How to factory reset a Samsung phone (Settings or buttons)

A factory reset returns your Galaxy to the state it left the factory in: no apps, no accounts, no photos. People do it for two main reasons. Either the phone has a problem that nothing else fixed, or it is about to be sold, traded in or handed down to someone in the family. Some also reset a phone before a repair, so the shop never sees their personal data. The steps are the same, but what you do before and after is different, and getting it wrong can lose your data or lock the next owner out.

Samsung’s reset options compared

• Reset network settings: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile network settings only. For signal and connection problems.
• Reset all settings: every setting back to default, but your apps, photos and files stay.
• Reset accessibility settings: only accessibility options.
• Factory data reset: erases everything on the phone.

All four are in Settings › General management › Reset. If you are fixing a problem, try the lighter options first, since they keep your data and often solve connection or settings issues on their own.

Before you reset

1. Back up. Use Smart Switch to a computer or new phone, or Settings › Accounts and backup › Back up data for Samsung Cloud and Google.
2. Know your passwords. You need your Google account password to set the phone up again after a reset.
3. Selling or giving it away? Remove your Google and Samsung accounts in Settings › Accounts and backup › Manage accounts, so the next owner is not blocked.

What a factory reset erases, and what it keeps

• Erased: apps, accounts, messages, photos, videos and files stored on the phone, plus Secure Folder.
• Kept: a removable SD card, unless you format it separately in Settings › Battery and device care › Storage.
• eSIM: recent Galaxy phones may ask whether to delete or keep eSIMs during the reset. Keep them if you are keeping the phone; delete them if you are selling it, after moving your line to the new phone.
• Safe in the cloud: anything already backed up to Google, Samsung Cloud, OneDrive or Google Photos.

Selling or trading in? Full checklist

Doing it in this order means the buyer will not see Factory Reset Protection, and you will not lose access to Samsung Wallet or your watch. A phone that is signed out and reset also gets a better trade-in quote, since many buyers and trade-in programs check for locks first.

After the reset: set up and restore

When the phone restarts, follow the Welcome screens. Sign in with your Google account, and on a Samsung, your Samsung account if you want Samsung Cloud data back. Choose to restore from a Google backup, from Samsung Cloud, or from another phone or a computer with Smart Switch. Apps download in the background over the next while, so keep the phone on Wi-Fi and charging. See how to move data with Smart Switch.

Forgot your PIN or cannot reach Settings?

Recovery mode, Method 2 above, works without the PIN. You can also erase the phone remotely from Google Find Hub or SmartThings Find. Either way, the phone will ask for the Google account that was on it during setup, so make sure you know that password. Before erasing, check whether Samsung Remote unlock can get you back in without losing data. See what to do if you forgot your Android PIN.

Back up the right things

• Photos and videos: Google Photos backup, OneDrive through Samsung Gallery, or a copy on a computer.
• Contacts: saved to your Google account, not only to the phone or SIM. Check in the Contacts app which account each contact uses.
• Messages and call logs: Samsung Cloud or Google backup, or Smart Switch to a computer.
• WhatsApp: its own backup to Google Drive, in WhatsApp › Settings › Chats › Chat backup.
• Authenticator apps: move codes to your new phone first, or turn on cloud sync, or you may be locked out of accounts.
• Secure Folder: back it up separately from inside Secure Folder’s settings.

Check the date of your last backup carefully before you erase anything. A backup from months ago will not include recent photos or chats. See how to back up an Android phone.

Will a factory reset fix my problem?

• Usually fixes: slowness from years of clutter, apps crashing, adware and malware, battery drain from a misbehaving app, and settings you cannot undo.
• Does not fix: a worn battery, a damaged screen or charging port, water damage, or poor signal where you live.
• May return: problems that come from an app, if you restore every app from a full backup. Reinstall apps one by one instead when troubleshooting.

Is my data really gone after a reset?

Yes, for practical purposes. Modern Galaxy phones encrypt their storage, and a factory reset deletes the keys, so the old data cannot be read by the next owner or by recovery software. That is why a normal factory reset from Settings is enough before selling. Removing the SD card matters more, since it may not be encrypted, and formatting it is a separate step.

Reset stuck or failed?

• If the progress screen sits for a long time, give it up to an hour before interrupting, especially on phones with a lot of storage.
• If it restarts into a loop instead, force restart with the side key and volume down, then try the reset again from recovery mode.
• Make sure the battery has at least half a charge, or keep the phone plugged in for the whole reset.
• If recovery mode will not open, connect the phone to a computer or charger with a USB cable and try the button combination again.

Galaxy Tab and foldables

Galaxy tablets and the Z Fold and Z Flip phones use exactly the same Settings path. For recovery mode on a tablet, hold the power key and volume up; on foldables, use the side key and volume up with the phone unfolded or folded, as on other Galaxy phones. A USB connection to a computer may be needed on newer models.