Changing the Android lock screen. Screen lock on Android: how to set it up? We protect our personal information from strangers: with a graphic key, fingerprint, PIN code and password. How to add and change the order of virtual keyboards

Your smartphone's lock screen is something you use countless times every day.

If configured correctly, it will protect you from nosy friends, colleagues - not to mention potential hackers.

On most Android smartphones, you can enable unlocking using a swipe, a pattern, or by entering a PIN or password.

You can also choose not to lock your screen, although this puts you at risk.

Selecting an unlock method

To set or change your lock screen, go to Settings, Security, and tap Screen Lock.

You will need to confirm your current PIN, password or pattern.

You can then choose a swipe, pattern, PIN or password.

On the main security screen, if you have selected a pattern, you can choose whether to show the pattern after unlocking or not. Hiding it adds an extra layer of security when you open your phone in public.

If you have Android Lollipop, Marshmallow, or Nougat, you'll also need to decide how you want your notifications to appear on your lock screen: show all, hide sensitive content, or not show at all.

Hiding sensitive content means you'll see you have a new message, but won't see its contents until you unlock your phone.

For all methods, you can customize a message on the lock screen. If you lose your phone, and a good person finds it, they will be able to read where it is on the screen.

Smartphones with fingerprint sensors can also unlock the home screen.

Your fingerprint can also be used to authorize purchases and sign in to apps. Depending on the device, you can add multiple fingerprints so trusted people can also open your phone.

Lock your phone using Android Device Manager

Enabling Android Device Manager is a smart move.

If your phone is lost or stolen, you can track it, make calls, block it, or erase all data.

You'll need to go into your Google settings (either in Settings or in the separate Google Settings app, depending on your model.)

On Google, go to Security and enable “remotely locate this device” and “allow remote lock and wipe.”

Keep in mind that if you want to find it, you'll have to turn on location services while the phone is still in your hands.

If you lock your phone remotely and don't have a PIN, password, or pattern, your lock screen will be replaced with the password you set from Device Manager.

You can also add a message and a button to call the specified phone number.

Using a third-party lock screen

If the built-in options aren't enough for you, there are plenty of third-party apps to choose from, including AcDisplay, GO Locker, SnapLock Smart Lock Screen, and Solo Locker.

Such apps offer alternative ways to lock and unlock your phone, view notifications, and the ability to customize background images and themes.

Snap Smart offers additional features, including weather and calendar widgets, and the ability to control music apps directly from the lock screen.

Hello.

I think that most of us have files and information on our mobile phone (or tablet) that we don’t want to show 👀.

There are a lot of ways to protect it, but one of the simplest and most reliable is to set a screen lock so that no one but you can turn on the phone (so that an Android phone can easily do this).

Such protection, of course, will not protect you from professional hackers, but for most users this is not necessary. If you accidentally, say, forget your phone at work, then no one will be able to see your correspondence and photos. Which is basically what you need! 👌

In this article, I will look at several ways to set up a screen lock on Android using various methods: pattern, PIN code, password and special utilities.

👉 Note!

I recommend choosing a password that you will not forget. No matter how funny it may be, more than once I have encountered such a situation that people forgot their passwords 1-2 minutes after they set them...

Keep in mind that if you forget the password to unlock the screen, then in some cases it will be enough to enter the data from your Google account, and in some cases you will need to reset the phone to factory settings (and maybe even reflash it).

Graphic key

Default, the Android screen lock is usually released by simply swiping your finger across the screen (which will only protect you if the phone accidentally turns on, for example, in your pocket). Therefore, it is recommended to replace this method with a safer one... 👇

Simplest method of protection- this is the use of a graphic key: the point is that you need to swipe a small " snake", consisting of 4-9 points. If you know this "snake" - then this is done easily and quickly.

However, such protection allows you to quite seriously protect your device from curiosity and prying eyes.

For example: even a snake with 4 points has 1624 combinations, and with 9 - 140704. That is. randomly selecting the right combination (when you don’t even know how many points) is very, very difficult.

To install this protection, you must:

Now, when you want to turn on the phone and look at the menu - first of all, you will need to unlock the screen by entering the pattern. Until you enter it, the phone will be blocked from prying eyes...

By fingerprint (ID fingerprint)

The vast majority of new phones began to install special ones. fingerprint sensor (i.e. the device will only turn on if its owner touches it!).

