If you are planning to sell your Samsung Galaxy S2, you most likely want to factory reset the device. If your smartphone no longer works properly, resetting the settings may solve the problem.
When you reset a Samsung Galaxy S2, all the data on the device is erased, as well as the data on the internal SD card, but only if you have chosen to format this storage medium. The data that will be deleted includes downloaded applications, settings and data of all installed applications and any Google accounts associated with the device. The process will not delete the phone's operating system, applications built into it and the data present on the device's external SD card.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Restore Factory Settings Using the Settings Application
Step 1. Launch the Settings app
From the Home of your device, press the Menu button, then select the Settings item from the menu that appears.
Step 2. Start resetting your phone
From the Settings application, select the Backup and Restore or Privacy item (based on the Android version installed) located in the Personal section of the menu, then choose the Factory data reset option.
Step 3. Choose whether or not to format the internal memory of the device
From the Factory data reset screen, you can choose whether to tick the Format mass storage selection button, to delete or not the data on the internal SD card.
- If the check button is selected, the process will format the internal SD card.
- If the check button is unchecked, the internal SD card will not be affected by the restore process.
Step 4. Reset your phone
This process no longer provides a way to recover the data that will be deleted from the device. Press the Reset phone button and finally select the Delete all item.
The Samsung Galaxy S2 will start the reset process. Do not turn off the phone while it is performing the data recovery procedure
Method 2 of 2: Perform the Restore Manually
Step 1. Before trying this method, perform the normal reset via the Settings application
If, for some reason, the above method doesn't work you will need to perform what is called a hard reset. This means that instead of using the device software to reset it, you will use a manual procedure.
Step 2. Turn off your phone
The Power button is located at the top right of the device. Press and hold the Power button until the Device Options menu appears. Select the Shutdown item from the menu that appeared. Wait for the phone to complete the shutdown phase.
Step 3. Turn the device back on by pressing the Power, Volume + and Volume - button
The rocker button to adjust the volume is located on the left side of the phone. While pressing the Volume + and Volume - buttons, press and hold the Power button. When you see the Samsung logo appear, you can release the Power button, but while continuing to press the Volume + and Volume - buttons. When the Android Recovery screen appears, you can release the volume adjustment buttons as well.
Step 4. Reset your phone
Using the Volume + or Volume - buttons highlight the Wipe data / factory reset item, then press the Power button to make the selection. Press the Volume - button to select Yes - Delete all user data, then press the Power button to confirm your choice. Finally press the Power button again to restart the phone.
