S7 directions screen lock

Hi @remington5 

Thank you for posting your question in AT&T Community Forums! We apologize that you are currently unable to unlock the device screen! We totally understand the frustration it must be causing! We want to make sure that you are able to access the device as soon as possible!

After drawing the incorrect unlock pattern eight times, a timer will appear. You may use your recorded Fingerprint backup once the timer reach zero (0).

The option to use a backup Fingerprint is only available if you set that option up when you activated the Pattern screen lock. If you didn’t set up a backup and can’t remember your pattern lock, the only option is to do an alternate factory reset of the device.

A Factory Reset reverts the device back to factory settings. It will permanently erase all personal data, preferences, settings, and content such as pictures, ringtones and applications that are saved on the device. It is recommended that you save (backup) important data to your SIM or a computer before proceeding.

For a step-by-step tutorial of how to complete a Backup & Restore of the device, click on the AT&T Device Support article. You can select your preferred method for the backup.

To complete the alternate factory reset, you first power off the device.  

1. With the device powered off, press and hold down the Power/Lock key, Home key, and Volume Up key until you see the ‘Recovery booting’ at the top of the screen and the Galaxy S7 logo.
2. When the Android System Recovery screen appears, press the Volume Down key to scroll down until ‘wipe data/factory reset’ is highlighted.
3. Press the Power/Lock key to select.
4. Press the Volume Down to scroll down until ‘Yes – delete all user data’ is highlighted.
5. Press the Power/Lock key to begin the reset process.
6. When the Android System Recovery screen displays again, ensure that ‘reboot system now’ is highlighted, then press the Power/Lock key.

You can always find troubleshooting tutorials and your phone's user manual through AT&T Device Support. 

Hope this information helps! Thank you for being a part of the AT&T Family.

Tim, Community Specialist

I have the exact same problem. In addition, I wasn't able to use my recorded Fingerprint backup even after the timer reached zero; the Samsung Direction lock seems to have overridden that option. Moreover, I cannot power off the device to do a Factory Reset without drawing the direction lock. I did not forget the lock pattern as I'd tried it several minutes after I created the Samsung Direction lock pattern--it just doesn't work and now I'm locked out of my phone. 

@Blurry   You can factory reset with andriod device manager on another device.

This is the exact same issue that I have had with my phone. I contacted Samsung's support team (via chat as I can't actually make a phone call), and I was told that I could go to my carrier and they could bypass the Direction lock and get me into my phone. My one worry is that once that happens, will I actually be able to turn OFF the Direction lock, because I'm fairly certain that I did that and it didn't actually turn off. Sneaky phone.