What a Samsung reset does and which method you need

A Samsung reset wipes your phone back to factory settings — all your apps, photos, messages, and accounts disappear. Before you start, back up anything you want to keep. Samsung phones offer three reset paths: a soft reset (restart), a factory reset through Settings, and a hard reset using hardware buttons. Most people need the Settings route. Use the hardware button method only if your phone won't turn on or respond to touch.

The time this takes depends on your method. A soft reset takes seconds. A factory reset through Settings usually takes 10 to 20 minutes. A hard reset can take 30 minutes or longer. Your phone will restart several times during the process — this is normal and you should not interrupt it.

Key Takeaways

  • A soft reset (power off and back on) fixes most freezing and lag without erasing anything, and should be your first step.
  • A factory reset through Settings erases everything but is the safest method when your phone responds to touch, and you can back up first.
  • A hard reset using volume and power buttons is only for phones that won't start or respond, because you cannot stop it once it begins.
  • Back up your photos, messages, and account information before any factory or hard reset, because the data cannot be recovered afterward.
  • After any reset, you will need to sign back into your Google account and reinstall your apps from the Play Store.

Soft reset: restart your phone without losing anything

A soft reset straightforward turns your phone off and back on. It does not erase any data. This fixes most problems — lag, freezing, apps that crash, or a phone that stops responding to touch.

Hold the power button on the right side of your phone until the power menu appears. Tap "Power off" or "Restart" if that option shows. Wait 10 seconds, then hold the power button again until the Samsung logo appears. Let the phone finish starting up — this usually takes 30 seconds to a minute.

If your phone is completely frozen and will not respond to the power button, hold the power button and volume down button together for 10 seconds. This forces a restart on most Samsung models.

Factory reset through Settings: the safest full wipe

Use this method when your phone works but you want to erase everything. You can back up first, and you can stop the process before it starts. This is the method Samsung recommends.

Open Settings and scroll down to "General management" or "System." Tap "Reset" or "Reset options." Choose "Factory data reset" or "Erase all data." The phone will show you how much data will be deleted and ask for your PIN or password — enter it. Tap "Reset" or "Delete all" to confirm. Your phone will restart and begin the wipe. Do not turn it off or unplug it during this time. The screen may go black for several minutes — this is normal.

When the reset finishes, your phone will restart and show the setup screen, as if it just came from the factory. You will need to sign into your Google account, choose your language, and set up your apps again.

Hard reset using hardware buttons: for phones that won't start

Use this method only if your phone will not turn on, will not respond to touch, or gets stuck on the startup screen. Once you start a hard reset, you cannot stop it — the phone will complete the wipe no matter what.

Turn off your phone completely. Hold the power button and volume up button together until the Samsung logo appears — usually 10 to 15 seconds. Keep holding both buttons. The phone will show a menu with options in blue text. Use the volume down button to move to "Wipe data/factory reset" and press the power button to select it. The phone will ask you to confirm — use volume down to highlight "Yes" and press power to confirm. The wipe will begin. Your phone may restart several times and show a progress bar. Let it finish completely — this can take 30 minutes or longer.

When the hard reset finishes, your phone will restart and show the setup screen. You will need to sign back into your Google account and set up your phone as new.

Back up your data before a factory or hard reset

Before you do a factory or hard reset, save your photos, messages, and account information. The easiest way is to use Samsung Cloud or Google Drive, both of which are built into Samsung phones.

To back up to Samsung Cloud, open Settings, go to "Accounts and backup," and tap "Samsung Cloud." Tap "Backup" and choose what you want to save — photos, messages, contacts, and app data are the main options. Tap "Back up" to start. This can take several minutes depending on how much data you have.

To back up to Google Drive, open Settings, go to "Accounts and backup," and tap "Google." Choose your Google account and tap "Backup." Your phone will back up contacts, calendar, and some app data automatically. Photos and videos need to be backed up separately using Google Photos — open the Photos app, tap your profile icon, go to Settings, and turn on "Backup and sync."

What to do after your phone restarts

After any reset, your phone will ask you to set it up as new. You will need your Google account email and password. If you do not remember your password, go to accounts.google.com on another device and reset it before you continue.

Follow the setup screens to choose your language, connect to Wi-Fi, and sign into your Google account. The phone will then restore contacts, calendar, and some app data from your backup. Your photos and messages will not restore automatically — you will need to read them from Google Photos or Samsung Cloud manually, or restore them from your backup if you made one.

Go to the Play Store and reinstall the apps you use. Your paid apps will still be marked as purchased, so you will not have to pay again. Some apps may take a few minutes to read and install.

Troubleshooting: what to do if the reset gets stuck

If your phone gets stuck on the setup screen or the reset seems to hang, try a force restart. Hold the power button and volume down button together for 10 seconds. The phone will restart. If it gets stuck again in the same place, plug it into a computer and visit Samsung's support website to read the latest software for your model. You can then use Samsung's Smart Switch tool to reinstall the software, which will complete the reset.

If your phone shows a message that says "find Folder locked" or asks for a Samsung account password you do not remember, you will need to verify your identity with Samsung before the reset can finish. Go to account.samsung.com on another device, sign in with your Samsung account, and follow the steps to unlock your device remotely. Then try the reset again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a reset remove my Google account from my phone?

Yes. After a reset, you will need to sign back into your Google account during setup. If you forget your password, go to accounts.google.com on another device and reset it before you start the phone setup.

Can I undo a reset after it starts?

No. A factory reset through Settings can be stopped before you tap the final confirmation button. A hard reset using hardware buttons cannot be stopped once it begins. A soft restart does not erase anything, so you can stop it anytime.

How long does a factory reset take?

Usually 10 to 20 minutes from start to finish. A hard reset can take 30 minutes or longer. Your phone will restart several times — do not turn it off during this time.

Will my apps come back after a reset?

No. You will need to read them again from the Play Store. Paid apps will still show as purchased under your Google account, so you will not pay again. Some app data may restore if you backed up to Google Drive or Samsung Cloud.

What if I forgot my PIN and cannot do a factory reset through Settings?

Use the hard reset method with hardware buttons instead — it does not require your PIN. Hold power and volume up together until the menu appears, then select "Wipe data/factory reset."