Unlock screen options for the Samsung Galaxy S5

By default, the Samsung Galaxy S5 just needs a little swipe to wake up from the lock screen, but anyone with even a tiny sense of security will want something more. The S5 offers a bunch of different ways to keep your device locked when not in use

How to set a fingerprint or password lock on the Samsung Galaxy S5

  • Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the settings gear icon in the top-right.
  • Tap the Lock Screen icon that should be near the top, in the Quick Settings section.
  • Tap the Screen Lock item at the top of the following screen.
  • Tap the unlock mechanism you would like to use: swipe (a quick left-to-right gesture), pattern (where you draw a pattern on a 9-point grid which must be recreated to unlock), fingerprint (which uses the fingerprint-scanning home button at the bottom of the device), PIN number, or a regular text password.
  • Each one of these methods have their own set-up process, which is presented in the following pop-up windows. Most methods will require you to enter the code twice, and sometimes you'll need to include an alternative password for when the primary method doesn't work.
  • After setting up your unlock type, scroll to the bottom of the Lock screen section, and tap Lock automatically in order to set how long the Samsung Galaxy S5 waits after a screen has shut off to require an unlock password.

If you need to update your fingerprint scan or authorize additional users, find the Finger Scanner section within settings. From there, you can also set an alternative password.

Be sure to check our tips on keeping the screen active too, as well as our other Galaxy S5 help guides. There's also the Galaxy S5 forums if your particular issue isn't solved there. And be sure to read our complete Galaxy S5 review!

Personally, I'm a big fan of the fingerprint sensor, though the ergonomics don't always work out for everyone, and sometimes it takes multiple swipes to work. What's your favorite way of unlocking your device? How long do you set your lock timeout for?