S7 Edge Fingerprints

[Jawloms]

My Dad has an S7 Edge. He died in December and at the time we removed security from his phone so that it didn't require a fingerprint/passcode or whatever to unlock it as it wasn't going to be leaving the house. Mum's phone she was using has now stopped working but of course had text messages on she wanted to keep. She has now said she'd like to use my Dad's old phone as it means she has a working phone again, but also of course the text messages she wants are on it. Now I have set it up for her, i want to set the security. To set a passcode, password, draw pattern or her fingerprints it is asking for the existing fingerprint or backup password. We didn't realise when we turned off the fingerprint bit that it would still be needed later. Anyone know if it can be got round without resetting the phone otherwise we lose those texts? There is no "I've forgotten my backup password". All it says is that it will be at least six characters, 1 number and 1 letter. I've Googled and deleted the cache of the fingerprint app, but that made no difference.

 

Any help gratefully received.

 

Stuart

[jmak]

I use the "SMS Backup and Restore" app having lost texts when a phone failed. This lets you save backup files (in XML format) to a location of your choice - I use Google Drive.

 

You could then factory reset the phone and it's then just a case of reinstalling the app and restoring from the backup file.

 

Obviously test the backup before you wipe the phone.