Samsung phones reset in two ways: soft reset and factory reset

A soft reset restarts your phone without erasing anything — it clears temporary files and closes stuck apps. A factory reset erases all your data and returns the phone to the state it left the factory. Most people need a soft reset first. If your phone is frozen, unresponsive, or draining battery fast, try the soft reset. If you are selling the phone, giving it away, or the soft reset did not work, do a factory reset instead.

Both methods take less than five minutes. You do not need a computer, a Samsung account, or any special tools. The steps differ slightly depending on whether your phone is powered on, frozen, or locked.

Key Takeaways

  • A soft reset (power off and on) fixes most problems and keeps all your photos, messages, and apps.
  • A factory reset erases everything on your phone and cannot be undone, so back up your data first.
  • If your phone is frozen and will not turn off, hold the power button and volume down together for ten seconds.
  • After a factory reset, you will be asked to sign in with a Samsung account or Google account to set up the phone again.
  • You can also reset your phone through Settings > General Management > Reset if the phone is responsive.

How to soft reset a Samsung phone that is working

Press and hold the power button on the side of your phone until the power menu appears on screen. This usually takes three to five seconds. You will see options like "Power off", "Restart", or "Emergency SOS" depending on your model.

Tap "Restart" or "Power off". If you chose "Power off", wait ten seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on. If you chose "Restart", the phone will turn off and on by itself. Either way, the phone will boot up fresh and close any stuck processes.

How to force restart a frozen Samsung phone

If your phone is completely frozen and will not respond to the power button, use a force restart. Press and hold the power button and the volume down button at the same time. Keep holding both buttons for ten to fifteen seconds. You will feel the phone vibrate, and the Samsung logo will appear on screen.

Release both buttons. The phone will restart. This works even if the screen is black or the phone appears dead. A force restart does not erase any data — it straightforward forces the phone to shut down and turn back on.

How to factory reset through Settings

If your phone is responsive, you can reset it through the Settings app. Open Settings and scroll down to find "General Management" (on some older models it may be called "Backup and reset" or "System"). Tap "General Management", then look for "Reset" or "Reset options".

Tap "Reset all settings" if you only want to clear settings and keep your apps and files. Tap "Factory data reset" or "Erase all data" if you want to erase everything. The phone will ask you to confirm and may ask for your PIN or password. After you confirm, the reset will begin. The phone will restart and show the setup screen, just as it did when new.

This method is slower than using the hardware buttons, but it is easier to follow on screen. You can also see exactly what will be erased before you proceed.

How to factory reset using hardware buttons

If your phone will not turn on or Settings will not open, use the hardware button method. First, turn off the phone completely. Press and hold the power button until the screen goes black, or use the force restart method described above and let it shut down.

Once the phone is off, press and hold the power button and the volume up button together. Keep holding until you see the Samsung logo or a recovery menu with white text on a black background. Release the buttons.

Use the volume buttons to navigate the menu. Highlight "Wipe data / factory reset" and press the power button to select it. The phone will ask you to confirm by highlighting "Yes" and pressing the power button again. The reset will take one to three minutes. When it finishes, the phone will restart and show the setup screen.

What happens after a factory reset

After the reset completes, your phone will boot up as if it is brand new. You will see the initial setup screen asking you to choose a language and connect to Wi-Fi. The phone will then ask you to sign in with a Google account or a Samsung account.

If you sign in with the same Google account you used before, the phone will restore your apps from the Google Play Store automatically. Your contacts, calendar, and Gmail will sync back. Photos and files stored in Google Drive or Samsung Cloud will also return. However, text messages, call logs, and files stored only on the phone itself will be gone permanently.

If you do not remember your Google or Samsung password, you can set up the phone without signing in, but you will not be able to read apps from the Play Store until you do.

Back up your data before a factory reset

Before you erase everything, save your photos, videos, and important files. Open the Settings app and look for "Backup and restore" or "Cloud and accounts". Tap "Samsung Cloud" or "Google Account" and turn on backup for Photos, Contacts, and Messages.

You can also connect your phone to a computer and copy files to a folder on the computer's hard drive. Use a USB cable and open the phone's file manager on your computer. Drag photos and documents to a folder you create.

Text messages do not sync to Google or Samsung Cloud by default. If you need to keep them, use a third-party app like SMS Backup+ or Google Messages, which can back up texts to your Google account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a soft reset delete my photos and apps?

No. A soft reset (restarting the phone) does not erase anything. All your photos, apps, messages, and settings stay on the phone. It only clears temporary files and stops stuck processes.

Can I undo a factory reset?

No. A factory reset permanently erases all data stored only on the phone. Photos and contacts backed up to Google or Samsung Cloud can be restored after you sign in, but text messages and files not backed up elsewhere are gone for good.

What if I forget my Google password after a factory reset?

Go to the Google Account recovery page on a computer or another device. Enter your email address and follow the steps to reset your password. Once you have a new password, sign in on your Samsung phone during setup.

How long does a factory reset take?

A factory reset usually takes one to five minutes depending on how much data is on the phone. The phone will restart several times during the process. Do not turn off the phone or remove the battery while it is resetting.

Do I need Wi-Fi to reset my phone?

You do not need Wi-Fi to perform the reset itself. However, you will need Wi-Fi or mobile data to sign in with your Google or Samsung account after the reset is complete and to read your apps again.