"How do I delete all information on my old phone, Samsung Galaxy S20? I plan to make a backup prior to this, but I'm just curious, how can I delete everything on my Galaxy S20?"
- From Samsung Community
When you switch to a new Samsung phone, and plan to sell, trade, or give away your old Samsung phone, it's necessary to erase all your data on your old phone to protect your privacy. So, do you know how to delete everything on your phone Samsung? Fortunately, there are 5 reliable methods, supporting deleting all your data effectively.
- Part 1: How to Delete Everything on Your Phone Samsung via Settings App
- Part 2: How to Delete Everything on Samsung via iReaShare Android Data Eraser
- Part 3: How to Delete Everything from Samsung Phone via SmartThings Find
- Part 4: How to Remove Data on a Galaxy Phone via Recovery Mode
- Part 5: How to Erase All Data from Samsung Phone via Google Find My Device
- Part 6: FAQs About Deleting Everything on Samsung Phone
Take a quick look at these 5 methods:
| Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Settings App | 1. Most direct and easy method 2. No computer or other device needed 3. Official and reliable built-in feature |
1. Requires a functional phone you can access 2. Doesn't securely overwrite data, which may be recoverable with advanced software |
| iReaShare Android Data Eraser | 1. Provides a secure, permanent data wipe by overwriting files 2. Offers 3 different levels of erasing security 3. Can wipe data that a standard factory reset might miss |
1. Requires a computer and an application 2. Paid software |
| SmartThings Find | 1. Can remotely erase your phone if it's lost or stolen 2. Don't need physical access to the phone 3. Useful for security in case of device loss |
1. Requires the phone to be powered on and connected to the internet 2. The "Find My Mobile" feature must have been enabled previously 3. Once erased, the phone can no longer be tracked via SmartThings Find |
| Recovery Mode | 1. Can be used if the phone's Android OS is corrupted or unresponsive 2. Doesn't require a working touchscreen or access to Settings 3. A built-in solution that works independently of the main OS |
1. Requires specific button combinations to enter 2. Interface is less user-friendly (navigated with volume and power buttons) 3. Data may not be as securely wiped as with a dedicated eraser tool |
| Google Find My Device | 1. Can remotely erase your phone from anywhere 2. Works with any Android phone, not just Samsung devices 3. A powerful tool for remote security |
1. Requires the phone to be powered on, connected to the internet, and have the feature enabled 2. Requires you to be signed in to the associated Google account 3. Once erased, the phone cannot be located or managed again through this service |
Part 1: How to Delete Everything on Your Phone Samsung via Settings App
If you want to remove all your data on your Samsung phone, the most common and straightforward method is to use the built-in factory reset feature in your phone's Settings. By the way, please back up your important data first.
Here's how to delete everything on a Samsung phone with Settings:
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From your home screen, swipe up to open the app drawer and tap the Settings app. Scroll down and select "General management".
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Tap on "Reset". Then choose the option that says "Factory data reset". You will see a list of all the accounts and data that will be erased.
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Review the information and tap "Reset". You may be asked to enter your PIN, pattern, or password. Tap "Delete all" to confirm. Your phone will then begin the process of erasing all data and will restart as if it were a brand-new device.
Part 2: How to Delete Everything on Samsung via iReaShare Android Data Eraser
If you want a more thorough wipe, especially when selling your phone, you can use iReaShare Android Data Eraser. This tool ensures your deleted files cannot be recovered by overwriting. It can wipe your contacts, photos, videos, music, documents, call logs, accounts, passwords, etc. Furthermore, its high level supports 3 overwrites.
Main features of iReaShare Android Data Eraser:
* Erase all the files from your Samsung phone at once.
* Provide three erasing levels: low, medium, and high.
* Support U.S. DoD 5220.22-M standard.
* Permanently delete photos, contacts, videos, messages, call history, browsing histoy, and more.
* No one can recover the deleted data from your phone after complete the data erasure.
* Support Android 6.0 and later, including Android 16.
Download iReaShare Android Data Eraser.
