This method requires a PC and a rooted Android device that can be recognized by ADB. That means that you will have to have had USB debugging enabled before the device was damaged (unless you have a custom recovery installed).
So far, I can confirm that this method works on both the Nexus 4 and 5, both the HTC One M7 and M8 (Google Play Edition and Sense-based variants), and the OnePlus One, but your mileage may vary.
Note that if your screen if fine, but you simply can't remember your pattern, go ahead and guess incorrectly. After 5 attempts, you'll have the option to enter your Google credentials to gain access to your device.
Step 1: Flash a Custom Recovery
Since your
device is already rooted, I will assume you have an unlocked bootloader
as well, so installing a custom recovery like TWRP will be a piece of cake. To get started, plug your device into your computer and restart it into bootloader mode by pressing and holding down the Power and Volume Down button for 15 seconds.
Now that you are at the bootloader menu, you can download TWRP and flash it through command/terminal. fastboot flash recovery location-of-TWRP.img
After the flash completes, reboot your device into bootloader mode: fastboot reboot-bootloader
Step 2: Reboot into TWRP
Now that your device has TWRP installed, you will need to reboot into Recovery Mode. To do that, select HBOOT from the bootloader menu, then select Recovery.
Step 3: Check Your Connection
After TWRP has started, make sure ADB can still read your device by running the device list ADB command: adb devices
If ADB does not recognize your Android, you will need to restart the service by killing and restarting the ADB server: adb kill-server adb usb
Now you will need to reconnect your device to your computer and re-run the adb devices command.
Step 4: Erase Pattern Security
You are now all
set to remove the pattern lock from your device. This command is also
entered from the command window, but it will not provide a confirmation message that it has completed successfully. adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key
You can now restart your device by first holding down the Power button until your device powers down, then power it on like normal.
Step 5: Retrieving Your Data
Your device will
now be free of its pattern lock, even though the secure lock screen is
still active. Despite showing the security pattern prompt, your computer
will still be able to read the contents of your internal storage
through Android File Transfer (for Mac) or Windows Explorer.
With
access to your files, you are free to download and back up all of your
data before trashing your device for an upgrade or sending it for
repair. As I said earlier, this can be used by thieves to gain access to
your data, so if that worries you, I would suggest switching to the
traditional PIN code security method.
Did this method help you retrieve data from a broken device? Let us know in the comments,
Nova Launcher updated on the Google Play Store
with several improvements, bug fixes and Lollipop style drawer. The new
drawer update now works older Android phone that showing the drawer as
cards made very thing look stickier than ever. You can't do better than
this one.
Nova Launcher
is the best launcher out there with tons of customization, constant
updates and new features. This third party launcher puts the best
android interface and can be so customizable with full-featured and yet
use less RAM and generally work better than the stock launcher on most
devices.
If you want or need an alternative to what already comes on your phone
or tablet, this is probably the smoothest and most customizable.
Customization like crazy with loyalty to the overall android feel and
you can use it on your phone or tablet. It's available for free and does
everything you'd want from a launcher. And if you enjoy it you can get
the paid version with more features that called Nova Launcher Prime.
Most other launchers on the market change all of your system menus so
that there special features are the first thing you pop into, or nag you
about downloading other programs for their launchers. Nova Launcher
keeps everything clean. Most of your menu's stay intact and you can do
anything you can do on the stock without going through several extra.
Overall, Nova Launcher is the most feature packed launcher available.
Stock android look and performance with many great additional features.
Just strikes a perfect balance. It's superb launcher then any other,
most customizable launcher available. No adds, no glitches, no lag.
Here is the list what's new in Nova Launcher 3.3 on Android:
- Lollipop style drawer (Settings - Drawer - Show Pages as Cards)
- Renamed old Circle animation to Circle Wipe, new Lollipops style Circle animation
- Fixes and optimizations
The update is live right now if you have the app installed and if you've
been waiting to grab the latest APK file, now is the time to do.
the below codes will work on most Android devices,
subject to carrier restrictions.
These codes are mostly universal, and should work on Android
devices,
no matter the manufacturer. There might still be carrier
restrictions on certain codes though, so they're not all guaranteed to
work.
*#06# - IMEI (International Mobile Station
Equipment Identity) number - essential in case your device is
stolen and you want to block the thief from accessing your network
*#*#7594#*#* -Make Power button turn off your device without displaying menu
*#*#4636#*#* - Display information about phone, battery, usage and WiFi
*#*#7780#*#* - Factory reset (deletes app data and apps, not firmware)
*2767*3855# - Complete phone wipe, including firmware (not to be used lightly!)
*#*#273283*255*663282*#*#* - Back up all your photos and videos
*#*#1472365#*#* - Test your GPS
*#*#1234#*#* - Display phone firmware and PDA info
You can access the above screen on most Android devices by entering *#*#4636#*#* on the dialpad. /
