How to Change Your PIN on a Google Pixel 4A

To change your PIN on a Google Pixel 4a, open Settings, tap Security, tap Screen lock, enter your current PIN, tap PIN, then type the new PIN twice. The new PIN takes effect right away, and the old one stops working.

You need to know your current PIN to do this. If you have forgotten it, skip to the section on a forgotten PIN below, because the steps are very different and involve erasing the phone.

What You Need Before You Start

• Your current PIN. Google says that if a lock is already set, you have to enter your PIN, pattern, or password before you can pick a different lock.
• A new PIN you will remember. Google requires 4 or more numbers and recommends a 6 digit PIN for added security. Verizon lists the allowed range for this phone family as 4 to 16 digits.
• A minute without interruptions. The phone asks for the new PIN twice, and a typo on the second entry means starting that screen again.

This guide is about the screen lock PIN, the number you type to unlock the phone. A SIM PIN is a separate code that locks the SIM card from your carrier. It is covered in its own section further down, so make sure you are changing the right one.

How to Change the Screen Lock PIN on a Pixel 4a

The pictures in this section show a Pixel 4a running Android 11. Menu names on your phone can differ slightly depending on the Android version it has installed, and the differences are noted in the steps.

1. Swipe up on the Home screen to open the list of apps, then tap Settings. It is the gear icon.
2. Tap Security. On newer Pixel software this menu is called Security & privacy, and you then tap Device unlock (some carrier guides show it as Device lock).
3. Tap Screen lock. The small text under it shows the lock type in use now, so it should say PIN.
4. Enter your current PIN and confirm it. This proves that the person changing the lock is allowed to.
5. On the list of lock types, tap PIN. Choosing PIN again is how you replace the existing PIN with a new one.
6. Type the new PIN, then tap Next.
7. Type the same PIN again, then tap Confirm.
8. If the phone asks how notifications should appear on the lock screen, pick an option and tap Done. This prompt does not always appear.

These steps match Google’s own instructions in Set screen lock on your Pixel phone, which currently describe the path as Settings > Security & privacy > Device unlock > Screen lock.

How to Confirm the New PIN Works

Press the Power button on the right side of the phone to lock the screen, then press it again and swipe up. Type the new PIN. If the Home screen opens, the change worked.

Do this check right away, while the new number is fresh in your mind. A PIN you typed the same wrong way twice is still the PIN, and it is much easier to catch that now than a week from now.

There is no undo button for a PIN change. To go back to the old number, repeat the steps above and type the old PIN as the new one.

Other Screen Lock Choices on the Same Menu

The screen where you tap PIN also lists the other lock types. Google describes them this way:

Option	What it does	Protection
None	The phone stays unlocked	No protection
Swipe	Swipe across the screen to open the phone	No protection
Pattern	Draw a simple pattern with your finger	Standard lock
PIN	Enter 4 or more numbers (6 digits recommended)	Standard lock
Password	Enter 4 or more letters or numbers	Standard lock; Google calls a strong password the most secure option

Warning: choosing None or Swipe removes the lock from your phone, so anyone who picks it up can open it. Google also notes that your backups are only encrypted with your screen lock when you use a PIN, pattern, or password. Stay with one of those three unless you have a specific reason not to.

Next to Screen lock there is a gear icon. Google says the settings behind it include automatic lock timing, Power button locking, and a lock screen message. Those control how soon the phone asks for the PIN after the screen turns off.

How the PIN Works With the Fingerprint Sensor

The Pixel 4a has a fingerprint sensor on the back. Fingerprint unlock does not replace the PIN. Google calls the PIN your backup, and says you will need it sometimes even when a fingerprint is set up.

According to Google’s fingerprint unlock help page, the phone asks for the backup PIN, pattern, or password after:

• Your fingerprint isn’t recognized after a few tries.
• You restart the phone.
• You switch to a different user.
• More than 72 hours have passed since you last unlocked with the backup method.

This matters after a PIN change. If you mostly unlock with a finger, the first time you are asked for the new PIN could be days later, after a restart. That is another reason to test the new PIN right after setting it.