This approach is very convenient and allows you to relatively reliably protect the device from various “accidents”. 👌

If you have this sensor, then turning it on does not take more than 1 minute. First you need to enter the Android security settings and open the tab responsible for “fingerprints” (in different phones - the name may vary slightly). See screenshot below 👇.

That's all, the protection is installed!

Soft Lock Screen - screenshots of the application (from the developers)

The application allows you to easily and quickly turn on your smartphone screen lock, customize the wallpaper, select a screensaver, calendar, weather, etc. The application really surprises you with its bright colors and ease of use!

If desired, the wallpaper on the screensaver will change automatically, new ones every day, delighting and surprising you.

Note: On some phones it is not possible (or problematic) to change the screensaver. This application allows you to fix this.

Peculiarities:

beautiful and user-friendly interface with HD wallpapers (by the way, all wallpapers have been tested by the program developers, so no junk will be shown!);
efficiency: the developers have placed some of the most necessary applications on the lock screen (for example, you can quickly turn on a flashlight, notebook, etc.);
security: you can set a password or pattern key to protect your smartphone (moreover, the key may contain photographs of people close to you, see photo above).

LOCKit

LOCKit- this program is designed specifically to protect personal data. In addition to directly locking the screen, it is possible to lock applications, photos, and contacts.

In addition to this, there is a phone anti-theft feature that helps you find your phone and catch the thief.

By the way, such a thing as “Burglar Selfie” helps with this - a photo is automatically taken of the person who entered the wrong PIN code or drew a pattern.

Well, in addition, you can install HD wallpapers (beautiful and pleasing to the eye 👀).

In principle, there are a lot of such applications, each with its own pros/cons. I think it’s pointless to consider dozens (hundreds) of these applications within the framework of this article...

Anyone who goes to the website can try it experimentally and find an application to their liking.

What to do if you forgot your key/password?

I am not an expert in this, and I will give only the basic methods. By the way, I recommend looking for an unlocking option specifically for your phone model (perhaps there is a much simpler option than the universal ones offered by many authors).

1) Google account password

In the most harmless case, after entering the pattern key incorrectly (usually you need to enter 5 times), you should see a window asking you to enter data from your Google account.

Enter your data, and if the phone was able to connect to the network (for example, connected via Wi-Fi), then you can reset the password.

Note: such a window with the ability to recover a password does not always appear and not on all devices. Moreover, if the password was set using special applications.

2) HARD-Reset

This deletes all user data: contacts, SMS, passwords, applications, etc. All this data cannot be restored, so I do not recommend rushing to this procedure.

Hard Reset is usually used as a last resort when errors, failures, or problems with entering the device occur when other methods do not work.

👉 To help!

How to (i.e. delete all data from phone, tablet)

3) Flashing the phone

The topic is quite broad and specific. If you have never done this before, I recommend contacting a service center.

By the way, in some cases it is possible to enter the phone settings menu and disable the lock... To do this, try waiting for some notification to appear, for example, that the battery is low and needs to be charged (this “trick” worked on many devices).

10 years ago, to do 10 things, you needed 10 different devices. Today, many things for us have been replaced by the smartphone. We call, write, watch TV, read media and even pay using our smartphone. But that's not all.

We've found a few more useful smartphone tools that can help you in your daily life.

Inscription on the lock screen

You have lost your phone, and the screen, of course, is locked with a pattern. Only you have the secret code. It would seem that there is no hope for the return of your favorite gadget. It turns out that there is! In new versions of Android, you can add a message to the lock screen and, for example, ask to return the gadget.
“Settings” - “Screen lock and passwords” - “Signature on the lock screen”. You can leave anything - a backup phone number or e-mail.

Guaranteed return of a lost smartphone

If the inscription is small, then you can play it safe. Anti-theft class applications will help. They have a wide range of actions. For example, Cerberus can secretly take pictures with a camera, activate a microphone, lock a smartphone and/or delete data from it, find out its coordinates, or sound a loud alarm to attract the attention of others.

Memory saving mode

Sooner or later, your smartphone's memory will let you down. To avoid this, you can use a flash drive, cloud services like Dropbox, or upload photos to your computer. Or you can be original and upload the photo to Telegram Messenger.
Telegram allows you to send files, messages, and links to yourself. It can be freely used both as cloud storage and as a notebook. Just find your own number and text as much as you like.

Security system from a smartphone

One of the options for using an old smartphone is to create a simple security system for your home. Motion sensor app will turn your smartphone into a surveillance camera that takes pictures whenever someone appears in the frame. Photos are sent to you immediately.
Also You can use your smartphone as a baby monitor for your child(in this case, you will need an application that responds to noise). But remember that for real safety it is better to use special devices.

