A reader asks: “Can getting the password wrong too many times make your phone factory reset?”

Yup. It’s a security feature, so that a hacker or thief won’t have an infinite number of chances to break into your phone.

For example, Android 9 (“Pie”) on a Samsung, will optionally perform a factory reset after 15 consecutive failed logons/unlocks.

Not all phones do this; and the exact verbiage, number of allowed attempts, etc., varies by brand and model.

Current iPhones, for example, optionally allow for 10 consecutive failed attempts before wiping the user data.

To see what your phone does, try a search like this:

phonebrand model automatic factory reset lockout wipe erase

Examples:

samsung s8 automatic factory reset lockout wipe erase

iphone XS automatic factory reset lockout wipe erase

etc.

Because those are broad search terms, you may have to look at more than the top few search results, but if your phone does automatic factory resets after a number of failed logons/unlocks, the answer will be in there!

Permalink: https://langa.com/?p=2523

COMMENT / QUESTION on THIS ITEM? See the Comment box at bottom of this page!

NEW QUESTION? Ask here!

(Want free notification of new content? Click here!)