At some point, you’re probably going to have to reset your Samsung Galaxy S8+ smartphone. When it’s frozen and not responding, you will want to soft reset it. If you are having major issues with the device that normal troubleshooting doesn’t fix, you may want to hard reset it to factory defaults. Here’s how you can do both.
Soft Reset
Whenever the device is frozen or doesn’t respond to commands, simply press and hold the “Power” and “Volume Down” buttons on the device for about 10 to 20 seconds. Eventually, the screen should turn off. You will then be able to turn the device back on and resume normal operation.
Hard Reset
There are two ways you can perform a hard reset on the Galaxy S8. One procedure can be done from startup, the other from within the Android OS. These steps will wipe all data from the device, so be sure to have a backup in place if you wish to keep your data. Also, if you have encrypted the data on your SD card, be sure to disable encryption before these steps. Otherwise, you will never be able to view your encrypted files again.
From Android OS
- Tap “Settings” > “Backup and reset” > “Factory data reset” > “Reset” > “Delete All“.
From Startup
- With the device powered off, press and hold “Volume Down“, “Bixby” and “Power“.
- Continue to hold both buttons until you see the Recovery screen.
- From the recovery screen, use the “Volume Down” button to toggle the selection to “Wipe data / factory reset“.
- Press the “Power” button to select the highlighted option.
FAQ
How do I disable Factory Reset Protection?
Factory Reset Protection prevents access to your device without your permission. It locks the device to your Google account. If you’re changing ownership of the phone, you will want to turn this feature off.
You can disable Factory Reset Protection by removing your Google account from the device before the factory reset. This can be done under “Settings” > “Accounts and cloud” > “Accounts” > “Google” > select the account > 
> “Remove account“.
This tutorial applies to the Samsung Galaxy S8+ models SM-G955 and SM-G950.
ANGUYO BENARD says
I trried with power volume butoon up its doesn’t work, and also tried with volume button down it doesn’t work which one is which. Is it volume button down or volume button up?
Di Trek says
what if you do not have a start button that works? Help
Anne says
My Samsung phone is frozen. Pushed on button and down volume at same time. No response. Screen says Android Recovery. Says Reboot system now. Cant do anything. No response. Eventually battery runs out. Phone dead. Recharge it, same response. I know… I bought a new phone, but how do I get contacts and pics off this Samsung phone? Any answers for me please?
Donna says
my S8+ seems to have a double pages. Bottom of one icons do not work. Dragged those icons from app folder to home screen and they work. Now I have 2 sets of icons on page. If I click on the bottom icons it reverts to “wallpaper, launcher settings + screen. How to I get rid of the no functioning icons.
Rosemary says
How can I start up my phone without touching screen
richard says
Galaxy s8 soft reboot—volume down then power for about 10 seconds — phone vibrates once and screen flashes on then off (very fast screen flash) then nothing. Holding all three buttons down i can get into the mode where I could download a custom OS mode (blue screen with warning), phone says to cancel this screen and reboot press the volume down button. Pressing / holding volume down button returns the phone to black.
Clare says
Reboot with the 3 buttons doesn’t work how do we get the phone back please 😳😫
Apreal says
Christina. Place your phone in a container and put rice around it.
moneake says
i need help my galaxy 8 plus has been just cutting off and going to the death screen for a while and now it wont even turn on, i’ve done these steps and they aren’t working; i can’t see the factory reset section and it wont charge do i just need to get a new phone and i’ve just got this phone not even a month ago
Clyde says
@janna there are several youtubers that work on phones that have the technology and means to fyi this easily. If you each out to any popular android technician youtubers they would study do this for free.
Johan van Stelten says
My Galaxy S8 is the least stable of 3 other Samsung phones that I have used. It has a few issues for sure.
Mitch Bartlett says
@Janna – Maybe check to see if he had a Samsung Cloud account where the photos were synced. Is there an SD Card inside the phone? You can perhaps eject it and see if the pics are on the card using another device.
Otherwise, follow these tips https://www.samsung.com/ca/support/mobile-devices/what-can-i-do-forget-screen-lock-password-pin-pattern-galaxy-a5-2017/
Janna says
My boys dad passed away in March. We just received the phone back from police and would like to get pics off, as they are the most current pictures of the three of them together.. Although I have his log-in’s for everything, we don’t have his phone access code. We are down to 4 tries before it factory resets and we loose everything so we are stuck. Verizon suggested signing into Google Photos, which we did, but he must not have ever gone onto that because nothing is in there, so we struck out. We are at a loss and don’t want to have all the photos deleted. This is so important to my kids. Any suggestions on what we can do? Appreciate it very much.
Darren Easterbrook says
Since last update my s8 doesn’t show all text message conversations. You have to press down on the last message just to view that message. I have tried everything. Please help
jenna says
my s8 is frozen. tried pressing all button combinations suggested on sites and it keeps coming back to the same black screen with Samsung galaxy s8 on. I cant do anything on it I cant even turn it off. any help would be great please. it wont even register on a computer
Kelly says
How can I remove the frp if my phone has been hacked
Mitch Bartlett says
Take the phone to an authorized Samsung dealer along with your receipt.
Shannon Perry says
Is there a way to get into the S8 if you bought the phone from someone who didn’t remove their Google account. Keeps asking to sign into account that was synced to phone before factory reset
Christina says
How do I charge my Samsung S8+ when it keeps saying I have moisture in my charging port but it hasn’t been exposed to any moisture? It won’t charge without beeping or vibrating constantly.
jules says
bigup!!!! soft reset
Frank says
I actually held bixby, vol down and power now phone keeps rebooting. Can you help me please?
Caroline wheelhouse says
Yes very helpful tho annoyed my brand new S8 keeps freezing
Laurie E says
My galaxy S8 required the lower left (Bixby) button to be pushed to reset, not the power button. Other wise, spot on!
leena says
It’s telling me to wait for 24 hours,it’s really frustrating can I please get help on this.
Reynaldo says
It works!, thank you very much.
JAELA says
PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!