What a factory reset does and when you need one

A factory reset erases everything on your Samsung Galaxy phone—all apps, photos, messages, contacts, and settings—and returns it to the state it was in when it left the factory. The phone itself stays the same; only the data and customizations disappear. You would do this if the phone is running slowly, you are selling or giving it away, you cannot remember your password, or an app is causing persistent problems that nothing else has fixed.

Before you start, understand that this action cannot be undone. Any photo, message, or file not backed up elsewhere will be gone. If you use your phone for work or have sensitive information on it, back up what matters first.

Key Takeaways

  • A factory reset deletes all data on your phone and returns it to factory settings, and the deletion cannot be reversed.
  • You can reset through Settings on most Galaxy phones by going to General Management, then Reset, then Factory Data Reset.
  • If you cannot access Settings because you forgot your password, you can force a reset using hardware buttons (Power + Volume Up + Bixby, held together for several seconds).
  • After a reset, your phone will ask you to sign in with a Samsung or Google account, and you can restore backed-up data if you saved it beforehand.
  • The exact menu names and button combinations vary slightly by Galaxy model and Android version, so check your phone's manual if the steps do not match.

Backing up your data before you reset

The simplest backup method is to use your Samsung account. Go to Settings, then Accounts and Backup, then Samsung Cloud. Tap Backup and select what you want to save: contacts, messages, app data, home screen layout, and settings. This usually takes a few minutes depending on how much data you have. When the reset is done, you can sign back in and restore everything from the cloud.

If you prefer to use Google instead, go to Settings, then Google, then Manage Your Google Account, then the Backup tab. You can back up contacts, calendar, Gmail, and some app data. Photos and videos can be backed up through Google Photos, which you can read from the Play Store if it is not already on your phone.

For files like documents or videos stored on your phone, connect it to a computer with a USB cable and copy them to a folder on your computer. This takes longer but ensures nothing is lost.

Resetting through Settings if you remember your password

Open Settings and scroll down to find General Management (on some older Galaxy models it may be called System or Device Management). Tap it, then look for Reset or Reset Options. Select Factory Data Reset or Reset All Settings. The phone will show you a summary of what will be deleted and ask you to confirm. Tap Reset or Delete All, depending on what your phone calls it.

The reset process usually takes two to five minutes. Your phone will restart several times. When it finishes, you will see the setup screen as if the phone is brand new. You will be asked to choose a language, connect to Wi-Fi, and sign in with a Samsung or Google account. If you backed up your data, you can restore it during this setup process by selecting Restore from Backup when prompted.

Force resetting with hardware buttons if you cannot access Settings

If you forgot your password or the phone is frozen and will not respond to touch, you can force a reset using the physical buttons on the phone. The exact combination depends on your Galaxy model. For most recent Galaxy phones (S20 and newer), hold down the Power button, Volume Up button, and Bixby button all at the same time for about 10 seconds until the Samsung logo appears. Then release the buttons.

On older Galaxy models, the combination is usually Power + Volume Up only, held for the same amount of time. When the recovery menu appears on screen, use the Volume buttons to navigate to Factory Reset or Wipe Data, then press the Power button to select it. The phone will ask you to confirm by typing "yes" or selecting a confirmation option. After confirmation, the reset will begin.

This method takes longer than the Settings method—sometimes 10 to 15 minutes—because the phone is doing more work to erase the storage. Do not turn off the phone or remove the battery during this time.

What happens after the reset is complete

When the reset finishes, your phone will restart and show the initial setup screen. You will need to choose your language, connect to a Wi-Fi network, and sign in with a Samsung account or Google account. This is the same screen you would see if you had just bought the phone new.

If you backed up your data to Samsung Cloud or Google, the phone will offer to restore it during setup. Select Restore and choose which items you want back: contacts, messages, app data, and settings. This can take several minutes depending on how much data you are restoring. Apps themselves will not be restored automatically; you will need to read them again from the Play Store, though your login information and settings for those apps may come back if they were backed up.

After setup is complete, your phone will be clean and running as it did when new. If you were resetting because of a slow phone or a misbehaving app, you should notice an improvement.

Troubleshooting if the reset does not work or gets stuck

If the reset starts but the phone gets stuck on the Samsung logo or a loading screen for more than 20 minutes, try a force restart. Hold the Power button and Volume Down button together for 10 seconds. The phone will vibrate and restart. If it still does not complete the reset, the phone may have a hardware problem or corrupted system files that a factory reset cannot fix.

If you see an error message during the reset, write down the exact message and search for it on Samsung's support website or your carrier's website. Some errors are temporary and can be fixed by trying the reset again after restarting the phone normally. Others indicate a problem that requires professional service.

If the phone is stuck asking for a password after the reset and you do not remember it, you will need to sign in with the Samsung or Google account that was originally set up on the phone. If you do not have access to that account, contact Samsung support or your carrier for help; they may be able to verify your identity and unlock the phone.

Differences between factory reset and other reset options

Samsung phones offer a few different reset options, and it is important to choose the right one. Factory Data Reset (or Factory Reset) erases everything and returns the phone to factory settings. Reset Network Settings erases only Wi-Fi passwords and Bluetooth connections but leaves all your data intact. Reset All Settings erases all customizations like wallpaper, ringtone, and display settings, but leaves your apps and files alone.

If your phone is slow or an app is misbehaving, try Reset All Settings first. If that does not help and you want to keep your data, back it up and then try Factory Data Reset. If you are selling the phone or giving it away, Factory Data Reset is the right choice to make sure the next person cannot see your information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a factory reset remove my Google account from the phone?

The reset erases the account from the phone's storage, but when you set up the phone afterward, you will sign back in with the same Google account. If you do not sign back in, Google will not be able to restore your backed-up data. Make sure you remember your Google password before you reset.

Can I stop a factory reset once it has started?

No. Once you confirm the reset in Settings or complete a hardware button reset, the process cannot be stopped. The phone will erase data and restart. Do not turn off the phone or remove the battery while it is resetting, as this can damage the system.

What if I reset my phone but it still runs slowly?

A factory reset usually fixes slowness caused by too many apps or corrupted files. If the phone is still slow after a reset and you have not installed many apps yet, the problem may be a hardware issue like a failing storage drive. Contact Samsung support or visit a service center for diagnosis.

Do I need to remove my SIM card before resetting?

No. A factory reset does not affect your SIM card. Your phone number and carrier service will work the same after the reset. You may need to re-enter some carrier settings, but the SIM itself does not need to be removed.

Can someone else access my data if I factory reset and then sell the phone?

A factory reset removes your personal data, but it does not make the phone completely find for resale. After you reset, sign out of all accounts (Samsung, Google, email) before handing it over. This prevents the next owner from accessing your backed-up data if they sign in with their own account.