How to reset your phone to factory settings on Android

Any operating system designed to serve a mobile phone not only performs everyday tasks, but can lead to errors and slow operation of the device. The solution to such problems lies in the simplest action: completely resetting the smartphone. But not all ordinary people understand this issue. Users are interested in how to reset their phone to factory settings - the process follows a simple algorithm and is accessible even to beginners.

Current question on the problem

The need to reset the phone to factory settings

Common reasons that require returning equipment to original settings include:

• pre-sale preparation;
• a system failure that cannot be solved by other methods.

Manipulations with cleaning lead to the complete removal of all user information from the device’s memory.

What will be lost includes a list of contacts, downloaded software, correspondence, photographs, videos, audio recordings, and built-in program settings.

If your device won't turn on, a reset may help.

When might this be needed?

You may need to reset your Android for several common reasons. For example, such an action is required if the device is sold to another person. Resetting your Android settings is faster and easier than manually deleting all your accounts.

You can also perform a reset if your smartphone or tablet starts to slow down. Sometimes this really helps solve the problem. Especially if the brakes are caused by the gadget operating for too long - over a year and a half to two years, a huge amount of garbage can accumulate in the operating system, which cannot be eliminated using conventional methods.

Preparatory actions

To maintain the functionality of the equipment, you need to pay attention to several points before rolling back to factory settings:

• the gadget must be charged more than 50% - the consequences of a disconnected battery during a task are unpredictable;
• all information from the phone must be copied in advance to a memory card, personal computer, or cloud service - during the reset, any data, including files, photographs and contact information, will be erased;
• removing the memory card in advance is an additional precaution, although when using “Factory Reset” it is disabled and is not affected during the procedure;
• When performing a task, you need to follow the manufacturer's instructions - each device may have its own nuances that are worth focusing on.

Before carrying out the operation on Android 5.1 or later, you need to prepare the device and delete your Google account.

It’s easier to create a new profile or reconfigure it than to get your equipment blocked due to the inability to reinstall identifiers or set new login values.

Pre-charging equipment

Warning

Warning
First things first, let's get this out of the way. Performing a factory reset on Android will erase all your data and restore the software to its original state. This means that all apps and data stored on your device will be deleted. Be sure to back up all important files and data before proceeding. We have a guide on how to backup an Android phone, linked below.

Actually link : How to backup an Android phone

Options for resetting your phone to factory settings

Before performing the master reset process, you need to make sure that all important information is saved. Once the manipulation is completed, it will be lost forever.

Via the menu

A simple method to reset Android settings to original settings. To do this, just find the corresponding item in the telephone menu. The procedure is performed on devices with correct operation or equipment whose failures have not affected the ability to navigate through the settings.

The execution algorithm is simple:

1. After entering the main menu, you need to move to the “restore and reset” subsection.
2. Activate the “reset settings” command - the name of the block may vary depending on the device model.
3. Read the system warning about the destruction of personal information by entering a password or pattern.
4. Launch the “erase everything” section, put “ok” in response to the system request.

How can you reset Android to factory settings on individual units:

• Meizu - the unit runs on Flyme OS. To complete the task you need to go through the path: “settings/about phone/memory/reset”.
• Xiaomi - files are deleted from a USB drive.

Basic information about the rules for returning equipment to “zero” can be found in the instructions from the manufacturer.

Reset to factory settings

Service codes

Effective methods for resetting an Android smartphone include introducing a specialized code. The method does not provide a 100% guarantee that the process will start on all devices, but it works on many models.

• «*#*#7780#*#»;
• «*#*#7378423#*#*»;
• «*2767*3855#».

The user must enter the specified combinations in the emergency call mode on the equipment.

Resetting settings via the Recovery menu

In the Recovery menu

The method is used when it is necessary to reset the equipment for certain reasons, presented:

• complete lack of access to the system;
• incorrect operation of the unit;
• inability to turn on the unit.

To activate the recovery mode, you need to turn off the equipment and press a certain sequence. The encoding may differ for different manufacturers:

• for Samsung - “sound up” + “connect/turn off” + “home” (if “Bixby” is present, then hold it down), after the “off/on” logo appears, release it, continuing to hold the rest;
• Asus or Acer - “sound down” + “turn off/on”;
• Huawei - “sound in the middle” + “off/on”, when the brand sign appears on the display, you need to release the latter and hold down “sound up”;
• Lenovo - “sound in the middle” + “on/off”, after the vibration signal appears, you need to press “sound up” several times;
• LG - “volume down” + “on/off”, when the brand sign appears, you need to release and re-press the last option without releasing the first;
• Meizu or Xiaomi - “sound up” + “turn off/connect”, after the corporate logo appears, only the last button is released;
• Motorola - “volume down” + “off/on”;
• Sony Xperia - “sound down” + “on/off”.

