What a factory reset does and when to use it
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 completes, you'll see the initial setup screen, as if you just turned on a new phone.
You should reset your phone if it's running slowly, freezing constantly, or behaving erratically. A reset also removes malware or unwanted apps that won't uninstall normally. If you're selling or giving away your phone, a reset ensures the next owner won't see your personal data.
A reset does not fix hardware problems like a cracked screen or a battery that won't hold a charge. It also won't remove your Google account lock if you've turned on Find My Mobile or Google's device protection—you'll need your password to set up the phone again after the reset.
Key Takeaways
- Back up your photos, messages, and contacts to Google Drive, Samsung Cloud, or your computer before you reset, because the reset deletes everything on the phone.
- You can reset through Settings on the phone itself, or through Samsung Find My Mobile if the phone won't turn on or respond.
- A factory reset takes 5 to 15 minutes and requires the phone to restart multiple times—don't interrupt it or remove the battery.
- After the reset, you'll need your Google account password to sign back in and restore your data from backup.
- If you've set up a Samsung account or Google account lock, the phone will ask for that password before letting you use it again.
Back up your data before you start
Once you reset your phone, you cannot recover data that wasn't backed up. Before you begin, save your photos, videos, contacts, and messages to a cloud service or your computer.
Google Drive backs up contacts, calendar events, and some app data automatically if you're signed into a Google account on your phone. To check what's backed up, go to Settings > Google > Manage your Google Account > Backup. Photos and videos need a separate backup: open Google Photos, tap your profile picture, go to Settings > Backup and sync, and make sure it's turned on.
Samsung Cloud backs up contacts, messages, settings, and some app data. Go to Settings > Accounts and backup > Samsung Cloud > Back up, then tap Back up my data. If you don't have much storage left in Samsung Cloud, you can buy more or use Google Drive instead.
For photos and videos, you can also connect your phone to a computer with a USB cable, open the phone's file manager on your computer, and copy the DCIM folder (where photos are stored) to your computer's hard drive.
Reset through Settings if your phone still works
If your phone turns on and responds to touch, the fastest way to reset is through the Settings app.
- Open Settings.
- Scroll down and tap General management (or About phone on older Samsung models).
- Tap Reset or Reset options.
- Tap Factory data reset or Erase all data.
- Read the warning, then tap Reset or Delete all.
- If prompted, enter your PIN, pattern, or password.
- Tap Reset or Delete all again to confirm.
The phone will restart and show a progress bar. This can take 5 to 15 minutes. Do not turn off the phone, remove the battery, or unplug it during this time. When the reset finishes, you'll see the initial setup screen asking for your language and Wi-Fi network.
Reset using recovery mode if the phone won't start
If your phone won't turn on, won't respond to touch, or is stuck in a boot loop, you can reset it using recovery mode. This method uses hardware buttons instead of the touchscreen.
The button combination varies by Samsung model. For most recent Samsung phones, hold Power + Volume Up until the Samsung logo appears (usually 10 to 15 seconds), then release. For older models, you may need Power + Volume Down + Home. If you're unsure which buttons your model uses, check your phone's manual or search "[your model number] recovery mode buttons" online.
Once the recovery menu appears, use the Volume buttons to move down to Wipe data / factory reset and press Power to select it. The menu will ask you to confirm—use Volume Down to highlight Yes and press Power. The reset will begin. Do not interrupt it.
When the reset finishes, you'll see Reboot system now highlighted. Press Power to restart the phone. This can take several minutes. The phone will then boot into the setup screen.
Reset through Samsung Find My Mobile if you can't access the phone
If your phone is lost, stolen, or completely unresponsive, you can reset it remotely using Samsung Find My Mobile (also called SmartThings Find). You'll need a computer and access to your Samsung account.
- Go to findmymobile.samsung.com in a web browser.
- Sign in with your Samsung account email and password.
- Select your phone from the list of devices.
- Click More or the menu icon.
- Click Unlock my mobile or Factory reset.
- Confirm your Samsung account password.
- Click Unlock or Reset.
The reset will begin on your phone if it's connected to the internet. If the phone is offline, the reset will happen the next time it connects to Wi-Fi or mobile data. This method works only if you set up a Samsung account on the phone before it became unresponsive.
Set up your phone after the reset
When your phone restarts after the reset, you'll see a setup wizard. It will ask for your language, Wi-Fi network, and Google account. Sign in with the same Google account you used before the reset—this is how you restore your backed-up contacts, calendar, and photos from Google Drive and Google Photos.
If you set up a Samsung account before the reset, the phone will ask for that password too. Enter it to restore Samsung Cloud backups and to unlock the phone if it has Samsung's device protection enabled.
After you sign in, the phone will read and restore your backed-up data. This can take 10 to 30 minutes depending on how much data you have and your internet speed. Don't turn off the phone during this time.
Once the restore finishes, you can reinstall apps from the Google Play Store. Apps you had before the reset may reinstall automatically if you have that setting turned on—go to Settings > Apps > App management > Show system > Google Play Store, tap it, then Settings > Auto-update apps > Over any network.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Forgetting your Google or Samsung password: If you reset the phone but can't remember the password for your Google or Samsung account, you'll be locked out during setup. Before you reset, write down your passwords or store them in a password manager. If you're already locked out, go to the account recovery page (accounts.google.com/signin/recovery for Google, or samsung.com/account for Samsung) from a computer and follow the steps to regain access.
Interrupting the reset: If you turn off the phone, remove the battery, or unplug it while the reset is running, the phone may not start up again or may get stuck in recovery mode. Let the reset run to completion, even if it takes longer than expected. If the phone does get stuck, try the recovery mode reset again from the beginning.
Not backing up before resetting: Once the reset finishes, data that wasn't backed up is gone permanently. Always back up to Google Drive, Samsung Cloud, or your computer before you start the reset.
Resetting when you don't know the account password: If Find My Mobile or Google's device protection is turned on, the phone will ask for the account password after the reset. If you don't know it, you won't be able to use the phone. Check that you know the password before you reset, or turn off the protection in Settings first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a factory reset remove my Google account?
The reset erases the account from the phone, but after the reset you can sign back in with the same Google account to restore your contacts, photos, and other backed-up data. If you don't sign back in, the account is straightforward removed and you can set up a new one.
Can I undo a factory reset?
No. Once the reset finishes, the data is gone unless you backed it up beforehand. If you backed up to Google Drive or Samsung Cloud, you can restore that data by signing into your account after the reset. If you didn't back up, the data cannot be recovered.
How long does a factory reset take?
The reset itself usually takes 5 to 15 minutes. After that, the phone will restart and show the setup screen. Restoring your backed-up data can take another 10 to 30 minutes depending on how much data you have. In total, plan for 30 to 45 minutes from start to finish.
Do I need to remove my SIM card before resetting?
No. The reset doesn't affect your SIM card or your phone number. Your SIM card will work normally after the reset. You can leave it in the phone during the entire process.
What if my phone is frozen and won't respond to anything?
Try holding the Power button for 10 seconds to force a restart. If that doesn't work, use recovery mode (Power + Volume Up for most models) to reset the phone. If recovery mode won't open, the phone may have a hardware problem that a reset cannot fix.