Pattern Locks Are Unsafe: Secure Your Google Pixel Fold Phone Now with These Tips

Pattern locks have been available for about as long as people can remember, and they have been hugely popular with people thanks to how easy it is to simply swipe your screen and unlock your smartphone, as against, say, keying in the 4-digit PIN/ 6-digit PIN. However, pattern locks are easy to crack, and today, we bring you all you want to know about pattern locks and how to create a hard pattern lock. Further to this, we also tell you how to move beyond pattern locks and what to do in case you forgot the hard pattern lock you just set and are unable to unlock your smartphone.

Part 1: What You Need to Know About Pattern Locks

Pattern lock is an Android-only feature that makes it easy for users to have a modicum of security on their smartphones. Most users do not prefer using and remembering a PIN to unlock the smartphone. Creating a pattern makes it easier, somehow.

There is a 9-point grid on which you swipe your finger from point to point, in any direction, and when you take your finger off, that pattern you swiped becomes the key to unlock your smartphone.

Pattern locks were exceedingly common only a few years ago, and they are not recommended for use any longer due to concerns (mentioned later in the article).

1.1: Popularity and Usage

Old habits die hard, or so they say, right? That’s because it is true. We are creatures of habit, and pattern locks have been around for a long, long time. We are accustomed to pattern locks. So, even with even easier technologies such as fingerprint recognition and face recognition, we tend to gravitate towards the familiar old pattern lock.

The only thing is, there is a reason why pattern locks are no longer the preferred option to use for unlocking your smartphones. As it happens, that reason is security, and it can be very easy for humans to take a swipe (pardon the pun) at your pattern lock. And guess what? The research conducted suggests that they would get it right with an unsettling accuracy.

1.2: Advantages and Drawbacks

With on-the-go lifestyles, our smartphones have become indispensable and contain some of the most sensitive aspects of our lives – IDs, credit and debit cards in digital wallets, photo and video memories, business documents – you name it, the smartphones have it, on the go. This has opened our lives up to the public at large, and if someone steals our smartphone or, best case, finds it, the only barrier preventing them from being privy to all that wealth of our sensitive information is that screen lock – the pattern lock that we set on our smartphones. That’s it – the single pattern lock stands between malicious actors and our data. You might be beginning to realize just how crazy this is.

Advantages of Pattern Locks

There are two advantages to using pattern locks. One, they are better than nothing. Two, they are easy to use. And that’s about it. There is no third advantage to pattern locks. We might think we set a hard pattern lock that nobody could guess, but, as research proves, we might be thinking too low of human prowess.

Disadvantages of Pattern Locks

Security, or rather, the lack of it, is the lone disadvantage of using a pattern lock. What good is a pattern lock that can be easily deciphered? Sure, they are easy to use, and they are better than not having anything, but would you really want to protect your life’s data with something that could be, as researchers found out, breached in under 5 attempts? We don’t think you do!

The research found that 64% of test subjects who were shown videos of people unlocking their phones could correctly guess a 6-point pattern lock, that too after viewing the video only once! That number shot up to 80% if they were allowed to see the video again. That is simply astounding and a nightmare for security. When it comes to PINs, only 11% could guess a 6-digit PIN after viewing the unlocking video once, and that number shot up to 27% when they could see the video two times.

Part 2: How To Create a Hard Pattern Lock (Including Remembering Complex Patterns)

Now, if you must continue using a pattern lock, let’s help you know how to create a hard pattern lock that would not be as easy to decipher as easy pattern locks. For that, you should know how people use pattern locks, the kind of pattern locks they create, and the ones that are the most commonly used pattern locks. That way, you can avoid those fallacies and create a hard pattern lock for your smartphone.

2.1: The Pattern Locks People Use Most Commonly

Marte Loge, an M.Sc. Computer Science student, gave a presentation on pattern locks at DEFCON 23 and made a bold claim. She said, “Tell me who you are, and I will tell you your lock pattern.”

