How do i take the screen lock off my phone

Question

You can set up a screen lock to help secure your Android phone or tablet. Each time you turn on your device or wake up the screen, you’ll be asked to unlock your device, usually with a PIN, pattern, or password. On some devices, you can unlock with your fingerprint.

Table of Contents Show

Set or change a screen lock
Screen lock options
How to disable the lock screen on Android
Is this safe to do?
Why can't I disable my Screen lock?

Important:

Some of these steps work only on Android 10 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.
Some of these steps require you to tap the screen.
Call captioning only works on Pixel phones.

Set or change a screen lock

Important: To ensure your automatic and manual backups are encrypted with your screen lock, use a PIN, pattern, or a password. Learn how to back up or restore data on your phone.

Open your phone's Settings app.
Tap Security.
- If you don’t find “Security,” go to your phone manufacturer’s support site for help.
To pick a kind of screen lock, tap Screen lock.
- If you’ve already set a lock, you’ll need to enter your PIN, pattern, or password before you can pick a different lock.
Tap the screen lock option you’d like to use. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Screen lock options

No lock

None: Your phone stays unlocked. This gives no protection, but you can get to your Home screen quickly.
Swipe: Swipe your finger across your screen. This gives no protection, but you can get to your Home screen quickly.

Standard locks

Pattern: Draw a simple pattern with your finger.
PIN: Enter 4 or more numbers. Longer PINs tend to be more secure.
Password: Enter 4 or more letters or numbers. A strong password is the most secure screen lock option.

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Samsung Galaxy S10+

Samsung Galaxy S10+ (Image credit: Andrew Martonik / Android Central)

There are certain aspects of our phone that we've come to expect. The home screen is a customizable canvas that we can add apps and widgets to, the app drawer houses all of the applications that are downloaded, and the lock screen shows the time and notifications without giving you full access to the rest of your phone.

The lock screen is a great way to stay informed about messages, calls, emails, etc., while also adding a helpful layer of security to your device. However, if you don't care about the lock screen and find it does nothing more than slow you down, it is possible to disable it.

How to disable the lock screen on Android

We'll talk more about whether or not this is a good idea below, but first thing's first, here's what the process for disabling the lock screen on Android looks like.

Open the Settings on your phone.
Tap Security.
Tap Screen lock.Source: Joe Maring / Android Central

How to disable the lock screen on Android

Enter your PIN/password.
Tap None.
Tap Yes, remove.Source: Joe Maring / Android Central

How to disable the lock screen on Android

Now, any time you wake up your Android phone, you'll instantly be taken to the home screen.

Similarly, if you ever find yourself wanting to re-enable the lock screen, just follow the above steps again and choose whether you want to lock your phone with a Swipe, Pattern, PIN, or Password.

Is this safe to do?

Google Pixel 4 lock screen

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

As you can see, disabling the lock screen on your Android phone is a pretty easy task. However, since this is removing an important level of security from your device, is it something you should do?

That all comes down on you to decide.

Anytime you make something less secure, you are technically making it more vulnerable to being tampered with. If someone snatches your phone and there's no lock screen to protect it, they have instant access to all of your apps, contacts, and other personal information.

From that perspective, it probably makes sense for most people to leave their lock screen enabled. Even if it's just a four-digit PIN that's easy for you to remember, something is better than nothing at all.

At the same time, if you really don't like the lock screen and place a lot of value on getting to your home screen as quickly as possible, you're more than welcome to disable it. So long as you're aware that doing this makes your phone less secure, being booted right to the home screen when you press the power button is pretty cool. Fingerprint sensors and face unlock systems have helped to speed up the act of getting past the lock screen, so also keep that in mind before totally removing it.

Why you (and your family) should be using two-factor authentication and a password manager

Joe Maring was a Senior Editor for Android Central between 2017 and 2021. You can reach him on Twitter at @JoeMaring1.

Why can't I disable my Screen lock?

On most versions of Android, choose Security & privacy, Security, or Security & location. Find the option to set your lock screen access code. Usually, this will be Lock screen password or Screen lock. You should now be able to choose the option to disable your lock screen.

screen lock phone