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How to Reset Galaxy Watch 8

There are two types of resets for your Galaxy Watch 8: a soft restart that preserves your data, and a factory reset that erases everything. Choose based on what you're trying to fix.


Soft Restart (Preserves Data)

Use this for temporary issues like freezing, slowness, or minor glitches.

  1. Press and hold the power button for 10-15 seconds
  2. Wait for the watch to restart automatically
  3. Release when the Samsung logo appears

All apps, settings, and data remain intact after a soft restart. The watch typically restarts in 30-60 seconds.


Factory Reset via Settings (Erases All Data)

Use this for persistent problems or before selling/giving away the watch.

  1. Open Settings on the watch
  2. Navigate to General
  3. Tap Reset
  4. Select Factory data reset
  5. Confirm when prompted

The reset takes 5-10 minutes and returns the watch to out-of-box condition.


Hard Reset (Alternative Method)

Use this when the watch is unresponsive and you can't access settings.

  1. Power off the watch completely
  2. Press and hold both the power button and home button simultaneously
  3. Continue holding until the recovery menu appears
  4. Use touch or crown to navigate to Factory reset
  5. Confirm the selection

Before Factory Reset

Back up your data before erasing everything.

  • Samsung Health: Ensure fitness data is synced to the Samsung Health app on your phone
  • Google Account: Verify settings are backed up to your Google account
  • Note Apps: Record any apps you'll want to reinstall
  • Watch Faces: Custom watch faces and complications will need reconfiguration

When to Use Factory Reset

Factory reset is appropriate for:

  • Persistent performance issues not resolved by soft restart
  • Bluetooth or WiFi connection problems that won't resolve
  • Software corruption or frequent crashes
  • Preparing the watch for sale or transfer to another user

After Factory Reset

Follow these steps to set up your watch again.

  1. Complete the initial language and setup wizard
  2. Open Galaxy Wearable on your phone and pair the watch
  3. Sign into your Google and Samsung accounts
  4. Restore from backup if prompted
  5. Reinstall apps from Google Play Store

See Also: Galaxy Watch 8 Troubleshooting|Galaxy Watch 8 Not Pairing|How to Turn On Galaxy Watch 8