What are backup codes useful for? Can they help with a 'forgotten' PIN?

[Lockedout]

So for over a week now I've been pulling my hair out trying to get access to my S24 Ultra. I've owned the phone since release and always used a fingerprint to get in the phone and it randomly demanded a PIN I can't ever recall. I already have one post going through the song and dance here about how everyone elses phone asks them for their PIN every 3 days. Mine didn't. If my phone had, I'd remember it.

Regardless, going through options to try and get access to my phone (I DO NOT want to factory reset my phone- this isnt an option since I want photos off of the device)  and I found what Samsung calls 'backup' codes for lost access. Can these be used to get in my phone or are they some other kind of lost access account tool? Photo attached. 

Are these of any use? 

One more question- the data that is backed up by Samsungs cloud- (sadly my photos werent, otherwise Id simply factory reset), how do I access it? If I need access to the Samsung device, then the cloud backup does me zero good. The reason I ask is because one of the apps it lists it backs up are Reminders. I have this foolish false hope that if I ever did set a PIN, maybe I put it in there. 

[OmegaMutant]

The backup codes allow you to sign into your account, say on the website. Rather than getting 2-step verification code to the phone, or text, you enter your code. It's helpful if you lose your phone and want to access your account.

You can login in to https://support.samsungcloud.com/#/login and it'll tell you some information on what's backed up but you can't click onto it and open stuff. For example, mine shows that I've backed up my contacts but it won't allow me to click and see what contacts.

It's always worthwhile to login into your Google account via Photos.Google.com to see if any photos are backed up but you'll need to do 2-step verification.

Unfortunately, the only way to by pass the lock screen is a factory data reset.

[deltadawn]

I've deleated an account on my telegram, and I think I blocked my man . Now I can't get him back on . I really need help, please . What can I do . I thought I had deleated the chat . But now I think I deleated him all together. I'm heartbroken because I don't know how to get intoch with him. My heart is really breaking . We were just chatting g on Wednesday. I really thought I was just deleting my chat . I beg you all, please help me . I don't know what I can do .

[deltadawn]

Help me please. I'm getting down because of what I did by mistake. On top of that . I tripped and broke my fingers . So, Wednesday was a truly bad day . Now I pray someone out there can help me get back to my true love . I beg you all, please help me .

[BandOfBrothers]

Hi @Lockedout 

I haven't tried the codes you highlight so cannot recommend them. 

Personally as Samsung Cloud does not back up photo's as Samsung have decided to provide Onedrive Instead if a person activates that I use Dropbox. 

It is a wise move to use some form of online vault to back up photo's just incase a phone is lost or stolen, or in your case the unlock forgotten. 

https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/i-cant-unlock-my-device/ 

If i can be of any further help please don't hesitate to ask  😎 

[Lockedout]

Hi Band. Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately the solutions you list- and 98% of every other solution Samsung/Android offers- have to be set up before the fact to avoid data loss. It still seems absolutely insane to me that at one time Samsung offered a Remote unlock feature but decided to remove it. Whats more, is that using your Google account is an option to remove FRP locks if I do finally decide to lose everything with a factory reset - but they don't offer that option for a 'forgotten' pin BEFORE you're forced to lose all of your data. What moron made that decision? 

I'm positive that I was just a victim of some random coding bug since I've seen a few threads linked on the matter but its such a rare occurrence and affects so few, all of us will just be screaming into the void as we lose all our data (I'm about to lose over 2000 photos and videos I took from an April trip to Thailand) because it doesn't hit enough people to cause either Android or Samsung to issue a fix or response.

[Sonora]

You asked this on XDA forum and what's happened? Your thread was closed and you got temporary ban. You know why, do you?

[Lockedout]

I sure did. But whats the point of your post other than to derail my thread if you can't offer help? 

For those wondering, I was indeed directed to the XDA forums and have been asking there. Some posters were helpful while others simply trolled and called me a thief. I was goaded into a reaction and got a temporary ban for it.

I can prove I own the device however people would like if theres a solution. Showing other Samsung products like my TV connecting to the same wifi network the phone is connected to, showing screenshots of the phone when I was in Thailand before I was locked out of the device, showing videos of me using my Samsung account to cause the device to ring, showing the original sell invoice if I can avoid doxxing myself, etc.

This is the problem with having any kind of lockout issue. Those who cant offer solutions and have no intention of helping simply alluding to you being a thief. Even to the point of bringing up what happened on another forum. 🙄

[Lockedout]

One more shot in the dark here that is likely just wishful thinking on my part. I'm attaching a screenshot of my phone acting as if it would be ok if I used my fingerprint but it never gives me the option to do so. Is this just some minor oversight because they didn't bother to alter the text properly, or is there some way I can get the ***** phone to allow me to use my fingerprint? LET ME USE THE FINGERPRINT THEN

[Sonora]

I use fingerprint+ pattern method since 2018 year (on S9+, S21 ultra and present S24 Ultra) and never got PIN locked window to unlock my phone. 

What indicates that you not owner? Well, Samsung user know that Samsung terminated his Cloude Drive for backup photos. It is on top of Samsung Cloud app when you opening it. 

Seems to me looking at your image, you removed original sim card, your phone is locked on network and wifi that original setup.

Funny fuct- all similar cases like yours have identical story- you don't want factory reset because you have important photos you don't wanna loose. 

As I said, time to time my phone ask me for pattern I used for unlocking phone. This method never changed.