The Infinix Hot 12 phone suddenly stopped accepting the correct pattern or PIN code, and after an emergency reboot, the device asked for confirmation of the previously synchronized Google account, completely blocking login. This problem often occurs due to a glitch in the XOS firmware, random lockouts after repeatedly entering incorrect data, or changes in security settings by third-party applications. In this guide, we will look at proven ways to unlock your smartphone without losing important data and violating warranty conditions.
It is important to understand that modern smartphones based on Android 12 and higher have serious data protection mechanisms. The company Infinix, like other manufacturers, is implementing a multi-level security system, including biometrics, graphic keys and linking to Google account. Before taking drastic measures such as a complete data reset, it is worth trying less destructive methods. However, if you completely forget your PIN code, you will have to prepare for the loss of information stored in the internal memory of the device.
This article covers a range of solutions: from using the "Find device" function to entering the mode Recovery Mode. We will look at the nuances of working with the interface XOS 12, the features of resetting the FRP lock (Factory Reset Protection) and give recommendations for preventing similar situations in the future. Remember that you perform any manipulations with the firmware or system settings at your own peril and risk, so follow the instructions carefully.
Using the Google "Find Device" service
The most civilized and easiest way to unlock Infinix Hot 12without losing your photos and contacts is to use a cloud service from Google. This method will only work if several critical conditions are met: the phone must be turned on, connected to the Internet (via Wi-Fi or a mobile network), and a Google account must be activated on it with geolocation enabled. If these requirements are met, you can remotely change the screen lock password.
First, go from any other device (computer or friend's phone) to the official website of the service android.com/find. Log in using the same Google accountthat is used on the blocked Infinix. The system will automatically detect the location of your gadget and offer several actions: play sound, lock the device or clear data. We are interested in the blocking function.
By clicking on the "Lock device" button, you will see a field for entering a new temporary password. Enter any combination of numbers that you definitely remember and confirm the action. Within a few minutes, the new code is synchronized with your smartphone. After this, you can enter it on the lock screen Infinix Hot 12 and access the system. This method is the most secure for the safety of your personal files.
If the lock feature does not work, try selecting the "Wipe device" option first. This will delete all data but will remove the screen lock. However, after this you may be required to enter your Google account password (FRP).
⚠️ Attention: If your phone is offline (turned off or without a network), the unlock command will only be executed the next time the device is connected to the Internet. Don't expect instant results if your smartphone is lying at home with a dead battery.
It is worth noting that in the latest Android security updates, the remote unlock feature via “Find My Device” was partially limited in some regions to increase privacy. If you don't see an option to change the password, but only clear data, then your firmware version or security settings do not support a soft reset. In this case, proceed to the following sections of the instructions.
Resetting settings through the Recovery menu (Hard Reset)
When cloud methods are not available, the only working option is a forced factory reset, known as Hard Reset. This procedure completely erases all user information: contacts, messages, applications and media files, returning the phone to its “out of the box” state. For Infinix Hot 12 the process of entering recovery mode has its own characteristics associated with the combination of physical buttons.
Before starting the procedure, make sure that the battery charge is at least 30-40%. A sudden power cut during a reset can damage system files and render your phone bricked. Turn off your smartphone completely. If the device freezes and does not respond to presses, hold down the power button for 10-15 seconds to force a reboot and immediately proceed to the next step.
Press the volume up button (Volume Up) and the power button (Power) at the same time. Hold them until the logo Infinixappears. Once the logo appears, release the Power button, but continue to hold the Volume key until the android image with "No command" or the recovery menu appears. If you see "No command", hold down the power button and briefly press the volume up button to bring up the menu.
☑️ Preparing for Hard Reset
In the menu Recovery Mode control is carried out by the volume buttons (up/down to move) and the power button (to confirm the selection). Find the item Wipe data/factory reset and confirm it by pressing the power button. The system will ask you to confirm the action, since this is an irreversible process. Select Factory data reset and wait for the formatting process to complete. After completion, select the option Reboot system now.
| Action | Control buttons | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Enter Recovery | Vol + + Power |
Loading the recovery menu |
| Navigation to menu | Vol + / Vol - |
Move through menu items |
| Confirm selection | Power |
Execute the selected command |
| Exit "No Command" | Power (hold) + Vol + (click) |
A list of options appears |
Hard Reset is an extreme measure. It is guaranteed to remove the screen password, but activates FRP protection, which requires entering Google account data during the first setup.
Bypassing FRP (Google Account Verification) lock
After performing a factory reset via Recovery, modern Infinix Hot 12 will confront you with the Google account verification screen. This is a security system FRP (Factory Reset Protection)designed to protect the owner’s data in the event of theft of the device. The phone will require you to enter the email and password for the account that was synchronized with the device before the reset. If you remember these details, there will be no problems.
However, if you bought the phone second-hand, forgot your email password or your account was deleted, you will fall into the FRP trap. Officially, you can bypass this protection only by submitting the purchase receipt to the service center Infinix, where employees will remove the blocking using special server tools. Unofficial methods often described online include using browser vulnerabilities or special bypass applications, but these are constantly closed by security updates.
There is a method of connecting to a PC to reset the FRP using special utilities such as SamFw Tool or UnlockToolwhich sometimes support processors MediaTekinstalled in Infinix. To do this, you need to enable USB debugging (if it is available through the accessibility menu) and connect your phone to your computer. But it’s worth fair warning: with each update of Google security patches, the number of working free methods tends to zero. XOS, the number of working free methods tends to zero.
⚠️ Attention: Using third-party software to crack FRP may be considered a violation of the license agreement and the law. In addition, downloading unverified “unblockers” from forums carries a high risk of infecting your computer with viruses.
