How to Hard Reboot a Galaxy Note

Back up important information on the Galaxy Note before doing a hard reset.
... Sean Gallup/Getty Images News/Getty Images

A hard reboot is also known as a hard reset or a factory data reset for the Samsung Galaxy Note. The hard reboot returns the Galaxy Note to original factory settings and software. All applications you have installed, as well as your email and storage accounts, are deleted from the phone when the hard reset is performed. If your phone has frozen or you're locked out of the device, perform an external factory reset to restore your phone’s functionality. If you can access the Settings menu on the device, perform an internal hard reset from within the operating system.

1 External Hard Reset

2 Press the Power key

Press the “Power” key to turn off the Samsung Galaxy Note. If the phone is frozen, remove the back cover, and then remove and replace the battery. Replace the back cover.

3 Press Power

Press “Power," "Volume Up" and "Menu” simultaneously and hold the buttons for about 10 seconds. When the Android logo displays on the screen, release the buttons. The Android Recovery menu displays.

4 Press the Volume Down

Press the “Volume Down” button to highlight the “Wipe Data/Factory Reset” option. Press the “Power” key to select. The confirmation screen displays.

5 Use the Volume Down

Use the "Volume Down" key to scroll to the “Yes - Delete All User Data” option, and then press “Power” to select the option. The phone resets to original factory software and settings and then displays the Reboot menu.

Scroll to the “Reboot System Now” and press “Power.” The phone reboots and powers up with original settings restored.

6 Internal Hard Reset

Tap the “Applications” icon in the Galaxy Note home screen to open the Applications screen.

Tap the “Settings” option, and then tap “Privacy.”

Tap the “Factory Data Reset” option to open the Factory Data Reset menu.

Tap the “Format USB Storage” check box to delete all data from the SD card during the factory reset, if desired.

Tap “Reset Phone” to bring up a confirmation box.

Tap “Erase Everything.” The phone restores to original settings and the instructions to set up the device display on the screen.

Follow the on-screen instructions to set up the Samsung Galaxy Note.

  • Information provided in this article applies to the Samsung Galaxy Note. Instructions may vary slightly or significantly for other Samsung Galaxy devices.
  • You can choose to reformat the SD card during the reset to delete all media from the card. Otherwise, media is left intact on the SD card throughout the reset process.

Randall Blackburn has worked for several Fortune 1000 companies as a technical writer over the past seven years. He has produced a wide variety of technical documentation, including detailed programming specifications and research papers. Randall has also acquired several years' experience writing web content. Randall lives and works in Austin, TX.

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