Factory Reset / Hard Reset Your Samsung Galaxy S5

Performing a factory / hard reset on your Samsung Galaxy S5 device is an easy to do thing, but unfortunately means that something is wrong with your GS5 or you are planning to wipe your data off the phone so that you can give it or sell it to someone else.

Factory vs Hard Reset

First of all what is the difference between a factory reset and a hard reset and which one you should use? Factory resetting your Galaxy S5 will wipe all the user data and firmware settings but will keep the data on your internal SD card. Hard resetting your phone would go even further, deleting all of your apps, messages, user data and the whatever there is on the internal SD card. Hard reset your phone only if factory reset did not help or you want to erase all the evidence that you used the device.

How To Factory Reset the Galaxy S5?

Go to Settings > User and backup > Backup and reset and select Factory reset. Follow the onscreen instructions and you will reset your device.

How To Hard Reset the Galaxy S5?

To perform a hard reset, turn off your GS5, and press the Power + Volume Up + Home buttons together for 3-5 seconds, then release them. Using the volume up/down buttons select the Factory reset option and confirm with the Power button. Confirm your choice again with the Power button and after the format is finished, restart your phone.

If you are concerned about the data on your phone, please backup it first before doing any of these procedures.