How to wipe a Samsung Galaxy phone

Unboxing a shiny new Samsung Galaxy® is exciting. But don't forget to take care of your old phone. Whether you plan to sell or recycle it, make sure to wipe your personal data before getting rid of your device. Not sure how? We'll show you.

Here at Asurion, we help people learn more about their tech every day. From freeing up storage space to fixing a phone that won't ring, we'll make sure you get the most out of the tech you rely on.

Here's how to wipe your Samsung Galaxy and delete your personal information.

Why you should wipe your Samsung Galaxy

Wiping your phone, also known as completing a factory reset, will restore your Galaxy to its original settings and delete all your apps, passwords, accounts, credit card info, and other data. It's important to do so before getting rid of your phone to keep your personal information out of someone else's hands.

How to back up your Samsung Galaxy

Before you wipe your old phone, you'll want to back up your data to the cloud, using a service like Google One™ or Dropbox®, so you don't lose anything important like contacts, messages, and photos. Check out our detailed guide to how to back up your phone for instructions.

How to factory reset your Samsung Galaxy

Once you've backed up your data, you're ready to wipe your Galaxy and restore your device to its factory settings. Make sure your phone is plugged in while you're going through the process.

1. Open Settings, then tap General management > Reset.
2. Tap Factory data reset > Reset > Delete all.

After completing the wipe, if you need to restore your data onto the device or transfer it to your new device, check out how to restore your Android from a backup.