How To Factory Reset Samsung Galaxy S21

To factory reset Samsung Galaxy S21, you erase everything on the phone and restore it to its out-of-box state, which fixes persistent software glitches and removes your personal data before handing the device to someone else. This guide covers the most common reset path through Settings, plus backup steps, a hardware-button method for locked or frozen phones, and a remote option for lost devices.

Before you factory reset your Samsung Galaxy S21: Critical pre-reset steps

Backing up is the single most important step before you wipe the phone, because a factory reset permanently deletes all local data, contacts, messages, photos, videos, and installed apps. Without a backup, that information is gone for good, so take a few minutes to secure it using one or more of the following methods.

Google account backup: Go to Settings, tap “Accounts and backup,” then “Backup and restore.” Make sure “Backup my data” is toggled on, and tap “Back up now” to save app data, calendar events, contacts, and some settings to your Google account.

Samsung account sync: In the same “Accounts and backup” menu, tap “Samsung account,” sign in, and enable sync for the data categories you want, this is especially useful if you plan to move to another Samsung device.

Computer transfer: Connect the S21 to a computer with a USB cable, wait for the device to appear as a drive, and manually copy your photos, videos, and important files to a folder on the computer.

Cloud storage: Upload files to Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive from the phone itself, so you can retrieve them from any device after the reset.

Also note your Google credentials. If Android Device Protection is enabled on the phone, you will need the same Google sign-in information used on the device after the reset, especially if the reset was done while the phone was powered off. Write down the email and password, or make sure you can access them, or you could be locked out of your own phone after the wipe.

Factory reset your Samsung Galaxy S21 using Settings

This is the primary method for anyone who can unlock the phone and navigate the menus. It takes about two minutes of tapping and then a few minutes for the phone to reboot.

1. Open the Settings app from the home screen or app drawer.
2. Scroll down and tap “General Management.”
3. Tap “Reset.”
4. Tap “Factory Data Reset.”
5. Review the information and warnings about data deletion, this screen lists everything that will be erased, including accounts, app data, and media.
6. Scroll down and tap “Reset” (or “Delete All” depending on the prompt).
7. If you have a PIN, pattern, or password set, enter it to confirm.
8. Tap “Delete All” to initiate the factory reset.

The phone will begin wiping and then restart automatically. When it boots up, you’ll see the initial setup screen, just like a brand-new device. This method works whenever you have full access to the phone’s settings; if you don’t, use the hardware-button method below.

Factory reset using hardware buttons when you’re locked out

If the phone is unresponsive, you forgot your PIN, or the screen is frozen, you can still reset it using the physical buttons. This method bypasses the operating system entirely and works from the recovery menu.

1. Begin by powering off your Galaxy S21. If the screen is frozen, press and hold the Power button until the power-off menu appears, then tap “Power off.” If the phone won’t respond, skip to the next step.
2. Press and hold the “Volume Up” and “Power” (Side) buttons simultaneously.
3. Release both buttons when the Samsung Galaxy logo or Android logo appears on the screen.
4. The device will enter the Android Recovery screen, which is a text-based menu.
5. Use the “Volume Down” button to navigate through the options and highlight “Wipe data/factory reset.”
6. Press the “Power” (Side) button to select the highlighted option.
7. On the next screen, use the “Volume Down” button to highlight “Factory data reset” or “Yes.”
8. Press the “Power” (Side) button to confirm your selection.
9. Wait for the wipe to complete, you’ll see a progress bar or status text.
10. Once the reset process is complete, select “Reboot system now” (if it doesn’t reboot automatically).

The phone will restart and take you to the setup wizard. This method is the fallback when Settings is unreachable, and it performs the exact same wipe as the Settings method.

Factory reset remotely with Find My Mobile

If your S21 is lost or stolen, or you simply don’t have physical access to it, Samsung’s Find My Mobile service lets you erase the device from a computer. This protects your data from falling into the wrong hands, and it’s the only remote method that works without touching the phone.

1. On a computer or another device, open a web browser and go to the Find My Mobile website.
2. Sign in using the Samsung account credentials that are associated with your Galaxy S21.
3. Select your Galaxy S21 from the list of devices linked to your account.
4. Choose the “Erase data” option on the device details page.
5. Confirm the factory reset when prompted, read the warning that all data will be erased.
6. Click “Erase” to send the remote reset command.

The phone will receive the command and begin wiping itself, then reboot to the setup screen. This option requires that Find My Mobile was already enabled on the device and that the phone is connected to the internet. If the phone is offline, the erase command will queue and run the next time it connects.

What to do after the factory reset

When the S21 boots up after the reset, you’ll land on the “Welcome” screen. If Android Device Protection kicks in, you’ll be asked to sign in with the Google account that was previously on the phone, use the credentials you noted before the reset. If you can’t provide them, the phone will stay locked, so double-check that you have access to that account.

After you pass the Google verification, you can either set up the phone as new or restore from a backup. If you backed up to Google, choose “Restore from backup” during setup and select the most recent backup to bring back your apps, contacts, and settings. If you used Samsung Cloud or a computer transfer, restore those files after the initial setup completes.

If you’re handing the phone to a new owner, stop after the Google verification and wipe the device again from Settings (General Management > Reset > Factory Data Reset) to remove your account and any residual data. Then let the new owner set it up with their own credentials. If you’re keeping the phone, finish the setup, sign into your accounts, and reinstall any apps that weren’t restored automatically.