What a factory reset does and when you need one

A factory reset erases everything on your Samsung phone—all apps, photos, messages, contacts, and settings—and returns it to the state it was in when it left the factory. After the reset, you'll see the same setup screens you saw the first time you turned it on.

You might factory reset your phone if it's running slowly, freezing repeatedly, or behaving erratically. You should also reset it before selling or giving away the phone, or if you're switching to a different device and want to make sure no personal data remains. A reset is also the standard troubleshooting step when an app won't uninstall or when you've forgotten your PIN or password and can't unlock the phone.

The process itself takes 15 to 30 minutes depending on how much data is on your phone. Your phone will restart several times during the reset, and the screen may go black for a minute or two—this is normal.

Key Takeaways

  • Back up your photos, contacts, and any data you want to keep before you start, because a factory reset deletes everything on the phone.
  • You can factory reset through Settings on most Samsung phones, or through the recovery menu if you can't unlock the phone.
  • If your phone is linked to a Samsung account or Google account, you'll need the password to that account after the reset to set up the phone again.
  • A factory reset does not remove the SIM card or affect your phone number or carrier plan.

Back up your data before you reset

Before you start, move anything you want to keep to a safe place. The easiest way is to use Samsung Cloud or Google Drive, both of which can back up contacts, calendar events, photos, and app data automatically.

To back up to Samsung Cloud, open Settings, tap Accounts and backup, then Samsung Cloud. Tap Backup and select what you want to save. To back up to Google Drive, open Settings, tap Accounts and backup, then Google Drive, and choose what to back up. Both services are free up to a certain amount of storage.

If you have photos or videos you want to keep but don't want to use cloud storage, you can also connect your phone to a computer with a USB cable and copy files manually. On a Windows computer, your phone appears as a removable drive; on a Mac, you'll need to use Android File Transfer or a similar app.

Factory reset through Settings (if you can unlock your phone)

This is the simplest method if your phone is working well enough to unlock and navigate.

Open Settings and scroll down to find General management (on some Samsung phones it may be labeled System). Tap Reset or Reset options. You'll see several choices; tap Factory data reset or Erase all data. The phone will show you a summary of what will be deleted and ask you to confirm. Tap the button to confirm—it may be labeled Reset, Delete all, or Erase depending on your phone model and Android version.

The phone will restart and begin the reset process. You'll see a progress bar or spinning animation. Do not turn off the phone or remove the battery during this time. When the reset is complete, the phone will restart again and show you the initial setup screen, as if it were brand new.

Factory reset through recovery mode (if you can't unlock your phone)

If your phone is frozen, won't turn on, or you've forgotten your PIN or password, you can reset it using the recovery menu. This method works on all Samsung phones, though the exact button combination varies slightly by model.

First, turn off the phone completely. Then hold down the Volume Up button and the Power button at the same time until the Samsung logo appears—usually about 10 seconds. Keep holding both buttons until you see the recovery menu, which displays white text on a black background.

Use the Volume buttons to navigate down to Wipe data/factory reset and press the Power button to select it. The menu will ask you to confirm; navigate to Yes and press Power again. The reset will begin. Do not interrupt it. When it's done, you'll return to the recovery menu. Select Reboot system now to restart your phone.

What happens after the reset is complete

Your phone will restart and show the initial setup screen. You'll be asked to select a language, connect to Wi-Fi, and sign in to a Google account. If your phone is linked to a Samsung account, you may also be prompted to sign in there.

Important: If you set up a Google account on this phone before the reset, you'll need the password to that account to proceed. This is a security feature called Factory Reset Protection. If you don't remember the password, you can reset it on Google's account recovery page using a computer or another device. The same applies to Samsung accounts—if you had one set up, you'll need its password.

After you sign in, the phone will read and reinstall any apps that were originally installed from the Google Play Store. This can take 10 to 30 minutes depending on how many apps you had and your internet speed. You can use the phone while this happens, but it may run slowly until the process finishes.

When to call Samsung support instead

If your phone won't turn on at all, won't respond to button presses, or shows an error message during the reset process, the problem may be hardware-related rather than software. In that case, a factory reset won't help, and you should contact Samsung support or visit a carrier store.

You can reach Samsung support through their website or by calling the number on your phone's original documentation or your carrier's bill. If your phone is still under warranty, repair or replacement may be covered at no cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a factory reset remove my phone number or affect my carrier plan?

No. A factory reset only erases data stored on the phone itself. Your phone number, carrier plan, and SIM card are unaffected. You'll be able to make and receive calls and texts as soon as the phone is set up again.

Can I stop a factory reset once it has started?

No. Once the reset begins, you should not interrupt it by turning off the phone or removing the battery. Let it run to completion, even if it takes longer than expected. Interrupting it can leave the phone in an unusable state.

What if I forgot my Google account password and can't set up the phone after the reset?

Use a computer or another device to visit Google's account recovery page and reset your password. Once you've done that, you can use the new password to sign in on your Samsung phone. If you no longer have access to the email address associated with the account, Google's recovery process can help you regain access.

Do I need to remove my SIM card before I factory reset?

No. You can leave your SIM card in the phone during the reset. The reset does not affect the SIM card or your carrier service.

How long does a factory reset take?

The reset itself usually takes 5 to 15 minutes. After that, the phone restarts and downloads your apps from Google Play, which can add another 10 to 30 minutes depending on how many apps you had and your internet speed.