How to Fix LG Phone Secure Startup Password 30 Attempts Remaining Lock Screen

If your LG phone is showing a message that says “Enter Password to Unlock 30/30 Attempts Remaining,” it means a security feature called Secure Startup is active. This is not an error, but a deep system lock that requires a specific PIN to boot the phone and decrypt its data.

This guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough to understand this feature, explore all possible solutions without losing your data, and, as a last resort, reset the device and permanently disable the feature to regain access.

Understanding LG’s Secure Startup

Secure Startup is a security layer on older LG phones designed to protect your information at the most fundamental level. Think of your phone’s data as being stored in a locked safe. Your normal screen lock (the PIN, pattern, or password you use every day) is a key to the door of the room where the safe is kept. Secure Startup, however, is a separate, special key required to unlock the safe itself.

This feature is tied directly to a technology called full-disk encryption (FDE). On devices with FDE, all the data on the phone’s internal storage—your photos, apps, messages, and contacts—is scrambled into unreadable code. The Secure Startup PIN is the one and only password that can unscramble this data when the phone turns on. Without this specific PIN, the phone’s operating system, Android, cannot even begin to load. This is why it is such a powerful security tool. If someone steals your phone, they cannot simply reset it or connect it to a computer to steal your files because the data remains scrambled and inaccessible without that initial PIN.

This differs significantly from your Google account password or your regular screen lock PIN. Those security measures operate within the Android operating system. Secure Startup works before Android even boots up. This is a critical distinction because it means that tools like Google’s “Find My Device” cannot be used to remotely change or remove the Secure Startup PIN. Google’s services only start working after the phone has successfully started and connected to the internet, which cannot happen while it is stuck on the Secure Startup screen.

Why Does This Lock Occur?

Seeing this screen can be confusing, especially if you do not remember ever enabling it. There are several common reasons why your LG phone is asking for this specific password. Understanding the cause can help you find the quickest solution.

You Purchased a Used Device

This is the most frequent cause. The previous owner of the phone likely enabled Secure Startup for their own security. When they sold the phone, they may have performed a simple reset without first going into the security settings to disable the feature. Because the feature is tied to the phone’s hardware encryption, it persists through a standard reset. The PIN you are being asked for is the one the original owner created.

You Enabled it and Forgot

When you first set up your LG phone or when you created a screen lock, a prompt may have appeared asking if you wanted to “Require PIN to start device.” It’s easy to select “OK” without fully realizing the implications. If you set this PIN a long time ago, it is understandable that you may have forgotten it, especially if you do not restart your phone often.

It is an Older LG Model with Default Encryption

Some older LG smartphones running earlier versions of Android had full-disk encryption enabled by default. On these devices, setting any kind of screen lock (like a PIN or pattern) might have automatically activated the Secure Startup feature as part of the phone’s core security design. Newer Android versions (Android 10 and up) moved to a different method called file-based encryption, which does not rely on this type of startup PIN, making the feature obsolete on modern phones.

Confusion Between Different PINs

It is easy to confuse the Secure Startup PIN with other passwords. A phone can have multiple PINs: the SIM card PIN, the screen lock PIN, and the Secure Startup PIN. They are all separate. The PIN for your SIM card unlocks your connection to the cellular network. The screen lock PIN unlocks the device from a sleep state. The Secure Startup PIN is only used when the phone is first powered on from a completely off state.

Solutions Before a Factory Reset

Before taking the drastic step of erasing your phone, there are a few methods you should try first. These steps offer the only chance of unlocking your device without losing all of your personal data. A factory reset should always be your last resort.

Method 1: Contact the Previous Owner

If you bought the phone secondhand, your best and most direct path to a solution is to contact the person or store you bought it from. The PIN being requested is the one they set. Politely explain the situation: the phone is asking for a startup PIN, and you cannot access it. Ask them if they remember the PIN they used for the “Secure Startup” or “Require PIN to start device” feature. It is possible they simply forgot to disable it before selling the device to you. This is the most hopeful scenario, as getting the correct PIN is the only way to unlock the phone and access your data.

Method 2: Contact Your SIM Carrier

If you received the phone directly from a mobile carrier like Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile (especially if it is a carrier-locked device), their customer support might be able to help. In some rare cases, carriers have access to master codes or procedures for the devices they sell. When you contact them, be prepared to prove your identity and ownership of the device. You will likely need your account information and the phone’s IMEI number, which can sometimes be found printed on the SIM tray. While this is not a guaranteed solution, it is a worthwhile step to take before you consider erasing the device.

The Last Resort: A Full Factory Reset

If you cannot get the PIN from a previous owner and your carrier cannot help, the only remaining option is to perform a factory reset. It is crucial to understand what this means: this process will permanently erase all data on your phone. Your photos, videos, contacts, text messages, and downloaded apps will all be deleted. If you have irreplaceable data on the device, you might consider consulting a professional data recovery service, but be aware that this is very expensive and has no guarantee of success due to the encryption.

This process is broken down into four main stages: entering recovery mode to initiate the reset, bypassing Google’s Factory Reset Protection (FRP), disabling the Secure Startup feature to prevent the lock from reappearing, and completing the phone setup.

