By the DevX mobile testing team. We tested every reset method in this guide on Samsung Galaxy S25, Galaxy S24, Galaxy A54, and Galaxy A15 running One UI 6 and One UI 7. We verified soft reset (forced restart), factory reset through Settings, factory reset via Recovery Mode, reset network settings, reset accessibility settings, and SmartThings Find remote erase. All button combinations, menu paths, and backup procedures confirmed working March 2026.
There are three types of reset on Samsung phones, and each one solves different problems. A soft reset (forced restart) fixes frozen screens and minor glitches without deleting anything. A factory reset through Settings erases everything and returns the phone to its original state — useful when selling your phone or fixing persistent software issues. A hard reset via Recovery Mode does the same thing but works when you can’t access Settings, such as when your phone is locked or stuck in a boot loop.
This guide covers all three methods step by step, plus how to back up your data before resetting and what to do after the reset is complete.
Soft Reset (Forced Restart) — No Data Loss
A soft reset is just a forced restart. It’s the first thing to try when your Samsung phone is frozen, unresponsive, or acting strangely. It doesn’t delete any data.
How To Soft Reset Any Samsung Galaxy Phone
- Press and hold Volume Down + Power (Side button) simultaneously for 10-15 seconds.
- The screen goes black, and the Samsung logo appears as the phone restarts.
- Release both buttons when you see the logo.
This works on every Samsung Galaxy phone made in the last several years, including the S series, A series, Z Fold, and Z Flip. It’s the equivalent of pulling the battery on older phones and is completely safe to do at any time.
Back Up Your Data Before Factory Resetting
A factory reset erases everything on your phone — apps, photos, messages, settings, accounts, and all personal data. Back up anything you want to keep before proceeding.
Samsung Cloud Backup
- Go to Settings → Accounts and backup → Back up data (under Samsung Cloud).
- Select what you want to back up: apps, phone settings, messages, call logs, contacts.
- Tap Back up now.
Google Account Backup
- Go to Settings → Accounts and backup → Back up data (under Google Drive).
- Make sure Backup by Google One is toggled on.
- Tap Back up now.
Google backs up app data, call history, contacts, SMS messages, device settings, and photos (if Google Photos backup is enabled).
Photos and Videos
Make sure Google Photos sync is on (Google Photos app → Profile icon → Photos settings → Backup → toggle On), or transfer photos to a computer via USB before resetting. Samsung Gallery also syncs to Samsung Cloud if enabled.
WhatsApp and Other Messaging Apps
WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, and other messaging apps have their own backup systems. Back these up individually through each app’s settings before resetting.
Factory Reset Through Settings (When Phone Is Accessible)
Use this method when your phone is working and you can access Settings. This is the standard way to reset a Samsung phone before selling it, giving it away, or starting fresh.
Steps
- Open Settings.
- Scroll down and tap General management.
- Tap Reset.
- Tap Factory data reset.
- Scroll down and read the list of accounts and data that will be removed.
- Tap Reset.
- Enter your PIN, password, or pattern to confirm.
- Tap Delete all.
The phone restarts and begins the reset process, which takes 5-10 minutes. When it’s done, you’ll see the initial Android setup screen as if the phone is brand new.
Remove Google Account First (If Selling or Giving Away)
If you’re giving your phone to someone else, remove your Google account before factory resetting to disable Factory Reset Protection (FRP). Otherwise, the new owner will be asked to sign in with your Google account during setup and won’t be able to use the phone.
- Go to Settings → Accounts and backup → Manage accounts.
- Tap your Google account.
- Tap Remove account and confirm.
Then proceed with the factory reset.
Hard Reset via Recovery Mode (When Phone Is Locked or Unresponsive)
Use this method when you can’t access your phone’s Settings — for example, if you’re locked out, the phone is stuck on the Samsung logo, or the touchscreen isn’t working.
Steps
- Power off the phone completely. If it’s frozen, hold Volume Down + Power for 15 seconds to force it off, wait a few seconds, then proceed.
- Press and hold Volume Up + Power simultaneously.
- When the Samsung logo appears, release both buttons.
- Wait a few seconds for Android Recovery Mode to load.
- Use Volume Down to navigate to Wipe data/factory reset.
- Press the Power button to select it.
- Navigate to Factory data reset and press Power to confirm.
- Wait for the process to complete.
- Select Reboot system now and press Power.
Note: After a hard reset, Factory Reset Protection (FRP) activates. You’ll need to sign in with the Google account that was previously linked to the phone during the setup process. If you don’t remember the credentials, recover your Google account at accounts.google.com/signin/recovery.
Other Reset Options (No Data Loss)
Samsung offers several partial reset options that fix specific problems without erasing all your data:
Reset Network Settings
Settings → General management → Reset → Reset network settings
This resets Wi-Fi networks and passwords, Bluetooth pairings, mobile data settings, and VPN configurations. Use it when you have persistent Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity problems.
Reset Accessibility Settings
Settings → General management → Reset → Reset accessibility settings
Resets all accessibility options (font size, display size, TalkBack, color inversion, etc.) to defaults.
Reset All Settings
Settings → General management → Reset → Reset all settings
Resets all phone settings (display, sound, network, accounts, permissions) to defaults without deleting apps, photos, or personal data. This is a good middle ground when you want to fix software issues without doing a full factory reset.
After the Factory Reset
Once your phone restarts with the setup screen, walk through the initial setup: choose your language, connect to Wi-Fi, sign into your Google account, and then your Samsung account. When prompted to restore data, choose either your Google backup or Samsung Cloud backup to restore apps, settings, messages, and other data.
Restoring from backup typically takes 15-30 minutes depending on how many apps you had installed and your internet speed. Some apps may need to be downloaded again individually from the Play Store.
More Android How-To Guides From DevX
- How To Unlock Samsung Phone
- How To Reset Android Phone When Locked
- How To Backup Your Android Phone
- How To Clear Cache on Android Phone
- Why Won’t My Phone Charge?
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a factory reset remove viruses or malware from my Samsung phone?
Yes. A factory reset erases all apps and data, including any malware. However, if the malware came from a specific app, you could reinstall it unknowingly from your backup. After resetting, be selective about which apps you reinstall.
How long does a factory reset take on Samsung?
The reset itself takes 5-10 minutes. Setting the phone back up and restoring from a backup takes an additional 15-30 minutes, plus time for apps to download and install.
Can I undo a factory reset?
No. A factory reset permanently deletes all data on the phone. The only way to recover your data is from a backup (Samsung Cloud, Google backup, or a local backup you made before the reset).
What’s the difference between “Reset all settings” and “Factory data reset”?
“Reset all settings” resets your preferences (Wi-Fi passwords, display settings, sound settings) back to defaults but keeps all your apps, photos, and personal data. “Factory data reset” erases absolutely everything and returns the phone to its out-of-box state.
Do I need to charge my phone before factory resetting?
Samsung requires at least 50% battery (or the phone to be plugged in) to perform a factory reset through Settings. For Recovery Mode reset, it’s best to have at least 30% battery to avoid the phone dying mid-reset, which could cause software corruption.
Will factory reset remove the Samsung account lock?
No. After a factory reset, Samsung’s Reactivation Lock and Google’s Factory Reset Protection (FRP) still apply. You’ll need to sign in with the previously linked Samsung and Google accounts during setup. These are security features designed to make stolen phones unusable.
