A smartphone Samsung Galaxy M12 over time may begin to work slower, accumulate errors in the system, or simply require cleaning before being sold to a new owner. Restoring a device to its original state is a radical, but often the only sure way to eliminate software glitches that cannot be easily optimized. This process is extremely simple, but requires attention to detail, since all your personal data will be permanently deleted.
In this article we will examine in detail the two main recovery methods: through the standard settings menu and through recovery mode Recovery Mode. The second method is especially relevant if the phone is frozen, does not boot, or you have forgotten the unlock pattern. Before proceeding, make sure that you have read the warnings section and prepared the device properly.
⚠️ Attention: The Hard Reset procedure deletes absolutely all user data: photos, contacts, messages, installed applications and files in the internal memory. Make a backup copy of important information before you begin!
Preparing the device for the reset procedure
Before you initiate the cleaning process, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps. This ensures that the reset is successful and you do not lose access to important accounts due to the triggered protection FRP (Factory Reset Protection). If a Google account was linked to the phone, the system will require you to enter its password after turning it on to confirm ownership.
Make sure that the battery charge is at least 50-60%. A sudden power outage while formatting memory partitions can damage the file system and turn the smartphone into a brick. It is also worth removing the memory card microSDif it is installed, so as not to accidentally format it along with the system partition, although modern versions of Android usually ask about this separately.
Before resetting, synchronize your contacts with your Google account and save important photos in cloud storage or on your computer. This is the most reliable way to save data.
Don't forget to remove SIM card. This is not necessary for the process itself, but it will protect your contacts if they are stored on the SIM card and not in the phone memory or the cloud. After removing the card and checking the charge, you can proceed to selecting a reset method.
Reset through the settings menu (Soft Reset)
This is the safest and easiest method available to every user who has access to the desktop and smartphone menu. The shell interface One UI ot Samsung is intuitive, so finding the right items will not be difficult even for a beginner. This method is preferable, since the system itself correctly closes all processes before cleaning.
First, unlock the screen and go to the main application menu. Find the icon Settings (gear) and click on it. In the list that opens, scroll down to the item General settings. This is where the main system management tools are concentrated, including the reset function.
- 📱 Click on the item
Resetat the bottom of the general settings menu. - 🗑️ Select an option
Reset Data(sometimes called Factory Reset). - 📜 Scroll down the screen to see the list of data that will be deleted.
- 🔘 Tap button
Reset settingsat the bottom of the screen.
The system will ask you to confirm your identity. You will need to enter your current PIN code, pattern or screen unlock password. After entering the correct code, a final warning will appear. Click Delete everythingto start the process. The phone will reboot and the cleaning procedure will begin, which may take from 5 to 15 minutes depending on the amount of occupied memory.
☑️ Preparing to reset through the menu
Reset via Recovery mode (Hard Reset)
Using the mode Recovery is necessary in situations where the smartphone does not boot, is stuck on the logo when turned on, or you have forgotten the screen lock password, which does not allow access to the settings menu. This method is more “rough”, as it bypasses the operating system and works directly with the bootloader.
An important feature of models Samsung based on Android 11 and higher (including M12): to enter recovery mode, you often need to connect the device to the computer via a USB cable. Simply holding down the buttons on a switched off phone may not work without an active connection to the PC via USB.
1. Turn off your smartphone completely.2. Connect the phone with a USB cable to the turned on computer.
3. Press the buttons simultaneously: Volume UP + Power (Side button).
4. Hold them until the Samsung logo appears, then release the Power button, but continue to hold Volume UP.
5. When the Recovery menu appears (black screen with text), release all buttons.
⚠️ Attention: In Recovery mode, the touch screen does not work! Control is carried out only by the physical volume buttons (up/down to move) and the power button (to confirm the selection).
Using the volume keys, go down to the item Wipe data/factory reset. Press the Power button to confirm. Next, the system will ask for confirmation of the action - select Factory data reset and press the power button again. The formatting process will start instantly. When finished, you will see a message Data wipe complete.
What to do if the Recovery menu does not appear?
Try using a different USB cable or a different USB port on your computer. Sometimes the problem lies in a bad contact or a non-original cable that transmits only charge, but not data.
