How to Factory Reset a Samsung Galaxy Phone
Step-by-step Samsung Galaxy factory reset instructions from Settings and from hardware buttons when the screen won't respond, plus FRP lockout tips.
To factory reset a Samsung Galaxy phone, go to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset, then tap Reset and Delete all. If the screen is frozen, cracked, or won’t respond to touch, you can trigger the same wipe from the hardware recovery menu using the volume and side (power) buttons instead. Either way, back up your data first and make sure you know your Google and Samsung account passwords, since Factory Reset Protection will ask for them after the reset.
Before You Reset: Back Up and Check Your Accounts
A factory reset erases everything on the phone’s internal storage: photos, messages, downloaded apps, saved logins, and any settings you’ve customized. None of it is recoverable once the wipe finishes, so back up anything you want to keep to Samsung Cloud, Google Photos, or a computer before you start. Our guide on how to back up your Android phone covers the fastest ways to do this on a Galaxy device.
Two accounts matter here. If a Samsung account is signed in, the reset process will ask for its password partway through. And if a Google account with a screen lock (PIN, pattern, or password) is active on the phone, Google’s Factory Reset Protection (FRP) will require that Google account’s credentials during the initial setup screen after the reset completes. If you’re selling or giving away the phone, sign out of both accounts first so the next owner isn’t locked out; if you’re resetting your own phone, just have the passwords ready.
Factory Reset from the Settings App
This is the standard method when the phone turns on and the touchscreen works normally.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open Settings and tap General management |
| 2 | Tap Reset |
| 3 | Tap Factory data reset |
| 4 | Review the summary of what will be erased, then tap Reset |
| 5 | Tap Delete all |
| 6 | Enter your device PIN, pattern, or password when prompted |
| 7 | Enter your Samsung account password if one is set on the device |
| 8 | Wait for the phone to restart to the initial setup screen |
Menu wording has shifted slightly across One UI versions (some builds show “Factory data reset” as a direct entry under Reset, others nest it one tap deeper), but the top-level path through General management and Reset has stayed consistent across recent Galaxy generations, including the S series, A series, and Z Fold/Flip line.
Resetting from Hardware Buttons When the Screen Won’t Respond
If the display is cracked, frozen, or the phone won’t respond to taps, you can still wipe it through Android’s recovery menu without touching the screen at all. First, if the phone appears frozen rather than off, force a restart by holding Volume Down + Side (power) button for about 10 seconds, then let it power down normally. If the phone won’t power on at all, start with our guide on how to fix a phone that won’t turn on before assuming this is a software issue.
With the phone fully powered off:
- On Galaxy models with a dedicated Bixby button (S8 through S10), press and hold Volume Up + Bixby + Side button together until the phone vibrates and the Samsung logo appears.
- On Galaxy S20 and later, A series, and Z Fold/Flip models (no Home or Bixby button), connect a USB-C data cable to the phone before you start, then press and hold Volume Up + Side button until the logo appears. Many current models won’t boot into recovery without a cable connected.
Once you reach the Android recovery screen, use the volume keys to highlight Wipe data/factory reset, then press the side button to select it. Confirm with Yes, then select Reboot system now once the wipe finishes.
| Method | Best when | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Settings app | Phone powers on and the screen responds normally | Screen lock PIN/pattern, Samsung account password if set |
| Hardware buttons (recovery mode) | Screen is broken, frozen, or unresponsive | Phone powered off, USB-C cable on most current models |
Avoiding a Factory Reset Protection (FRP) Lockout
FRP is a Google-level anti-theft feature, not a Samsung one, and it turns on automatically the moment you sign into a Google account and set a screen lock. After any factory reset, whether done through Settings or recovery mode, the setup screen will ask for the credentials of the Google account that was last active on the phone. If you don’t have that password, the phone is effectively unusable until you do, or until the original owner clears it remotely from their Google account.
To avoid getting locked out, remove the Google account (Settings > Accounts and backup > Manage accounts) and the Samsung account before you reset a phone you’re passing on to someone else. If you’re just resetting your own device to fix a problem, there’s nothing to do here beyond keeping your Google password handy. For a broader look at reset options across Android brands, see our guide on how to factory reset an Android phone safely.
A factory reset on a Galaxy phone typically takes five to fifteen minutes once the backup is done and both accounts are sorted out. If you’re troubleshooting rather than wiping for a resale, try a normal restart and check for pending software updates first; a full reset should be the last step after simpler fixes haven’t worked.