She presented the following statistics to support her claim:

• - In her research, she found that 77% of people started with one of the 4 corners when creating a pattern lock.
• - 44% of people started with the top-left dot and 15% with the top-right, while the bottom-left was preferred by 14% of her test subjects.
• - People set 5-point pattern locks on average, and most users were content with a 4-point pattern.

These are some of the most common pattern locks people create:

• - patterns in the shapes of alphabets,
• - patterns in the shapes of numerals,
• - patterns in any other simple shape, such as square, triangle, star, etc.

To understand how this is a security nightmare, the possible combinations for a 4-point pattern are a measly 1624, whereas by adding just 1 more point to the pattern and creating a 5-point pattern, the number of possible combinations becomes 7152, an increase of 5528 combinations. In stark contrast, creating a 9-point pattern would give you over 140,000 possible combinations!

2.2: How to Create a Hard Pattern Lock

Knowing what most people do when creating a pattern lock, it becomes easy to avoid those mistakes and instead create a hard pattern lock for oneself.

• - Do not start creating a pattern lock from any of the 4 corners of the grid.
• - Never use your first initial as your pattern lock.
• - Never use the shape of a numeral as your pattern lock.
• - Use all 9 points on the grid to create your pattern lock, and contrary to popular belief, you can go over the connecting lines several times, creating a hard pattern lock that would not be as easy for people to decipher!

Part 3: Going Beyond Pattern Locks

You might think that now that you have set a hard pattern lock, you are good to go. Hardly. Technology has evolved, so have methods to break into your device.

Step 1: Set a 6-digit PIN

The minimum you should do today is set a 6-digit PIN to unlock your phone. Consider this a necessary investment into the safety of your data residing on your smartphone.

Step 2: Use Fingerprint Recognition (or Face Recognition on Apple Devices)

All modern smartphones released over the last decade have come with fingerprint recognition. Using fingerprint recognition requires you to set a 6-digit PIN and then set a fingerprint to unlock your device. You can set additional fingerprints, too.

This way, your device is the most secure it can be today. In case your fingerprint is not recognized for any reason, the phone falls back on the 6-digit PIN that you can enter and unlock your phone.

While face recognition is available on both Android and Apple devices, it is truly secure only on Apple devices. This is why Apple iPhones released after the iPhone X in 2017 have come only with Face ID. They fall back on a minimum 6-digit PIN (called Passcode in Apple world) to unlock in case the face does not get recognized in the first attempt.

Part 4: How To Unlock Phone If Hard Pattern Lock Forgotten

Just in case you set a hard pattern lock and promptly forgot that abstruse pattern you just set, we have a tool for you to quickly unlock your phone in case of a forgotten hard pattern lock: Wondershare Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock.

Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android)

Remove the Hard Pattern Lock on Your Google Pixel Fold If You Forgot!

• Remove all Android screen locks (PIN/pattern/fingerprints/face ID) in minutes.
• Bypass the FRP lock of Samsung without a PIN or Google account.
• Everyone can handle the lock screen without any tech knowledge.
• Provide specific removal solutions to promise good success rate.

4,008,671 people have downloaded it

Download the latest version of Dr.Fone from the Wondershare website and launch the app.

Step 1: Click Android under Toolbox > Screen Unlock.

Step 2: Click Unlock Android Screen.

Step 3: Select your device manufacturer.

Step 4: Prepare your device to unlock the screen.

When the greyed Next button becomes available, click it and wait for your device to be unlocked.

All data on the Google Pixel Fold device is wiped under this method. Select Samsung phones may be unlocked without data loss. Check this list for devices that may be unlocked without data loss.

Closing Words

Whether it is an easy pattern lock or a hard pattern lock, the fact is that pattern locks are antiquated and a security nightmare. A minimum 6-digit PIN must be used, and using fingerprint recognition is the preferred way to go for Android devices. Using fingerprint recognition will require that users create a 6-digit PIN. On Apple devices launched after 2017, there is Face ID, Apple’s marketing term for face recognition. If you did indeed still set a hard pattern lock, only to promptly forget it, use Wondershare Dr.Fone – Screen Unlock (Android) to seamlessly unlock your phone right now.

