Android 6.0, 6.0.1 Marshmallow Update Locking Out Some Samsung Galaxy S7, S6, Note 5, Note 4 Users

Going by multiple user complaints, comments and reports from various sources, users of Samsung Galaxy S7, Galaxy S6, Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy Note 4 are facing issues with regard to passwords and fingerprints after updating to Android 6.0 / 6.0.1 Marshmallow.

After downloading and installing the Marshmallow update, the device does not accept the login password or recognize the fingerprint. This means users are getting locked out of their own devices.

SamMobile, citing a Reddit thread, says Galaxy S7, Galaxy S6, Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy Note 4 owners that are updating their devices to Marshmallow “for the first time” now are seeing this problem. The same Reddit thread says Galaxy S5 and Edge variants of S6 and S7 are also facing the same issue.

However, this problem is not affecting all the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S6, Note 5, Note 4 users. But then, the number of people facing the problem must be substantial enough as this is being discussed widely online.

Meanwhile, SamMobile has a workaround to fix this problem temporarily. Prior to installing the Android 6.0 / 6.0.1 Marshmallow update, device users are advised to “remove the password and fingerprint login.”

However, if the handset users have already installed the update and are locked out at this point, the issue can be fixed by heading to “findmymobile.samsung.com.” Here, device users can first lock and then, unlock the handset. However, in order to log into this site, Galaxy device users may need a Samsung account specific to the device in focus.

In case, the device owner does not have a Samsung account, the only option is to talk to Samsung customer care representatives.

Meanwhile, a Reddit user says this lock out issue could be because “the encryption is on by default for all phones above a certain spec threshold,” after updating to Marshmallow.