Download for Win Download for Mac
Here's how to erase all data from a Samsung phone with this software:
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Download and install a reliable Android data eraser tool on your computer. Connect your Samsung phone to your computer using a USB cable, and follow the on-screen instructions to enable USB debugging on your phone. After connecting, click "Erase" to continue.
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Click "Medium" to select a level, and click "OK". Next, type "delete" to the input box for confirmation.
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Finally, click "Erase" > "OK" to start the process. The software will delete everything from your phone and overwrite all the deleted data.
Here's the video guide:
Part 3: How to Delete Everything from Samsung Phone via SmartThings Find
If your phone is lost or stolen, or you simply can't access the Settings app, you can use Samsung's SmartThings Find service to remotely wipe your data. To use the remote data erase function, your phone must meet a few key requirements:
- It must be turned on.
- It must have an active internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data).
- It must be signed in to your Samsung Account.
- The "Remote controls" setting must be enabled on the device. This setting is typically enabled by default when you sign in with your Samsung account.
Here's how:
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On a computer or another mobile device, go to the SmartThings Find website. Sign in with the same Samsung account that is linked to your phone.
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From the list of your registered devices, select the Samsung phone you want to erase.
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In the right-hand panel, you'll see a list of actions. Select "Erase data".
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Confirm that you want to erase all data on your device. This will initiate a remote factory reset. The phone must be connected to the internet (via Wi-Fi or cellular data) for this to work.
Part 4: How to Remove Data on a Galaxy Phone via Recovery Mode
Recovery Mode is a powerful feature that allows you to perform a factory reset even if you can't access the Android operating system. If your phone is unresponsive or you can’t access the settings, you can delete everything via Recovery Mode.
To delete all the data with Recovery Mode on Samsung:
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Turn off your Samsung Galaxy phone completely. Press and hold the "Volume Up" button and the "Power" button simultaneously.
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Keep holding until the Samsung logo appears, then release the buttons. This will take you to the "Android Recovery" menu.
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Use the "Volume Down" button to scroll down to "Wipe data/factory reset". The touchscreen will not work here. Then press the "Power" button to select the option.
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Use the volume buttons to highlight "Factory data reset" and press the "Power" button to confirm. Your phone will now perform a factory reset and reboot.
Tips: Want to back up your Samsung contacts? Then you can read this guide to gain 5 methods.
Part 5: How to Erase All Data from Samsung Phone via Google Find My Device
Similar to SmartThings Find, Google's Find My Device service allows you to remotely manage and wipe your phone's data, provided you are signed in with a Google Account.
Here's the guide:
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On any web browser, go to the Google Find My Device website, and sign in with the Google account that is on your Samsung phone.
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On the left side of the screen, select the phone you wish to erase. You will see several options to play a sound, secure the device, or erase device. Select "ERASE DEVICE".
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Confirm your choice. Google will then send a command to your phone to perform a factory reset. The phone must be powered on and connected to the internet for this to work.
Part 6: FAQs About Deleting Everything on Samsung Phone
Q1: Does factory reset actually delete everything?
A factory reset on a Samsung (or any Android) phone deletes most things but not absolutely everything.
What a Factory Reset Does Delete:
- All apps you installed.
- All user data (contacts, messages, call history, photos, videos, downloads, documents, etc.) stored on internal memory.
- All system settings and preferences (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, wallpaper, etc.).
- Accounts linked to the phone (Google, Samsung, email, etc.).
What a Factory Reset Does Not Completely Delete:
- Firmware / OS updates.
- Pre-installed apps.
- SIM card / SD card data.
- The data saved on cloud accounts.
Q2: Will deleting everything remove my Samsung/Google accounts?
Yes, but Factory Reset Protection (FRP) may still require you to log in with your Google account credentials after reset. Make sure to remove accounts first: Settings > Accounts and Backup > Manage Accounts > Remove Account.
Q3: Does deleting everything remove software updates?
No. The reset restores factory settings but keeps the latest installed Android/Samsung updates.
Conclusion
The built-in Settings app can delete everything from your Samsung phone. However, if you want to overwrite your data completely, the dedicated iReaShare Android Data Eraser software will be better. You can utilize the high level to overwrite your data 3 times, making all your data unrecoverable.
Download for Win Download for Mac
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