How to Change Lock Screen Wallpaper on Google Pixel Fold

Every smartphone user wants their lock screen wallpapers to be the finest quality. Since the Google Pixel Fold device comes with a generic lock screen wallpaper on itself, changing it is necessary. Regardless of your Android device, the need to change the lock screen wallpaper on Android is significant. If so, the article will provide two diverse techniques familiar to any Android device.

Along with the basic methods, the article will redirect its discussion to changing the lock screen wallpaper for different brands. Find more about how to change the lock screen wallpaper on Android with the available methods and techniques to bring aesthetics to your device.

Part 1: How To Change Lock Screen Picture on Android Phone With 2 Common Methods

Every Android smartphone has its interface to follow while changing the lock screen wallpaper or screen saver of the Google Pixel Fold device. However, before we dive into the Google Pixel Fold device-specific details, let’s dissect the two common methods to change the lock screen wallpaper on Android:

Method 1: Pressing Home Screen Method

The first thing to try for changing the lock screen wallpaper includes the long press technique. This technique is available for almost all Android devices, a basic approach to changing lock screen wallpapers. To know how it is done, follow the steps provided below:

Step 1: As you unlock your Android smartphone, press the clear region until the home-screen options appear on the front.

Step 2: Select the “Wallpaper” option in the available buttons to lead to another window showing different wallpapers.

Step 3: Out of all the wallpapers, select any of them and tap on the “Apply” button to set it as your lock screen wallpaper.

Method 2: Using Your Gallery

You can also set your favorite picture as the Android lock screen wallpaper from the settings provided in your gallery. To know how you can utilize your device’s Gallery, look into the steps provided next:

Step 1: Access the menu of your Android device and locate the “Gallery” app in the available options. Continue to locate your respective photo in the “Albums.”

Image name: lock-screen-wallpaper-on-android-3.jpg

Image alt: access the gallery

Step 2: Choose and open the image on the screen, and continue to select the “Three-Dotted” icon on the bottom-right of the screen.

Step 3: On selecting the option of “Set as wallpaper,” you will apply the particular image from the Gallery as your lock screen wallpaper.

Part 2: How to Change Lock Screen Wallpaper on Different Brands of Android Phones

The provided methods in the above part are comprehensive in changing the lock screen wallpaper of any Android smartphone. This, however, is not the same and is true for every Android device in the market. Since the difference in operation brings a clash for many users, the need for an idea for different smartphone brands is essential.

For this part, we will bring a guide explaining how to change the lock screen wallpaper on Android of different brands:

For Samsung Users

Step 1: On unlocking your Samsung, hold the empty space on your home screen to open a set of options. Select “Wallpapers” from the available list and continue to the next screen.

Step 2: Choose the option of “My wallpapers” or “Gallery” from the available list and select the wallpaper of your choice. As you select one, you will have to set it as your “Home screen,” “Lock screen,” or wallpaper for both screens.

Step 3: Once you observe the image on the preview window, tap on the button on the bottom to set it as your lock screen wallpaper.

Step 1: As you access the home screen of your Google Pixel, continue to hold the space. This will open a list of options where you must tap on “Wallpaper & style.” Continue to select the “Change wallpaper” option to bring new colors to your Google Pixel.

Step 2: On the next screen, select any particular category you want to set the lock screen wallpaper. For instance, if you selected “My photos,” choose your image and preview it on the following screen.

Step 3: To proceed, specify where you wish to set it as your wallpaper. As the options appear on the front, select the “Lock screen” option and continue to set your wallpaper.

For Motorola Users

Step 1: Lead into the “Settings” of your Motorola device and look for the “Wallpaper & style” option in the list.