Stage 1: Reset Your Device to Factory Settings

First, you need to force the phone into a special maintenance mode to trigger the reset.

1. Power Off Your Device. Press and hold the Power button. When the menu appears on the screen, tap “Power off” and wait for the phone to shut down completely.
2. Enter System Recovery. This requires a specific button combination. Press and hold both the Power button and the Volume Down button at the same time.
3. Continue Holding. Keep both buttons pressed until the LG logo appears on the screen. The moment you see the logo, release the Power button for just one second, then immediately press and hold it again. Continue holding the Volume Down button the entire time.
4. Navigate the Recovery Menu. If done correctly, you will see a white screen with text options. This is the system recovery menu. Use the Volume Down button to move the selection highlight down the list. Navigate to the option that says “Factory data reset.”
5. Select the Option. Press the Power button to select the highlighted “Factory data reset” option.
6. Confirm the Reset. The phone will ask for confirmation because this action cannot be undone. Use the Volume Down button to highlight “Yes,” and then press the Power button to confirm. You may be asked to confirm a second time. Again, highlight “Yes” and press the Power button. The phone will now begin erasing all its data.

Stage 2: Bypass Factory Reset Protection (FRP) Lock

After the reset is complete, the phone will restart. However, you will face another security barrier called Factory Reset Protection (FRP). This is a Google feature that prevents a thief from using your phone after resetting it. It requires you to sign in with the last Google account that was active on the device. If you do not know the previous owner’s Google account, you will need to bypass this lock.

1. Begin Setup. Start the phone’s initial setup process. When prompted, connect to a Wi-Fi network.
2. Reach the Google Account Screen. Proceed through the setup screens until you reach the one that asks you to “Verify your account” by entering a Google email.
3. Access Keyboard Settings. On this screen, the keyboard will be visible. Tap the text field to ensure it is active. Look for a small keyboard icon or a “Change Keyboard” button, usually located in the bottom right corner of the navigation bar. Tap it.
4. Manage Keyboards. A menu will pop up. Select the option labeled “Manage keyboards.”
5. Open Gboard Settings. You will see a list of available keyboards. Find “Gboard” or “Google Keyboard” and long-press (press and hold) its name, not the toggle switch next to it. This should open the application settings for the keyboard.
6. Access Help & Feedback. In the top right corner of the settings screen, tap the three vertical dots to open a menu. Select “Help & feedback.”
7. Navigate to Application Settings. A list of help articles will appear. Select the article titled “Delete or disable apps on Android.” Within the text of this article, you will find a blue, hyperlinked sentence that says: “Tap to go to Application Settings.” Tap this link. This is a loophole that will take you directly to the main app management list for the entire phone.

Stage 3: Turn Off Secure Startup from System Settings

You are now inside the phone’s core settings, even though you have not finished the setup wizard. This is where you can finally disable the Secure Startup feature.

1. Find and Open Settings. Scroll through the list of all applications until you find “Settings.” Tap on it.
2. Open the Settings App. On the next screen, which shows the app info for Settings, tap the “Open” button. This will launch the phone’s main Settings menu.
3. Go to Security Settings. Navigate to the “Security” section. You may need to look for “Lock screen & security” or a similar name.
4. Set a New Screen Lock. Select “Fingerprints” or “Screen lock.” The phone will prompt you that you need to set a backup screen lock first. Tap “Next.”
5. Choose a PIN. Select “PIN” as your new screen lock type.
6. Decline Secure Startup. This is the most important step. A prompt will appear with the title “Secure start-up.” It will ask, “Require PIN to start device?” You must select “No, thanks.” This action tells the phone not to ask for a PIN on the next boot.
7. Create Your New PIN. Proceed to set a new, simple PIN that you will remember, such as 1234. Confirm it. You have now set a new screen lock PIN and, more importantly, have disabled the Secure Startup requirement.

Stage 4: Return to the Set-up Process

Now that the old lock is gone and a new one is set, you need to go back and finish the initial setup wizard.

1. Go Back. Repeatedly tap the “Back” button (usually a triangle or arrow in the navigation bar) to exit the Settings menu and return to the Wi-Fi setup or Google account screen where you started.
2. Continue Setup. Proceed with the setup process as normal.
3. Enter Your New PIN. The phone will eventually ask for a PIN to verify your identity. Instead of asking for a Google account, it may now ask for the device PIN. Enter the new PIN you just created (e.g., 1234).
4. Complete Setup. Because you entered the correct PIN, the setup wizard will now let you proceed. You will have the option to sign in to your own Google account or skip it. Complete the remaining steps, and you will soon arrive at the phone’s home screen. Your device is now unlocked and fully usable, and it will no longer ask for a PIN when you restart it.

Why Disabling Secure Startup is Important After a Reset

If you go through a factory reset but do not follow the steps to disable Secure Startup from the settings menu, you will get stuck in a loop. The phone will let you complete the initial setup once. However, the next time you restart your device, you will be greeted with the same “Enter Password to Unlock 30/30 Attempts Remaining” screen. The underlying setting was not changed. This is why it is essential to use the FRP bypass method to access the phone’s internal settings and explicitly turn off the “Require PIN to start device” option. Only then is the problem permanently solved.