How to Factory Reset a Smart Ring: Oura, Samsung, RingConn & More

Why Should You Factory Reset a Smart Ring?

Look, I’ve been wearing smart rings since the early days when people thought I was wearing a mood ring from the 90s. I’ve owned them all—the Oura, the RingConn, the new Samsung Galaxy Ring, and even the Amazfit Helio. And if there is one thing I’ve learned from years of tracking my sleep and steps, it’s that these tiny pieces of tech are prone to “brain fog” just like we are.

Sometimes they just stop syncing. Sometimes the battery starts draining like a leaky faucet. When that happens, you need a factory reset. It’s the “turn it off and back on again” of the wearable world, but it’s a bit more finicky because there are no buttons to mash.

If you’re stuck with a ring that isn’t behaving, here is my personal guide on how to wipe the slate clean and start over, whether you’re on an iPhone or an Android.

My “Ring Crisis” Moment

A few months ago, my RingConn just… gave up. It showed me at 100% battery for three days straight (I wish!) and then suddenly died while I was grocery shopping. No amount of “pull-to-sync” in the app fixed it. I realized the firmware was essentially stuck in a loop.

Factory Reset a Smart Ring is your last resort. It wipes the internal memory of the ring. Warning: Anything that hasn’t synced to your phone yet will be gone forever. If you’re at 9,900 steps and you reset before syncing, those steps never happened in the eyes of the cloud.

1. Oura Ring (Gen 2, Gen 3, and Oura 4)

Oura is the “Apple” of smart rings. It’s polished, but when it breaks, it’s frustratingly opaque. I’ve had to reset my Oura 3 twice—once when I switched from an iPhone 14 to a Pixel 8, and once when it refused to track my heart rate during a nap.

The “Proper” Way (Via the App) to Factory Reset a Smart Ring

This is the easiest route.

Sync first: Open your Oura app and make sure that little spinning circle finishes.
Settings: Tap the menu icon (top left) > Settings.
Back it up: Tap “Back up all data.” Don’t skip this. I lost a week of “Readiness” scores once because I was impatient.
The Reset: Tap the ring icon in the top right. Swipe across to find “My Oura Ring.” Scroll down and hit Factory Reset.
The Two-Minute Rule: Once you hit reset, take the ring off the charger and let it sit on a flat surface for two minutes. Don’t touch it. It needs to enter a “power-down” state.

The “Hard” Way (If it won’t connect)

If your ring won’t even talk to your phone, you have to force it.

The “Tapping” Trick: Place the ring on its charger. Then, rapidly tap the charger (with the ring on it) on a hard surface (like a table) about 5-10 times. It sounds crazy—like you’re performing CPR on a piece of jewelry—but the sudden movement/connection disruption can trigger a hardware reset.

Pro Tip: If you’re switching phones, make sure you “Forget” the ring in your old phone’s Bluetooth settings first. Oura rings are notoriously jealous; they hate letting go of their old partner.

2. RingConn (Gen 1 and Gen 2)

I love my RingConn because there’s no subscription, but the Factory Reset a Smart Ring process is a bit more… manual. It feels more like a secret code than a software feature.

The “Charger Click” Method

RingConn doesn’t always need a software wipe; often a “reboot” fixes the issues.

Place the ring in the charging case.
Look at the back of the ring (the part that touches the charging pins).
Gently press the ring down and lift it slightly so it disconnects and reconnects with the pins about 5 to 7 times in quick succession.
If you see the ring flash Blue, you’ve done it. It’s rebooting.

Full Factory Reset

If the “click” doesn’t work:

Open the RingConn app.
Go to the “Me” tab > Device Settings.
Select Factory Reset.
You’ll need to have the ring at least 30% charged. If it’s dead, the reset won’t “stick.”

Anecdote: I once thought my RingConn was bricked because it wouldn’t reset. Turns out, I was using a cheap USB-C cable that wasn’t providing enough juice to the case. Always use the original cable to factory reset a smart ring!

3. Samsung Galaxy Ring

The “new kid on the block.” Since it’s built into the Galaxy ecosystem, it’s a bit more intuitive if you have a Samsung phone, but a bit of a headache if you’re using it with a different Android (and currently, it’s a no-go for iPhone).

The Wearable App Route

Open the Galaxy Wearable app on your phone.
Tap on Ring Settings.
Scroll down to Reset.
Confirm the reset. The ring will disconnect and go back into “Pairing Mode” (flashing its lights).

The Case Reset (No App Required)

This is what I had to do when my ring got “stuck” during a firmware update:

Put the ring in its charging case.
There is a multipurpose button inside or on the case (depending on the version). Press and hold that button for about 3 to 10 seconds.
The light on the case will start blinking red, green, and blue. That means it’s wiped and ready for a new “marriage” to your phone.

4. Amazfit Helio Ring

The Helio is a beast for athletes, but the Zepp app can be a bit cluttered. Resetting this one is very similar to how you’d reset a Garmin or an Amazfit watch.

The Zepp App Process

Open the Zepp App.
Go to Profile > Helio Ring.
Scroll to the very bottom and tap Unpair.
Usually, unpairing an Amazfit device automatically triggers a factory reset on the hardware itself.

The “Pinhole” Method

If the app is being stubborn:

Place the Helio ring on its charging base.
Look for the tiny reset pinhole on the charger.
Use a paperclip or a SIM tool to press and hold that button for 10 seconds.
The light will pulse Blue when it’s ready to pair again. If it stays white, it didn’t reset—try holding it longer.

