What a factory reset does and when you need one

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, the same one you saw when you first turned on the phone.

You might reset your phone if it's running slowly, freezing frequently, or behaving erratically. A reset also removes malware or unwanted apps that won't uninstall normally. If you're selling or giving away the phone, a factory reset ensures the next owner doesn't inherit your personal data.

Before you start, understand that a factory reset is permanent and cannot be undone. Back up anything you want to keep — photos, contacts, messages, documents — to your Samsung account, Google account, or a computer. Once you begin the reset, those files will be gone from the phone.

Key Takeaways

  • Back up your photos, contacts, and messages to your Samsung account or Google account before starting, because a factory reset deletes everything on the phone permanently.
  • The fastest method is to go to Settings > General Management > Reset > Factory Data Reset, then confirm twice.
  • If your phone won't turn on or respond to touch, you can force a reset using hardware buttons: hold Power and Volume Up together until the recovery menu appears, then select Wipe Data.
  • After the reset finishes, your phone will restart and show the initial setup screen, and you can sign back into your Samsung or Google account to restore backed-up data.
  • If you forget your Samsung or Google password, you may not be able to set up the phone again, so write down your passwords before you reset.

Backing up your data before you reset

Open Settings and tap Accounts and Backup (or Accounts, depending on your Samsung model). Look for Backup and Restore or Samsung Cloud. Tap Backup and select what you want to save — typically Contacts, Messages, Apps, Settings, and Home Screen Layout. Tap Backup Now. This sends your data to your Samsung account in the cloud.

You can also back up to Google. Go to Settings > Accounts and Backup > Accounts > Google, tap your Google account, then tap Account Sync. Toggle on the items you want synced — Contacts, Calendar, Gmail, Photos, and others. Google automatically backs these up as you use them, so you don't need to tap a backup button.

For photos and videos, open the Google Photos app, tap your profile picture in the top right, then tap Photos Settings > Backup and Sync. Turn it on. This backs up your entire photo library to Google Photos. You can also connect your phone to a computer via USB cable and copy files manually to your computer's hard drive.

The standard method: resetting through Settings

This is the easiest way if your phone is responding normally. Open Settings and scroll down to find General Management (on some older Samsung models it may be called System or About Phone). Tap General Management.

Look for Reset or Factory Data Reset. Tap it. You'll see options — choose Factory Data Reset or Reset Phone. The screen will show what will be deleted: Apps, Settings, Data. Read the warning carefully. Tap Reset or Delete All, depending on your model.

Samsung will ask you to confirm by entering your PIN, pattern, or password, or by confirming your Samsung account password. This is a security step to prevent accidental resets. Enter your credentials and tap Confirm or Reset. The phone will restart and begin erasing data. This process takes five to fifteen minutes. Do not turn off the phone during this time.

When the reset finishes, the phone restarts and displays the initial setup screen. You can now set it up as a new phone or sign into your Samsung and Google accounts to restore your backed-up contacts, apps, and settings.

Resetting a phone that won't respond: the hardware button method

If your Samsung phone is frozen, won't turn on, or won't respond to touch, you can force a reset using the physical buttons. First, try holding the Power button for ten seconds to force the phone to shut down. If that doesn't work, proceed to the hardware reset.

Hold the Power button and Volume Up button together. Keep holding both buttons until you see the Samsung logo or a menu appear on screen. This usually takes ten to fifteen seconds. Release the buttons. You should now see the Recovery Menu, a text-based screen with options like Reboot System Now, Wipe Data/Factory Reset, and others.

Use the Volume Down button to navigate to Wipe Data/Factory Reset. 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 reset will begin. Do not interrupt it. When it finishes, you'll return to the Recovery Menu. Select Reboot System Now to restart the phone.

What to do after the reset is complete

Your phone will restart and show the Welcome screen or initial setup wizard. You'll be asked to select a language, connect to Wi-Fi, and sign into an account. If you backed up to a Samsung account, sign in with that account and the phone will restore your contacts, apps, and settings automatically. If you backed up to Google, sign in with your Google account and choose which data to restore.

If you don't sign into an account, you'll have a blank phone with only the default Samsung apps. You can read your apps again from the Google Play Store or Samsung Galaxy Store by signing in with the account you used to purchase them originally.

Reinstalling apps and restoring data can take an hour or more depending on how much you backed up and how fast your internet connection is. Leave the phone plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi during this process.

Troubleshooting: what to do if the reset fails or won't start

If you see an error message during the reset, the most common cause is insufficient storage space. The phone needs a small amount of free space to complete the reset. Try deleting large files or apps manually before attempting the reset again. Go to Settings > Storage and look for large items you can remove.

If the phone is stuck on the setup screen after the reset, try restarting it. Hold the Power button for ten seconds, then turn it back on. If it's still stuck, try the hardware button reset method described above.

If you forgot your Samsung account password or Google password, you won't be able to set up the phone after the reset. Visit samsung.com/account or google.com/accounts on a computer to reset your password, then use the new password on your phone. If you can't recover your account, you may need to contact Samsung Support or Google Support for further help.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. After the reset, the phone will ask you to sign into a Google account during setup. You can sign back into the same account you used before, and your contacts, calendar, and backed-up apps will restore automatically. If you don't sign in, you'll have a blank phone.

Can I stop a factory reset once it has started?

No. Once you confirm the reset, it cannot be stopped or undone. The phone will erase all data and restart. This is why backing up beforehand is critical. Do not turn off the phone during the reset process.

How long does a factory reset take?

A factory reset usually takes five to fifteen minutes from start to finish. The phone will restart several times during the process. If it takes longer than thirty minutes, something may have gone wrong — try forcing a restart by holding the Power button for ten seconds.

Will a factory reset fix my phone if it's running slowly?

Often yes. A slow phone is usually caused by too many apps running, cached files, or malware. A factory reset clears all of these. However, if the phone is slow because of a hardware problem or an old battery, a reset won't fix it. If slowness returns after a few weeks, the problem may be hardware-related.

What if I reset my phone but forgot to back up my photos?

If your photos were backed up to Google Photos automatically before the reset, they're still in your Google Photos account. Sign into Google Photos on the phone or on a computer to see them. If they weren't backed up, they're permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.