Factory reset

[Catsfromhell]

How would I do this without taking my phone to a shop and paying for it? Because I know you can easily do it on your own. It's probably a dumb question ha? 

[arianwen27]

You can do it in settings but I have a feeling you can't unlock the phone.

If you can't unlock the phone, do a forced shutdown by holding power and volume down for around 10 seconds. Then hold power and volume up, release when the samsung logo appears. You are now in the recovery menu. Select the reset/wipe device option.

Big warning, if the device has a google account linked to it, you must set the phone up with that same google account after you reset it. Prevents someone stealing a phone, resetting it then using it again.

Going back a little, if you couldn't get into the recovery menu, you might have a newer device. In this case, plug the phone into a pc (with the pc on), then do the volume up power button thing. Newer phones need to be connected to something as an extra precaution.

It's the same on every samsung phone so you can just google "how to shut down xx phone" and "how to enter recovery mode on xx" phone if you wanted a youtube video or better guide. Me remembering is probably not going to beat a guide online lol

[Catsfromhell]

I can get into my phone. It's kinda o.k I just want it back to normal! I've had some ***** trying to hack me and I don't trust software updates and dodgy texts and emails from my bank? Telling my card is going to expire in Feb of this year?? Click the link below? Blah,blah. Never ending? Im not a rich person?

[Catsfromhell]

Thanks for the advice Mr, really appreciate it. I've changed my email address twice now over this nonsense. I think someone has it in for me or something?? To be honest im really thinking about just going off grid? And just getting a trustee Nokia phone or something? It's just getting to much now. Anyhow thanks nan.

[arianwen27]

If you're super worried, enabling autoblocker and maximum restrictions mode within auto blocker can increase the security of your device. If you're on android 16, you can also enable advanced protection in the google part of settings.

Oh and in device care, enable device protection. System updates are safe and officially from samsung, so don't be scared of those, they increase the security of your phone

[arianwen27]

Your bank would never make you click something to get a new card, they just send you one in the post. If you're concerned, call your bank and confirm if it's real or not.

As I said in my other reply, system updates are from samsung so are safe, they fix issues to keep your device safe.

For texts, use google messages and enable spam protection. It should hide the scam texts you're getting

[Catsfromhell]

Thanks again man. I already have auto blocker. I haven't thought about gmail messenger? To be honest im a bit scared of that too! Because of the hacking? It all started in the middle of 2024. They managed to get into my google account where most of my passwords were stored. I got on to my bank got a new card, new details, closed my banking app down through the fraud officer's. Got a new phone last year and do you know how many managers and bosses of the managers from the fraud team at the bank i had to talk to, to just reopen the bank app on my new phone? It was hours and a nightmare, and it all started again about August 25 and because my bank had been taking extra precautions with my account! I was out shopping one day, i went to a cash point and my card had been declined i had to contact my bank? The woman had detected a strange transaction coming up on my account and it was from google pay? It was for 0.00? I've never used google pay and the nice lady said most scammers use a fake Google pay and that's how they test if your account is active but she put a stop to it right away. And I had to get a new card again and new details and it was a weekend. It's just horrible. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Sorry for going on. I think all this has made me super paranoid about my phone and using my card online? I forgot to say too! When the kind fraud lady looked into it, my bank details were linked to about 26 apps I've never even heard of? Thanks again man.

[lance78]

In your Google account, security and sing in. Go down to your devices open manage all devices and log out of any you don't recognise. I would re change the password AND please USE 2 step verification