If your phone is freezing, stuck in a boot loop, riddled with malware, or you are about to sell it, a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra hard reset wipes everything and returns the device to factory condition. The S25 Ultra ships with One UI 7 on top of Android 15, so the menus and button behavior differ slightly from older Galaxy models. This guide gives you the exact Settings path and the correct hardware button combo for this specific phone, plus the FRP warning you need to know before you erase anything.
When you need a hard reset
A hard reset (also called a factory reset) is the right move when softer fixes have failed. Consider it if your Galaxy S25 Ultra:
- Keeps crashing, lagging, or rebooting on its own after a software update.
- Is stuck on the Samsung logo and will not finish booting.
- Is infected with malware or behaving as if remotely controlled.
- Has a forgotten lock screen PIN, pattern, or password (recovery method).
- Is being sold, traded in, or handed to someone else.
If the phone still boots normally, try restarting first or clearing the cache partition before wiping. This procedure is similar across most modern handsets, so our general guide on how to hard reset any Android mobile is a useful companion if you own other devices too.
Before you start
A factory reset is permanent. Once it runs, photos, messages, apps, and accounts are gone from the phone. Take these steps first:
- Charge the battery to at least 50 percent, or keep the phone plugged in. A reset that loses power partway through can leave the device in a bad state.
- Back up your data. Use Settings > Accounts and backup > Back up data (Samsung Cloud) and Google One backup, or copy files to a PC. See our walkthrough on how to back up and restore Android devices so nothing important is lost.
- Know your Google account details. Because of FRP (explained below), you must remember the Google username and password currently signed in on the phone.
Method 1 – factory reset from Settings
This is the cleanest way to perform a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra hard reset when the phone still turns on and you can unlock it.
- Open Settings.
- Tap General management.
- Tap Reset.
- Select 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 storage, and starts the initial setup wizard, which can take several minutes. Sign out of your Samsung account beforehand if you are giving the device away.
Method 2 – hard reset from Recovery
If the phone is frozen, will not boot, or you cannot reach Settings, use Recovery mode. The S25 Ultra has no physical Bixby key, so the Volume Up plus Side button combo is used. For other repair tasks in this menu, see our guide on how to use recovery mode to fix your Android phone.
- Power the phone off completely.
- Connect it to a PC or charger with a USB-C cable (One UI requires the device to be connected to enter recovery on recent Galaxy models).
- Press and hold Volume Up and the Side (power) button at the same time.
- When the Android/Samsung recovery screen appears, release both buttons.
- Use Volume Down to highlight Wipe data/factory reset, then press the Side button to select it.
- Highlight Factory data reset and confirm with the Side button.
- When it finishes, select Reboot system now.
If your computer does not recognize the phone over USB, you may need the proper Android USB drivers installed first.
A note on the Google FRP lock
Factory Reset Protection (FRP) is an anti-theft feature. After any factory reset, the S25 Ultra demands the Google account that was signed in before the wipe during setup. If you do not know those credentials, the phone is locked and unusable. Always remove your Google account in Settings > Accounts and backup > Manage accounts before resetting a phone you plan to sell. If the device is lost or stolen, you can also erase it remotely using Find My Device from Google.
Frequently asked questions
Will a hard reset remove the Google FRP lock on my S25 Ultra?
No. A standard hard reset does not bypass FRP. After the wipe, the phone still asks for the last Google account that was signed in. Remove that account in Settings before resetting, or have the credentials ready.
What button combo enters Recovery mode on the Galaxy S25 Ultra?
With the phone off and connected to a PC or charger by USB-C, hold Volume Up and the Side (power) button together until the recovery screen appears, then release. There is no separate Bixby button on this model.
How long does a factory reset take?
The erase itself usually completes in one to three minutes, but the phone then reboots and runs first-time setup, so plan for about ten minutes overall before the device is ready to use or hand over.
