Still Using Pattern Locks with Tecno Spark 20 Pro? Tips, Tricks and Helpful Advice

They have been along for a long, long time now – pattern locks – the easiest of all smartphone locks. You just swipe your finger across to create an easy pattern lock of your choosing and that’s it, it becomes your new screen lock. No more remembering tedious digits! So, why have these easy pattern locks become outdated, and why do people still continue to use them? Let’s take a dive and find out all about pattern locks.

Part I: Things To Know About Pattern Locks

The first cellphone locks were 4-digit number locks. Then came 6-digit codes, and even alphanumeric ones. Pattern locks were all the rage a while ago. Though pattern locks continue to be used, they are not considered safe to use any longer. What is all that about? Here’s what you need to know about pattern locks, whether you are a seasoned pattern lock user or not.

I.I: What Are Pattern Locks?

Believe it or not, technology has advanced at such a rapid pace in the last two decades that you’d be forgiven if you don’t know what a pattern lock is, especially if you have only ever used iPhones, or Android phones in just the last few years.

Pattern locks are patterns you create on your smartphone and designate as a smartphone lock/ screen lock. There is a 9-point keypad of sorts, and you start swiping your finger from any point to any point for any which way you feel like. Android 13 allows a minimum of 4 points registered. They are easy to create, and easy to use, hence called easy pattern locks.

Pattern locks have only ever been offered on Android devices and were commonplace a few years ago until they were deemed not secure enough for use by modern standards because they were easy to figure out by malicious actors.

I.II: Popularity and Usage

Pattern lock is a feature unique to Android and has been so since the start. Naturally, it is one of the preferred ways users have come to unlock their Android devices over the years. Even though modern Android smartphones come with fingerprint recognition and face recognition technologies, there exists a large subset of users still addicted to and acclimatized with the pattern lock feature, opting over fingerprint and face recognition.

There has been, however, research conducted into the safety and security offered by pattern lock in Android.

I.III: Advantages and Drawbacks

Modern smartphones very nearly contain the entirety of our lives; photo memories, video memories, important documents both financial and personal in nature, banking apps, ID and ATM/ credit cards in the “wallet” apps, and whatnot. A smartphone falling into the wrong hands could very nearly be used to devastate the rightful owner, both financially and otherwise. And this is not a claim out of thin air; spyware/ malware/ phishing attacks are on the rise around the world. Locking the smartphone, once considered optional and an unnecessary hassle, is now an absolute must.

Advantages of Pattern Locks

There is no denying that using an easy pattern lock to lock their smartphone seems enough for most users. Swiping your finger across your smartphone to unlock it feels not only cool and futuristic but safer and more secure than remembering and punching in digits. And, for the most part, it is true, given that 4-digit PINs can only have 10,000 unique combinations!

Disadvantages of Pattern Locks

While very easy to use, security researchers and experts have come to agree that the feature is not in the least safe to use, and that is because of how people use the pattern lock feature (discussed in detail below in part II). Some go so far as to say that most pattern locks can be breached in just 5 attempts or less. Imagine that!

What is more, research has found that humans have an uncanny ability to correctly guess a pattern lock simply by viewing the unlocking! The test comprised showing the test subjects videos of users unlocking their phones from different angles and varying distances, and it was found that around 64% of test subjects were able to correctly guess a 6-point pattern lock in one viewing only, and 80% could correctly guess the pattern after just two viewings. By contrast, only 11% were able to correctly deduce a 6-digit PIN after one viewing, and only 27% after viewing twice. This goes to show just how insecure pattern locks are!

Part II: How People Use Pattern Locks

We might wonder how anyone would be able to guess the correct pattern of our device, but believe it or not, it is possible, eerily easily at that! We are all the same humans, after all! You know how people usually set PINs that could be significant dates in their lives? How they get car registration numbers that mean something to them? The same ‘logic’ applies to their setting pattern locks.

At DEFCON 23, Marte Loge, an M.Sc. Computer Science student, presented something that stunned people around the world. She said, “Tell me who you are, and I will tell you your lock pattern.” What followed was an expert presentation outlining and detailing user behaviors around pattern locks.

