How to Reset a Samsung Phone: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Whether your Samsung Galaxy smartphone is running sluggishly, freezing up, or you are getting ready to sell, trade in, or give it away, performing a reset is the most effective way to solve system issues and wipe user data.

Depending on the specific situation, Samsung offers several reset options—ranging from a quick soft reset that keeps all your data safe, to a full factory hard reset that restores the phone to its original factory condition.

Critical Warning (Factory Reset Protection / FRP): If you plan to sell or gift your phone, always remove your Google Account and Samsung Account in Settings before factory resetting. Otherwise, Android's built-in Factory Reset Protection (FRP) will lock the phone and require your original account credentials to complete the initial setup.

 

Pre-Reset Checklist: Back Up Your Important Files

Before initiating any full system wipe, make sure to back up your photos, contacts, documents, and messaging history:

• Samsung Smart Switch (Recommended): Install Smart Switch on a PC, Mac, or external flash drive and create a full backup image of your Galaxy device.
• Samsung Cloud / Google Drive: Go to Settings > Accounts and backup > Back up data to sync app data, text messages, phone logs, and system preferences to the cloud.

Method 1: Soft Reset (Force Restart)

A soft reset is simply a forced restart. It does not delete any personal photos, apps, or settings. Use this method when your phone screen is frozen, unresponsive, or experiencing minor software glitches.

How to Soft Reset:

1. Press and hold both the Power / Side Key and the Volume Down button at the same time.
2. Hold both keys continuously for 7 to 10 seconds.
3. Release the buttons as soon as the screen turns off and the Samsung Galaxy logo appears.

Method 2: Factory Reset via Settings (Standard Method)

This is the safest and easiest way to completely wipe your phone if you can still navigate the screen and menus normally.

Step-by-Step Guide for Samsung One UI:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and select General management.
3. Tap Reset.
4. Select Factory data reset.
5. Review the summary of accounts, apps, and media that will be deleted.
6. Scroll down to the bottom and tap Reset.
7. Enter your lock screen PIN, pattern, or password to confirm.
8. Tap Delete all. (If prompted, enter your Samsung Account password to authorize the operation).

Your phone will automatically turn off, clear internal memory partitions, and reboot into the initial setup wizard after a few minutes.

Method 3: Hard Reset via Recovery Mode (When Locked Out)

If you forgot your lock screen password/PIN or the phone refuses to boot into the operating system (stuck in a boot loop), you can perform a hard reset using physical hardware buttons.

Note for Modern Samsung Phones (One UI 3.0 / Android 11 and newer): Samsung requires your phone to be connected to a PC, Mac, or USB-C headphones via a USB cable to enter Recovery Mode.

How to Enter Recovery Mode and Reset:

1. Power Off: Turn off your Samsung phone. If it is locked and will not power down, force restart it (Power + Volume Down) and immediately switch to step 3 as soon as the screen turns black.
2. Connect USB Cable: Plug your phone into a computer using a USB-C cable.
3. Press Key Combination:
   • Devices without a physical Home button (Galaxy S20, S21, S22, S23, S24, A-series): Press and hold Volume Up + Power / Side Button together.
   • Older devices with a physical Home button (Galaxy S7, Note 5, older J-series): Press and hold Volume Up + Home + Power.
4. Release Keys: Release all keys when the Android Recovery menu appears on screen.
5. Navigate: Use the Volume Down button to highlight Wipe data/factory reset.
6. Select: Press the Power / Side Button to select it.
7. Confirm: Use Volume Down to highlight Factory data reset (or Yes) and press the Power Button.
8. Reboot: Once the wipe completes, select Reboot system now and press the Power Button.

Method 4: Partial Resets (Fixing Network & System Glitches)

If you only want to resolve specific connectivity or system configuration problems, you don't need to wipe your entire phone. Samsung provides targeted reset options under Settings > General management > Reset:

• Reset all settings: Restores system preferences (display, sound, notifications) to default without deleting photos, files, or downloaded apps.
• Reset Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings: Clears all saved Wi-Fi passwords, network configurations, and paired Bluetooth accessories.
• Reset Mobile network settings: Re-initializes cellular connectivity parameters without affecting stored data.

Method 5: Remote Factory Reset via SmartThings Find

If your Samsung phone is lost, stolen, or has a completely broken display, you can erase your personal data remotely over the internet.

1. Go to smartthingsfind.samsung.com on a computer or tablet.
2. Log in with your Samsung Account.
3. Select your phone from the registered device panel on the left side.
4. Click Erase data on the pop-up action menu.
5. Authenticate with your Samsung password to trigger the remote wipe.

Quick Comparison: Samsung Reset Methods

Reset Type	Data Erased?	Lock Screen PIN Required?	Best Used For
Soft Reset	No data lost	No	Frozen screen, unresponsive system
Reset Network Settings	Wi-Fi / Bluetooth passwords only	Yes	Cellular drops, Bluetooth pairing issues
Reset All Settings	System preferences only	Yes	Minor OS bugs without file loss
Factory Reset (Settings)	All personal data erased	Yes (+ Samsung password)	Selling phone, full fresh start
Recovery Mode Hard Reset	All personal data erased	No (FRP lock applies after)	Forgot passcode, system failure
Remote Erase	All personal data erased	No (Account login required)	Lost, stolen, or broken display

What to Do After Resetting

Once the reset process completes, your phone will boot back up to the "Welcome" setup screen:

1. Choose your primary language and connect to Wi-Fi.
2. Sign in to your Google Account and Samsung Account.
3. Open Smart Switch or select Restore from Cloud Backup during setup to re-download your backed-up photos, apps, contacts, and text messages.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How do I reset my Samsung phone?

Go to Settings > General Management > Reset > Factory Data Reset, review the information, tap Reset, and confirm with your PIN, password, or pattern.

2. Will a factory reset delete all my data?

Yes. A factory reset erases all personal data, including apps, photos, videos, contacts, messages, and settings. Always back up your important files before resetting your device.

3. How long does it take to factory reset a Samsung phone?

A factory reset usually takes 5 to 15 minutes, depending on your device model and the amount of stored data.

4. What should I do if my Samsung phone is stuck after a reset?

If your phone is stuck on the Samsung logo or setup screen, restart the device. If the problem continues, try Recovery Mode or contact Samsung Support for further assistance.

5. Do I need my Google or Samsung account after resetting the phone?

Yes. If Factory Reset Protection (FRP) is enabled, you'll need to sign in with the Google account or Samsung account previously linked to the device during the setup process.