Step 2: Select any options appearing on the next screen that defines the location from where you will add the new wallpaper. Selecting a particular wallpaper from the available options leads to the “Preview” screen.

Step 3: Continue to select the “Lock Screen” option on the preview screen and tap on the “Tick” icon at the bottom. To confirm, tap “Lock screen” to change the wallpaper on the lock screen of your Motorola.

Step 1: Launch the “Settings” application on your OnePlus smartphone and continue to the “Personalizations” option.

Step 2: On the next screen, continue to the “Wallpapers” section and go through the available media to select a new wallpaper.

Step 3: As you select a particular wallpaper and continue to the preview screen, select the “Apply” button and proceed to choose “Lock Screen” from the pop-up menu.

Part 3: Top 10 Download Sites About Cool Screen Wallpaper on Android

What if you feel that you do not have the coolest screen wallpaper that you can change on your Android device? Before changing your Android lock screen wallpaper on your device, find a unique option that can be easily replaced. Instead of limiting yourselves to the options available on the Google Pixel Fold device, you can consider moving to different download sites for downloading the coolest lock screen wallpaper:

1. Zedge

Zedge is one of the most premium websites for accessing wallpapers for Android devices. With accessibility to content from exclusive artists, Zedge presents the best personalization options to its users. For effective wallpaper creation, you can add your creativity to bring in the best results for your device.

2. Interfacelift

For exclusive access to free wallpapers of multiple categories, Interfacelift provides some impressive and high-quality results. This intuitive wallpaper site provides some captivating options. Along with that, it asserts a special force on photographs of landscapes, which makes it a great site.

3. Unsplash

Known for keeping royalty-free, high-quality content, Unsplash can be a great Android wallpaper site. Download your favorite wallpapers that will perfectly suit your Android device. Along with its smooth interface, Unsplash offers diversity with its dedicated Unsplash+ plan.

4. Mobile9

For variety, you can always go for Mobile9. This unique, expressive, and productive wallpaper site provides the best Android wallpapers. Following this, it offers multiple diversity of content, including ringtones and books. However, to get your hands on the finest quality wallpaper, do consider trying the site.

5. Dribbble

If you seek the best design for your Android lock screen, Dribbble provides the finest quality. Out of the 10,000+ designs, you can find your choice. Along with that, the site service also presents the wallpapers in dedicated categories. Searching for the right Android lock screen wallpaper gets easy in such an environment.

6. Wallpapers.com

For a service that provides dedicated Android lock screen wallpapers, Wallpapers.com holds a good position. With the finest wallpapers to use on the Android device, you can also customize the available wallpapers. Dedicated categories make it easy for users to select their favorite wallpaper from the 1000+ options.

7. Pexels

There are very few websites that offer the finest quality wallpapers for free. Pexels, being one of them, displays a great interface for users with sub-categorization. With descriptions for every wallpaper, you can select the best one for your device. Find a categorized section of more than 70,000 wallpapers on this platform.

8. Pixabay

Who won’t have heard of Pixabay as a haven for lock screen wallpapers? This platform provides a different perspective on wallpaper search. To find the best option, you can diversify your search according to orientation, size, and color. This makes your search much easier and swift for changing the Android lock screen.

9. 500px

To access the best wallpapers in the world, 500px is a good platform to keep in mind. While it helps a wide community fulfill their tasks, it can be a purposeful option. For diverse operability in the site, users can also sell their work into a global marketplace.

10. Wallpaperswide

From desktop to Android wallpapers, Wallpaperswide holds a diverse set of options. This platform is designed to provide a diversity of categories to its users. With a simple interface, it is a great option for gathering content.

Bonus Part: How To Unlock Android Screen if Forgotten the Password

Although you have learned how to change the lock screen wallpaper on Android, multiple complications can arise. One such problem that can occur on your device involves it getting locked. If the Google Pixel Fold device gets locked, you cannot use it. For an Android whose password is locked, you will require a platform to amend the problem.

