Does a Factory Reset Delete Everything on a Samsung Phone?

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Plus, how to wipe your phone clean & delete your personal data!
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Your phone contains so much personal information! If you're thinking about selling or giving your Samsung to someone, it's probably a good idea to remove all the data. Fortunately, it's really easy to do a factory reset which will remove all your content including pictures, contacts, messages, and downloads.

How to Factory Reset a Samsung Phone

Go to “Settings,” select “General Management,” hit “Reset,” and then press “Factory Data Reset.” Select “Reset” and “Delete All” to factory reset your phone. A factory reset deletes all data stored on your Samsung device, including your apps, photos, contacts, and settings.

Section 1 of 6:

How can I ensure my personal data is permanently deleted?

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  1. It's unlikely that anyone will be able to access your info once you do a factory reset. That said, IT specialists and sophisticated hackers might be able to recover some of it if they really wanted to. [1] If this worries you, encrypt your phone before you reset it. Start with a fully charged phone and go into settings. Select "Encrypt Phone." Once it's done, reset the phone and rest assured that most people won't be able to access your personal data. [2]
    • By encrypting your data, anyone who gets ahold of your phone won't be able to access your photos, data, downloads, etc.
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Section 2 of 6:

What happens with a factory reset?

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  1. This includes downloads, photos, videos, messages, contacts, and any files you've stored. [3] Your phone will be a clean slate with nothing on it, just like when you first purchased it, although the files could still be recovered. [4]
    • Your phone will ask you to confirm the reset a few times so you don't accidentally reset your phone.
    • It is possible for IT specialists who have sophisticated software to recover files unless you encrypted them before resetting the phone.
Section 3 of 6:

Why would I do a factory reset?

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  1. If your phone's been really slow, isn't responding, or your apps aren't working properly, you've probably tried lots of solutions. If nothing works, it might be time to completely reset your phone. [5]
  2. This way, no one can access the data on your Samsung. It also makes it a lot easier for the person you're giving the phone to to start using the phone right away. [6]
    • If you've got data that you don't want to lose, you can back up your phone and save the content to your Google Drive or Google Photos Library. Remember, encrypt the phone if you don't want anyone to be able to access your files after you've reset it. [7]
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Section 4 of 6:

What's a soft reset?

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  1. Sometimes, this is enough to fix whatever minor problem you're encountering with your Samsung phone. Always try a soft reset before moving on to a hard or factory reset. [8]
Section 5 of 6:

What's the difference between a hard reset and factory reset?

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  1. The factory reset clears all the data from the phone so it's just like when you originally got it—no data, downloads, etc. A hard reset reboots the phone, which clears the hardware's memory and updates the software. [9]
    • Although you won't easily be able to see the data, downloads, and content after you've reset the phone, IT specialists can access the files using sophisticated software.
    • A hard reset is a good option if you're trying to fix a problem with your phone or you've run out of memory. If a hard reset doesn't fix the problem, you could do a factory reset to start over with a blank slate.
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Section 6 of 6:

How do I wipe my Samsung phone clean?

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  1. From the settings menu, press "General Management" followed by "Reset" and "Factory Data Reset." Then, press "Reset" and "Delete all." [10]
    • Your Samsung phone will turn off and reboot itself. This process takes longer if you've got a lot of data, but if there's not much on your phone, it should take just a few minutes.
  2. If you've gotten locked out of your Samsung phone, turn it off. Press the "Power," "Bixby," and "Volume Up" buttons all at the same time. Keep holding them until you see the Android mascot appear. Then, use the "Volume Down" key to select "Wipe Data/Factory Reset," and press the "Power" button to select "Yes." [11]
    • This resets the system. You may be asked to reboot, in which case, just select "reboot system now." The amount of time this takes depends on how much data is on your phone.
    • Bixby is the Samsung intelligence assistant that you can call up using the button on the left side of the phone below the volume buttons.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    When should I do a factory reset?
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Expert Answer
    You can do a factory reset when you give away your phone or computer to someone. After resetting, it will be like it was when you bought it.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    Does a factory reset delete all your data?
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Expert Answer
    A factory reset erases your data for the most part, but it doesn't securely delete it. A hacker can still retrieve data from the phone or computer.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 4 Helpful 19
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      References

      1. ↑ Luigi Oppido. Computer & Tech Specialist. Expert Interview. 31 July 2019.
      2. ↑ https://www.wired.co.uk/article/securely-wipe-android-iphone-hard-disk
      3. ↑ https://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/what-is/hard-reset/
      4. ↑ Luigi Oppido. Computer & Tech Specialist. Expert Interview. 31 July 2019.
      5. ↑ https://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/what-is/hard-reset/#
      6. ↑ Luigi Oppido. Computer & Tech Specialist. Expert Interview. 31 July 2019.
      7. ↑ https://support.google.com/android/answer/2819582
      8. ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-reset-samsung-galaxy
      9. ↑ https://hrdreset.com/what-is-the-difference-between-factory-reset-and-hard-reset/
      1. ↑ https://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/what-is/hard-reset/
      2. ↑ https://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/what-is/hard-reset/

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