How do I change my lock screen PIN or password on Android?
Open Settings and go to the screen lock setting. On Samsung it is Lock screen and AOD, then Screen lock type. On Pixel and Motorola it is Security & privacy, then Device unlock, then Screen lock. Enter your current PIN, choose PIN, Password, or Pattern, and type the new one twice.
Steps to check
Open the screen lock setting
Open the Settings app and go to the screen lock setting for your phone.
- Samsung Tap Lock screen and AOD (Lock screen on some models), then Screen lock type.
- Pixel Tap Security & privacy, then Device unlock, then Screen lock.
- Motorola Tap Security & privacy, then Device unlock, then Screen lock.
Enter your current PIN, password, or pattern
The phone asks for the lock you use now. This keeps someone else from changing it.
Choose PIN, Password, or Pattern
A PIN is numbers only and must be at least 4 digits. Google recommends 6 digits. A password can use letters and numbers and needs at least 4 characters. A pattern is a shape you draw across a grid of dots. Pick whichever you will remember most easily.
- Motorola PINs and passwords can be 4 to 16 digits or characters.
Type the new one twice
Enter your new PIN, password, or pattern, tap Continue or Next, then enter it again to confirm. Write it down somewhere safe at home until you know it by heart.
Optional: skip the OK button
If your PIN has 6 digits or more, some phones can unlock as soon as you type the last number, without tapping OK or Enter.
- Samsung Samsung offers this for PINs of 6 digits or more.
- Pixel Look for the Auto-confirm option in the screen lock settings. It needs a PIN of at least 6 digits.
Still not working?
- If some lock choices are grayed out or missing, a work email account or a VPN may require a lock. Motorola notes that some options are unavailable when a VPN or work email account is set up. Remove the account or VPN only if you no longer need it.
- If your fingerprint or face unlock stopped working after you changed the PIN, unlock with the new PIN, then check the fingerprint or face settings and set them up again if needed. See how to fix fingerprint unlock.
- If you changed your PIN on a Samsung phone and forgot the new one, Samsung says that on One UI 6.1 or later you have 72 hours to use the old one. After 5 wrong tries, tap Forgot PIN? and enter your previous PIN, then set a new lock.
- If you cannot remember any of your locks, Google says the phone must be erased to remove the lock. You can do this from Find Hub on another device, or with the phone's buttons. Anything not backed up to your Google Account will be lost. See how to factory reset an Android phone.
Why this happens
Your screen lock protects everything on the phone, so Android always asks for the current lock before it lets you change it. That stops someone who picks up your unlocked phone from locking you out.
Google does not offer a way to reset a forgotten screen lock by email or text. If the lock is truly lost, Google says the fix is to erase the phone and restore from your backup.
Should I pick None or Swipe?
You can choose None or Swipe to remove the lock entirely, but anyone who picks up the phone can then see your messages, photos, and accounts. If you find typing a PIN tiring, a fingerprint or face unlock is a safer way to make unlocking quicker.
Normal vs. not
Usually normal
After the change, the phone asks for the new PIN on the lock screen and after a restart.
Worth a closer look
The phone still accepts only your old PIN after you changed it. Restart and try again. If it keeps happening, contact the phone maker.
Common questions
- How long should my PIN be?
- At least 4 digits, but Google recommends 6. Avoid easy ones like 1234, 0000, or your birthday.
- Is my lock screen PIN the same as my SIM PIN?
- No. The lock screen PIN unlocks the phone. A SIM PIN is a separate code that locks your SIM card. Changing one does not change the other.
- Will changing my PIN delete anything?
- No. Changing your PIN, password, or pattern does not remove any photos, messages, or apps.
Related questions
Sources we checked
- Set screen lock on an Android device (Android Help (Google))
- Set screen lock on your Pixel phone (Pixel Phone Help (Google))
- Set up a screen lock on your Galaxy phone or tablet (Samsung Support)
- Unlock your Samsung Galaxy with a previous screen lock method (Samsung Support)
- Set a screen lock (moto g play 2026) (Motorola Help)
- Can't unlock your Android device (Android Help (Google))
Menu names can differ by phone brand and Android version. See our editorial policy for how we check steps.