Dr.Fone – Screen Unlock (Android) provides a complete platform to unlock the Android device. This is the right place to go if you seek to remove such locks from your device within minutes. With the option of bypassing any screen lock, it can protect your device’s data.

Such options make it the finest platform to resolve issues with the Android device. To know how one can unlock their Android device with Dr.Fone, look through the provided steps:

Step 1: Open Screen Unlock Tool

You need to download and launch Dr.Fone on your computer and continue to the “Screen Unlock” tool. On accessing the tool, connect your Android device with a cable.

Step 2: Start Unlocking the Android

Proceed to select the “Unlock Android Screen/FRP” option and continue into the “Unlock Android Screen” option.

Step 3: Select Mode and Device Details

If you intend not to lose data, continue to the “Remove without data loss” option. You will have to select the details of the connected Android device.

Step 4: Access Download Mode

Put your Android device in Download Mode by powering it off. Continue to press the “Volume Down,” “Home,” and “Power” buttons simultaneously. After a few seconds, press the “Volume Up” button to enter the Download Mode.

Step 5: Unlock Android Successfully

The package starts downloading as the Google Pixel Fold device gets into Download Mode. It will take a while until it completes. Once the download process gets completed, press the “Remove Now” button to remove the Android screen lock.

Image name: lock-screen-wallpaper-on-android-32.jpg

Image link: https://images.wondershare.com/drfone/guide/android-unlock-07.png

Image alt: start removing screen lock

Conclusion

The details provided are comprehensive in helping you change the lockscreen wallpaper on Android. While learning unique ways, along with dedicated techniques for smartphones, we are sure that you are clear about how to change lock screen picture on Android phone.Why not take a try now? This article has also introduced some of the best sites to download Android wallpapers. For effective results and to save your locked device from getting useless, use Dr.Fone – Screen Unlock.

Forgotten The Voicemail Password Of Google Pixel Fold? Try These Fixes

You can always stay in touch with friends, family, and coworkers thanks to voicemail support, which is provided by most cell phones. However, forgetting the voicemail passcode is simple when we must remember many codes to open various devices. Fortunately, there are workarounds you can use to get back into your voicemail mailbox. Keep reading to find out what to do if you forget your voicemail password.

Part 1: 3 Easy Ways To Reset Or Change Your Lost Voicemail Password

1. Contact your carrier

Your carrier can also unlock your voicemail. Get in touch with your carrier and ask for an unlock. For unlocking, your account may need to satisfy certain conditions. The request can take a few days to be processed after you submit it.

Get in touch with your carrier to find out the status of your unlock request.

The actions following should be followed when your carrier certifies that the voicemail has been reset.

• Take your SIM card out.
• Put the new SIM card in. Your gadget will turn on, and you will be able to generate a new voicemail password.

2. Use your code to reset password

To change your Voicemail password, use star codes. Fortunately, this process is quick and easy, and you won’t need to contact customer care to change your password.

Use the star code as follows:

• Type #793# into the dialer app on your phone.
• Press the Call key.
• Await the instructions.

This will change your voicemail password to your phone’s last four digits.

You can also reset your voicemail password, which means that you can generate a new code by resetting it from the settings. Let’s have a look at how you can do this.

• Open My Wireless from your account summary.
• Select the Google Pixel Fold device you wish to manage by scrolling to My Devices & Add-ons.
• Choosing Manage my device.
• Look under Device choices & settings, choose Reset voicemail password, then adhere to the on-screen instructions.

3. User carriers’ apps or websites

All of the apps/websites below enable you to reset a voicemail password because they are purely user carrier apps or websites that are recommended officially.

1. Vxt

Their voicemail is visually shown via the app.

Your voicemails will be converted to text by Vxt, which will then provide a preview on your lock screen.

