If your Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 is frozen, try a force restart; it does not erase your data. To erase the watch and restore its defaults, use Settings > General > Reset. If the watch is locked or Settings is unavailable, use Reboot mode and follow the recovery prompts. Back up first: a factory reset removes personal data.
Force restart or factory reset: choose the right action
“Hard reset” can mean either restarting an unresponsive watch or wiping it. These are different procedures: a force restart reboots the watch, while a factory reset removes personal data and restores default settings.
- Slow or temporarily glitchy: Try a normal restart first; Samsung says that is often enough for minor issues. Samsung Canada’s restart and reset guidance was last updated September 30, 2026, and applies to devices sold in Canada.
- Frozen or unresponsive: Hold the Home and Back buttons together for at least seven seconds, then release when the Samsung logo appears. This is a force restart, not a data wipe.
- Persistent problem, forgotten lock, or preparing to change owners: Choose a factory-reset route below. A reset is not a guaranteed fix for hardware faults.
Samsung’s general support guidance covers multiple Galaxy Watch generations. Labels and screens can vary by model, carrier, market, and software version. Samsung identifies the Active2 44 mm SM-R820 in its Canada model support page, which lists a Tizen user manual modified October 2, 2019. Follow the prompts actually shown on your watch rather than assuming every newer Galaxy Watch menu applies to every Active2.
Before you reset: protect your data and account access
- Back up watch data through Galaxy Wearable or the account options available on the watch. A factory reset removes personal data; Samsung says to back up whether you plan to keep the watch or give it to someone.
- Before using Reboot mode, make sure you know the Samsung account credentials currently associated with the watch. Samsung says that account will be required after a Reboot mode reset.
- If your Active2 has LTE activated with a QR code, ask your carrier about reactivation; you may need a new QR code.
- If you are handing the watch to someone else, plan to unpair its Bluetooth connection from the old phone after the reset. Some watch data may remain saved on that phone.
Choose a factory-reset method
| Method | Best for | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Watch Settings | The watch is accessible and unlocked | Access to the watch |
| Galaxy Wearable | The watch is connected to a phone | Access to the paired phone and app |
| Reboot mode recovery | The watch is locked or Settings is unavailable | Access to the watch buttons; Samsung account credentials afterward |
| SmartThings Find erase | You need a remote route and the watch is reachable through Samsung’s service | Samsung account access; availability depends on the watch’s configuration and service connection |
Reset from the watch
- Open Settings.
- Tap General, then Reset.
- Review the displayed information and confirm, following the on-screen instructions.
Samsung Canada also describes Settings > General > Connect to new phone > Continue as an alternate route on some watches. Availability and reliability can depend on model and connection state; use it only if that option appears on your Active2.
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Reset from Galaxy Wearable
- On the connected phone, open Galaxy Wearable.
- Tap Watch settings > General > Reset.
- Confirm and follow the prompts.
Samsung presents the connected-app method as a convenient route. On some models, the Watch settings step may be omitted.
Reset through Reboot mode if the watch is locked
Samsung’s general recovery instructions use the watch’s Home/Power and Back buttons. The exact behavior and menu labels may differ by Active2 firmware, so follow what appears on the screen.
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- Hold Home/Power + Back until Rebooting appears.
- Quickly press Home repeatedly to open the Reboot mode menu.
- Press Home repeatedly until Recovery is selected.
- Hold Home to start recovery, then follow the factory-reset prompts displayed by the watch.
If the Reboot menu is left idle, the watch may start normally instead. Samsung’s broader reset article describes additional “Wipe data/factory reset” and “Factory data reset” selections for Wear OS watches; those labels are not confirmed for every Tizen-based Active2. Do not select a menu item based on a label from another watch generation if your screen differs.
Samsung’s forgotten-password support page gives another general sequence: power the watch off and back on, hold Power until “Rebooting…” appears, then repeatedly press and release Power to reach Recovery; hold Power until the screen goes dark. Because this is broad smartwatch guidance, button behavior should be checked against the watch generation and its on-screen instructions. Samsung recommends unpairing before a factory reset to avoid connection problems.
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- LTE Unlocked (carrier agnostic) - with LTE connectivity, you can leave your phone behind
- Samsung Galaxy watches feature the Tizen OS. Samsung’s proprietary OS is flexible. If your organization has a mix of Android and non-Android smarphones, the Tizen-equipped Samsung watches will be compatible with all devices. ch Active2. Its advanced sensors keep your pace to help you better achieve your run goals.
- Comfortably sleek the Galaxy Watch Active2 is light enough to wear anywhere comfortably. It comes in aluminum casing and with a variety of faces, bands and finishes so it goes with anything.
- Keep your beat. You can see if your heart rate is where you want it with Galaxy Watch Active2. Get automatically alerted if your watch detects a high or a low heart rate. This Device and related software are not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease
- Battery built for endurance The Galaxy Watch active2’s long-lasting battery can go for more than a Day on a single charge, and you can always get a quick boost from your compatible Galaxy phone with wireless power share. Works with Qi compatible Samsung
Erase remotely with SmartThings Find
- Sign in to SmartThings Find with the Samsung account associated with the watch.
- Select the watch and choose Erase data.
- Confirm and enter the account password if prompted.
- After the erase, reconnect the watch through Galaxy Wearable.
This is Samsung’s general remote-erase route, not a guarantee that every Active2 configuration will be reachable. If remote erase is unavailable, reset directly on the watch if possible.
After the reset
- Set up and reconnect the watch using Galaxy Wearable.
- Check for software updates after recovery.
- If you are transferring ownership, open the old phone’s Settings > Connections > Bluetooth, tap the gear next to the watch, and choose Unpair.
- For QR-activated LTE service, contact the carrier for reactivation instructions or a replacement QR code if needed.
If the watch still fails to operate or a button is stuck or damaged, contact Samsung support or arrange service; resetting cannot repair physical damage.
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- PUSH PAST YESTERDAY: Looking for a great way to bring out your personal best every day? Challenge yourself to excel on your next run or bike ride using tracking with Galaxy AI¹ that lets you compare your current performance to your last one²
- START YOUR DAY WITH YOUR ENERGY SCORE: Know how ready you are to take on the day using your personalized Energy Score with Galaxy AI¹; It calculates today’s physical readiness based on what you did yesterday
- KEEP A CLOSER EYE ON YOUR HEART HEALTH: Get the most out of your fitness workouts using improved Heart Rate Tracking³ with Galaxy AI¹ that filters out your body’s movements for a more accurate reading
- GET A BOOST TOWARD YOUR GOALS: Stay on track toward your goals using personalized suggestions from Wellness Tips⁴; Your Watch collects the insights and then they’re analyzed on your phone
- BETTER SLEEP. A HEALTHIER YOU: Learn better habits for more restful nights using sleep tracking⁵ with Galaxy AI¹ — it also helps detect moderate to severe sleep apnea⁶; Get helpful insights collected by your Watch and analyzed by your phone
Sources and scope
The procedures and cautions above are based on Samsung US Support’s reset instructions, Samsung Canada’s current reset guidance, and Samsung’s forgotten-password support guidance. Samsung notes that screens and settings vary by model, provider, phone, and software. The instructions support documented routes, not a promise that resetting will resolve any particular fault or that each Active2 shows identical prompts.
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