Enter the wrong PIN 13 times and your Galaxy phone is locked for good

Samsung is tightening unlock security on upcoming Galaxy phones with Android 17-based One UI 9.

After 13 failed PIN, pattern, or password attempts, the device will trigger a permanent lockout that requires a factory reset.

The update also adds longer wait times, on-screen warnings, and Smart Counting to reduce repeated identical guesses.

The change improves brute-force protection, but it also raises the risk of data loss if users forget their passcode or lack backups.