One UI 9 makes major lock screen security change every Galaxy user needs to know

Key Points:

• Samsung's One UI 9.0 (Android 17) update introduces a stricter security policy that limits the number of incorrect PIN, password, or pattern attempts on Galaxy devices to 12 before a permanent lockout occurs on the 13th failed attempt, requiring a factory reset to regain access.
• The update enforces increasing lockout durations starting after the fifth failed attempt, ranging from one minute up to 24 hours by the 12th failed try, aiming to prevent brute-force attacks.
• Users primarily relying on biometric unlock methods must still remember their backup credentials, as Android periodically requires manual entry, and forgetting them could lead to a factory reset.
• One UI 9 clearly displays the remaining unlock attempts once the warning threshold is reached and does not count repeated incorrect entries of the same credential as multiple failures, helping prevent accidental lockouts.
• This policy applies only to Galaxy devices launching with One UI 9.0 preloaded, such as the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series and Galaxy Z Flip 8, with no current plans to extend it to older devices updated to One UI 9.