Reset ZKTeco Admin Affirm Password (Tamper button)

 How to reset / unlock ZKTeco Biometric device from Admin Affirm Password using the Tamper button

ZKTeco Access Control and Attendance devices are taking a large space among other access control brands, because there are easy to install and use, and also thanks to their good quality/price advantage.

Anyway, when you install a new ZKTeco device you need to protect its menu access by an Administrator password (known as Supervisor), so that only authorized persons can change and adjust the device settings. However, when the administrator is gone without leaving the information about how to open the ZKTeco device's menu, this can be a big problem for you if you are the new "Admin". So when you press the menu button you will get the famous message on the device screen : Admin Affirm.

In a previous post I have explained how to unlock ZKTeco Device from Admin with two different ways (which can work with a lot of ZKTeco models) : 

1. Using Attendance Management software over the local network connection.

2. Using a password generator and the login 8888 (without network connection)

So in this post I want to share with you another method to unlock some ZKTeco devices but this time just by using the Tamper button.

What is the Tamper button ?

Tamper button or Tamper switch is a small button located on the back of the device (sometimes inside of it) and it remains pressed when this device is installed on the wall. The tamper button has a "security function" because it's released when you remove the device at the wall or take out its cover and this triggers an alarm that can be displayed on the screen as well as on the access control software or even start an alarm bell if it's connected to the device.

How to use the Tamper button to Reset ZKTeco device ?

This method works with many zkteco devices like SF300, SF400, SC503,..and others

1- Power off the device

2- Locate the tamper button, press and hold it.

3- Power On the device while you're holding the tamper button

4- Wait until you see the home screen on your device LCD then release the tamper button (you will see an alarm message on the screen like broken system or alarm..)

5- when you see the alarm message start counting for about 30s (you may hear a short beep after 30s).

6- Now press the Menu button (or M/Ok). If you have successfully done it you will open the devices settings without any password.

7- the last thing is going through the settings and eliminate the administrator (find out the Delete administrator option depending on your device model, or refer to the official user manual to know how).

Otherwise you can create an Administrator/Supervisor for your zkteco device.

For other devices like Zkteco F18 or MA300 this tamper button allows you to recover the default IP address (192.168.1.201) so you can use it to connect to the device with the attendance software and eliminate the administrator (clear the admin privilege).