If none of the methods work and the receipt is lost, the only legal way is to contact an authorized service center. Specialists will require proof of ownership of the device. Attempts to flash a phone using “handicraft” methods often result in the device’s IMEI being lost, and the phone losing the ability to work in cellular networks, turning into a pocket Wi-Fi player.
Why is FRP so difficult to bypass?
The FRP system stores the account hash in a protected memory section (persist partition), which is not cleared when normal Factory Reset. Access to this partition is closed at the bootloader level, which makes a soft reset impossible without special developer keys.
Unlocking via USB debugging (ADB)
This method is only suitable for advanced users and only works if the option was enabled on the locked one Infinix Hot 12 prior to the locking. USB debugging in the "For Developers" menu. If this feature was disabled by default (and it is in 99% of cases), this method is useless. However, if you are lucky, you can delete the lock key file via your computer.
You will need to install the package ADB Drivers and tools Platform-toolson your computer. Connect your phone to PC via the original USB cable. Open a command line (cmd) or a terminal in the ADB tools folder and enter the command to check the connection:
adb devicesIf a device with status deviceappears in the list, then the connection is established. Next, you can try to delete the files responsible for the pattern or pin code. Enter the following command:
adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.keyOr, to remove the digital password:
adb shell rm /data/system/password.keyAfter executing the command, restart your phone. Often after such a procedure, the system allows you to enter any password, or the lock screen disappears completely, allowing you to configure a new code in the settings. Please note that on Android 12 and newer, the structure of security files has become more complex, and deleting one file may not be enough due to data encryption.
It's also worth mentioning the command to reboot into recovery mode directly via ADB if the physical buttons on your Infinix are faulty:
adb reboot recoveryThis can save the situation if The volume button is stuck or cannot be pressed. However, remember that this method requires preliminary setup, which rarely anyone does on a new phone “just in case.”
Service codes and engineering menu
Many users are looking for magic codes that can be entered into the emergency call screen to unlock the phone. It is important to clarify immediately: there is no universal service code for resetting the lock screen password on modern Infinix smartphones. Codes like ##7780## or #0# work only within the active system and require unlocking to access them.
Engineering menu MediaTek, available on many Infinix models, does allow you to test hardware and change some network parameters, but it does not have a "Master Reset" feature without confirming the password. Attempts to enter reset codes from old manuals for feature phones or early versions of Android will not lead to any result other than irritation from endless input errors.
The only thing that the engineering menu can offer in the context of unlocking is checking the functionality of the sensor. If your phone does not respond to entering a password due to the fact that the “dead zone” of the screen coincides with the code numbers, you can check the sensor in the menu Engineering Mode (login is often done through the app EngineerMode, if installed, or through special combinations depending on the version XOS). But this will not remove the password itself, but only diagnose the input problem.
⚠️ Attention: Be careful with applications from Google Play that promise to “unlock any phone in 5 minutes.” At best, they are useless, at worst, they contain malicious code that steals your data from other devices.
If you suspect that the problem is not a forgotten password, but a software glitch (for example, the phone locked itself), perform a soft reboot or check for system updates if you have access to the notification shade. But in most cases, “magic codes” are a myth created by clickbait sites.
Prevention and safety tips
To avoid ending up in the situation described above, it is extremely important to maintain digital hygiene. Regularly sync your contacts and important data to the cloud. Use password managers to store complex combinations instead of relying on your memory. For Infinix Hot 12 an excellent solution is to set up biometric unlocking (fingerprint or Face ID) as an additional method, but do not forget that they do not replace the main PIN code completely.
Be sure to write down your Google account information on paper and store it in a safe place. The purchase receipt should also be saved electronically (photographed) immediately after purchasing the device. This is the only document that will help you prove ownership to the service center when FRP is triggered.
Regularly check the functionality of the “Find Device” function. Go to Google Settings and make sure the switch is enabled. Test its operation by trying to call the phone from another device or determining its location through the web interface. Such simple steps can save you hours of hassle and money in the future.
The best protection against being blocked is a backup copy of your data and a written down password for your Google account. No technical reset will replace lost photos without backup.
Remember that the software is constantly updated. What worked on Android 10 may already be fixed in Android 12. Therefore, always check the information with official sources or current forums dedicated to the specific model of your smartphone.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will Hard Reset delete all my photos and contacts?
Yes, performing a reset via the Recovery menu (Wipe data/factory reset) completely deletes all user data from the phone's internal memory. Contacts saved in the SIM card or synchronized with a Google account will not be affected, but everything that was stored only in the device’s memory will be lost forever.
What should I do if the phone asks for a Google account that I don’t remember?
This is FRP protection. You need to restore access to this account through the Google website on another device ("Forgot your password" function). If recovery is not possible, the only legal way is to contact the service center with a purchase receipt to remove the lock.
Is it possible to unlock Infinix Hot 12 without data loss?
Without data loss, this is only possible if the “Find Device” function is enabled and the phone is connected to the Internet. In this case, you can change the password remotely. In all other cases (forgotten pattern key, system failure), resetting the settings will inevitably lead to data deletion.
Why, after resetting, does the phone require you to enter the old screen password?
On some versions of Android and shells (including early builds of XOS), there is a data protection function that requires confirmation of the last used locking method (PIN, pattern) after a reboot, even if there was reset completed. This is done to protect against theft when a thief resets but does not know the old code.
Is it safe to use apps to reset FRP from a computer?
Using unofficial software carries risks. You can damage the bootloader, get a virus on your PC, or permanently block your device (soft brick). In addition, such actions may violate the terms of the warranty. It is recommended to use only official methods or services of certified services.