Galaxy S6 Guide

How to boot into Galaxy S6 recovery mode?

Use Galaxy S6 recovery mode to wipe cache partition or factory reset Galaxy S6 or S6 edge

Table of Contents hide
1) What’s Galaxy S6 recovery mode?
2) When you need boot into Galaxy S6 recovery mode?
2.1) Scenario 1. You need reset the phone, but you cannot access the Settings menu.
2.2) Scenario 2. You want to clear cache partition.
3) How to boot into Galaxy S6 recovery mode?
3.1) Step 1: Power off Galaxy S6
3.2) Step 2: Wait 1-2 mins.
3.3) Step 3: Press and hold volume up +Home + Power buttons to enter recovery mode
3.4) Step 4: Navigate through Galaxy S6 recovery mode
3.5) Step 5: Exit Galaxy S6 recovery mode.
4) How about recovery mode for Galaxy S6 edge?
4.1) Can you use Galaxy S6 recovery mode for your Galaxy S6 or S6 edge?

What’s Galaxy S6 recovery mode?

All Android devices have a special partition named recovery.  Tools helping you repair Android installations and install official Android/firmware updates are saved in this partition.

Galaxy S6 is not an exception.

Recovery partition is bootable, i.e., it is a self-contained, although usually simple, system (aka recovery console). Different Android manufacturers may deploy different tools in recovery mode.

When you turn on Galaxy S6 or S6 edge, by default, Galaxy S6 is booted into Android and Android is ready to use on the phone.

But if you want, you can also boot into recovery partition and enter Galaxy S6 recovery mode to fix some issues or reset Galaxy S6 or S6 edge.

You can imagine Galaxy S6 recovery mode in this way: it can alter Android installation in Galaxy S6. Normally, if Galaxy S6 is booted into Android, you can only change the “settings”, but not the system files.

When you need boot into Galaxy S6 recovery mode?

There are many possible usages of Galaxy S6 recovery mode.

But for most Galaxy S6 owners, you may need boot into  Galaxy S6 recovery mode for two scenarios.

Scenario 1.  You need reset the phone, but you cannot access the Settings menu.

If your Galaxy S6 is not responsive even after rebooting, and therefore you cannot access the settings menu to reset the phone, you may use Galaxy S6 recovery mode to perform a factory reset for Galaxy S6.

Also, sometimes, the lock screen refuses to accept your password/PIN/fingerprints. You may swear what you entered is correct one, but Galaxy S6 does not nudge. In this case, if you have added a Samsung account to Galaxy S6, you may use Find My Mobile to unlock the phone as detailed in this guide.

But if you haven’t added a Samsung account, or if you disabled both WiFi and mobile data before you are locked out, you then have no choice but to reset the phone through Galaxy S6 recovery mode.

Please note, when you reset Galaxy S6, all of your data, settings and apps will be removed. Galaxy S6 will be simply in a state as you got it first time. This is why it is referred as factory reset.

So, it is important to backup your data and files in Galaxy S6 regularly as detailed in this guide.

Scenario 2. You want to clear cache partition.

Occasionally, Galaxy S6 may behave slowly, especially after an OS update.

If this happens to your Galaxy S6, you can try to clear cache partition to solve most of the problem related to updating.

Clearing Galaxy S6 cache partition does NOT affect your files or settings. So, it is normally safe to use. Actually the cache partition is a separate partition for the OS, not for user.

If you want to decide whether some problems are caused by third-party apps you installed, you should use Galaxy S6 safe mode, not recovery mode.

How to boot into Galaxy S6 recovery mode?

To boot into Galaxy S6 recovery mode, please follow these steps.

Step 1: Power off Galaxy S6

Press and hold power button to get the Galaxy S6 power options as shown below.

Please note, in most scenarios, Galaxy S6 or S6 edge should respond to the operation of holding power button because it is implemented at hardware level.

Tap Power off as shown below.

boot_into_galaxy_s6_recovery_mode_1_power_options

After tapping power off, you need confirm the operation by tapping Power off as shown below.

This is to avoid accidental tap of power off option.

boot_into_galaxy_s6_recovery_mode_2_power_off

Now Galaxy S6 should be off in a few seconds.

You may refer to Turn on/off Galaxy S6 page for this step.

Step 2: Wait 1-2 mins.

Please wait 1 or 2 mins after Galaxy S6 is powered off.

Don’t ask why. Just wait.

Step 3: Press and hold volume up +Home + Power buttons to enter recovery mode

boot_into_galaxy_s6_recovery_mode_2a_galaxy_screenNow, you need press and hold 3 buttons: Volume up (NOT volume down), Home, and Power buttons.

You need use two hands for this operation. If you are not sure about these buttons, please check Galaxy S6 layout or Galaxy S6 edge layout pages.

You need keep holding these 3 buttons until you see the Android screen as shown in the left.

If Galaxy S6 reboots into normal lock screen, you have to power off the phone and start again.

Please note, if you use volume down button with Home and Power options, Galaxy S6 will boot into download mode. If this happens to you, try to reboot the phone and try again.

Step 4: Navigate through Galaxy S6 recovery mode

Once you are in Galaxy S6 recovery mode, you should get the recovery console as shown below.

In Galaxy S6 recovery console, touch screen is not responsive to touch. You have to use Galaxy S6 hardware buttons.

  • Volume up  to move the cursor up;
  • Volume down to move the cursor down;
  • Power button to apply.

For example, if you want to wipe cache partition, you move the cursor down to wipe cache partition, then press power button once.

