Are you moving on to a new phone from your trusty Galaxy s5? Whether you’re selling your old device, giving it to a friend, or plan to throw it into your junk draw, you’ll want to wipe the phone clean first. Performing a factory reset is easy, but there are some critical things you need to know before you get started.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you’ll need to do to perform a factory reset on your device.
Before you think about wiping your Galaxy S5, make sure you have backed up all of your precious files. You can back up basic data in Settings > Backup & reset. For the rest of your files, you can use a backup app or service. You get 15GB of free storage with Google Drive, for instance, and there are a host of other alternatives to choose from, such as My Backup Pro and SMS Backup & Restore.
A security firm recently revealed that it is possible to recover some data after a factory reset, but you can take a precautionary step to prevent this from being possible before you reset the phone. If you’re selling your S5, or merely passing it on to someone else, then we recommend encrypting it first.
To do so, go to Settings and choose Security from in the System section. Select Encrypt device, follow the onscreen instructions, select a password, and plug in your charger if prompted. This process can take an hour or more, but once complete, you can follow the instructions below.
Pull down the notification shade and tap the gear icon to bring up Settings. Choose Backup and reset and then Factory data reset.
Double check that everything is backed up and then tap Reset device at the bottom of the screen. Tap Delete all on the next screen and wait for the process to complete and the phone to reboot. You’re done.
NOTE: If you’re wiping your S5 to sell it on or give it away, then we recommend removing accounts before you factory reset. You can do this by going to Settings > Accounts, tapping on each account and then tapping More at the top right and Remove account.
If you find that the touchscreen is unresponsive, there’s a problem accessing the menu, or you forgot your pattern lock, then you can still factory reset your S5 using the hardware keys.
Step 1: Turn your Galaxy S5 off.
Step 2: Simultaneously press and hold the Volume up button, the Home button, and the Power button until the Android icon appears on your display.
Step 3: Use Volume down to highlight the wipe data/factory reset option, and press the Power button to select it.
Step 4: Use Volume down again to highlight Yes — delete all user data, and press Power to select it.
Step 5: Wait until you see the reboot system now option and use the Power button to select it.
Step 6: When your S5 restarts, it should be wiped and ready to set up again.
Are you tired of paying for streaming services you never watch just to get a phone plan feature you actually want? T-Mobile has good news for you! The carrier is rolling out new plans, called T-Mix, in early November to replace its old Experience lineup with a build-your-own perks system called Picks.
The benefits you choose vary from streaming and gaming to food delivery, AI, satellite service, and phone discounts. But if you are satisfied with your existing plan, you can keep it.
Merely days after the iPhone Duo hit the shelves, images of broken screens on the phone started popping up across social media. Until now, it’s been unclear what’s causing the line of defective pixels that appears vertically along the crease, as well as horizontally, on the phone’s inner display.
Apple has finally acknowledged the issue, which has shown up on iPhone Duo units owned by customers as well as demo units in stores. In a statement shared with Bloomberg, Apple says that not all iPhone Duo units are affected and that those that are tend to show the display fault early on. The company added that users who experience problems with their iPhone Duo display should contact AppleCare for a replacement.
Not long ago, Apple treated independent repair like an act of outright hostility. The Cupertino giant locked down parts with serial-number pairing, while repair tools remained firmly out of reach of anyone outside its authorized repair network. More importantly, the company waged a legal and lobbying battle against right-to-repair legislation.
I've covered enough of these fights over the years to know what a shift looks like. That's why what happened in October 2026 genuinely caught me off guard. The day the iPhone Duo went on sale, what may be the most mechanically complex iPhone to date, Apple pulled off a surprising about-face. It published teardown-style repair manuals for a handful of major components.