Factory Reset Samsung A21 When Locked: Full Guide

Updated 15 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

If your Samsung Galaxy A21 is locked because you forgot the PIN, pattern, or password, a factory reset is the way to regain access. This process erases all data on the phone and restores it to its original out-of-the-box state. You can do this using the phone’s hardware buttons even if you cannot unlock the screen. Before you begin, ensure the phone has at least a 50% charge to avoid it powering off mid-reset, and note that this will remove all personal files, apps, and accounts from the device.

What You’ll Need

Your Samsung Galaxy A21 (with the screen locked)
The original USB cable and a computer (optional, but helpful for the second method)
A stable Wi‑Fi connection (only if you plan to restore from backup afterward)

Step-by-Step

There are two main ways to factory reset a locked Galaxy A21: using the hardware buttons (recommended) or using Samsung’s Find My Mobile service. Both are described below.

Method 1: Hardware Button Reset (Recovery Mode)

Power off the phone. If the screen is unresponsive, press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons together for about 10 seconds until the device restarts, then quickly press and hold Power again to turn it off completely.
Once the phone is off, press and hold the Volume Up and Power buttons simultaneously.
Keep holding both buttons until the Samsung logo appears, then release them. The phone will boot into Android Recovery mode.
Use the Volume Down button to navigate through the menu. Highlight Wipe data/factory reset.
Press the Power button to select it.
On the next screen, use the Volume Down button to highlight Factory data reset (or Yes), then press Power to confirm.
Wait for the reset to complete. The phone will show a confirmation message.
Highlight Reboot system now with the Volume Down button and press Power to restart the phone.
The phone will boot up as if it were new. You will need to go through the initial setup wizard, including signing into a Google account (if you remember the credentials) and setting a new lock screen.

Method 2: Samsung Find My Mobile (Requires Samsung Account)

On a computer or another phone, go to findmymobile.samsung.com and sign in with the Samsung account that was previously linked to the locked A21.
If you have multiple devices, select your Galaxy A21 from the list.
Click on Erase data (sometimes labeled as “Factory reset”).
Follow the on‑screen prompts to confirm. The phone must be turned on and connected to the internet (Wi‑Fi or mobile data) for this to work.
Once the erase command is sent, the phone will reset itself. It may take a few minutes. After it finishes, you can set it up as new.

Common Mistakes

Not powering off completely before using the button combo. If the phone is still on, the Volume Up + Power combo might just restart it instead of entering recovery. Make sure the screen is black and the device is off.
Releasing the buttons too early. Hold Volume Up and Power until you see the Samsung logo. Releasing before that may cause a normal boot.
Selecting the wrong option in recovery. Do not choose “Apply update from ADB” or “Wipe cache partition” – you want Wipe data/factory reset.
Forgetting to back up data. A factory reset permanently erases everything on the phone. If you have any chance to back up (e.g., via Samsung Cloud or Google), do it before resetting.
Using the wrong Samsung account for Find My Mobile. The account must be the one that was active on the phone. If you don’t remember it, the button method is your only option.

Tips

Before resetting, try to remember your Google account credentials. After the reset, the phone will ask for the Google account that was previously synced (Factory Reset Protection, FRP). If you can’t provide it, the phone will remain locked.
Charge your phone to at least 50% before starting. A power loss during the reset can cause software corruption.
If you have important photos or files, check if they were automatically backed up to Google Photos or Samsung Cloud. You might be able to restore them after the reset.
After the reset, set up a new lock screen that you can remember, and consider enabling biometrics (fingerprint or face) for convenience.
If you plan to sell or give away the phone, a factory reset is the right thing to do to protect your data.

Troubleshooting

Phone does not enter recovery mode. If the Volume Up + Power combo doesn’t work, try Volume Down + Power instead (on some variants). Or, connect the phone to a computer with a USB cable, then press and hold Volume Up + Power until the logo appears.
Recovery menu is not responding. If the volume buttons don’t navigate, try pressing them more firmly. If the screen is frozen, hold Power + Volume Down for 10 seconds to force restart, then try again.
Reset takes longer than 10 minutes. This is rare but can happen. Do not interrupt the process. Wait at least 15 minutes. If it still seems stuck, force restart by holding Power + Volume Down for 10 seconds. The phone may boot normally or return to recovery; try the reset again.
Phone asks for a Google account after reset (FRP). This is a security feature. You must enter the Google account credentials that were on the phone before the reset. If you can’t remember them, you may need to use the “Forgot email” option or contact Samsung support (they cannot bypass FRP for you).
Find My Mobile says “Device offline” or “Not supported.” The phone must have an active internet connection and the Find My Mobile feature must have been enabled in settings. If not, use the hardware button method.
Phone boots but stays on the Samsung logo. This could indicate a software issue. Try the hardware reset again. If it persists, you may need to flash the official firmware using Odin (advanced, requires a computer), but this is beyond the scope of this guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a factory reset remove the lock screen?

Yes, a factory reset removes the current lock screen (PIN, pattern, or password). The phone will then boot to the setup wizard, where you can create a new lock screen.

Can I recover data after a factory reset?

No, a factory reset permanently erases all data on the phone’s internal storage. Unless you had a backup (Google, Samsung Cloud, or local), the data is gone.

What is FRP and will it block me after reset?

FRP (Factory Reset Protection) is a security feature that requires the Google account that was previously synced to the phone to be entered after a reset. If you don’t know the credentials, you will be stuck at the Google verification screen.

Can I reset the phone without a computer?

Yes, the hardware button method (Method 1) does not require a computer. You only need the phone itself.

Will a factory reset fix a phone that is frozen or unresponsive?

Yes, a factory reset can resolve software glitches that cause freezing, but it will erase all data. If the phone is completely unresponsive, you may need to force restart first (Power + Volume Down for 10 seconds) before attempting the reset.

Does the reset remove the SIM card or SD card data?

No, a factory reset only erases the internal storage. Data on the SIM card and microSD card (if inserted) is not touched. However, it’s a good idea to remove the SD card before resetting to avoid any accidental data loss.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.