My little sister's Samsung Galaxy is frozen on the Home screen. It won't respond even after several restarts, so I can't open Settings or reset it normally. A small lock icon appeared in the upper-left corner; the status text first showed "Searching" and later changed to the mobile data/Wi‑Fi indicator with the lock still present. I also manage the phone with Family Link, but the device was removed when I tried to reset it remotely. Is there anything I can try at home to fix this?
2 Answers
Try starting the phone in Android Recovery Mode. On many Samsung Galaxy models, turn it off, then hold Volume Up and Power until the Samsung logo appears. From Recovery, try “Wipe cache partition” first, then choose “Reboot system now.” The exact button combination can vary by model, so check the instructions for the specific Galaxy phone. A factory reset should only be the last resort because it permanently erases photos, apps, and other data.
Since the problem remains even after a factory reset, this is probably not a Family Link or software-setting issue. If the welcome screen itself will not respond to taps, the touchscreen or display may have failed. You could try connecting a USB mouse with a USB-OTG adapter to complete setup, but if that does not work, the phone will likely need hardware repair or replacement.
I tried the recovery steps and performed a factory reset, but the phone is still stuck. It now stops at the welcome screen, and the Start button won’t respond. The lock icon is still visible after the reset.