How to Hard Reset Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (Remove Pattern/PIN/Password)

A hard reset (also called a factory reset) erases all data on your Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and restores it to factory settings. This is the go-to solution when you forget your pattern, PIN, or password, when the phone is sluggish or misbehaving, or when you are preparing to sell the device. This guide covers both methods — the soft reset from Settings and the hard reset from Recovery Mode — plus the critical FRP warning you must know before you begin.

When Should You Hard Reset?

• You forgot your screen lock (pattern, PIN, or password)
• The phone is frozen, lagging, or crashing repeatedly
• You are selling or giving away the device
• Persistent software bugs that a normal restart cannot fix
• Malware or a problematic app you cannot remove

Important: Back Up First (If You Can Access the Phone)

A hard reset deletes everything — photos, contacts, messages, apps, and files. If you can still unlock the phone, back up your data before resetting:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and backup → Back up data (Samsung Cloud or Google Drive).
2. Copy photos and files to a PC or cloud storage.
3. Note your Google and Samsung account credentials — you will need them after the reset.

CRITICAL: The FRP Warning

Before doing a hard reset, remove your Google account and Samsung account from the device. If you reset without removing them, Factory Reset Protection (FRP) will lock the phone after reset and demand the previous Google credentials.

To remove accounts: Settings → Accounts → tap each account → Remove account. If you have already forgotten the screen lock and cannot get in, be aware that you may face an FRP lock after the reset — see our FRP bypass guide and our Reactivation Lock removal guide.

Method 1: Soft Reset from Settings (If You Can Unlock)

If you still have access to the phone, this is the cleanest method:

1. Go to Settings → General management → Reset.
2. Tap Factory data reset.
3. Review the list of accounts and data that will be erased.
4. Tap Reset, enter your PIN/password if prompted.
5. Tap Delete all.
6. The phone erases everything and reboots to the setup screen.

Method 2: Hard Reset from Recovery Mode (Forgot Lock)

If you cannot unlock the phone, use Recovery Mode. First, power off the device completely (if you cannot, hold Power + Volume Down for 20 seconds to force it off).

1. Connect the phone to a PC or charger via USB-C (newer Samsung models require this to enter Recovery).
2. Press and hold Power + Volume Up together.
3. Release both buttons when the Samsung logo appears.
4. The Android Recovery menu loads. Use Volume keys to navigate, Power to select.
5. Select Wipe data/factory reset.
6. Confirm with Factory data reset / Yes.
7. After the wipe, select Reboot system now.

If you see a screen with an Android robot and "No Command," that is normal — see our No Command fix guide to reveal the recovery menu.

What Happens After the Reset

The phone boots to the initial setup wizard. You will need to:

1. Select language and region.
2. Connect to Wi-Fi.
3. Verify the previous Google account (this is the FRP check — you must know the credentials of the account that was on the device before reset).
4. Set up a new screen lock, fingerprint, and preferences.

Hard Reset Using Find My Mobile (Remote)

Samsung offers a remote reset if you cannot physically access the device:

1. On a PC or another phone, go to smartthingsfind.samsung.com.
2. Sign in with the Samsung account linked to the S26 Ultra.
3. Select your device.
4. Choose Erase data to remotely factory reset.

This also lets you remove the screen lock remotely via the Unlock option if Find My Mobile was enabled beforehand.

Troubleshooting

Cannot enter Recovery Mode: Make sure the phone is fully off, then hold Power + Volume Up while connected to USB. Timing matters — keep holding until the logo appears.

Stuck at Google verification after reset (FRP): This is FRP. Enter the previous Google account, or if you bought the phone second-hand, use our FRP bypass guide.

Phone bootloops after reset: Wipe cache partition from Recovery, or if it persists, see our bootloop fix guide.

Reset option greyed out: A work profile or MDM policy may block resets — see our Knox Guard / MDM removal guide.

Guide by XDA Unlocker Team. Last updated: July 2026.