Hard Reset Samsung G920P Galaxy S6: Full Guide

To hard reset a Samsung G920P (Galaxy S6 on Sprint), press and hold Volume Up, Home, and Power simultaneously until the recovery menu appears, then use the volume keys to select “wipe data/factory reset” and confirm with the Power button. This restores the phone to its original out-of-box state, erasing all personal data, accounts, and settings. Below is the complete process, what to do before you start, and how to handle common issues.

What a Hard Reset Does

A hard reset, also called a factory reset or master reset, wipes the internal storage of your Galaxy S6 and reinstalls the operating system from a hidden recovery partition. It removes:

• All downloaded apps and their data
• Photos, videos, music, and documents stored on the internal storage
• Contacts, messages, call logs, and calendar entries
• Accounts (Google, Samsung, email, social media)
• Custom settings like Wi-Fi passwords, wallpapers, and accessibility options

It does not remove files on a microSD card (if you have one installed) or the SIM card’s data. The phone returns to the same state it was in when it left the factory, minus any system updates that were installed later.

Before You Reset: Backup and Preparation

Because a hard reset permanently deletes everything on the internal storage, back up anything you want to keep. The Galaxy S6 offers several built-in backup options:

• Samsung Cloud: Go to Settings > Accounts and backup > Backup and restore. You can back up settings, home screen layout, messages, and some app data.
• Google Backup: Settings > Accounts and backup > Backup and restore > Back up my data. This syncs app data, Wi-Fi passwords, and other Google services.
• Manual file transfer: Connect the phone to a computer with a USB cable and copy photos, videos, and documents to the PC.
• Smart Switch: Samsung’s desktop app can back up almost everything to a computer, including messages, call logs, and app data.

Also, remove your Google and Samsung accounts if you plan to sell or give away the phone. This prevents the Factory Reset Protection (FRP) lock, which will ask for the previous account’s password after the reset. If you forget to remove the accounts and you don’t remember the password, you will be locked out of the phone entirely.

How to Hard Reset the G920P (Recovery Mode Method)

This is the standard method for a G920P and works even if the phone is frozen, won’t boot, or you forgot the screen lock PIN/pattern.

1. Turn the phone off completely. If it’s frozen, press and hold the Power button for about 10 seconds until it reboots, then let it boot and turn it off normally.
2. Press and hold Volume Up, Home, and Power simultaneously.
3. When the screen flickers or shows the Samsung logo, release only the Power button, but keep holding Volume Up and Home.
4. After a few seconds, the Android Recovery screen appears. Release all buttons.
5. Use the Volume Down key to scroll down to “wipe data/factory reset.”
6. Press the Power button to select it.
7. Use Volume Down to highlight “Yes — delete all user data” and press Power.
8. Wait for the wipe to finish. The phone will return to the recovery menu.
9. Highlight “Reboot system now” and press Power.

The phone will reboot and may take several minutes on the Samsung logo screen on the first boot. This is normal. You’ll then be greeted by the Android setup wizard.

Alternative Method: Reset from Settings

If the phone is fully functional and you can unlock it, you can reset from the Android settings menu. This is easier but does not work if the phone is locked or frozen.

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon).
2. Scroll down and tap General Management (on Android 8 and later) or Backup and reset (on older Android versions).
3. Tap Reset > Factory data reset.
4. Scroll down and tap Reset.
5. If prompted, enter your PIN, password, or pattern.
6. Tap Delete all.

This method does the same thing as the recovery mode reset, but it also gives you a final warning about the data that will be erased.

Common Problems and Solutions

Even a simple reset can hit snags. Here are the most frequent issues and how to handle them:

• Recovery mode won’t appear: Make sure you’re pressing the buttons in the correct order. If the phone boots normally, you may have held the buttons too long. Try again, but release the Power button as soon as the screen flickers.
• Phone is stuck on the Samsung logo: This is often a sign of a corrupted system or a failed update. Do a hard reset from recovery mode. If it still loops, try wiping the cache partition first (from the same recovery menu, select “wipe cache partition”), then do the factory reset.
• FRP (Factory Reset Protection) lock: If you see “This device was reset. To continue, sign in with a Google account that was previously synced on this device,” you need to enter the Google account credentials that were on the phone before the reset. If you don’t know them, you cannot bypass this security measure legitimately.
• Reset doesn’t fix the problem: A hard reset only fixes software issues. If the phone still has problems after a clean reset (e.g., battery drains fast, apps crash randomly, screen freezes), the issue may be hardware-related, and you should contact a repair professional.

What to Do After the Reset

After the reset, the phone will start the Android setup wizard. You’ll need to:

• Select a language and connect to Wi-Fi.
• Sign in with your Google account (or create a new one).
• Restore your backup if you made one.
• Set up a screen lock (PIN, pattern, or password) for security.

If you’re selling the phone, do not go through the setup wizard. Instead, on the “Welcome” screen, press and hold the power button and select “Power off.” The phone is now ready for the next owner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a hard reset remove the SIM card’s data?

No. A hard reset only affects the phone’s internal storage. The SIM card (contacts stored on the SIM, carrier settings) and the microSD card (if installed) are untouched.

How long does a hard reset take?

The wipe itself usually takes 1–3 minutes. The first boot after the reset can take 5–10 minutes because the phone rebuilds the system cache. If it takes longer than 15 minutes, the phone may be stuck in a boot loop, and you should try the reset again or seek repair.

Will I lose my photos if I hard reset?

Yes, if the photos are stored in the internal memory and you haven’t backed them up. Photos stored on a microSD card will remain. If you use Google Photos with backup enabled, your photos will be restored after you sign in with the same Google account.

Can I hard reset without the Home button?

The G920P has a physical Home button, so the standard method uses it. If the Home button is broken, you can still reset from Settings (if the phone is usable) or use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) from a computer if USB debugging is enabled. The recovery mode method requires the Home button.

What is the difference between a hard reset and a soft reset?

A soft reset is simply restarting the phone (turning it off and on). It doesn’t erase any data. A hard reset erases everything and restores factory settings. Use a soft reset for minor glitches like a frozen app or slow performance; use a hard reset for major issues like forgotten passwords, persistent crashes, or before selling the phone.

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