Configure an Emergency Unlock PIN

Created: Documentation

What happens when someone accidentally unplugged a cable, or the network is offline? At some point you may need to unlock a device when Mobile Access Management (MAM) is not available. The Imprivata Locker app includes a feature to unlock phones in case of emergencies.

BEST PRACTICE: While Emergency Unlock PIN is an optional feature and is not a requirement, Imprivata strongly recommends using an Emergency Unlock PIN with your devices.

In addition to marking the devices as Overdue, enable Lost Mode and send email for overdue devicesMAM supports Lost Mode with the following MDMs. is configured via AppConfig in your MDM server.

  • PIN entry requires no MAM access and no network access to unlock the device.
  • The Emergency Unlock PIN may be any number between 4 and 8 digits.
  • You can change the Emergency Unlock PIN as often as you like.
  • You can assign different Unlock PINs to different groups of devices, using AppConfig features on your MDM server.

After it is configured, unlocking a phone is easy.

  1. Unplug one of the locked devices from USB.
  2. Tap the padlock icon to display the numeric keypad.
  3. Enter the Emergency Unlock PIN.

iOS Example

Android Example

When the device has been unlocked in this way, Mobile Access Management records the device was “Unlocked by PIN,” but does not know the identity of the user.

Like passwords, Imprivata recommends that you change the Emergency Unlock PIN regularly.

On successful unlock, M can automate a Workflow. The automation must use the trigger Unlocked via PIN Unlock, and the Workflow uses the Workflow model “Over the Air.”