Factory Reset Protection on Android: What it is and how to disable it

Losing your phone is stressful. Fortunately, Android™ includes a built-in security feature called Factory Reset Protection (FRP) that helps prevent someone else from setting up your phone if it's lost or stolen.

At Asurion, we help people get the most from their tech every day. Here's how Factory Reset Protection works on Samsung Galaxy® phones and other Android devices, what turns it on automatically, and how to disable it before selling, trading in, or sending your phone in for repair.

How Factory Reset Protection works

Factory Reset Protection helps protect your personal information after an unauthorized factory reset. If someone resets your phone outside of the normal Settings menu—such as from Recovery Mode—they'll be asked to sign in with the Google™ Account that was previously synced to the device before setup can continue.

Because only the previous owner should know those account credentials, Factory Reset Protection makes a stolen phone much harder to reuse or resell.

How to enable Factory Reset Protection

You don't need to manually turn on Factory Reset Protection. It's enabled automatically when:

• You add a Google Account to your Android phone.
• You set up a screen lock, such as a PIN, pattern, or password.

How to add a Google Account to your Android phone

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Passwords & accounts, Accounts, or Users & accounts, depending on your device.
3. Tap Add account.
4. Select Google.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to sign in.

How to set up a screen lock on your Samsung phone

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Lock screen (or Lock screen and AOD on some devices).
3. Tap Screen lock type.
4. Choose a PIN, pattern, or password, then follow the prompts.

How to set up a screen lock on a Google Pixel or other Android phone

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Security & privacy > Device unlock > Screen lock. (Menu names may vary depending on your Android version.)
3. If prompted, enter your current screen lock.
4. Choose a PIN, pattern, or password and complete the setup.

How to disable Factory Reset Protection

Factory Reset Protection doesn't have an on/off switch. Instead, you'll need to remove your Google Account before you factory reset or hand your phone to someone else.

This is especially important if you're:

• Selling or trading in your phone
• Giving it to a friend or family member
• Sending it in for repair or replacement
• Recycling your device

How to remove your Google Account from your Android phone

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Passwords & accounts, Accounts, or Users & accounts, depending on your device.
3. Select your Google Account.
4. Tap Remove account.
5. If prompted, enter your PIN, pattern, or password to confirm.

Once you've removed all Google Accounts from the device, you can safely perform a factory reset without triggering Factory Reset Protection for the next owner.

If you're resetting your phone from the Settings app while you're still signed in, the reset is considered authorized. If you're preparing the phone for someone else, though, it's still a good idea to remove your Google Account first so they can complete setup without being asked for your credentials.