Just catching up on this thread. Honestly, I went through this exact mess with my own Samsung Galaxy S20 FE a few months back. Since I'm a bit of a cheapskate, I refused to pay a repair shop to reset it for me, so I had to learn the hard way. One thing that realy tripped me up was the newer Android updates. Basically, you cant just use the buttons anymore on many S20 models; it needs a data connection to trigger recovery mode. - Connect to a PC: You usually need to have the phone plugged into a computer (or even a console) via USB cable for the button combo to actually work. Just plugging into a wall charger wont do it. - The Sequence: Force a restart with Power and Volume Down, then the second the screen goes black, quickly switch to Power and Volume Up. Keep holding till you see the menu. - The "Cost": Tbh, the biggest value tip is making sure you know your Google credentials. If you reset it and dont have them, you're looking at a Factory Reset Protection lock. Fixing that often requires paying for specialized software or a pro, which is a total waste of money if you can just find your old login info first. Its a bit wierd but doing it yourself saves like $50...

Just stumbled onto this thread and gotta add my two cents from a reliability perspective. I've handled a few of these resets for family and friends, and the process is kinda nerve-wracking if you aren't prepared for the safety locks. - Make sure your battery is at least over 50% or keep it on the charger. If it loses power during the actual wiping phase, you're looking at a serious hardware headache or a bricked device. - Honestly, the biggest hurdle is having your primary account details ready. If you don't have the exact login that was used on the device before the reset, the phone stays locked for security. It's meant to keep things safe, but it's a huge pain if you're forgetful like me.
- Patience is key. The first boot after a hard reset takes forever—like, way longer than you'd expect. I mean, I almost forced a restart once because I thought it froze, which would've been bad news. Just let it do its thing. Better to be safe than sorry when you're dealing with a total wipe!

Try Smart Lock or Find My Mobile (Samsung Find) first. If those fail, a factory reset is possible, but erases data. Check YouTube for S20 FE hard reset tutorials using button combinations. Yes, you'll likely need your Google account afterward.