How do i reset my samsung phone to factory settings

To remove all data from your phone, you can reset your phone to factory settings. Factory resets are also called “formatting” or “hard resets.”

Table of Contents Show

Get ready to factory reset
Factory reset your phone
Related resources
Does a factory reset remove all data?
How to completely erase a Samsung Galaxy phone
STEP 1: Back up your Samsung Galaxy
Did you know? Many phones are worth $100+. Find the value of your phone.
STEP 2: Disable security tools and accounts
STEP 3: Encrypt your data
STEP 4: Factory reset your Samsung Galaxy
STEP 4: Overwrite old data
Related Help
Does a factory reset delete everything?
Does a factory reset delete everything Samsung?
How do you completely reset a Samsung phone?
How do I do a full factory reset on my phone?

Get ready to factory reset

Important: A factory reset erases all your data from your phone.

If you're resetting to fix an issue, we recommend first trying other solutions. Learn how to troubleshoot Android issues.

Know Google Account username & password

To restore your data after you reset your phone, you must enter security info. When you enter the info, it shows that you or someone you trust did the reset.

Be sure that you know a Google Account on the phone.
- Open your phone's Settings app.
- Tap Accounts. If you don't have the option to tap "Accounts," get help from your device manufacturer.
- You'll find a Google Account username.
Be sure that you know the password for the Google Account on the phone. To confirm, sign in to that account on another device or computer. If you don't remember the password, get sign-in help.
If you've set a screen lock, be sure that you know your phone's PIN, pattern, or password. If you can't unlock your phone, learn what you can do.

Tip: If you recently reset your Google Account password, wait 24 hours before you perform a factory reset.

Back up your data to your Google Account

A factory data reset erases your data from the phone. While data stored in your Google Account can be restored, all apps and their data will be uninstalled.

To be ready to restore your data, make sure that it's in your Google Account. Learn how to back up your data.

Charge & connect

A factory reset can take up to an hour.

Charge your phone to at least 70%.
Connect your phone to Wi-Fi or your mobile network. When the factory reset completes, you must be connected to sign in to your Google Account.

Factory reset your phone

On most phones, you can reset your phone through the Settings app. If you can't open your phone's Settings app, you can try factory resetting your phone using its power and volume buttons.

We recommend checking your manufacturer's support site for device-specific instructions.

Add an account to your phone
Can't sign in to your Google Account
Can't unlock your phone

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It takes more than a factory rest to permanently wipe personal data from your Samsung Galaxy. Here’s how to completely erase your Galaxy so you can safely sell it

You know how important it is to erase your data before you sell your Samsung Galaxy, but a standard factory reset can still leave your personal photos, videos, contacts, bank accounts and other data exposed to savvy hackers (or anyone who downloads Android recovery software). Here’s what you need to do to permanently and completely reset your Samsung Galaxy.

Does a factory reset remove all data?

A standard Samsung Galaxy factory reset does not erase all data from your phone. Rather, it encrypts data and “hides” it from the operating system. Savvy hackers and even free Android recovery software can discover and unencrypt your master token, which is used to unlock your data.

In one experiment, security firm Avast purchased 20 factory reset Android phones on eBay. They were able to recover more than 40,000 photos (including family photos of children and personal photos of women) plus Google search histories, emails, text messages, contact names and even a loan application.

How to completely erase a Samsung Galaxy phone

If you truly want to protect your data, you can’t settle for a factory reset. Instead, you need to overwrite your phone with dummy data so that even if it is recovered, it won’t include any trace of your personal information. Here’s how to do it.

STEP 1: Back up your Samsung Galaxy

You might have automatic backups enabled, but it’s a good idea to take a manual backup via Google or Samsung Cloud just in case. That way, you can restore your settings, apps and other data on a new device.

