Forgot your phone code? Google's next step is going to save you

Google is testing a new beta feature for Android 17 that will allow users who have forgotten their lock code to unlock their device using their Google account, instead of performing a factory reset that erases all local data. The feature, identified in the beta version, is expected to be optional for security reasons.

Google is testing a new beta feature for Android 17, discovered in the version released last week, that will allow users who have forgotten their phone's lock code (PIN) to unlock it using their linked Google account credentials. Currently, the only way to regain access to a locked device is to perform a full factory reset, which deletes all photos, files, and local data not backed up to the cloud. The new feature, named "Unlock using Google account," is expected to appear under the device security menu and will allow users to avoid data loss. In the past, up to Android version 4.4, Google allowed pattern lock recovery via Google account, but the feature was removed from version 5.0. The new feature is expected to be completely optional due to security concerns: if someone gains physical access to the device and knows the Google password, they could enter the phone. The feature is not yet active in the current beta version, and Google has not yet announced an official release date.