If your phone is freezing, stuck in a boot loop, or you are about to sell it, a Samsung Galaxy S24 hard reset wipes everything and returns the device to its factory state. The S24 runs One UI on top of Android, and there are two reliable ways to do it: from the Settings menu when the phone still boots, and from stock Recovery when it does not. This guide gives the exact Settings path and the precise button combination for the S24, plus what you must do about the Google anti-theft lock before you reset.
When you need a hard reset
A factory reset is the right tool in a handful of situations:
- The phone freezes, crashes apps repeatedly, or runs unusually slow after a software issue.
- It is stuck on the Samsung logo or stuck in a boot loop and a normal restart does not help.
- You forgot your screen lock and cannot get in (Recovery wipe).
- You are selling, trading in, or giving the device away and need to erase personal data.
If your goal is to fix a glitch rather than wipe data, try other steps first. Booting into recovery mode lets you clear the cache partition without deleting your files, which solves many performance problems on its own.
Before you start
A hard reset is permanent. There is no undo, so prepare first:
- Charge the battery to at least 50 percent so the phone does not die mid-wipe.
- Back up your data. Photos, messages, and app data are gone after a reset. Use Samsung Cloud or Google One, and see our guide to back up and restore Android devices so you can recover everything afterward.
- Know your Google account. Because of Factory Reset Protection (FRP), you will need the username and password of the Google account currently signed in on the phone after the reset completes.
Method 1 – factory reset from Settings
If the Galaxy S24 still turns on and you can reach the menus, this is the cleanest way to do a Samsung Galaxy S24 hard reset:
- Open Settings.
- Tap General management.
- Tap Reset.
- Tap 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 and erases itself. This may take several minutes. Resetting from Settings is preferable because it lets One UI remove your Google account properly, which avoids being locked out by FRP. The same general approach works across the brand, and our overview of how to hard reset any Android mobile covers the variations on other devices.
Method 2 – hard reset from Recovery
Use this when the screen is unresponsive or the phone will not boot into One UI. The Galaxy S24 has no physical Home or Bixby button, so the combo relies on the power and volume keys, and on most units it requires a USB cable connected to a PC to enter Recovery.
- Power the phone off completely.
- Connect the USB-C cable to a computer (this step is needed on the S24 series to reach Recovery on a powered-off device).
- Press and hold Volume Up + the Side (power) button together.
- Keep holding until the Android Recovery menu appears, then release.
- The touchscreen does not work here. Use Volume Down to highlight Wipe data/factory reset and press the Side button to select it.
- Highlight Factory data reset (or Yes) and press the Side button to confirm.
- When it finishes, choose Reboot system now.
If you need PC drivers to get the computer to recognize the phone, you can download Android USB drivers before you start.
A note on the Google FRP lock
Factory Reset Protection is an anti-theft feature. After any factory reset, the Galaxy S24 will ask you to sign in with the last Google account that was synced on it. If you do not have those credentials, you will be locked out of setup. Always remove your Google account in Settings > Accounts and backup > Manage accounts before reselling, and keep your password handy. If the device was lost or stolen, the better route is the Find My Device service rather than a manual wipe.
Frequently asked questions
Will a hard reset remove my Google FRP lock?
No. A factory reset wipes your data but FRP remains tied to the account that was signed in. You must enter that Google account and password during setup, or remove the account from Settings before you reset.
Why won’t my Galaxy S24 enter Recovery mode?
Because the S24 series has no Bixby or Home key, the powered-off button combo often only works while the phone is plugged into a PC with a USB-C cable. Connect it first, then hold Volume Up and the Side button together until the Recovery menu loads.
How long does a Samsung Galaxy S24 hard reset take?
The wipe itself usually takes a few minutes. After it reboots, the first-time setup and restoring your backed-up apps and data can take considerably longer depending on how much you reinstall.