These are some commonly created pattern locks by people:

- shapes of alphabets,
- shapes of numerals,
- any other easy-to-make, simple shape.

Marte Loge presented the image below, showing how people naturally gravitate towards creating simple shape patterns, in her research.

To further help you see how easy it might be for anyone to guess your pattern, Marte Loge also presented some statistics.

- 77% of people started their patterns in one of the 4 corners.
- 44% of Loge’s subjects started their pattern with the first dot, the top-left one. The next number was 15% for the top-right and 14% for the bottom-left.
- These percentages did not vary much depending on left-handedness or right-handedness.
- On average, irrespective of gender, people set 5-point patterns, with 4-point patterns being the most common. This means that the number of combinations on average was 7152 for 5-point patterns and a bogglingly low 1624 for 4-point patterns.

The above data makes it amply clear how using an easy pattern lock is actually worse than using a 4-digit PIN, simply because how people are usually using the pattern lock feature.

Part III: Tips For Using More Secure Pattern Locks

Now, we know how hard it is to break habits cemented over years of use, so in case you must at all costs use a pattern lock only, the least you can do is try and change your easy pattern lock to a better, more secure hard pattern lock.

III.I: How to Create More Secure Patterns

Here are some tips to help you create a better, more secure pattern lock for your smartphone.

- Avoid using any of the corners to start the pattern.
- Never use your first initial as a pattern.
- Never use a digit shape as a pattern.
- You can pass through the same pattern lines multiple times over. This makes it more difficult for someone to guess your pattern correctly.
- Use all 9 points on the grid while setting the pattern lock! That simple act takes the possible pattern combinations to over 140,000, significantly more than 10,000 for 4-digit PINs, and vastly superior to paltry 1624 for a 4-point easy pattern lock!

III.II: Forgot Your Pattern? Unlock Your Tecno Spark 20 Pro Without Pattern Lock With Dr.Fone

Supercharged with the information above, you went ahead and changed your easy pattern lock to a hard-to-guess pattern lock. Only problem is, your brain is habituated to that old pattern, and you’ve suddenly forgotten what the new pattern was! Well, worry not; Wondershare Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android) will help you unlock your phone without pattern lock !

Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android)

The Best Tool to Unlock Your Tecno Spark 20 Pro without Pattern Locks!

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.

4,008,669 people have downloaded it

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

Step 1: Go to Toolbox > Screen Unlock and click Android.

Step 2: Click Unlock Android Screen.

Step 3: You will see a list of supported manufacturers on the next screen. Select yours.

Step 4: Now, follow the onscreen guide to prepare your device for screen unlocking.

After completing the process, when the Next button becomes available, click it.

Your device will be successfully unlocked.

Note that this method wipes all data on the Tecno Spark 20 Pro device. There is no way around it. You may be able to unlock select older Samsung devices without data loss. Check this list for those devices.

Closing Words

Pattern locks are outdated and not safe to use an easy pattern lock – there are no two ways about it. As such, our recommendation is to start using a 6-digit PIN along with biometric or face recognition. However, we do understand that sometimes, you simply cannot use biometrics or face recognition. For those instances, we recommend that you use this guide and create a more secure pattern lock for your device. In case you forgot your pattern, there is always Wondershare Dr.Fone – Screen Unlock (Android) to save the day.

How To Change Tecno Spark 20 Pro Lock Screen Password?

Setting up a lock screen is a crucial step in protecting your phone’s data. If you’re not sure how to create one on your Android™ phone, we’re here to help.

Your Android lock screen pin or password and your Google Account password are two passwords you use frequently. Keeping a good lock screen passcode is important.

Although you might not frequently enter your lock screen pin or password if you use a biometric unlocking method like fingerprint or facial recognition, it’s still important to be familiar with it.

You’ll need to reset your Google Account password if you forget it or become locked out for some other reason when you try to keep accessing all of your data. You might also need to change lock screen passcode from time to time.

How to Change/Set up Lock Screen Password

Select Screen Lock Type under Settings > Lock Screen. From there, you may select from a variety of lock screen options:

Swipe: This lock type allows you to swipe in any direction on your screen to unlock your phone.