Setting up a smartphone after a reset
After the procedure is successfully completed, the phone will automatically reboot. The first startup after a reset takes longer than usual because the system needs to initialize files and check the integrity of partitions. You will see a welcome screen with language selection. Select Russian from the list.
Next you will be asked to connect to the network Wi-Fi. This is a required step to activate your device and check for security updates. If you reset your phone because you forgot your password, it is at this stage that Google's protection will kick in. You will need to enter the email and password from the account that was synchronized with this device before the reset.
| Setup stage | User action | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Selecting a language | Tap on the desired language in list | Required |
| Wi-Fi connection | Selecting a network and entering a password | High (to activate) |
| Copying data | Source selection (Google/Cable) | Optional |
| Screen settings | Dark/light theme selection | Low |
| Google Services | Acceptance of the terms of use | Required |
During the setup process, the wizard will offer to restore data from a backup copy. If you previously made a backup to the cloud Samsung Cloud or Google Drive, you can restore contacts, call history and some application settings. However, the applications themselves will have to be downloaded again from the store Galaxy Store or Google Play.
Solving problems with FRP protection (Google Lock)
One of the most common problems after a reset is blocking by Google account, known as FRP Lock. This is a security mechanism that prevents a stolen phone from being used once it is reset by an attacker. If you are the owner, but do not remember the password, the situation can become complicated.
The system will not allow you to skip the step of entering the password. Attempts to bypass this limitation through third-party utilities can be risky and often require a PC and specific software. The best solution is to use the password recovery function through any other device available to you (computer or other phone) by going to the Google account recovery site.
FRP protection only works if the phone was linked to an account and had access to the Internet before the reset. If the account has not been added, there will be no blocking.
If you bought the phone secondhand and it is blocked, the only legal way is to contact the previous owner to enter data or provide a purchase receipt to the service center Samsung to remove the blocking. Independent hacking attempts can lead to a complete blocking of the device by IMEI.
Frequent errors and methods eliminating them
Sometimes the reset process may fail or the phone may freeze at the boot stage. If you see a loading animation longer than 20 minutes, there may be a problem formatting the partition data. In this case, it is recommended to repeat the procedure through the mode Recovery, having first made sure that the battery charge is stable.
Another common problem is an endless reboot (bootloop). This may be due to corruption of system files or an unsuccessful attempt to flash the firmware before resetting. If resetting does not help, you will probably need to flash the device through a app Odin on your computer using the official firmware for your specific model and region.
⚠️ Attention: The interface and location of menu items may vary slightly depending on the version of Android and the version of the One UI shell installed on your Samsung M12. Always check the visual cues on the screen.
Don't panic if your phone appears "blank" after turning it on. This is normal. Performance may be unstable at first as the system performs file indexing and database optimization in the background. Let the device work for about an hour connected to Wi-Fi to complete all background processes.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions
Will the information on the microSD memory card be deleted when resetting?
By default, resetting only affects the internal memory of the phone. However, in some versions of the software an additional checkbox may appear asking you to format the memory card. Read the screen carefully before pressing the confirm button. For complete safety, it is better to physically remove the card before the procedure.
Is it possible to reset the phone if it is completely discharged?
No, absolutely not. Interrupting the writing or formatting process due to a power failure may damage the bootloader. Connect the phone to the original charger and wait for at least 20-30% of the charge before starting any manipulations with the system.
What should I do if, after resetting, the phone asks for a password for the old account that I deleted?
FRP protection is tied to the time of the last synchronization. If you deleted your account from your phone settings 5 minutes before the reset, the protection may not work. If the account was active, you will need to restore access to it through the Google website. Deleting an account on the website does not immediately unblock the device.
How long does it take to completely reset a Samsung M12?
The formatting procedure itself usually takes from 5 to 10 minutes. However, the first launch and initial setup may require another 15-20 minutes. The total time during which the phone will not be usable is approximately 30 minutes.
Will the phone return to the very first version of Android after a reset?
No. A factory reset returns the software to the state it was in when it was last updated. If you updated your phone to Android 13 or 14, it will remain on that version. Rolling back to an older version of Android through a reset is not possible.