How to Reset Samsung Galaxy S21: A Step-by-Step Guide

A factory reset, also known as a hard reset, restores your Samsung Galaxy S21 to its factory settings. This process removes all personal data, apps, and configurations. It's often necessary when your phone experiences significant glitches, crashes, or sluggish performance.

Before you begin, ensure you back up any important information. This includes contacts, messages, photos, and videos. 

You can save music and other media to your computer or cloud storage. Also, personal data like Wi-Fi passwords and bookmarks can typically be backed up to your Google account.

Soft Reset (Restart)

Sometimes, you may not need a complete factory reset to solve minor issues. A soft reset is often sufficient for temporary glitches or slow performance. Here’s how to perform a soft reset on your Galaxy S21:

1. Press and Hold the Power Button: Locate the power button on the right side of your device.
2. Select Restart: When the power menu appears, tap on "Restart."
3. Confirm the Action: If prompted, confirm your choice.

This process won’t erase any data. It simply restarts your phone, refreshing its memory and closing background applications. Use a soft reset when you encounter minor issues like unresponsive apps or sluggish performance.

Hard Reset (Factory Reset)

If a soft reset doesn’t resolve your issues, you may need to perform a hard reset. There are two methods to do this: through the settings menu and using hardware keys.

Method 1: Using the Settings Menu

This method is straightforward and is recommended when your device is functioning normally.

1. Open the Settings App: Swipe down from the top of your screen and tap the gear icon to access settings.
2. Navigate to General Management: Scroll down and select "General Management."
3. Select Reset: Tap on "Reset" or "Reset options," depending on your device's software version.
4. Choose Factory Data Reset: Here, you’ll see an option for "Factory data reset." Select this.
5. Review Information: Read the information regarding the reset, as this process will erase all your data.
6. Tap Reset: If prompted, enter your PIN, password, or pattern to confirm.
7. Delete All: Finally, tap on "Delete all" to start the reset process.

Allow several minutes for the factory reset and reboot processes to complete. Once done, your phone will restart and present the initial setup screen.

Method 2: Using Hardware Keys

If your Samsung Galaxy S21 is unresponsive or won’t power on, you can use hardware keys for a hard reset.

1. Power Off the Phone: If possible, power off your device. If it's unresponsive, proceed to the next step.
2. Press Volume Up and Power Buttons: Hold both the Volume Up and Power buttons simultaneously.
3. Release the Buttons: Release them when the recovery mode menu appears.
4. Navigate to Wipe Data/Factory Reset: Use the Volume Down button to scroll down to "Wipe data/factory reset."
5. Select with Power Button: Press the Power button to select this option.
6. Confirm the Reset: Use the Volume Down button to highlight "Yes," and press the Power button to confirm.

After the reset process finishes, your device will reboot automatically.

Important Considerations

A factory reset will remove all your personal data, including your Google account and any saved settings. Therefore, ensure you back up important files beforehand.

• Backing Up Media: Save music, pictures, and videos to a computer or a cloud service like Google Drive.
• Backing Up Personal Data: Google’s backup services will help keep your contacts, calendar events, and other essential data safe.

If you are troubleshooting third-party apps after the reset, do not restore app data. This step helps to identify whether the issues stem from the apps or the phone itself.

Final Steps

After the factory reset completes, you’ll go through the initial setup process, just like when you first purchased your Galaxy S21. Here’s what you’ll typically do:

1. Select Language: Choose your preferred language.
2. Connect to Wi-Fi: Connect to a Wi-Fi network.
3. Sign in to Google: Enter your Google account details to restore some settings.
4. Set Up Security Options: Choose a method for locking your phone, like a PIN or fingerprint.

Performing a factory reset can resolve many issues with your Samsung Galaxy S21. However, it should be your last resort after trying a soft reset or other troubleshooting methods. By following these steps, you can effectively reset your device and restore its performance.

For more detailed information, refer to the official Samsung support pages or the user manual specific to your device model. Happy resetting!

0 Comments