Passwords and locking
There are several types of locks, PINs, and passwords that you can use to help protect your BlackBerry device.
If you use your device for work, your organization might already have security settings in place, such as requiring a
password to unlock your device.
BlackBerry ID
A BlackBerry ID is an email address and password that gives you access to BlackBerry websites, apps, and services. If you
change your BlackBerry device, your BlackBerry ID can help you transfer data to your new device. If you turn on BlackBerry
Protect and your device is ever lost or stolen, someone who finds your device can't set up the device without knowing your
BlackBerry ID.
Make sure that you use the same BlackBerry ID for all of your BlackBerry devices.
Sign in with your BlackBerry ID to do the following and more:
• Turn on BlackBerry Protect to help locate your device and protect the data on your device if your device is ever lost or
stolen.
• Keep track of your app purchases and payment options in the BlackBerry World storefront.
• Use BBM features, such as backing up and moving BBM contacts to a new BlackBerry device.
Password locking and screen locking
While your device is locked, you can still receive notifications of new email and text messages (SMS and MMS), make an
emergency phone call, view your battery charge level, set an alarm, or take a picture.
To conserve battery power and avoid accidental key presses, lock the screen. To help to avoid unauthorized use of your
device, you need to set a device password. For additional security, you can also set up two-factor authentication and use a
smart card to unlock your device.
In your display and security settings, you can set your device to lock itself after a certain amount of inactivity. You can also
write a custom message that displays on the locked screen.
If you forget your password, it can't be recovered. BlackBerry recommends that you back up your data regularly. By
default, for security reasons your device data is deleted when an incorrect password is entered ten times.
User Guide
Security and backup
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BlackBerry Balance and the work space password
If you associate your device with your organization's network, your administrator might turn on BlackBerry Balance
technology. BlackBerry Balance is designed to separate and secure areas of your device as work-only or personal-only.
Your administrator may require you to set a work space password to protect files, apps, and data associated with your
organization, such as your work email account. Your administrator sets rules to control whether you can use the same
password for both your work space and device.
If you enter your work space password more than the allowed number of times, your work space and the contents within it
are deleted. You can reduce or increase the number of allowed work password attempts in your BlackBerry Balance
settings.
Note: Your administrator might not permit you to change some password lock options for your work space, such as the
password requirement, the timeout duration, and using the same password for your work space and your device.
Network lock and unlock code
To use a SIM card from another service provider, for example, if you’re traveling and want to use a local service provider’s
network, you can request unlock codes (MEP codes) from your current service provider, and change the Phone Network
Lock settings for your SIM card.
If you exceed the number of allowed attempts to enter an unlock code, your SIM card will allow emergency calls only. For
assistance, you can contact your service provider.
SIM card PINs
You can set two different PINs for the SIM card in your device. You can use a SIM card PIN to help to prevent unauthorized
use of your SIM card in another device. For example, if you lose your SIM card and someone tries to use it in another
device, the SIM card can't be used unless the PIN is entered correctly. If you exceed the number of allowed attempts to
enter the SIM card PIN, your SIM card will stop functioning. To unblock your SIM card, contact your wireless service
provider for a PUK code.
A SIM card PIN2 is designed to enable certain phone features like fixed dialing.
To get a SIM card PIN, contact your service provider and turn on SIM card security in your security settings.