How to reset Android to factory settings via hard reset

Factory reset, hard reset, factory reset, phone data reset are the same concept, meaning deleting all data from the phone. This deletes contacts, messages, call logs, installed applications, and files downloaded to the internal memory. The phone becomes the same as immediately after purchase. It needs to be configured again.

A hard reset is also called a hard reset or hard reset. All user information is deleted (what we entered), and factory settings are restored. Everything that is on the memory card or SIM card remains untouched (with the exception of memory cards of Xiaomi phones). If you want to save all the data on the memory card, we recommend removing it from the phone before resetting. There are two Hard Reset methods - software (we will look at it in our article) and hardware (to reset you need to press a key combination on your phone, each phone model has its own).

↑ What is Hard Reset

Hard Reset is a boot of an Android device in which all information installed by the user, including applications, contacts and SMS, is erased from the phone or tablet, and factory settings are restored.
This feature is also called a hard reset or hard reset. Let us add that the data on the memory card will not be affected. If you store most of the information in your internal memory, then save it on another medium in advance.

Hard Reset is necessary in case of any malfunctions in the operation of the Android device. For example, due to a large number of installed applications, your device began to slow down, freeze, reboot spontaneously, etc. Or you mistakenly deleted a system component and the device became unstable. Resetting to factory settings helps to cope with all these problems and return the smartphone to its “virgin” state.

There are many ways to do a full reset on Android; we will look at the simplest and most accessible to most users. So, let's go!

Via computer

If the touchscreen or keys do not work on a Chinese smartphone, you can reset the settings via a computer. To do this, you need to install the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) program on your computer and activate ADB mode on your phone. In this case, you should proceed as follows:

We connect the smartphone to the computer with a USB cable.
On your computer, use the cmd command to launch the command line.
Type adb reboot recovery on the command line.
We reset the settings directly on the smartphone by selecting the desired item by touching or using the keys.

So, if you carefully study all the recovery methods, doing a hard reset on your tablet or smartphone will not be difficult.

↑ Full reset via settings

The most accessible and easiest method of hard reset to factory settings is to use the device’s built-in tools.

Let's go to the device settings. In the “Personal Data” section there is an item called “Restore and Reset”. Click on it.
In the window that appears, it makes sense to activate the “Data backup” item in order to save information about passwords and settings on Google servers. After that, select the bottommost button “Reset settings” and press it.
In the window that opens, click the “Reset phone settings” button.
Confirm the action by clicking the “Erase everything” button.
The device will reboot. We will see an image of an android robot and the inscription “delete”. When the process is complete, the device will turn on.

That's all. After this, the smartphone will start up as if out of the box.

The first method is software

This method of resetting Android is carried out using a standard function available in the Android system itself. To do this you should:

find “Settings”;
select “Restore, reset”;
then select “Reset settings”.

A warning will appear on the screen indicating that all data from the tablet will be deleted. A button will appear below to confirm the action.

You should click the “Erase everything” button, thereby confirming the action of deleting all existing information. In new and old releases of Android, the reset position is slightly different. Details on how to do them in the new and old versions can be found in the “Confidentiality” - “Data Reset” section.

↑ Full reset via recovery

A hard reset can be performed using built-in or custom recovery. How to install custom recovery read here

Turn off the smartphone.
We launch the recovery. This mode is activated differently on different devices: most often it is a combination of the power button and the volume key “+” or “-“. This is my first option.
In the window that opens, we are interested in the Wipe data/factory reset item. Using the volume button "-" scroll down to it and press the power button.
A window like this will appear. Scroll through the list until it says Yes - delete all user data and press the power button again.
The factory reset process will begin. All the necessary information will be displayed in the lower left corner of the screen. When this message appears, the process will end.
After that, selecting reboot system now, press the power button. The device will reboot and start with factory settings.

Hard reboot on a Chinese iPad 3 tablet

It’s worth devoting a few lines to how Hard Reset for Android occurs on the Chinese tablet iPad 3. As a rule, such devices are not particularly stable in operation, so a complete flashing of the gadget is required for it to work correctly. To do this, you need a different version of the shell, but if the device is a fake, then it is almost impossible to find one - installing a custom version does not guarantee stable operation. Only the standard methods described above remain.

↑ Hard reset via Google services

This time we will “reset” the settings using Google services. To do this, we need a stable Internet connection on our smartphone and PC. This method assumes that you already have a Google account. If it doesn't exist, go through a quick registration and create it.

In the settings of your device, find the “Security” tab and click on it.
Scroll down the list and find the “Device Administrators” item. We tap on it.
Check the box next to “Remote control”.
Log in to your Google Play account from your PC.
Click on the button with the image of a gear in the upper right part of the screen. In the list that appears, click on the item called “Android Remote Control”.
We see the following picture: the name of our device and confirmation that it is on the network.
Press the “clear” button and confirm the action by pressing another similar button.
All. The device will reboot and reset to factory settings, Google will save the date of the last reset.

Why does my Android smartphone freeze?

After conducting a series of analyses, experts identified the main reasons why phones freeze . Below are the most popular ones:

Lack of free space.
RAM is full.
Applications are being installed or updated.
Mechanical damage to the device.
System error.
Sudden temperature change.

It is difficult to independently determine the cause of glitches and freezes of a smartphone. Therefore, the principle of fixing failures is general , that is, any of the methods given below are suitable for solving the problem.

↑ Reset using a second Android device

This method is similar to the one described above, only for a hard reset we will need another smartphone. The Internet must be turned on on both phones. We will also need an application called "Android Remote Control". You can download it from here

In the settings of the device on which we want to perform a hard reboot, find the “Security” tab and click on it.
Scroll down the list and find the “Device Administrators” item. We tap on it.
Check the box next to “Remote control”.
On the second smartphone, download and install the “Android Remote Control” application.
Launch this application and click the “Allow” button
Click on our email and select “Guest” from the list that appears.
While in guest mode, we enter the credentials from the Google account of the smartphone on which we want to perform a hard reboot (in this case, this is the first phone) and click the “Login” button.
Click the “Allow” button again.
In the window that appears, click the “clear” button and confirm the action by pressing the button of the same name again.
That's all. The first smartphone will reboot and “reset” to factory settings.

What should you not do to avoid a reset?

Prevent possible malware and files from entering your phone. Third-party sites with applications that do not link to the Play Store and suspicious emails can infect your device with viruses. Too frequent downloading of various programs and games - the Play Market is full of free software, and some users mindlessly download almost every new product. However, even if you delete the application, some of its files will still remain on your device, which will gradually lead to its clutter.

Trying to use unlicensed software or “hacked” versions of applications can seriously harm the operating system. It is also dangerous to change the firmware independently by inexperienced users, which can destroy the “core” of the Android platform.

Extreme options

If none of the methods listed earlier helps, you will have to use extreme measures:

reset settings on Android;
reflash the phone if it freezes and does not respond to commands or clicks at all;
take the device to a service center.

The main thing is not to despair; in the vast majority of cases, problems that lead to the impossibility of rebooting a smartphone using standard methods can be easily resolved.