If you want to reset Galaxy S6, move the cursor to wipe data/factory reset, then press power button once.

boot_into_galaxy_s6_recovery_mode_3_recovery_menu

Step 5: Exit Galaxy S6 recovery mode.

Once you finish the operations in Galaxy S6 recovery console, you can choose reboot system now to reboot Galaxy S6 normally.

Of course, Galaxy S6 will then exit Galaxy S6 recovery mode.

You can also press and hold power button to reboot Galaxy S6 normally.

How about recovery mode for Galaxy S6 edge?

Galaxy S6 edge has an identical Galaxy S6 edge recovery mode as Galaxy S6.

This guide applies to Galaxy S6 edge equally, although in the guide I used Galaxy S6.

Can you use Galaxy S6 recovery mode for your Galaxy S6 or S6 edge?

If you have any questions or get any problems to use Galaxy S6 recovery mode for your Galaxy S6 or S6 edge to wipe cache partition or reset Galaxy  S6, please let the community know in the comment box below.

We will try to help you.

For other features of Galaxy S6, please check Galaxy S6 online manual page.

For detailed guides on how to use Samsung Galaxy S6, please check Galaxy S6 how-to guides page.

For detailed guides on how to use Galaxy S6 camera, please check Galaxy S6 camera guide page.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Gene says

    I have tried a dozen or more tutorials on getting into recovery mode on a stock Galaxy S6. Yours worked fine. The rest were old rehashed and incorrect information from previous Galaxy versions. Thanks!

    Reply

  2. Kim says

    It doesn’t let me enter any google account when going through the device setup. It has to be the Google account that was “previously synced on this device”.

    Reply

  3. Dan says

    Galaxy does not go into recovery mode. Unable to add a recovery using odin. am able to go into download mode. on restart phone just hangs on samsumg splash screenj. any ideas?

    Reply

  4. Ali says

    I was able to go to recovery mode and wipe all data but now the phone will not boot. it get stuck on the initial splash screen for the Galaxy S6 edge.

    Reply

  10. Chris says

    I factory reset the phone, and able to get to the screen to verify your account I enter in the correct email and password nut it goes bacj=k to the verification screen every time. I am able to access google account on desktop and tablet.

    Reply

  11. Gerhard says

    Thank you great guide. Phone reset easy and uploaded all my files and contacts via blue tooth from my old device

    Reply

  13. Moses says

    i ve followed step 1 to 5 on how to boot into the recovery mode but after the step 5, the device refuse to boot normal and when i tried booting it normal by holding down the power button this message came up ‘Now send the package you want to apply to the device with “adb sideload “. how can i solve this problem?

    Reply

  16. emiliothoeee says

    i found a galaxy s6 and i restarted it and everything but, it need the google account that was perviously used, is their any way around this? i need help and im not sire what to do.

    Reply

  17. Viral says

    I have tried to boot in to recovery mode for 5 times, but it always keep booting into Download mode. I am using Vol UP, Home, And Power button.

    Reply

  18. andile says

    when I use vol up,home and power nothing hapens but when I use vul down the download screen appers. galaxy s6 plus

    Reply

  20. joshua gibson says

    I used volume up, power button and home button for 7 seconds because my phone constantly restarted itself after i got the smashed screen fix. i chose “reboot sytem” and now the phone is just stuck on a black screen with “samsung galaxys6 powered by android” the only thing i can do is hold down “volume down, power, home”buttons which makes it comes up with a screen about the warning of downloading a custom OS. help!

    Reply

  22. kmsl says

    I held the power, volume up and home key like you said and it goes into the blue/green android screen with Galaxy at the bottom. But it just stays there and does not go into recovery mode. What can I do?

    Reply

  24. Natalie says

    After I clear the cache partition.. still the icons on my lockscreen isnt appearing. I turned it off and on still nothing happens

    Reply

  25. nicky says

    hi-iv cleared cache partition however on the quick access panel in the settings area i can only get 8 not the full 9. iv tried inputting 9 it says 9/9 but when g to the screen can only see 8 every time ?

    Reply

  26. lile says

    Amazing! You totally rock. Your steps were easy to follow for a novice and worked like a charm. Thanks for saving my phone!

    Reply

  27. Espen Østby says

    I followed the instructions, but all that appear i an Android figure and the text galaxy below, on an blue/green screen. I doest come up at reset meny.

    Anyone with an advice?

    Reply

  28. Nickie says

    Hi my samsung s6 goes into the boot menu but i cant read chinese and so i can not delete cache partitions and also not change the language my phone gives me popups and its driving me crazy and its downloading aps without my permission and that is unacceptable please help.

    Reply

  29. Rusell says

    Hello..my s6 edge was rooted wit trfw recently.when i tried to enter recovery mode using those buttons the welcome screen showed up but then it goes to dark screen wit flashing white light from upper part of the screen.what seems to be the problem?tq

    Reply

  30. Belbiche says

    I have a galaxy s6. Having a problem of switching on my phone. All these steps you very explain here works with me only when my phone is on charging mode. But when I remove it from the charger it not working at all even with all those recovery mode. I checked my battery and it shows me that the battery is in very good condition. I am confused to use my phone only under charge…plus help…cause I can’t go out with my phone …it turns up in toy

    Reply

  32. Jeno says

    Phone does not start Recovery Mode, just boots normaly..
    Holding the buttons until i can draw my pattern to unlock it.
    -Galaxy S6

    Reply

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