Earlier today, my Samsung Galaxy phone that I spent so long saving up for was stolen by a man and right now it’s locked. Luckily, I have a very hard password so they can’t just get in. However, the thing is the person who stole it PROBABLY shut it down. I had both a Samsung account and a Google account on the phone, but I had the the WiFi turned off. I set up SmartThings Find before so now it can be occasionally tracked when it’s offline with the help of other devices if they’re nearby.
1- If the person who stole it tries to shut it down, would he be able to? It was locked with a pin, but it wasn’t in lockdown mode (which is the mode that I know for not letting you shut down the phone when it’s locked). Does it also not allow you to shut it down when you’re not in this lockdown mode?
2- If the person who stole the phone formats it, will I lose my ability to track the phone using SmartThings Find’s Offline Finding? I know for sure that they won’t be able to use the phone after formatting it since I had a Samsung/Google account signed in, but I don’t know if the ability to use SmartThings Find would work after the phone gets formatted
3- What is the best course of action? The police in my country are literally useless. My brother lost his phone once before and when he filed a police report, they didn’t even try getting it back even though he provided the IMEI number, the phone number and all relevant details. I thought about tracking the phone down from a vehicle and following it until I narrow down who took it (SmartThings Find gives me a location approximately every 10-60 minutes), then try getting it back by myself with the help of a couple buff friends once we find out who has it (my plan was to keep following the location of the phone until we see a familiar face that had been in the same location of the phone every time), but I don’t know how realistic that plan is.
- If they format the phone, will they be able to access my data afterwards? I remember this being possible on old phones, as back in 2015 I think I had the ability to literally pull all previous images on any phone using an application. Is this possible for newer phones? My phone was released in 2022 or 2023.
Please help. This is very urgent. I have all of my schoolwork on the phone and I use it for many services. I’m approaching my high school finals exam but now this will be a struggle to me.
Stealing a cellphone after the 2000 is f stupid. I know at least 2 people processed for using old phones from the lost & found (after 3 years from the found)
afaik, you cant turn off the phone without the password, but that may be a setting that i have set, and im pretty sure wifi and data are the same. as for evrything protected, wouldnt know myself as i havent tested those, but everyone else seems to be saying that youre data is fine
That settings can stop power off without PIN, but if you just long press the power off combination key (eg. Side key + vol up key) for 10-15 sec, it will force power off without any PIN. Try it.
didnt know that, interesting. will definitely try it
I might be wrong but I think the thief will be able to reset/reformat the phone after so many failed tries at unlocking the phone…the phone will just assume you lost or cannot remember your password and will eventually show them a reset prompt…so it will be wiped clean
No, of it’s Google/FRP locked it will be locked after a reset. Which can be unlocked with bit of effort or taken to a phone shop.
I would recommend figuring out for sure the location of your phone, if it is in a pretty bad neighborhood cons8der it lost. If it is in a ok place go there and make sure the place is open or someone is there from afar. Call the police and let them know you are looking for help to retrieve some personal property and that you just want them to escort you while you retrieve it.
Lol @ call police
Nope, if they reset it all of your data will be cleared and it’ll be a paperweight because it’s FRP locked and Samsung locked. FRP can be bypassed if the phone isn’t running the most up-to-date play services but I doubt it. It’s near impossible to bypass the Samsung lock as it’s tied with Knox. Your data is safe.
You’d like to believe that but there’s lots of tools for FRP bypassing. Your data might be safe but the phone willost likely be working again in a few days and being used by someone else.
Thats FRP, Samsung Knox Guard is significantly harder to bypass.
Sure, where did I say Knox is easy to bypass?
If you get passed FRP, you’ll have to get passed the Samsung lock next.
Why they hell you keep mentioning knox? Knox is an enterprise solution, via active subscription and onboarding. Knox has nothing to do with FRP or anything. Knox guard devices have to be enrolled using KME/KC or another KG console and have a valid license tied to it.
Under for everyone section on Samsungs website
Typical Reddit, downvotes the truth because they can’t handle it.
This is the only right answer
Your data is safe if they can’t guess your password. They can try to reset it or flash it, but that’s just going to lock it via FRP. While that may sound good, most thieves would probably just toss it in a drawer or in the trash at that point. Keep checking the location, but without the help of your local police, I would highly advise against confronting the person.
It’s very, very unfortunate, but it’s most likely gone.
What does FRP stand for?
Factory Reset Protection
FRP can be bypassed by software. They’ll sell it for pennies on the dollar to some repair shop who will flash a new firmware on it and sell it.
you could get shot
I don’t know how, but my S23 got stolen and the thief was able to factory reset it without tripping Knox. I know because I found it on Facebook Marketplace a few days after the theft. The photos showed they had successfully wiped it clean.
I couldn’t lock it via Samsung or Google before I lost connection to it, maybe that’s related?
It’s possible. At the end you’re only sideloading to get in.