How To Unlock Android (Sony Ericsson Xperia X10) After “Too many pattern attempts”
Android has a really nice security procedure that forces the user to enter his/her Gmail (Google account) username and password to unlock the handset, after several incorrect pattern entries have been recorded. Quite obviously this procedure has been put in place to prevent someone from brute forcing the unlock pattern. Unfortunately, the system is not as secure as it appears to be.
In some cases, possibly due to corruption of the stored data file, Android is known to reject the login information provided, even if it is correct. That’s what happened to me a short while back. Normally, the only way out would be to re-flash (reinstall the operating system) the device or to perform a factory reset. However, after doing a bit of digging I came across a surprisingly simple solution. The trick is to enter “null” (without quotes) as the password. In other words:
Userid = <enter your email id>
Password = null
The trick described above might not work for everyone. In that case you can try your luck with a firmware update/factory reset. Sony Ericsson users can download the Update Service application from here. If you have a HTC, Samsung or a Motorola handset, check out einartysen’s blog.
I am not sure if the problem is restricted to the Xperia X10 or not. Whatever be the case, the respective parties should fix this issue as soon as possible. Having “null” as password pretty much makes the entire security process redundant.
how to install firmware???
Hi,
I could not unlock the phone even after entering correct gmail info. I tried your suggestion re entering ‘null’ for the username and it worked! Thanks.
Mark
British Columbia, Canada
OMG!! this guy saved my life! i thought i had to wait longer! but goin 2 days without my super smartphone wasn’t so bad! but i felt incomplete! THANKS SO MUCH FOR HELPING ME PATTERN UNLOCKER
Hi
I am using this unlock tool to nlock my x8 but there was a problem with the user name and password… It says bad username and password..plz can any one help me to unlock it.
Thanks in advance.
In my previous reply, I meant entering ‘null’ for the *password*, not the username. I used the correct username.
Mark
i have try the null system but it cant unlock my X10. My wife mistakely locked my X10 by too many pattern attempts! I cant even use my phone to connect to the internet because i had not activited my gmail account before it happened. It can not be flashed because no system can communicate with it since i can not gain access to the screen were it will prompt me to Mount with a PC! My X10 cant be connected to my labtop or desktop because its locked. I only have my password to my sony ericsson forum! I just bought it November at Dubia. I live in Nigeria. What will i do to unlock it?
You can still flash it. Mount as USB has nothing to do with flash mode.
ugh have anybody answered you because im having same exact problem
Hey could you explain in a simpler method? i dont really understand, thanks.
if u can my friends to send instruction i m blocked plz plz
My little sister forgot her unlock pattern and it was not taking the gmail user information and i followed the null instructions and it unlocked her phone. She has the Sony Ericsson XperiaX10. Thank u so much for your help
Thanks for listing me as a source, that kind of honest behaviour ain’t standard on the Internet these days.
Nice blog!
Cheers /ET
i have been locked out of my x10 its not excepting my google acount isn’t working and the null cheat isn’t working what can i do??
It worked!!!!
My brother bought a Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 in San Francisco at a BestBuy store. They told him that the phone was unlocked and ready to use it. When he handed it to me here in Lima, Peru, I found that it was locked and with a AT & T logo on the back.
How can I unlock it? I have tried three unlocking companies through the Internet, but they said the phone is too new and that they don’t the unlock code yet.
Your help will be highly appreciated.
Best regards,
We can unlock this phone for you at unlocking.com . I’m surprised you couldn’t find another company to do this as it is one of our most popular phones that need to get unlocked.
Omg thank you so much, the null theory worked! Cheers!
Try logging in with your youtube account. It worked for me the first time i tried it, and nothing else worked
Excellent Tips. thanks a lot. This theory worked.
Hi,
Thanks for your information, it was quite helpful. After entering (null) in the password field it started working. I think Sony Ericsson and Andriod have to do something about this problem. It is not a good trick to unlock the phone from this kind of problem.
Many thanks.
Thanks for explaining how to do this! I agree that Sony Ericsson/Android better take a look at the issue soon and do the needful.
This sounds complicated, but there is another way. If you call your cell phone from another line, you can answer the call. If you end the call, the phone may have a glitch where you can see the home screen before it switches back to the unlock screen. When you end the call, you can use the touch screen to navigate to settings and disable the use of the pattern lock. It is a tedious process but keep calling your phone and you will eventually navigate far enough to disable your lock and you will be able to use the phone.
Thank you!!! this site really helped me to unlock my x10.
I was searching through google for my problem with my xperia x10 and I found this forum which should help me! Basically I forgot my pattern unlock and I tried it 5 times and I had to unlock it with my google account. I’ve tried 2 google accounts and they wont sign in and they work on my laptop! Its been locked all day and its not unlocking!
followed all suggested options, then my brother suggested i go to you tube and ask the same question (how to unlock sony xperia after too many pattern attempts) there was a whole list of videos that actually show you what to do…….and it freakin worked yay!!!!! (don’t let the kids play with your phone)
Null worked for me! Thanks brother! You saved me from a heart attack!
hi guys , In accidently my kids just done to many attempt on the pattren thing and it got locked . It was telling me to sign in for google mail. i even tried it , but it never worked .
could someone help me urgently and i even looked at the null method but i don,t really get it . please please help .
hi im rele struggling to try and get my bf phone unlocked for him none of the above has worked anymore suggestions???x
thanx man
thank you, thank u. i coudnt get my set unlockd from so many stores including d sony ericssion support center form my place. God bless u.
hi my ideot of a brother put a pass patten on and he does not remember the code and i do not have internet on it and when it askes me the secrity question i ancer but its wrong plz help
How do you find your username?