Category filter
How to Remove Password from a Device?
The Clear Password remote action allows IT administrators to remove the lock screen password, PIN, or pattern from enrolled devices. This ensures corporate data remains accessible when users forget their credentials or leave the organization without unlocking their devices.
Technical Overview and Requirements
The Clear Password action functions differently depending on the operating system and management mode. It is designed to bypass local authentication to regain device access.
Platform Support
- iOS: All supported versions.
- visionOS: Version 1.1 and later.
- Android: Version 7.0 and later (requires Android Enterprise).
Essential Prerequisites
Before executing the remote action, ensure the following conditions are met:
- Android Enterprise: Devices must be enrolled in Android Enterprise with the latest Hexnode for Work app.
- Password Token: For Android 7.0+ devices, the Password Token must be activated within the Hexnode for Work app at least once.
- Lock-out Period: If a device is disabled due to excessive incorrect attempts, the remote action can only be executed after the device’s native lock-out timer expires.
How to Clear a Device Password
Follow these steps to remotely remove the lock screen credentials from the Hexnode UEM console.
Execution Steps
- Log in to your Hexnode console.
- Navigate to Manage > Devices.
- Select the checkbox(es) for the specific device(s) requiring a password reset.
- Click on the Actions button and navigate to Security.
- Select Clear Password.
The command is sent immediately. Once received by the device, the existing password, PIN, or pattern will be removed.
Platform-Specific Behavior
| Platform | Management Mode | Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| iOS / visionOS | All | Removes the device passcode entirely. |
| Android | Device Owner | Removes the device-wide lock screen password/PIN/pattern. |
| Android | Profile Owner | Only removes the password for the Work Profile; the personal space remains unaffected. |
If a Password Policy is currently associated with the device via Hexnode, the Hexnode app will immediately prompt the user to set a new password once the old one is cleared.
Troubleshooting Guides
| Problem | Resolution |
|---|---|
| “Clear Password” action is failing on Android 7.0+ devices. | Ensure the Hexnode for Work app is updated to the latest version and that the Password Token was activated on the device prior to the lockout. |
| Action cannot be performed while the device is “Disabled”. | Wait for the device’s native security time-out (cooldown period) to end. The portal can only communicate the clear command once the device is back in an active state. |
| Only the Work Profile was unlocked, not the device. | On Android devices enrolled as Profile Owner, Hexnode only has the authority to clear the password for the encrypted Work container, not the entire device. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does “Clear Password” delete any data on the device?
No. This action only removes the authentication layer (PIN/Password/Pattern). No local files, apps, or configurations are deleted.
Can the password be cleared if the device is offline?
The command is queued in the Hexnode portal. The password will be cleared as soon as the device reconnects to the internet (Wi-Fi or Cellular).
What happens if a policy requires a password?
If a Hexnode policy is active, the device will remain unlocked only momentarily before the Hexnode app forces the user to create a new credential that meets the policy’s complexity requirements.