Pattern: If you opt to unlock your phone in this manner, you must create a pattern on a 3-by-3-dot grid.

Pin: A PIN lock is a four-digit code. Make sure you select a set of numbers that you can quickly recall.

Password: Your phone’s highest level of security. Your password must be distinct, easily remembered, and include at least one letter and 7 characters.

Follow the setup instructions on-screen after selecting the security measure you prefer.

Additionally, you’ll notice options to enable fingerprint or face biometric recognition features. Iris Scanner (S8/S8+) or Intelligent Scan (S9/S9+) may also be available on some older Samsung® models.

Face recognition: By holding your face directly in front of your phone’s screen, you may unlock your phone and authenticate yourself in apps.

With fingerprints, you can quickly touch your finger to unlock your phone.

Iris: Check your eyes to make sure that only you can see the contents of your phone.

Intelligent Scan: A method of device unlocking that combines face and iris recognition technology.

Follow on-screen instructions if you decide to employ one of these sophisticated security technologies, or go to Settings > Biometrics and security for more customization choices.

How to look up saved passwords on my device?

The way that Google Chrome manages your usernames and passwords is excellent. But what if you want to log in to a particular website from another device but can’t recall your password, and the website won’t load the data for you? You may quickly obtain a list of all saved passwords by browsing through Chrome’s settings, then manually keying it in.

You may access the passwords saved in the Google Chrome app on a Mac or PC because the app is connected to your Google account. Any passwords saved on your Android phone can easily be removed via the Chrome app.

How to Change your Password when you forget it?

1. Google Find My Device

As you are likely aware, every Android device is connected to a Google account. As a result, if you’d like, you may use it to unlock Android as well. You’ll need to know your Google account login information for this. When you’re ready, use these instructions to find out how to unlock a phone password.

Login in using your Google credentials by going to the official Google Find My Device website.
You will see the gadgets connected to your Google account as you enter the interface, along with a map of where they are.
To wipe the Tecno Spark 20 Pro device, click the ERASE DEVICE option on the left side panel. You will then be required for your password.
Once more, select “Erase.” This will reset the Tecno Spark 20 Pro device and get rid of the forgot pattern lock.

2. Using Recovery Mode

Users of Android smartphones and tablets can troubleshoot various issues with their devices using a feature known as Android Recovery Mode. It might be helpful if you discover that your device is functioning strangely. Recovery Mode Android technically refers to a unique bootable partition with a recovery application installed inside it.

However, users can also use it to reset the android password if it is forgotten. The instructions for resetting android devices through recovery mode are different for every android device.

3. Forgot Password Feature (Android 4.4 and Lower)

In case you lose your pattern, PIN, or other passwords, older versions of Android, including Android 4.4 KitKat, have an integrated feature to let you continue using your device.

Enter an erroneous pattern or PIN five times on the lock screen to reveal this function. A button with the words “Forgot pattern,” “Forgot PIN,” or “Forgot password” will show up. Tap it. The username and password for the Google account connected to your Android smartphone will be required.

4. Using ADB

Launch Recovery mode and restart the phone. Turn off your phone. Then to access the Bootloader, simultaneously press the Power button and the Volume Down key. Then select Recovery mode.

Use USB to connect the phone. You must have ADB set up on your computer. (ADB is part of the Android Developer Bundle)

Use the shell’s following command to start

Rm /data/system/gesture.key using the adb shell

Turn the phone back on normally. Any pattern will unlock the screen, and you will be prompted to enter one.

Bonus Method: Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock

On most Android handsets, you can attempt Dr.Fone to unlock the screen lock easily. It allows you to delete the password, PIN, pattern, and fingerprint from an Android phone.

Step 1. Select Unlock Android Screen

Please select “Unlock Android Screen.”

Step 2. Select device model

On this page, please choose the option fitting your phone.

Only when you select the right phone brand so the unlock process will go with success.

Step 3. Enter into Recovery Mode

Then go with the instructions for getting the Android phone into Recovery Mode. Here we show you examples of Samsung phones.

(Recovery Mode When the Samsung phone via Bixby)

(Recovery Mode When the Samsung phone via Home button)

Step 4. Instructions to Wipe Cache Partition

On the page Recovery Mode, you’ll see this interface to continue your unlock process.

