About 2 weeks ago, my Samsung Galaxy S22 suddenly asked for a password instead of biometrics or fingerprint (which I normally used). I know that it occasionally asks for a backup password after a couple of days. My backup password has always been a pattern. However, it asked for a password instead of a pattern password. I tried entering several of my passwords but I recall I've only used the pattern password when I set it up when I first got the phone in November 2022. I've tried using what other people have suggested such as putting the pattern password as number dial form, using my google account password, etc. I do have my phone registered with smart switch and should've unlocked with my home wifi but still no luck. I've also taken it to a Samsung store and talked to the technician with no luck. I was told it is likely a password I set up when I first got the phone (two years ago). But from what I recall I had only used numbers for my password and NOT what is being suggested on the lock screen "Your password contains at least 4 characters, including at least one letter". Another odd thing is that my lock screen says "For your security, use your fingerprint or password" and since I DID register my biometrics I could use my fingerprint but there is no way to get to that screen where I can input my fingerprint.
I have photos and videos that are important to me including ones of my dog that died last year. I manually backed up some photos and videos months before but I did not have the Samsung Gallery backed up. It's disappointing that they removed the remote unlock features from Samsung some months ago or last year. I understand as this was another security issue itself according to the technician. But not having a solution for people who have proof of the Samsung purchase (including the receipt I still have from November 2022, TWO YEARS AGO) or other ways to verify that they own the phone seems ...odd. So if someone stole my phone and just put a screen lock and I was able to recover it I would still have to do a factory reset? With no way to recover my data?? I also have couple things that are specifically set up with my Samsung Galaxy S22 for the two-factor authentication and having problems signing into certain work related stuff as well.
I'm literally looking for solutions and it seems like its a NOT an uncommon issue since couple years ago just from googling.
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I've went far as to look into the Korean Samsung community and it looks like it's happening to a lot of people just a month before as well! The things I want to highlight is that it seems like it was a Samsung Update Issue and people commenting about the icon which looks like an upside down of an android's head with rain in a circle (also saying an icon that looks like a tomato). It seems like Samsung hasn't been able to find a solution for it. But few or some people were successfully able to have it resolved because the motherboard/mainboard(?) was removed and transferred it to a phone for data recovery. Definitely frustrating but kind of reassuring knowing I am not the only one experiencing this issue.
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I understand backing up data is highly suggested but being locked out from the password that you HADN'T set up yourself and NOT knowing whether it's your end (for instance forgetting password) or the Samsung Update Issue/Bug Issue is very frustrating. And what was the point of setting up Smart Switch and all that if I cannot use it to recover data or help in any way to recover my data.
Please. Still looking for solutions so anything would be useful. I will likely try to get in touch with Samsung again after reading the Samsung issue people have experienced last month in Korea...
