How to Restart, Reset and Factory Reset Galaxy Buds (Every Model, 2026)
To restart Galaxy Buds, put both earbuds in the case, close the lid, wait at least 7 seconds, then take them out. To factory reset them, open the Galaxy Wearable app, tap Earbud settings (or About earbuds on older buds), then Reset and confirm. A restart fixes most glitches in seconds; a factory reset wipes the buds so you can pair them to a new phone or clear a stubborn fault.
I've owned three generations of Galaxy Buds and reset them more times than I'd like to admit, usually after a flaky Bluetooth connection or before handing an old pair to a family member. The steps shifted a little between models, and Samsung quietly moved the menu around in newer versions of the Wearable app, so below is the current, model-by-model way to do it as of 2026, including the case-button method for the Galaxy Buds FE and what to do when you only have one earbud.
Restart vs. reset vs. factory reset: which one do you need?
These three terms get used interchangeably online, but they do very different things. Start with the gentlest option and only escalate if the problem survives.
| Action | What it does | Pairing kept? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restart (soft reset) | Power-cycles the earbuds via the case | Yes | Audio dropouts, one bud silent, lag, frozen touch controls |
| Reset / hard reset | Clears the buds' saved settings and Bluetooth memory | No | Won't connect, persistent stutter, weak ANC, EQ acting up |
| Factory reset | Wipes everything back to out-of-box state | No | Selling, switching to a new phone, last-resort fix |
On Galaxy Buds, "hard reset" and "factory reset" are effectively the same operation; Samsung just labels it Reset in the app. The only true "soft" step you can do without an app is the 7-second case restart.
When should you reset your Galaxy Buds?
A reset is the right move when a restart didn't stick. Common situations:
- The buds keep disconnecting or won't pair with your phone.
- One earbud is louder, quieter, or completely silent compared to the other.
- Audio stutters, crackles, or lags behind video.
- Noise cancelling or ambient sound stopped working properly.
- Touch controls or the EQ behave erratically after a firmware update.
- You're pairing them with a new phone or selling the buds.
If your phone itself is the unstable one rather than the buds, that's a separate fix. Our guide on why an Android phone keeps restarting and the overheating troubleshooting walkthrough cover the host-device side of these problems.
How to restart (soft reset) Galaxy Buds
This is the fastest fix and keeps your pairing intact. It works on every Galaxy Buds model and needs no app.
- Place both earbuds into the charging case.
- Close the lid.
- Wait at least 7 seconds (I usually give it 10 to be safe).
- Open the lid and remove both buds. They power-cycle and reconnect automatically.
That's it. Roughly four out of five "my buds are acting weird" issues clear up right here. If yours don't, move on to a full reset.
How to factory reset Galaxy Buds with a phone
The reset itself lives inside the Galaxy Wearable app on Android (or the Galaxy Buds app on iPhone for older models). The menu path shifted slightly across versions, so here are both.
Newer models (Buds+, Buds Live, Buds Pro, Buds2, Buds2 Pro, Buds3, Buds3 Pro, Buds FE)
- Wear or take out both earbuds so they're connected to your phone.
- Open the Galaxy Wearable app.
- Tap Earbud settings.
- Scroll down and tap Reset.
- Tap Reset again to confirm.
On some firmware the option sits under About earbuds instead of Earbud settings; if you don't see Reset in one place, check the other.
Original Galaxy Buds (2019) and Gear IconX
- Open the Galaxy Wearable app with the buds connected.
- Tap About earbuds.
- Tap Reset earbuds.
- Tap Reset to confirm.
After the reset finishes, the buds drop their pairing. Open your phone's Bluetooth settings, remove (forget) the old Galaxy Buds entry, then put the buds back in the case, open the lid, and pair them fresh.
No Galaxy Wearable app? Download it free from the Galaxy Store or Google Play. On iPhone, older models (Buds, Buds+, Buds Live) use the separate Galaxy Buds app; newer models need an Android phone or the case-button method below.
How to reset Galaxy Buds without a phone (case-button method)
If you can't get the buds to connect, or you don't have the paired phone handy, some models can be reset straight from the hardware. This is the closest thing to a true "hard reset" Galaxy Buds offer.
Galaxy Buds FE (has a button on the case)
- Put both earbuds in the charging case and close the lid.
- Press and hold the button on the case for at least 10 seconds.
- Release when the case LED blinks; the buds reset in a few seconds.
