unlock (Pattern screen unlock not working)

This guide will show you the options on how to fix a Galaxy S9+ that’s having a problem unlocking the screen using Pattern. If you are wondering what your options are in this situation, make sure to follow our suggestions below.

Problem: How to unlock a Galaxy S9+ that is not accepting Pattern to unlock

my Samsung Galaxy S9+ does not accept the pattern password, I entered the pattern many times but it is incorrect but the phone did not show ( forget password) and now it takes 16 minutes to draw another pattern. I am not sure if I drew an incorrect password or the phone is not responding even the password is correct.

Solution: There are a number of different approaches in solving your problem. Each of the options below may or may not be applicable in your case. For instance, the first option of using Google username and password can only work if you added a Google account ahead of time, or before you encountered a problem with your screen unlock option. If there’s no Google account in the device, then obviously you won’t be able to unlock it using this method.

We discuss each of the options briefly below so we hope you’ll find one that works in your case.

Method 1: Unlock your Galaxy S9+ using Google credentials

When it comes to unlocking the screen of your Galaxy S9+, the primary option that you must use is by entering your Google credentials. As mentioned above, there must be a Google account in the device for it to work. Here’s what you should do to use Google credentials as your screen unlock option:

Try to make a number of incorrect patterns on your device consecutively. Based on our own experience, your Galaxy device should ask for the correct Google account username and password after attempting to unlock the screen using incorrect pattern for 20 times.
Once the device asks you to enter your Google username and password, enter the correct information.
After you type in the correct username and password for your Google account, the screen should unlock.

Method 2: Unlock your Galaxy S9+ using Android Device Manager

This method only works if you already registered your device with Android Device Manager. If it’s registered, you can then use ADM’s lock feature to reset the Google password using a computer. Below are the requirements in order for you to use ADM to unlock your S9+:

phone must be turned on
phone must be signed in to your Google account
phone must be connected to wifi or mobile data
phone must be visible in Google Play
phone’s GPS or location must be turned on
phone’s Find My Device feature must be turned on
phone’s Allow remote lock and erase feature must be enabled

If any of these requirements is not met, there’s a chance that you won’t be able to use ADM to unlock your S9+.

However, if everything is set, you can proceed to unlocking the device by doing the following:

Go to the Android Device Manager from a computer.
Find your Galaxy S9+ on the screen.
Enable “Lock & Erase” feature.
Follow the given steps on the page to lock your phone.
Set a temporary password.
Enter the temporary password on your S9+.
Create a new password.

Method 3: Unlock your Galaxy S9+ using Samsung Find My Mobile

Find My Mobile is Samsung’s own answer to Google’s Android Device Manager. Like ADM, Find My Mobile also requires that you set it up ahead of time. And like ADM, it also requires some things. Below are the necessary things that must be met in order for you to use it:

phone’s Remote Controls feature must be on
Google location service must be on
phone must be connected to wifi or mobile data

If you’ve already registered your device to Samsung’s Find My Mobile service before and the rest of the requirements are met, you can then do the following to unlock your phone:

In your computer, go to Samsung Find My Mobile website and sign in.
If you have multiple devices registered, make sure to select the correct one in the upper left hand side of the screen.
Click on the arrow icon to begin searching for your device.
Once the service has located the device, scroll down the options on the right until you see Unlock My Device option.
Click Unlock My Device.
Enter your Samsung password.
Click Unlock.

Method 4: Unlock your Galaxy S9+ using Factory Reset

A more drastic option in unlocking your device would be to wipe it. Factory reset will revert all software settings to their defaults as well as delete all personal data. With this option, you will lose all files you failed to save prior to noticing the problem. We only recommend a factory reset if all three options above won’t work.

There are two ways to factory reset on the Galaxy S9+. The first one is via Settings menu while the second is by using a combination of hardware buttons to access Recovery Mode. Since you are unable to access Settings, your only option in this case is via Recovery Mode. Here’s how:

Turn off the device.
Press and hold the Volume Up key and the Bixby key, then press and hold the Power key.
When the green Android logo displays, release all keys (‘Installing system update’ will show for about 30 – 60 seconds before showing the Android system recovery menu options).
Press the Volume down key several times to highlight ‘wipe data / factory reset’.
Press Power button to select.
Press the Volume down key until ‘Yes — delete all user data’ is highlighted.
Press Power button to select and start the master reset.
When the master reset is complete, ‘Reboot system now’ is highlighted.
Press the Power key to restart the device.

Method 5: Unlock your Galaxy S9+ by flashing

Like Factory Reset option, flashing is drastic. We won’t recommend this option in your case but for educational purposes, we would like to let you know that this will also help in allowing you to access your device again. It still won’t save your personal data though so there’s really no point in doing it. Flashing means manually installing software on a device. It’s risky and may brick your device unnecessarily. If you want to know how to do it though, use Google to find a good guide. Do it at your own risk.