screen unlock

If your Samsung account was on the phone, you may be able to use your Samsung account to recover your screen unlock.

https://www.samsung.com/ca/support/mobile-devices/how-can-i-unlock-my-galaxy-device-if-i-forgot-the-security-pin-pattern-or-password/#:~:text=If%20you%20forgot%20the%20security,able%20to%20use%20it%20again.

Hello, jdoanjul, we're here to help address your screen lock and factory reset inquiry for your Galaxy S8. 

Special thanks to our ACE, formerlyknownas, for their quick response and expertise. 

Per the Samsung website, using the "Samsung Find My Mobile" or Smart Lock feature, will ensure that you don't have the same issue happen again, in the future. 

Also, Samsung devices do not have a setting or feature that allows you to back up or save your data, for a factory reset. We suggest not performing a factory reset for this reason. 

Please let us know if the ACE's advice helped. If not, we can continue offering you further solutions. Thanks so much for reaching out AT&T Community Forums!

Nelson, AT&T Community Specialist

Thank you you both for the suggestions.  It's good to know about the Samsung account, but unfortunately, my Galaxy S8 is not registered to a Samsung account so I can't remotely unlock it.  a couple things/questions I have in mind:

-tried to guess different patterns to hopefully hit it sometimes, but right now i have to wait for 4 min after every try, so it's really painful.

-Is there any tool/software that can recover the data lost after i do a factory reset?

-I tried to use ADB to communicate with my S8 but it says device unauthorized, and I can't communicate with it using ADB

We understand the importance and urgency with performing a reset, without you losing your data, jdoanjul.

There is no outside tool or software that can help you recover your lost data. However, you do have an option to use our Personal Cloud, to save or back up your data. 

Our first recommendation would be to use this resource to download the Personal Cloud.

AT&T Personal Cloud backs up and syncs content on your phone to the cloud or to other iPhones or Android phones. If you have an iPhone, you can sync contacts, photos, and videos. If you have an Android, you can sync contacts, call logs, text messages, music, photos, videos, and documents. Here’s how:

1. Download and install the app from the App Store or Google Play.
2. Select your storage option.
3. Enter your AT&T user ID and password for your wireless number to sign in.
4. Choose content types for backup.

Our second recommendation would be to use this resource to perform an Alternate Reset.

1. If unable to perform the standard ‘Factory data reset’ using the above steps, try the Alternate method by first powering the device off. With your device powered off, press and hold the Power/Lock, Bixby, and Volume up buttons simultaneously until the Android Recovery screen appears.

2. Please make sure that your data is saved to the Personal Cloud, prior to this next step. Press the Volume down button until Wipe data/factory reset is highlighted, then press the Power/Lock button. 

3. Press the Volume down button until Yes is highlighted, then press the Power/Lock button to begin the reset process.

4. When the Android Recovery screen displays again, ensure that Reboot system now is highlighted then press the Power/Lock button.

Our third recommendation would be to perform a reset on your network settings.

If you are having connectivity issues, you can try resetting your network settings. Swipe down from the Notification bar, then select the  Settings icon > scroll to and select General management > select Reset > Reset network settings > Reset settings > select Reset to confirm.

Note: Resetting your network settings deletes previously associated Wi-Fi networks, security passcodes, Bluetooth devices and cellular network data settings.

Please let us know if is helpful. Thanks so much for reaching back out to AT&T Community Forums!

Nelson, AT&T Community Specialist

Thank you for the recommendations, but remember my screen is locked and I can't get pass that screen to do anything.  Also, if i do the second recommendation which is to do Wipe data/factory reset, it will delete all my data.  My goal is to keep the data.

Well that's unfortunate 

If you've been backing up on a regular basis, which you always should, you shouldn't lose more than a day's worth of data. Your contacts, calendar, photos,etc should all back up or sync to your Google account if your Samsung account is not on the device.

You can try a cell phone repair shop. But in the end, your user lock is meant not to be hacked.

Hello there @jdoanjul.

As stated by @formerlyknownas, unless you have a cloud service, then you are unable to back up and keep your data. You should not lose more than a days worth of data.

We hope this information helps.

Ashley, AT&T Community Specialist