As you use your Samsung Galaxy phone, Note, or Tab, you may find that apps crash or freeze, the Device makes strange noises or no noise at all, it doesn’t sync with other devices, or it can’t receive or make calls. In these cases, you can do a factory data reset from the Settings screen to get your Device back to how it was when it was first made.
You may have a bigger problem if your screen is blank, frozen, or won’t let you touch it or use the S Pen. In that case, your only option is to do a hard factory reset by using the Device’s buttons to access the Device’s firmware, which is the permanent software programmed into your Device’s memory.
Before you reset a Samsung
When you do a factory reset, all the apps, settings, music, photos, and videos on your Device are erased, along with all the other data. You’ll need to back up your data before you reset. If the version of Android on your Samsung device is older than 7.0 (Nougat), here’s how to back it up:
- Tap Apps on the Home screen.
- On the Apps screen, if you need to, swipe to the page with the Settings icon and then tap Settings.
- Tap Back Up and Reset on the Settings screen.
- Tap Back Up My Data in the Backup and Restore area.
Even if you back up your information, you will need your Google email address and password because your Device will ask you to sign in to your Google account after the reset. Also, if your SD card has a decryption key, you’ll need to know that key to get to the files on that card.
Back up yourself
If you didn’t set up automatic backups and you can still use your Device, here’s how to do a manual backup:
- Move the Quick Settings menu down.
- Tap the Settings icon (gear).
- If you need to, swipe up the list of categories on the Settings screen until Accounts and backup show up.
- Choose Save and Restore.
- Tap Back Up My Data in the Google Account area.
- Tap Off on the screen that says “Back Up My Data” to turn on backup. Then, your Device will automatically back up your data to Google.
How to Reset a Samsung Phone or Tablet to Factory Settings
When you first set up your Device, Android told you that it would automatically back up your data to your Google account. So, when you set up your Device again after the reset, you’ll be able to restore your apps and data. Here’s how to reset your Samsung device back to the factory settings. All Galaxy S smartphones, Samsung Galaxy Tab tablets, and Galaxy Note phablets running Android 7.0 (Nougat) and 8.0 (Oreo) should follow these steps (Oreo).
- Move the Quick Settings menu down.
- Tap the gear wheel (gear).
- If you need to, swipe up in the list of categories on the Settings screen and tap General Management.
- Tap Reset on the General Management screen.
- Tap Factory Data Reset on the Reset screen.
- Depending on your Device, tap Reset or Reset Device on the Factory Data Reset screen.
- Tap Delete All.
- You’ll see the Android Recovery screen in about a minute or two. Press the Volume Down button until the option to “Wipe data/factory reset” appears.
- Hit the button that says “On.”
- I press the Volume down button until the Yes option is on the warning screen.
- Hit the button that says “On.”
- After a few seconds, the Android Recover screen comes back up with the Reboot System Now option selected. To turn your system back on, press the Power button.
Earlier Android Versions:
Here’s how to do a factory data reset on a Samsung device running Android 6.0 or a version before that:
- Tap Apps on the Home screen.
- On the Apps screen, if you need to, swipe to the page with the Settings icon and then tap Settings.
- Tap Back Up and Reset on the Settings screen.
- Tap Factory Data Reset on the Support and Reset screen.
- Tap Reset Device on the Factory Data Reset screen.
- Tap Delete All.
After your Device has been reset, you’ll see the Welcome screen and be able to set it up.
Most Samsung devices can be hard reset using this guide.
These directions are for Samsung Galaxy S8 and newer models, Galaxy Note 8, and newer models. How to use older Samsung models is in the next section. Holding the Power button for 10 seconds will shut down your Device before you do a hard reset. Now, here’s what you need to do to do a hard reset:
- I simultaneously press the Volume Up, Power, and Bixby buttons until the Samsung logo appears.
- Messages like “Installing update” and “No command” may appear next, but you don’t need to do anything on these screens except wait for the Android Recovery screen.
- Press the Volume Down button on the Android Recovery screen until Wipe data/factory reset is chosen.
- Hit the button that says “On.”
- I press the Volume Down button before the Yes choice is highlighted on the Warning screen.
- Hit the button that says “On.”
- After a few seconds, the Android Recover screen comes back up with the Reboot System Now option selected. To turn your device back on, press the Power button.
Reset an old Samsung Tab, S, or Note using a Hard Reset
The measures to do a tough reset for older Galaxy devices are slightly different from those for newer Galaxy devices. After you press and hold the Power button for 10 seconds to turn off your Device, do the following:
- At the same time, press the Power, Volume Up, and Home buttons. Messages like “Installing update” and “No command” may appear, but you don’t have to do anything on these screens except wait for the Android Recovery screen.
- Press the Volume Down button on the Android Recovery screen until Wipe data/factory reset is chosen.
- Hit the button that says “On.”
- Press the Volume Down button before the Yes choice is highlighted on the warning screen.
- Hit the button that says “On.”
- After a few seconds, the Android Recovery screen comes back up with the Reboot System Now option selected. To turn your device back on, press the Power button.
What happens if I’m unable to reset?
If your Device doesn’t turn on, you can contact Samsung on its website for information or a live online chat, or you can call Samsung from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. Eastern time Monday through Friday or from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time on the weekends. The Samsung support team may ask permission to access your Device to test it and figure out if you need to send it to them to be fixed.