Three ways to reset your Samsung watch, depending on what you need

A factory reset wipes your Samsung watch back to its original state, erasing all your apps, data, and settings. You have three routes: a soft reset (restart without erasing anything), a reset through the watch's settings menu, or a reset through the Samsung Wearable app on your phone. Which one you choose depends on whether you want to keep your data or start completely fresh.

A soft reset is the first step if your watch is frozen or running slowly. A full factory reset is what you need before selling the watch, giving it away, or if it has a serious software problem that a restart won't fix. The settings menu reset and the app reset both do the same thing — erase everything — but the app method works better if your watch screen is damaged or unresponsive.

Key Takeaways

  • A soft reset restarts your watch without erasing data and takes about one minute; hold the power button until the power menu appears, then tap Power Off and wait 10 seconds before turning it back on.
  • A factory reset through the watch settings menu erases all apps, data, and settings; go to Settings > About Watch > Reset, then confirm the action on your watch screen.
  • If your watch screen is broken or unresponsive, use the Samsung Wearable app on your phone to reset it instead of using the watch menu.
  • After a factory reset, your watch will not automatically reconnect to your phone — you must pair them again through the Samsung Wearable app.
  • A factory reset takes 5 to 10 minutes and your watch may restart several times during the process.

Soft reset: restart without losing anything

A soft reset is a straightforward restart that clears temporary files and stops frozen apps without touching your personal data, installed apps, or settings. Use this first if your watch is lagging, an app has crashed, or the screen is not responding to taps.

Press and hold the power button (usually on the right side of the watch case) until you see the power menu appear on screen. This takes about 3 to 5 seconds. Tap Power Off. Wait at least 10 seconds — do not skip this step, as it lets the watch fully shut down. Then press the power button again to turn it back on. Your watch will restart with all your data intact.

Factory reset through the watch settings menu

This method erases everything on your watch and returns it to the state it was in when you first turned it on. Use this before selling or giving away the watch, or if a soft reset did not fix the problem.

On your watch, swipe down from the top of the screen to open the quick settings panel. Tap the gear icon to open Settings. Scroll down and tap About Watch. Scroll down again and tap Reset. A confirmation message will appear asking if you want to erase all data. Tap Yes or Confirm (the exact wording depends on your watch model). The watch will begin erasing data and may restart several times. This process takes 5 to 10 minutes. Do not turn off the watch or disconnect it during the reset.

Factory reset through the Samsung Wearable app

If your watch screen is cracked, unresponsive, or too damaged to navigate the settings menu, you can reset it from your phone instead. This method requires the Samsung Wearable app, which you should already have if your watch is paired to your phone.

Open the Samsung Wearable app on your phone. Tap the settings icon (usually three dots or a gear) at the bottom right of the app. Tap About Watch or Watch Settings, depending on your app version. Look for Reset or Factory Reset and tap it. Confirm the action on your phone. Your watch will begin the reset process. You do not need to touch the watch itself — the app handles everything from your phone.

What happens after a factory reset

Once the reset is complete, your watch will show the initial setup screen, just as it did when you first unboxed it. All your apps, photos, messages, and settings are gone. Your watch is no longer paired to your phone.

To use the watch again, you must pair it to your phone from scratch. Open the Samsung Wearable app on your phone and follow the pairing steps. Your watch will reconnect to your phone's Bluetooth, and you can reinstall apps and restore settings. If you backed up your watch data before the reset (through the Samsung Wearable app's backup feature), you can restore that backup during setup to recover some of your settings and app data.

When to soft reset versus factory reset

Use a soft reset if your watch is slow, an app crashed, or the screen is frozen. It takes one minute and keeps all your data. Use a factory reset only if a soft reset did not work, you are selling or giving away the watch, or you suspect a serious software problem. A factory reset is permanent and cannot be undone without a backup.

If you are not sure which one to try, start with a soft reset. If that does not solve the problem after 24 hours of normal use, then move to a factory reset.

Troubleshooting if the reset does not work

If your watch is stuck on the setup screen after a factory reset, or if it will not turn on at all, try charging it for at least 30 minutes. A watch with a dead battery may appear frozen or unresponsive. After charging, try the soft reset again by holding the power button.

If the watch still will not respond, try the factory reset a second time, but this time leave it plugged in during the entire process. If it remains stuck after that, the watch may have a hardware problem that a reset cannot fix. Contact Samsung support with your watch model number and a description of what happened.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a factory reset remove my Samsung account from the watch?

Yes. A factory reset removes all accounts, including your Samsung account, Google account, and any other logins. After the reset, you will need to sign in again during the setup process to restore access to apps like Gmail, Google Play, and Samsung Health.

Can I undo a factory reset?

No, a factory reset cannot be undone. However, if you created a backup through the Samsung Wearable app before the reset, you can restore that backup during setup to recover some settings and app data. Without a backup, all data is permanently erased.

How long does a factory reset take?

A factory reset usually takes 5 to 10 minutes. Your watch may restart several times during this period. Do not turn it off or disconnect it while the reset is running, as this can cause problems.

Do I need to unpair my watch before a factory reset?

No. A factory reset automatically unpairs your watch from your phone. After the reset is complete, you will need to pair them again using the Samsung Wearable app.

What if my watch is frozen and I cannot access the settings menu?

Use the Samsung Wearable app on your phone to reset it instead. Open the app, go to settings, find the reset option, and confirm. Your phone will send the reset command to your watch without requiring you to touch the watch screen.