DVR

Another useful feature of using a smartphone camera is a video recorder. The smartphone must be secured so that the camera has maximum visibility. For maximum effect You can use applications that are designed to turn your smartphone into a DVR.
Of course, we are not talking about using it all the time (for this it is better to buy a good DVR). But this is useful, for example, in cases where you rent a car on a tourist trip or use car sharing.

Access to the magic menu

If you take your phone very seriously and spend a lot of time with it, then there is nothing wrong with giving it a detailed customization. To do this, you need to go to the “Developer Menu”.
Settings - “About phone” - tap 7 times on the “Build number” item. Congratulations, you are now a developer! This menu has many options to improve the performance, connection quality and appearance of the system.

Ultraviolet detector

An ultraviolet detector is not only fun, but also useful. For example, it can be used to check banknotes for authenticity. You can do it at home with tape, a couple of markers and a smartphone.
You will need a smartphone with a flash (flashlight), purple and blue markers and tape. Place a piece of tape on the flash, paint it with a blue marker, add another layer of tape on top, paint it with purple, then add two more layers in the same sequence. Ready!

Construction level from a smartphone

Smartphones have long been equipped with an accelerometer and a gyroscope - sensors that allow you to determine the position of the device in space. By downloading the application for Android or iOS, you can replace a standard construction spirit level with it. At least for small household needs, it is definitely suitable. For professional construction it is better to use a separate tool.

Lock screen on Android needed not only for beauty. This is an important part of system navigation and can be used to quickly access the functionality you need. Standard lock screens are fine, but there are even more interesting options. Android magazine has prepared a list of the best lock screen apps.

1. Hi Locker

Hi Locker offers a fast CyanogenMod-style bootloader that works by holding and swiping on apps to launch them from the lock screen. There are three lock screen styles: classic, Android Lollipop and iOS. There is a calendar on a separate screen where you can view upcoming events. There are several customization options, including different greetings, fonts, and automatic wallpaper changes.

2. LokLok

LokLok offers an interesting idea, but to implement it you need the help of friends. The app allows you to draw on the lock screen and then send the drawings as messages to other users of the app. Messages will appear on the lock screen and recipients can edit them and send them back.

The beta version of the app did not allow you to set up a PIN code, so the program was not the best from a security point of view. But it is free and entertaining.

3.Next News Lock Screen

Next News is a news feed that appears right on your lock screen. You can customize it to receive only news that interests you.

You can choose from different categories, such as sports. Tap and hold on a news story to open it.

4.CM Locker

CM Locker features iOS-style gesture unlocking, which allows you to save energy and remove power-hungry apps right from the lock screen. You can use a PIN code or pattern to unlock the device; if someone else tries to log in, it will be photographed.

Also here on the lock screen you can control audio playback, view the latest messages and weather forecast.

5. SlideLock Locker

This application is suitable for those who once worked with Apple devices and feel nostalgic. By swiping from left to right, you can unlock the device. There are notifications with the ability to perform actions on them, and you can dismiss them with one gesture. A right to left gesture opens the camera.

6. Semper

This application was previously known as UnlockYourBrain. To unlock, you need to answer questions in mathematics and other disciplines, although you can skip them.

7.Next Lock Screen

Microsoft's new philosophy is to create cross-platform applications. This proposal is another example of this approach regarding the Android system.

Next Lock Screen looks elegant and simple, but inside it calculates which apps you're most likely to use. The time of day, location and other parameters are taken into account. After this, the application is shown on the screen. You don't have to use this feature, but another advantage here is the clear display of notifications, calendars and other smartphone functions.

8.AcDisplay

Many lock screens have a minimalistic appearance, but AcDisplay surpasses them all in terms of asceticism. Small icons appear to display notifications, you need to hold your finger on one of them for a more detailed view, and then remove the notification with a gesture.

The device's sensors are used to detect whether the smartphone is in your pocket or you are working with it so that the screen turns on and off in time.

9. Locker Pro

C Locker Pro is an impressive package with many features and shortcuts. More than 30 different actions are available: you can make calls, open applications, read notifications from selected social networks. Double or triple tap to turn the screen on and off.

10. Echo Notification Lockscreen

Echo displays notifications in a minimalist way and gives you flexible control over what you see and access. As you can see in the image, you can create categories of notifications, such as work, social networks, personal and others, you can add different applications to them.