Carrier: US Cellular, AT&T, MetroPCS, T-Mobile, Verizon, Alltel, Cricket

2. YouMail

YouMail is an Android app that helps you to control visual voicemail. Additionally, it provides some great call-blocking features. With the help of this program, unsolicited calls will never longer ever reach you.

Carrier: US Cellular, AT&T, MetroPCS, T-Mobile, Verizon, Alltel.

3. Visual voicemail from AT&T

You can view the caller’s name and phone number before listening to their message, which makes monitoring your voicemail incredibly simple.

Carrier: US Cellular, AT&T, MetroPCS, T-Mobile, Verizon, Alltel, Cricket

Part 2: FAQs

1. How To Know My Default Voicemail Password?

Depending on your carrier, the default voicemail password is either the last seven or final four digits of your phone number. Your voicemails should be accessible if you dial the number without the area code. In this way, you can quickly get your default voicemail password.

2. Can I Remove My Voicemail Password?

From your mobile device, dial 123 to see the password for your voicemail. To enable (add) or disable (delete) your voicemail password, choose option 4. To enable or disable the screen password, select option 1. If your password has been deactivated, dialing 123 will not ask you to enter one.

3. How Can I Receive Voicemail Messages From Another Device?

You may access your mailbox on another phone if your phone is out of reach or the battery is dead. Make a call to your phone number from a different one. Tap the pound key (#) on the phone’s dial pad after the prerecorded “Please leave a message” greeting has begun to play. Enter the pin from your voicemail to start receiving messages from another device.

Bonus Tip: Best Tool When You Forgot The Phone Password

Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android)

The Best Tool to Remove the Phone Screen!

• Completely unlinked from the previous Google account, it won’t be traced or blocked by it anymore.
• Remove all Android screen locks (PIN/pattern/fingerprints/face ID) in minutes.
• Almost all Samsung phones and tablets are supported (Currently for Android 6-14).
• Provide specific removal solutions to promise good success rate.

4,008,670 people have downloaded it

Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android) is the ultimate solution when you are sort of a person who always forgets passwords and does not even have any technical knowledge. We always recommend you use easy and safe tools; Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android) is one of them. Here’s how you can use this tool when you forget the phone password and want to recover it on your own.

Step 1: Connect your phone

Installing Dr.Fone on your computer is the first step. From the list of available tools, select “Screen Unlock” from the drop-down menu.

When connecting your locked phone to the PC you wish to save the wallpapers after unlocking it, you should think about utilizing a USB cord. You must select the “Unlock Android Screen” option on the program.

Step 2. Select Unlock Android Screen

In this interface of Dr.Fone, please select “Unlock Android Screen” to keep your unlock process, or your phone cannot be unlocked as you wish.

Step 3. Select device model

Besides a part of Samsung and LG models, “100% Remove Screen Lock” includes most Android phone brands. Please choose your phone brand, and don’t make it wrong!

Here is the brand list; you can check it and find your phone brand.

Step 4. Enter into Recovery Mode

Then follow the instructions on the program to get the Android phone into Recovery Mode. Here we take 3 different models of Samsung phones as examples.

Note: Different brands have different steps to enter the Recovery Mode.

Go to the Recovery Mode on Samsung phone with Bixby

Go to the Recovery Mode on Samsung phone without Bixby

Go to Recovery Mode on Samsung phone with Home Button

Step 5. Instructions to Wipe Cache Partition

Good! You’re now in the final step, be careful to choose the correct options so that the whole process will be perfectly over.

Now no pattern or password is on your phone screen to bother you!

This is how you can easily get rid of phone lock issues.

The Bottom Line

The voicemail function on your mobile device is a crucial tool for improving your interpersonal relationships. You must always have access to it because of this. You may use your iPhone or Samsung smartphone to receive a temporary code even if you forget your password. Alternatively, you can follow instructions for resetting your passcode on the carrier’s app or website.

Have you ever experienced voicemail lockout? Which technique did you employ to fix the issue? Did you know how to reset voicemail password on Android? Comment below with your thoughts and let us know.

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