To force-restart most Galaxy Watches, press and hold the Home/Power key and Back key together until “Rebooting…” appears, then release them. Samsung says the message can take up to 30 seconds to appear on some models. This restarts the watch; it is not a factory reset and is not intended to erase your data.
When to force-restart your Galaxy Watch
Use a force restart when the watch is frozen, the touchscreen or normal power menu will not respond, an app has left the watch stuck, or the display is stalled on the Samsung logo. It can also help with temporary software instability or connection problems. It interrupts the current software state and starts the watch again, but it does not address a failing battery, damaged hardware, or an app or software problem that keeps recurring.
If the watch responds normally, use its on-screen power menu for a regular restart instead. For Samsung’s instructions on frozen or unresponsive watches, see Samsung’s troubleshooting guide.
Which buttons to use
On Galaxy Watch3 and newer Galaxy Watch models, including the Watch FE and Watch Ultra families, Samsung’s guidance uses the Home/Power key and the Back key. Samsung may call the first button Home or Power depending on the model and support page. Find the two physical side buttons; on some watches, Home/Power is the upper button. If you own an older Gear watch or another Samsung wearable, check its model-specific support instructions rather than assuming its button sequence is identical. Galaxy Fit devices have a different reset path.
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How to force-restart the watch
- Locate the Home/Power key and the Back key on the side of the watch.
- Press and hold both keys at the same time.
- Keep holding them until “Rebooting…” appears. Samsung’s regional instructions say at least seven seconds for supported models, but the US guide notes that some watches may take up to 30 seconds. Use the on-screen message—not a fixed count—as your cue to release.
- Release both keys when the message appears and wait for the watch to restart. Do not select Power off or Restart from an on-screen menu during this forced-reboot process.
The watch may temporarily disconnect from its paired phone while it reboots. Samsung’s force-restart instructions are at Samsung Support; its regional timing guidance is at Samsung Canada.
If the screen stays blank or nothing happens
Charge the watch first
A depleted battery can leave the display blank, even if the watch vibrates. Place it on the charging dock intended for that model and check that the dock, cable, and power adapter are connected correctly. Charging compatibility varies across Samsung wearables, so do not assume that any Qi pad will work. Samsung’s frozen-watch guidance recommends using the appropriate charging dock.
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- Check that the watch is positioned correctly on the dock.
- Inspect the watch back and charging equipment for visible dirt, moisture, or damage.
- After the watch has had time to charge, try the two-button restart again.
If it still will not charge or power on after using the correct equipment, see Samsung’s guidance for a watch that will not hold charge or power on.
Inspect the buttons without forcing them
Residue or a stuck or damaged key can prevent the button combination from registering. Check for visible obstruction and clean only the exterior in a way that is appropriate for your model. Do not pry at a key with a sharp object, pour liquid into the button area, or keep pressing a visibly damaged control. Contact Samsung service if a button is stuck or damaged; see Samsung’s button troubleshooting guidance.
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Stop if there is damage or recent water exposure
If the watch was recently exposed to water and now has abnormal button or charging behavior, repeated restarts are not a repair. Do not use heat or rice to dry it. Seek service if symptoms persist, especially when there is visible damage, moisture-related malfunction, or a charging failure.
If the watch is stuck on the logo or keeps rebooting
A single stalled startup may clear after a force restart. If the watch repeatedly returns to the logo or restarts, the cause may be a software problem, a recently installed or updated app, low battery or charging trouble, or hardware damage. A reset may help with a software-related problem, but it will not fix damaged hardware or a failing battery.
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- Force-restart once and check whether the watch reaches its normal face.
- Charge it and verify that the dock and power connection are working.
- If the watch becomes usable, uninstall a recently added or updated app that may be causing the problem.
- Install available watch software and app updates.
- If the problem continues, back up the watch before considering a factory reset.
- Contact Samsung service if the boot loop persists, the watch will not charge, or there is physical or liquid damage.
Samsung’s boot-loop guidance also notes that an LTE watch may require a new QR code to reactivate cellular service after a reset.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If only one app is frozen
When the rest of the watch works, try stopping the app rather than restarting the whole device. On the connected phone, open Galaxy Wearable, then go to Apps → App info → select the affected app → Force stop → confirm. Reopen the app afterward. Menu names and availability can vary by model and software version; Samsung describes this route in its app troubleshooting guide.
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Force restart, normal restart, and factory reset compared
| Action | How it works | Data impact | Best used when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal restart | Use the on-screen power menu. | Not intended to erase data. | The watch responds to its controls and menus. |
| Force restart | Hold Home/Power and Back until “Rebooting…” appears. | Not intended to erase data. | The watch is frozen or will not respond to the normal menu. |
| Factory reset | Reset through Galaxy Wearable or, on supported models, through recovery. | Erases user data and settings. | Persistent software trouble remains after less disruptive steps, or you are preparing the watch for a new owner. |
A force restart is not a promise that every unsynced record will be safe if the device is failing. It is not designed to delete your data, but unsynchronized information may be at risk if the watch later needs a reset or repair. Back up before any reset.
Factory-reset only after backing up
A factory reset returns the watch to default settings, removes user data, and requires setup again. Back up first, and ensure the phone and watch have enough battery. You may need to reconnect accounts, apps, notifications, and health features afterward. LTE service may need reactivation; Samsung notes that a watch activated by QR code may require a new code after a reset.
Reset from Galaxy Wearable
- Open Galaxy Wearable on the connected phone.
- Tap Watch settings → General → Reset.
- Review the prompt and confirm only if you are ready to erase the watch.
Some models or software versions may use slightly different menus. See Samsung’s reset instructions.
Recovery-mode reset: an advanced, destructive option
Warning: Recovery can lead to a factory reset and erase watch data. Do not continue unless you intend to wipe the watch and understand the data-loss risk. Button timing and entry steps vary by model. On supported Wear OS watches, Samsung’s recovery instructions involve starting or restarting the watch, entering the Reboot Mode menu with the Home/Power key, highlighting Recovery, and selecting Wipe data/factory reset followed by Factory data reset. The Galaxy Watch3 uses a different key sequence to enter the reset process. Follow Samsung’s model-specific directions at its reset guide rather than improvising from another model’s steps.
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Once the watch reaches its normal face, check whether the original fault has cleared. If it has, install available watch software and app updates, and remove a recently installed app if the problem began after adding it. If phone features remain affected, check the Bluetooth connection and relevant notification permissions. Back up before any later reset; if the same freeze or shutdown keeps returning, treat it as a recurring fault rather than relying on repeated restarts.
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