I tried the lockdown mode. Ok, it works. So how do I get out of Lockdown Mode?
No matter what I do, my S24 Ultra requires a PIN, and displays a message that per the "security policy," I have to enter a PIN to get past the lock screen. I cannot use fingerprints (even though there are fingerprints registered and used in various applications). This isn't a work phone, so there's no employer security policy.
The lock screen is configured for either a PIN or fingerprints, but it always requires an PIN after I used Lockdown Mode once.
If you are having trouble getting out of lockdown mode after activating it and logging back into your phone, try going to the secure lock settings and turning off "show lockdown option". Reboot your phone and see if the condition remains. You can then turn the option back on.
The reason the fingerprint is disabled is because the police, TSA or any government agency can compel you to unlock biometrically, but need a warrant to compel you to unlock via credentials. This also prevents anyone from finding you asleep or unconscious and using your fingerprint to unlock your device.
I'm not positive, but I think that after you unlock your phone after lockdown mode and go back to the lockdown mode option in the power off menu, you may get the option to stop lockdown mode. I don't know, because I never had to do that, as my phone always came out of lockdown mode after I unlocked my phone. Though, that may be due to having my extend unlock routine running. I would imagine that there has to be an easy way to return to normal, since it's only meant to be a temporary safety measure to prevent unlawful access to your device.
I entirely understand the purpose of Lockdown Mode, esp. following the case the the 9th Circuit Court that made the distinction between fingerprints and PIN. Thanks for mentioning that; it would be good if it were more widely known.
As to my own situation, I appreciate the instructions. I was testing Lockdown Mode to confirm it would function as I'd hoped. It did. However, although I've followed your instructions, I still cannot restore my device to its prior state, where it unlocked by fingerprints and only intermittently by PIN.
I'll continue to tinker and welcome any other suggestions. This doesn't seem to be a simple, toggle-on/toggle-off setting.
I just disabled my running unlock routine on my backup device, activated lockdown mode, unlocked my phone with my password and my phone returned to normal. I then locked my phone, and was able to do fingerprint unlock. So, now I can confirm that it was not my routine that was causing the lockdown mode to terminate. My backup device is an S10 lite and my primary phone is an A54. Both behave the same way, even on different OneUI versions. The S10 is on 5.0 and the A54 is on 8.0.