5. How to Reset Other Brands

If you’re wearing a ring that isn’t from one of the “Big Four,” you’ve probably noticed that the documentation can be a bit… sparse. I’ve tested a dozen generic rings from Kickstarter and Amazon, and while the apps look different, they almost all follow one of three secret blueprints for a factory reset.

If your ring’s brand isn’t listed above, try these “universal” methods that usually do the trick:

The “Rapid Dock” Maneuver

This is the most common hardware trigger for rings without physical buttons. It tells the ring’s firmware to “wake up and wipe.”

The Steps: Place your ring on its charger. Quickly lift it off and place it back down 5 to 10 times in a row.
The Sign of Success: Look for a specific LED pattern. Most generic rings will flash Blue (pairing mode) or Red then Green to signal they’ve been wiped.

The “Long Press” Case Reset

Many affordable smart rings offload the factory reset a smart ring logic to the charging case.

The Steps: With the ring sitting snugly in the cradle, look for a tiny button on the bottom or side of the case. Press and hold it for a full 15 to 20 seconds.
My Experience: On some generic rings, the light won’t change until you release the button. If nothing happens at 10 seconds, keep holding—patience is key here.

The “App-First” Unpair

For brands like Ultrahuman or Circular, the ring is “locked” to your account for security. Even a hardware reset won’t always let a new phone connect.

The Steps: Always go into the app first and find the “Unpair” or “Remove Device” option.
The Logic: This sends a “kill command” to the ring via Bluetooth. If you don’t do this, the ring might stay in a “Restricted Mode” where it refuses to talk to any other Bluetooth signal.

Pro Tip: If your ring doesn’t have a button or a flashing light, try the “Drain and Charge” method. Let the battery hit 0% until the ring completely dies, then charge it back to 100% without opening the app. Sometimes this “cold boot” clears the cache better than a software reset ever could.

The “New Phone” Dilemma: iPhone vs. Android

I switch between an iPhone and a Samsung often, and this is where most people mess up.

iPhone Users: iOS is very protective of Bluetooth “bonds.” Even if you factory reset a smart ring, the iPhone might still think it’s connected. Always go to Settings > Bluetooth, find your ring, and tap “Forget This Device” before you try to re-pair.
Android Users: Check your “Device Admin” or “Connected Devices” settings. Samsung especially likes to “restore” old connections automatically, which can lead to a loop where the factory reset a smart ring, tries to connect to the old profile, and crashes again.

When a Factory Reset Won’t Fix It

I’ve had two rings die on me permanently. No amount of resetting will fix a “dead cell.” If your ring:

Heats up significantly while charging.
Drops from 80% to 5% in an hour.
Has a visible crack in the inner resin.

A factory reset a smart ring is just a band-aid on a bullet wound. At that point, it’s time to call customer support. Oura’s Support is generally good if you’re under warranty, and Samsung’s support is ubiquitous but can be a bit of a “script-reading” marathon.

Final Thoughts from a Wearable Geek

Smart rings are amazing, but they are essentially tiny computers wrapped in metal. They get “confused.” If your sleep tracking feels off or your steps aren’t counting, don’t panic. Put it on the charger, follow the steps above to Factory Reset a Smart Ring, and give it a fresh start.

And for the love of all things tech, keep your charging case in a safe spot. Without that case, a factory reset becomes a much more expensive problem!

For more technical deep dives, check out the Bluetooth Special Interest Group for how these devices connect, or visit iFixit to see why these rings are so hard to repair (spoiler: it’s all the glue).

General Tips:

Backup your data: If possible, back up your data before resetting, especially if it holds important health information.
Charging: Some resets require the ring to be at a certain charge level. Make sure it’s charged before proceeding.
Follow the instructions carefully: Deviations might prevent a successful reset.

By following these steps and referring to the specific instructions for your ring, you should be able to perform a factory reset.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and Answers

What is a factory reset a smart ring and why would I need it?

A factory reset wipes your smart ring clean, erasing all settings and data stored on the device. This can be helpful if you’re experiencing glitches, connectivity issues, or want to start fresh.

Will a factory reset erase my data permanently?

It depends. Data stored on your ring itself might be erased. However, information synced with the companion app (if applicable) should be safe. It’s always a good idea to back up your data before resetting, just in case.

How do I factory reset my smart ring?

Unfortunately, there’s no universal method. Each manufacturer uses its own approach. Here are some ways to find instructions for your specific ring:

Check the app or manual: Look for a user manual or support section in the app associated with your ring.
Manufacturer website: Visit the website of your smart ring’s brand and search for “factory reset” or “reset instructions” for your model.

I have a [Brand Name] smart ring. How do I reset it?

We can’t provide specific instructions for every brand here, but some popular examples are included below:

Oura Ring: Backup data first, then navigate to Settings > Tools > Factory Reset in the app.
Circular Ring: Soft reset – put the ring on/off the charger 10 times quickly. Factory reset (app): Manage My Ring > Factory Reset. Factory reset (manual): put the ring on/off charger 15 times quickly.

Can’t find instructions for my ring?

If your brand isn’t listed, consult the manufacturer’s website or contact their support directly.

What else should I know before resetting?

Backup your data: If possible, create a backup before resetting, especially if it holds important health information.
Charging: Some resets require a certain charge level. Ensure your ring is charged before proceeding.
Follow instructions carefully: Deviations might prevent a successful reset.

By following these tips and referring to the specific instructions for your ring, you should be able to perform a factory reset.