Buds without a case button (touch-and-hold method)
Most Galaxy Buds models don't have a physical case button. For these, with the buds in the case and the lid open, press and hold both touchpads for about 15 seconds until the LED blinks to force a reset. Results vary by model and firmware, so the in-app reset is still the reliable route whenever you can connect.
| Model | Restart (7s case method) | Reset without app | App reset menu |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Buds (2019) | Yes | No | About earbuds → Reset |
| Buds+ / Buds Live / Buds Pro | Yes | Limited | Earbud settings → Reset |
| Buds2 / Buds2 Pro | Yes | Limited | Earbud settings → Reset |
| Buds3 / Buds3 Pro | Yes | Limited | Earbud settings → Reset |
| Buds FE | Yes | Yes (case button, 10s) | Earbud settings → Reset |
What to do if you lost one Galaxy Bud
You can still use and reset a single earbud; the buds work in mono mode independently. To track a missing one, open SmartThings Find on your Galaxy phone, which can ring the bud or show its last known location. To buy a single replacement bud or case, contact Samsung support rather than rebuying the whole set. If you're hunting for a misplaced device in general, the same idea applies across platforms; see our walkthrough on how to find a lost device from an Android phone.
Reset didn't fix it? Try these next
- Clean the contacts. Wipe the metal charging pins on the buds and case with a dry cotton swab; grime here causes false "won't charge" and "one bud dead" symptoms.
- Update firmware. In Galaxy Wearable, go to Earbud software update and install anything pending; several stutter and ANC bugs were firmware fixes.
- Forget on every device. Remove the buds from the Bluetooth list on every phone, tablet, and laptop they've ever paired with; multipoint switching is a frequent culprit.
- Re-seat the ear tips. A loose tip kills bass and confuses ANC into thinking there's a seal problem.
- Check your phone, not the buds. If audio drops only in one app or during gaming, the bottleneck may be the connection; see fixing lag and high ping in mobile games.
Original Galaxy Buds (2019) specifications
For reference, here are the specs of the first-generation Galaxy Buds many readers are still resetting today.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Yellow |
| Earbud size | 17.5 (W) x 19.2 (D) x 22.3 (H) mm |
| Case size | 38.8 (W) x 70 (D) x 26.5 (H) mm |
| Weight | 5.6 g per earbud / 39.6 g case |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Proximity, Hall, Touch, Ear on/off detection |
| Battery | 58 mAh per earbud / 252 mAh case |
| Charging | USB Type-C (and wireless via Wireless PowerShare) |
| Driver | 5.8 mm dynamic driver |
| Compatibility | Android 5.0+ with 1.5 GB RAM or above |
| Audio codecs | SBC, AAC, Scalable (Samsung proprietary) |
Final word
Reach for the 7-second case restart first; it solves the vast majority of Galaxy Buds hiccups and keeps your pairing. Only do a full reset when you're switching phones, passing the buds on, or chasing a fault that just won't quit, and remember the Buds FE has that handy case-button reset for when the app won't cooperate. If you're deep in the Samsung ecosystem, it's also worth keeping an eye on One UI updates, since several Galaxy Buds connectivity fixes ship alongside the phone software rather than the buds themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I restart my Galaxy Buds?
Place both earbuds in the charging case, close the lid, wait at least 7 seconds, then remove them. The buds power-cycle and reconnect automatically. This soft reset keeps your pairing and fixes most audio dropouts, lag, and frozen touch controls.
How do I factory reset Galaxy Buds?
Connect the buds, open the Galaxy Wearable app, tap Earbud settings (or About earbuds on the original 2019 Buds), tap Reset, then confirm with Reset again. This wipes the buds' saved settings so you can pair them to a new phone.
Can I reset Galaxy Buds without a phone?
The Galaxy Buds FE can be reset from hardware: put both buds in the case, close the lid, and hold the case button for at least 10 seconds until the LED blinks. Models without a case button can sometimes be reset by holding both touchpads for about 15 seconds, but the in-app reset is more reliable.
Does resetting Galaxy Buds delete my pairing?
Yes. A reset clears the buds' Bluetooth memory, so afterward you should forget the old entry in your phone's Bluetooth settings and pair the buds again. A simple 7-second case restart does not delete pairing.
How do I reset Galaxy Buds3 or Buds3 Pro?
Connect them, open the Galaxy Wearable app, tap Earbud settings, scroll to Reset, and confirm. The Buds3 and Buds3 Pro use the same app-based reset as other recent models; they do not have a physical case button like the Buds FE.
I lost one Galaxy Bud, what should I do?
You can still use and reset the remaining bud in mono mode. To locate the missing one, open SmartThings Find on your Galaxy phone to ring it or see its last location. For a single replacement bud, contact Samsung support rather than buying a full new set.
