If your Samsung Galaxy M35 has become slow, keeps freezing, won’t get past the lock screen, or you are about to sell it, a Samsung Galaxy M35 hard reset wipes the phone back to its out-of-the-box state. This guide covers two reliable ways to do it: a standard factory reset from Settings (best when the phone still boots), and a recovery-mode wipe using the hardware buttons (best when the screen is stuck or you are locked out). Follow the steps that match your situation, and read the FRP warning first so you don’t lock yourself out of your own device.
When you need a hard reset
A reset is not always the answer, but it is the right move in several common cases on the Galaxy M35:
- The phone is laggy, crashing, or apps force-close after a software update.
- You forgot the PIN, password, or pattern and cannot unlock it.
- You are selling, trading in, or giving the device away.
- A persistent bug survives a normal restart and a cache clear.
If you only want to fix a misbehaving phone without erasing everything, try booting into safe mode or clearing the cache partition first. The same recovery menu used for a full wipe also lets you take softer steps, which we cover in our guide to using recovery mode to fix your Android phone.
Before you start
A factory reset is permanent. Photos, messages, apps, and accounts are deleted, so prepare properly:
- Charge the battery to at least 50 percent so the phone does not die mid-wipe.
- Back up your data. Use Settings > Accounts and backup > Back up data (Google Drive and Samsung Cloud), or copy files to a PC. See our full walkthrough on how to back up and restore Android devices so nothing important is lost.
- Know your Google login. Because of FRP (explained below), you must remember the Google account that is currently signed in on the phone.
Method 1 – factory reset from Settings
This is the cleanest method when the Galaxy M35 still turns on and you can unlock it. The M35 runs Samsung’s One UI, so the path is:
- Open Settings.
- Tap General management.
- Tap Reset.
- Choose Factory data reset.
- Scroll down and review the list of accounts and data that will be removed, then tap Reset.
- Enter your PIN, pattern, or password if prompted, then tap Delete all.
The phone reboots, erases its data, and restarts on the welcome screen. To avoid the FRP lock, remove your Google account first under Settings > Accounts and backup > Manage accounts before you reset.
Method 2 – Samsung Galaxy M35 hard reset from Recovery
Use this when the phone is frozen, stuck in a boot loop, or you cannot get past the lock screen. The M35 has no physical home button, so it uses the volume and side keys.
- Power off the phone completely. If it is unresponsive, hold the Side (power) and Volume Down buttons for several seconds to force it off.
- Connect the phone to a PC or charger with a USB cable. On modern Galaxy devices this connection helps trigger recovery mode.
- Press and hold Volume Up + Side (power) together until the Samsung logo appears, then release both buttons.
- Use Volume Down to highlight Wipe data/factory reset, then press the Side button to select.
- Highlight Factory data reset (or Yes) and confirm with the Side button.
- When it finishes, select Reboot system now.
The first boot after a wipe can take a few minutes. If you also want to connect the phone to a computer for flashing or driver work later, our page on how to download Android USB drivers is a useful reference. For the general method across other Android brands, see how to hard reset any Android mobile.
A note on the Google FRP lock
Factory Reset Protection (FRP) is Google’s anti-theft feature. After any factory reset on the Galaxy M35, the setup wizard will ask you to sign in with the Google account that was previously on the device. If you do not know those credentials, you will be locked out, which is exactly why a thief cannot simply wipe a stolen phone. Always remove your Google account before resetting, or have the password ready. If the phone is lost or you cannot reach it physically, you may be able to erase it remotely instead using Find My Device from Google.
Frequently asked questions
Will a hard reset remove the screen lock on my Galaxy M35?
Yes. A recovery-mode wipe removes the PIN, pattern, or password. However, the Google FRP lock remains, so during setup you must sign in with the Google account that was on the phone before the reset.
Does a factory reset delete everything on the Samsung Galaxy M35?
It erases all internal storage: apps, photos, contacts, messages, and accounts. Files on a removable microSD card are usually untouched, but for safety it is best to remove the card before you start and back up your internal data first.
Why won’t my Galaxy M35 enter recovery mode?
The most common reasons are releasing the buttons too early or not holding the correct combo. Power off fully, connect a USB cable, then hold Volume Up + Side together and only let go once the Samsung logo appears. If it boots normally instead, try again and hold a little longer.
