What a Samsung Galaxy reset does and when to use it

A reset clears your Samsung Galaxy phone back to factory settings, erasing all your personal data—photos, messages, apps, contacts, everything—and removing any passwords or patterns you set. The phone itself stays the same; you are not changing the hardware or the version of Android it runs.

You would reset your phone if it is running slowly, freezing constantly, or behaving erratically after months of use. A reset also makes sense before you sell or give away the phone, so the next owner does not inherit your accounts and files. If you forgot your lock screen password or pattern and cannot get in, a reset is one way to regain access, though it will erase everything on the device.

Before you reset, back up anything you want to keep. Samsung phones can back up to your Samsung account, Google account, or a computer. Once you start a reset, you cannot stop it partway through.

Key Takeaways

  • A factory reset erases all personal data, apps, photos, and settings from your phone and returns it to the state it came in.
  • You can reset through Settings on the phone itself, or through the lock screen if you cannot get past your password.
  • Back up your data to your Samsung account or Google account before you reset, because the reset cannot be undone.
  • A reset takes 5 to 15 minutes and the phone will restart several times during the process.
  • After the reset, you will need to sign in with a Google account or Samsung account to use the phone again.

How to reset through Settings if you can unlock your phone

Open Settings on your Galaxy phone. Scroll down and tap General management. Then tap Reset.

You will see three options: Reset network settings, Reset keyboard settings, and Factory data reset. Tap Factory data reset. The phone will show you a warning that all data will be deleted. Read it, then tap Reset or Delete all (the button name varies by model and Android version).

The phone will ask you to confirm your Samsung account password or Google account password. Enter it. The reset will begin, and your phone will restart multiple times. Do not turn it off or unplug it during this process. The whole reset usually takes 5 to 15 minutes.

When the reset finishes, your phone will show the setup screen as if it were brand new. You can then sign in with your Google account or Samsung account to restore some of your data, or set it up as a new device.

How to reset if you cannot unlock your phone

If you forgot your password, pattern, or PIN and cannot get into Settings, you can reset the phone from the lock screen. The exact steps depend on your Galaxy model and Android version, but the general path is the same.

On the lock screen, look for an option that says Forgot password, Forgot pattern, or Emergency call. Tap it. Some models let you tap Forgot password directly; others require you to tap Emergency call first, then look for a reset option in that menu. If you see a Forgot password button, tap it and follow the prompts to sign in with your Google account or Samsung account. Once you sign in, you can set a new password and access your phone normally.

If there is no Forgot password option on your lock screen, you will need to use a computer. Connect your Galaxy phone to a computer with a USB cable, then use Samsung's Find Mobile service (findmobile.samsung.com) or Google's Find My Mobile service to reset the phone remotely. You will need to sign in with the Samsung account or Google account that is linked to the phone.

Backing up your data before you reset

The easiest way to back up a Samsung Galaxy is through your Samsung account. Open Settings, tap Accounts and backup, then tap Samsung account. Sign in if you are not already signed in. Tap Backup and choose what you want to back up: contacts, messages, apps, settings, and more. The backup will upload to Samsung's servers.

You can also back up through your Google account. Open Settings, tap Accounts and backup, then tap Google account. Tap Manage your Google account, then go to the Backup tab. Turn on Backup by Google One if it is not already on. Google will back up your contacts, calendar, photos, and some app data.

If you want to back up photos and videos to your computer, connect your Galaxy phone with a USB cable. Your computer will see the phone as a storage device. Open it and drag your photos and videos to a folder on your computer.

What happens after the reset is complete

When your Galaxy phone finishes resetting, it will show the welcome screen. You will be asked to choose a language and connect to Wi-Fi. Then you will be asked to sign in with a Google account or Samsung account.

If you sign in with the same Google account you used before, Google will restore your contacts, calendar, Gmail, and some app data automatically. If you sign in with your Samsung account, Samsung will restore the data you backed up to that account. If you set up the phone as a new device without signing in to any account, you will have a blank phone with no data.

After you sign in, you can reinstall your apps from the Google Play Store or Samsung Galaxy Store. Your photos and videos will not restore automatically unless you backed them up to Google Photos or Samsung Cloud; if you backed them up to your computer, you will need to copy them back to the phone manually.

Troubleshooting a reset that is stuck or not working

If your phone is stuck on the reset screen or the reset is taking much longer than 15 minutes, try a hard reset. Turn off the phone completely. Then press and hold the Volume Up button and the Power button at the same time for about 10 seconds until the Samsung logo appears. Release the buttons. Your phone will boot into recovery mode, which shows a menu with options like Wipe data/factory reset. Use the volume buttons to navigate to that option and the power button to select it. Confirm the reset.

If the phone will not turn on at all or will not respond to any buttons, it may have a hardware problem. Plug it into a charger for at least 30 minutes, then try again. If it still will not respond, contact Samsung support or visit a carrier store.

If you reset the phone but it is still running slowly or freezing, the problem may not be software. In that case, a reset will not fix it, and you should contact Samsung or your carrier to check for hardware issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a reset remove my Google account from the phone?

A reset removes your Google account from the phone, but you can sign back in after the reset is complete. When you do, Google will restore your contacts, calendar, and some app data. Your Gmail account itself is not deleted; it is only removed from that phone.

Can I undo a reset after I start it?

No. Once a reset begins, you cannot stop it or undo it. That is why backing up your data first is important. If you realize you made a mistake after the reset is done, you can restore your data from your backup, but only if you backed it up before you reset.

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

No. A factory reset does not affect your SIM card or your phone number. Your SIM card will still work after the reset. You do not need to remove it.

Will my apps come back after I reset and sign in?

Apps you installed from the Google Play Store will not automatically reinstall, but you can read them again from the Play Store after you sign in with your Google account. Apps that came with the phone will be there automatically. If you backed up your phone to your Samsung account, some Samsung apps may restore automatically.

How long does a factory reset take?

Most factory resets take between 5 and 15 minutes from start to finish. The phone will restart several times during the process. Do not turn it off or unplug it while the reset is running, or you may damage the phone.