Google manual backup

Browse to SETTINGS > ACCOUNTS AND BACKUP > BACKUP AND RESTORE
Tap GOOGLE ACCOUNT
Tap BACK UP NOW

Samsung Cloud manual backup

Browse to SETTINGS > ACCOUNTS AND BACKUP > BACKUP AND RESTORE
Tap SAMSUNG CLOUD
Select BACKUP THIS PHONE
Tap SELECT ALL
Tap BACK UP

Alternatively, you can back up your data to an SD card or external USB storage device with Samsung Smart Switch.

NOTE: Steps might vary slightly between Galaxy models. If you can’t find backup options, search your phone for “backup” and/or “accounts.”

Did you know? Many phones are worth $100+. Find the value of your phone.

STEP 2: Disable security tools and accounts

Turn off and disable security tools and accounts that lock your phone, track its location and prevent others from using it.

Remove your microSD card

If you have a microSD card, be sure to remove it – especially if it contains photos, files or app data.

Disable Samsung Find My Mobile (if enabled)

Browse to SETTINGS > BIOMETRICS AND SECURITY > FIND MY MOBILE
Select your account (you’ll need to enter your Samsung password)
Tap MORE > REMOVE ACCOUNT

Disable Find My Device

Browse to SETTINGS > BIOMETRICS AND SECURITY > FIND MY DEVICE
Toggle off

Disable lock screen

Browse to SETTINGS > LOCK SCREEN > LOCK SCREEN TYPE
Tap NONE

Remove your Google account

Browse to SETTINGS > ACCOUNTS AND BACKUP > ACCOUNTS
Select your Google account
Tap REMOVE ACCOUNT

NOTE: If you have multiple Google accounts connected to your phone, remove them all.

STEP 3: Encrypt your data

Encrypting your data makes it impossible to access without a password, which the future owner of your Samsung Galaxy won’t have. If you have a Galaxy S7 or more recent phone, your data is already encrypted (unless you turned encryption off). Steps vary by model, but if you have a Samsung Galaxy S6 or older phone you will generally need to:

Browse to SETTINGS > LOCK SCREEN AND SECURITY > OTHER SECURITY SETTINGS
Tap ENCRYPT DEVICE

If you have a Galaxy S7 or newer phone, you just need to make sure Strong Protection is enabled:

Browse to SETTINGS > BIOMETRICS AND SECURITY > OTHER SECURITY SETTINGS
Toggle STRONG PROTECTION on (if it’s not already)

STEP 4: Factory reset your Samsung Galaxy

Now you can perform a standard Samsung Galaxy factory reset. Steps will vary by model, but if you have a Samsung Galaxy S6 or older phone you will generally:

Browse to SETTINGS > BACKUP AND RESET > FACTORY DATA RESET
Tap RESET PHONE

If you have a newer model like a Galaxy S10, you will:

Browse to SETTINGS > GENERAL MANAGEMENT > RESET
Tap FACTORY DATA RESET and confirm

If you can’t find the right screen, search your phone for “reset.”

STEP 4: Overwrite old data

This is an optional step, but it’s the only way to guarantee your data is completely wiped from your Samsung Galaxy. That’s because your operating system will overwrite your old, encrypted data with the new data.

You can do it manually by loading your phone’s hard drive with large files (like videos) until it’s full, but that’s a tedious process. An easier option is to use a third-party app like Secure Erase, Secure Wipe, Shreddit or Andro Shredder.

When you’ve finished overwriting data, factory reset your Samsung Galaxy one more time to hide the dummy data and so a new user can set up the phone. Now, it’s ready to sell – completely clean and free of any personal data.

Does a factory reset delete everything?

A factory data reset erases your data from the phone. While data stored in your Google Account can be restored, all apps and their data will be uninstalled. To be ready to restore your data, make sure that it's in your Google Account. Learn how to back up your data.

Does a factory reset delete everything Samsung?

Does a factory reset remove all data? A standard Samsung Galaxy factory reset does not erase all data from your phone. Rather, it encrypts data and “hides” it from the operating system. Savvy hackers and even free Android recovery software can discover and unencrypt your master token, which is used to unlock your data.