You can't factory reset your Android phone without removing the Google account first. Here's what you need to do
Before Android OS version 5.1 (Lollipop), anyone who found your device could easily bypass the lock (numerical PIN or pattern) with a quick factory reset. To fix this, Google introduced Google verification or Factory Reset Protection.
While the introduction of factory reset protection is meant to make a lost-and-found device unusable, there’s a catch. This Android device protection feature can lock you out of your device if you can’t remember your login details, or buy a pre-owned device with an account still set up.
Here's what you need to do.
What Is Factory Reset Protection?
Factory Reset Protection (FRP) is a built-in security feature on Android devices with OS Version 5.1 (Lollipop) or higher. FRP is enabled automatically enabled when you set up a Google account on your Android device.
FRP prevents someone who tries to reset your phone from getting past the initial setup screen. It's an anti-theft measure that reduces the incentive to steal the device in the first place, since it effectively disables it. To use the phone, one has to log in using the Google username and password previously set up on the device.
How to Disable FRP to Bypass Google Account Verification
As mentioned, FRP is automatically enabled once you sign in to your phone using your Google account. To disable it, all you need to do is remove the Google account from your Android device.
Deactivating FRP is probably the easiest solution available to bypass Google verification. You should always do it if you plan to sell or give away your phone, or if you're buying a second-hand device check that the seller has removed their account before you buy.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Cloud and accounts (or Accounts on some brands).
- Select Accounts.
- Navigate to your Google account and tap on Remove account.
- Verify you want to remove your account by tapping on Remove account, or I agree (or whatever positive action you're prompted with).
How to Bypass Google Account Verification
There is no official way to bypass Google account verification, since it is an essential security feature. With most brands (especially the latest models) it can be difficult to bypass verification because many FRP bypass procedures are based on security issues that often get fixed with the latest Android security updates.
You can consider using some unlocking software found online. Some of these programs claim to be able to quickly unlock the screen by removing Android phone PIN, password, fingerprint, and pattern, although there's no guarantee that they will work.
So, if you bought a secondhand phone, we recommend asking the previous owner to unlock it for you before trying any FRP bypass procedure.
Bypassing Google Account Verification Isn’t Easy
Google account verification requires more than factory resetting an Android device to unlock it. The good news is that it's easy to avoid if you remove your account before you reset your phone and pass it on to someone else.
Another way you can get locked out of your phone is if you forget your Android passcode. Fortunately, there are some ways you can get back in again.