Now you can access your Android device without entering any password after the unlock process is well done.

Conclusion

Any of the aforementioned methods can be used to overcome the obstacle of using your Android handset. The best thing about this article is that you only need some simple unlock ways to complete the tasks. Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock is the easiest way of restoring your device if you have a stuck password or fingerprint.

How to Unlock Tecno Spark 20 Pro Phone with Broken Screen

Seeing as the only way to control your Tecno Spark 20 Pro deviceis the touch screen, a broken device can cause you a lot of worries. Most people think that there is no way to get their device to work again let alone be able to unlock it if the screen is broken or cracked . It is, however, important to find a way to unlock the broken device so that you can gain access to your data and create a backup to restore to a new device.

In this article, we are going to look at a few simple ways you can unlock an Android device with a broken screen.

Here is a video for you to learn how to unlock Android phone or access phone with broken screen:

Method 1: Using Android Debug Bridge (ADB)

For this method, you will need your device and access to a PC. It is the most powerful method to unlock a broken Android device. It will however only work if you have enabled USB debugging on your android phone. If you haven’t, skip this method and see if method 2 or 3 might be of help.

ADB creates a bridge between the PC and your device which can then be used to unlock the Tecno Spark 20 Pro device. Here’s how to use this bridge.

Step 1: Download the Android SDK package on your PC. You can download it here: http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html . Extract the ZIP file on your PC.

Step 2: Download the necessary drivers for your device. The USB drivers for your device can be found on the manufacturer’s website.

Step 3: Launch Command Prompt on your PC and change the location of the ADB file. Type in the following into Command Prompt; cd C:/android/platform-tools

Step 4: Connect the Tecno Spark 20 Pro device to your PC using USB cables. Enter the command “ ADB _device_” (without quotation marks). If your phone is recognized, you will see numbers in the Command Prompt message.

Step 5: Type in the following two commands. You will need to type in the second one immediately after the first. Replace 1234 with your password.

ADB shell input text 1234
Shell input key event 66

Step 6: Your phone will now be unlocked and you can proceed to back up its contents.

Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android)

The Best Tool to Reset Phones Without Android Factory Reset Codes

It enables your Android phones to get safe, simple, and trustful after reset.
It is still helpful even though you don’t know the OS version of your devices.
Everybody can handle it without any technical background.
Provide specific removal solutions to promise good success rate.

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Method 2: Using a USB Mouse and the On the Go Adapter

This is a great solution if you don’t have USB debugging enabled on your device. You will need your device, an OTG adapter and a USB mouse. It involves connecting the Tecno Spark 20 Pro device to the USB mouse using the OTG adapter. Check if your device can be connected to a USB mouse. You can find an OTG adapter online, they are relatively inexpensive and very useful.

Before we begin, it is a good idea to ensure your device is sufficiently charged because the Mouse may drain your battery.

Step 1: Connect the Micro USB side of the OTG adapter to your device and then plug in the USB mouse to the adapter.

Step 2: As soon as the Tecno Spark 20 Pro devices are connected, you will be able to see a pointer on your screen. You can then use the pointer to unlock the pattern or enter the Tecno Spark 20 Pro device’s password lock.

You can then go about backing up the contents of your device.

Method 3: Using your Samsung Account

This method is a reliable way to unlock a Samsung device that has a broken screen or is not working correctly. While it is highly effective you will need to have a Samsung account registered with your device. The problem is that not many Samsung device users have registered their devices with the service. If you are among the lucky few who have, here’s how to use your account to unlock your device.

Step 1: Visit the https://findmymobile.samsung.com/login.do on your PC or any other device and log in with your account information.

Step 2: Select your device from the menu on the left-hand side of the screen.

Step 3: You should see the option “Unlock my screen” on the sidebar. Click on it and you will get instructions on how to access your device.

Conclusion

Being unable to unlock your device is never a good place to be. We hope one of the above solutions will work for you. You can then gain access to your device and back up the files and contacts. This way your life doesn’t have to be disrupted- you can just restore the backup on a new device or the old one once the screen is fixed.