On the equipment display you need to find the “Wipe data/factory reset” block and agree to carry out the operation “Yes - delete all user data” (deleting data). At the end of the process, the unit is rebooted using the “Reboot system now” command.

Correct execution of the specified scheme will allow you to get a clean device, just like after purchase during the first turn-on.

System warning

Method number 3: using a digital combination

The fastest way to reset settings to factory settings (may not be relevant for some modern smartphones).

Step 1: Open the Phone app, which is where you usually dial the other person's number.

Step 2. Enter one of the codes provided:

You may need to press the call key at the end.

Step 3. Next, the device will reboot, after which the reset process will be activated.

Source

How to reset a locked phone

If the blocking occurred from the OS, then a classic return to the original state from it is impossible. Recovery mode will help you carry out the operation without booting the Android system.

Execution is carried out according to the step-by-step scheme below:

1. After turning off the equipment, you must press and hold “Power” until the power off screen appears. Then you need to tap the “turn off” shortcut.
2. Booting into recovery mode is done using the same sequence of buttons. The process begins when the display turns completely black. After the specified service occurs, the button combination is released.

To activate a combination of buttons, you need to use “volume down” and “power”; in another option, hold down: “power” and “home”.

The specified keyboard shortcut depends on the hardware model:

• on Samsung - to reset for older versions: “Volume Up”, “Home”, “Power”, for Galaxy Note 8: “Power”, “Volume Up”, “Bixby”;
• Nexus - “sound +/-”, “power”;
• HTC - “reduce sound”, later “power” is added;
• Moto - simultaneous use of “mute”, “home”, “power”;
• LG - “power” and “reduce volume” until the brand label appears, then the combination is released and pressed again to enter recovery mode.

After moving to the recovery menu, you need to select the command “Wipe data / factory reset”. The cell phone will display a request to which you must answer “yes.” The phone will force reset automatically even if it is in a locked state.

Key combination for operation

How to reset via computer

To perform the formatting procedure, full access to the PC is required. Before it starts, the “Fastboot” application is installed on all used devices, and the equipment is switched to the specified mode. To do this, just hold down the “power” and “reduce sound level” keys on the unit.

The next step is to enter a specific command through “PowerShell” or the command line. Frequently used ones include:

• to switch the equipment to firmware mode - “adb reboot bootloader”;
• deleting user data - “fastboot erase userdata”;
• reboot the device - “fastboot -w”.

It must be remembered that for formatting via “PowerShell” the “.\” sign is set at the beginning of the request.

The Fastboot utility will help solve the problem.
Secondary erasing of information from the device is possible through the “find device” service. Google has a specialized service that allows you not only to track the unit, but also to reset it. To do this, the gadget must be connected to the Internet.

The task is performed according to a step-by-step algorithm:

1. You need to go to the official Google page and authorize.
2. The system will automatically find all equipment associated with a specific account.
3. You need to find and click on the “erase data” block.
4. Then click on the specified subsection again.
5. Confirm the action by clicking on the “clear” section.

This scheme allows you to clean the internal memory of the unit.

Procedure via Google

After factory reset

After cleaning the equipment, in some cases, owners are faced with the problem of errors of varying complexity. Common problems include the following.

Play Market app store not working

To correct the situation, you need to go from the main menu to “software”, then to “program management”.

After completing the scheme correctly, you need to go to the Play Market and clear the cache, remove the last installed update (roll back to the previous value, not update).

A subsequent reboot of the device leads to the complete disappearance of the error.

Request from the unit to enter Google data

The question arises from users who forgot to log out of their personal account before performing a reset or when purchasing a used device. When you turn on the equipment for the first time, the message “confirm your account” will appear on the display.

To disable the blocking you must:

• after the above message appears, you need to return to setting up the Wi-Fi network;
• add a new network by entering a random combination of letters and numbers as a name, SSID;
• hold your finger over the written text, simultaneously click on the “share” option, then select Gmail email from the list of available utilities;
• on the next page, click on “debug applications and notifications”;
• then click on the shortcut in the form of three dots located in the upper corner of the display, select “account” from the list;
• The phone will offer to configure it; to do so, click on the “continue” block;
• then you need to find the “backup and reset” subsection and select it.

After the operation is completed, the FRP blocking problem will be resolved.

Using HARD RESET on a smartphone

Try to find another solution to the problem

Try to find another solution to the problem

We know that starting over is not pleasant. The backup process is not easy, and downloading all the data again can take a long time. Not to mention, it can take a toll on your data if you don't have Wi-Fi. This is why we often recommend finding an easier solution before performing a factory reset on Android.

If you are going to factory reset Android due to a faulty phone, you can try to find your problem in our guide on Android problems and how to solve them.

Read this : Android problems and how to solve them

If none of these solutions worked, you can always perform a reboot or soft reset (hold the power button for 30 seconds), which will not erase all data. If you've exhausted all troubleshooting options and need to restore your Android to factory settings, keep reading.