Changing the SIM PIN Instead

A SIM PIN locks the SIM card so it can’t be used for calls or data until the code is entered, usually when the phone starts up. It is off unless you or your carrier turned it on, and it has nothing to do with the code that unlocks the screen.

Warning: entering the wrong SIM PIN too many times blocks the SIM card. You then need a PUK (PIN Unblocking Key), a longer code that only your carrier can give you. Do not guess a SIM PIN. If you do not know the current one, contact your carrier first.

Verizon’s support page for the Pixel 4a lists these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Security, then Advanced settings, then SIM card lock.
3. Make sure the Lock SIM card switch is on.
4. Tap Change SIM PIN and follow the prompts. You enter the current SIM PIN first, then the new one twice.

Google’s Pixel help also lists SIM card lock among the advanced security settings, but it does not publish step-by-step instructions for it, so the exact wording can vary by carrier and Android version.

If You Forgot Your Current PIN

You cannot change a PIN you do not know from the Settings app, and Google does not offer a way to look it up or reset it by email. Google’s Can’t unlock your Android device page is direct about it: if you can’t unlock your phone, you need to erase it, then set it up again with a new screen lock.

Warning: erasing the phone deletes the apps, photos, music, and other data stored on it. Google says data backed up to your Google Account can be restored afterward, as long as you know the PIN or pattern the device had at the time of the backup. After the erase you also need the username and password of the Google Account that was on the phone to set it up again.

Before you go that far, try the numbers you have used on other devices and check anywhere you may have written the PIN down. There is no penalty for taking a day to think about it.

If the lock you are trying to remember is a password and not a PIN, our guide on how to reset the password on a Google Pixel 4a covers that lock type.

Troubleshooting

There is no Security option in Settings

Look for Security & privacy instead, then tap Device unlock. You can also tap the search bar at the top of the Settings app and type screen lock. If a menu looks different from these steps, check which Android version your Pixel 4a is running.

Some lock types are gray and can’t be tapped

This usually points to a rule set by someone else. A work or school account, a work profile, or a device admin app can require a certain kind of lock. Google’s Pixel help lists Device admin apps and Work profile security in the security settings. If the phone came from your employer, ask the IT department before changing anything.

The phone says the PINs don’t match

The second entry was different from the first. Type the new PIN again slowly. If you are not sure what you typed the first time, go back one screen and start over so that both entries are ones you watched yourself type.

The phone rejects the new PIN

Check the length first. It needs at least 4 digits. If the phone still refuses a number, try one that is less predictable, such as avoiding a single repeated digit or a simple counting sequence. Google does not publish the full list of PINs the phone will turn down.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can a Pixel 4a PIN be?

Google says a PIN must be 4 or more numbers and recommends 6 digits. Verizon’s instructions for this phone family give a range of 4 to 16 digits. Longer PINs tend to be more secure, but only if you can remember them.

Does changing the PIN sign me out of anything?

Changing the screen lock PIN is a setting on the phone itself. It is not your Google Account password, and Google’s instructions do not mention any effect on your accounts or apps. Your Google Account password is changed separately in your Google Account settings.

Can I switch from a PIN to a pattern or password?

Yes. Follow the same steps, and after you enter your current PIN, tap Pattern or Password in place of PIN. The phone walks you through creating the new lock and confirming it.

Is the Pixel 4a still getting security updates?

No. Google’s Pixel software update page lists the Pixel 4a among the phones that no longer receive Android version updates and security updates. That makes a good screen lock more important, since it is one of the protections you still control.

How do I make the phone lock faster?

Tap the gear icon next to Screen lock to change the automatic lock timing, and turn on Power button locking if you want the phone to lock the moment you press the button. The length of time before the screen turns off on its own is a separate setting called Screen timeout in the display settings.

Next Step

Once the new PIN is set and tested, open the gear icon next to Screen lock and check the automatic lock timing. A strong PIN helps most when the phone locks soon after you put it down.