Right on the lock screen you will have access to a large number of programs.

11. Dynamic Notifications

DynamicNotifications is an unobtrusive lock screen that's gentle on your eyes and your smartphone's battery. By default, it has a simple black background; notifications turn on the screen only when it is not in a pocket, bag, or lying face down. It is not necessary to use this program as a lock screen, but the premium version allows it too. You can customize actions with notifications, there is a night mode when notifications will not bother you.

12. GO Locker

This extensive package has a large selection of lock screen themes. Some of these themes are paid, there are different ways to unlock your smartphone and display apps for quick access. You can turn on Bluetooth and mobile Internet directly on the lock screen.

It seems that the locked screen is an obstacle to accessing the smartphone. However, as it turns out, a selective patterned lock can be cracked in just 90 seconds, and to bypass fingerprint security you'll need an inexpensive dental composite and some Play-Doh.

There are five ways to lock the screen on Xiaomi. Let's look at the features of each of them in detail.

Password and PIN

The most popular and effective smartphone protection. The user can create a PIN code of at least 4 digits or a password consisting of upper and lower case letters, special characters and numbers. It's not easy to guess unless we apply some of the most common combinations such as qwerty, asdf, 1234 or 1111, dates, names or names.

Despite the high effectiveness of such a password, one smart user discovered a vulnerability that allowed access to a password-protected Android 5.x smartphone.

Just launch the Camera app and then enter a very long string on the emergency call screen. This caused the device to temporarily freeze and then become completely unusable. This vulnerability was fixed when the system was updated, but from time to time new methods appear that help to bypass the password lock (i.e., unlock the phone without knowing the password) or PIN code.

With this method, unlocking your device requires you to place your finger on the screen in a given pattern in a nine-dot box. The pattern should be from 4 to 9 points. This gives about 150 million possible combinations. However, in practice, users only use a fraction of this number, so the method itself is not as secure as it might seem.

According to a survey of mobile security experts, every fourth Xiaomi smartphone is protected by one of the 15 most popular pattern locks. In theory, this means that it could take up to 90 seconds for an attacker to unlock a smartphone.

Iris scanning

The peculiarity of each person’s iris is its unique location and unchanged over the years. This allows the iris, like a fingerprint, to be used as biometric security.

To scan the iris, a special module and an LED are used to illuminate the face with infrared light. The scanning process is very fast - unlocking the smartphone in this way takes less than a second.

Unfortunately, despite the seemingly high level of security, this method was very quickly hacked. For the hacker going by the moniker Starbug, all that was needed was a properly created photograph of an eye and a contact lens applied to it. The latest Samsung Galaxy S8 equipped with an IRIS scanner was successfully unlocked using this approach.

Therefore, Xiaomi did not use such protection technology in new smartphone models.

Fingerprint

A fingerprint scanner is nothing new in the world of technology, but it has only recently gained popularity in the consumer market. The role is to identify the user following the unique pattern of grooves and ridges on the fingertip. Every person in the world has their own unique pattern.

However, the fingerprint scanner, like any other security, does not provide 100% protection. It is enough to buy an inexpensive dental composite and you can gain access to the user’s palm. In 2014, hackers managed to print the fingerprint of the German defense minister based on a photograph published on the Internet.

Smart Lock

As a curiosity, you can change the method, which protects your smartphone and does not require you to enter a PIN code or draw a pattern every time you want to use it.

Android smartphone users can use the Smart Lock option, which allows them to automatically unlock the device in certain situations. The smartphone remains unlocked:

when the device detects that it is near the body,
when in a certain place,
if within range of a specific Bluetooth device,
when it detects the user’s face or voice command (unlocking a smartphone by voice).

These features work thanks to the accelerometer, Bluetooth, GPS and front camera. Additional protection - automatically turns on the screen lock after 4 hours of inactivity.

How to protect your smartphone?

To protect your smartphone, do not use simple patterns (shape patterns) to lock your screen. Avoid references to names, dates, and common words when using PINs and passwords.

Disable all functions that allow you to give access to your smartphone to a third party. And the best thing is to use double protection and minimize the number of unsuccessful unlocking attempts

What is the safest locking method?

As you can see, none of the above screen lock methods guarantee complete security of our data. To avoid being an easy target, you need to use a complex password and follow the most important rule: security is more important than comfort! Use complex passwords rather than convenient graphic keys.