A factory reset deletes all of the data on a tablet or smartphone and brings it back to how it was when it was new.
Your smartphone or tablet has an abundance of personal information. Before selling, giving away, gifting, or otherwise disposing of your phone or tablet, it’s a good idea to remove all of your personal data to ensure that it remains secure and ready for its new owner. Additionally, determine whether any issues may be resolved via a reset. Prior to Commencement:
- Confirm that you have access to your Android device.
- Charge your smartphone’s battery to at least 75% capacity; it is recommended that you leave your device plugged in during the reset.
- This procedure will erase all personal data on your Android device; make a backup before proceeding.
Unlock Summary
Factory Reset-Normal Mode
Before resetting the device, remove any memory cards.
Each Android device is slightly unique due to the tweaks made to the operating system by each manufacturer and carrier. Things may appear differently on a tablet or smartphone.
The process of resetting the device can take up to an hour or longer. Ascertain that your gadget is fully charged—you should, preferably, leave it plugged in throughout the reset procedure.
1. From the Settings menu, choose System.
2. Select the “Reset settings” option.
3. Select “Delete all data (factory reset).”
4. Click “Reset Phone or Reset Tablet” at the bottom.
5. Select “Erase Everything” when prompted for confirmation.
Keep in mind that the factory reset procedure may take some time.
- Reboot your device and a progress bar should appear to indicate that the data is being wiped.
- After deleting the device’s data, the operating system will restart and restore you to the screen you saw when you first unwrapped it from the box.
How to Hard Reset an Android Phone to Factory Settings?
Is your Android device laggy, unresponsive, or behaving incorrectly, or have you forgotten the password to your device? You’ve arrived at the correct location! There is still a rather powerful alternative available, which is to do a hard reset on the device, which is occasionally referred to as an “alternate reset.”
Before we begin, If you can still access and operate your device’s settings, you might be more interested in reading “How to Backup and Reset an Android Phone,” which walks you through the process of performing a full backup and then a factory data reset via the phone’s settings.
If you are unable to access your factory data reset options through the settings menu, you may still perform a factory reset on your Android smartphone using the steps outlined in this article. This is the appropriate solution if you’re having problems with your touch screen or with the navigation on your phone. Additionally, this is an option if your smartphone is unable to fully turn on or does not power on at all.
If you’re considering performing a reset on your Android smartphone, you’re definitely aware of the benefits of a reset in repairing phone issues. In this article, I’ll discuss many methods for doing phone resets without having to navigate through the touch screen. Your phone does not even need to be turned on in the majority of circumstances!
Ensure that the device is switched off.
The bulk of these hard resets requires that your phone be completely powered off, not just locked. If your phone stops responding and you are unable to turn it off using the power button, you may need to remove the battery, count to ten, and then replace it. Do not switch the phone back on if you require a battery replacement. Maintain the power-down state of the gadget.
Remove your phone from the charger as well. If the phone is plugged into a charger or if the device is not entirely turned down, the reset will not work.
Hard reset methods and strategies differ.
Additionally, alternate resets often require the usage of a series of key combinations, which we will describe shortly. The combination of keys you must use is very dependent on the make and model of your phone, as well as the version of Android OS (the operating system) currently loaded on it. For example, you may be able to reset a phone using one method if it is running the 2.2 (Froyo) operating system.
However, if you upgrade to the 2.3 (Gingerbread) operating system, the method becomes unusable, forcing you to utilize another (I have an example of this in methods 6 and 7 below).
When upgrading to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), you may be required to perform the same alternate reset procedure, utilizing a different method and key combination. As a result, use caution.
Additionally, you may need to repeat the reset procedure numerous times to assure success.
Bear in mind that a reset is permanent. It will delete all of your personal data and downloaded content from your phone, but it will not affect or delete anything on your memory card or SIM card.
This includes graphics, ringtones, SMS, and apps, as well as software errors, bugs, and viruses.
When possible, create a backup first. Usually, you won’t be able to back up your phone when you do a different reset on it.
Preparation for a hard reset of an Android phone
Just a little aside on a typical alternate reset, so you’re prepared. You’re going to power down the phone, hold a specific sequence of key combinations (explained below), navigate to a fast boot/testing/recovery/etc screen, select reset, and then the phone will power down and then automatically turn back on.
This could take a few minutes, or it could take up to 15 minutes in some cases (very uncommon, the average phone probably takes 3-5 minutes).
Once the phone reboots, it will look like a brand new off-the-shelf item. As a result, continue to reconfigure it in the same manner as you did when you first acquired it.
Regrettably, if you own an Android smartphone produced by Pantech, you will be unable to perform a factory reset on the device.
Pantech phones don’t support hard resets right now; the only way to get them back to factory settings is to go to the settings menu.
Let’s begin with the most often used technique of hard reset and work our way down:
There are different ways to do things, and each one has a number next to it: method 1, method 2, method 3, and so on.
- With the phone switched off, press and hold the Volume Up and Volume Down keys simultaneously, followed by the Power key, until a test screen presenting some possible options appears, which normally takes about 15-20 seconds. Once that screen shows up, you can let off the keys.
Scroll down the list of options using the Volume Down key until FACTORY RESET is highlighted, then hit the Power key to choose it.
- Turn off the phone completely, then press and hold the Volume Down key for about 10-15 seconds, followed by a press and release of the Power key while still holding the Volume Down key. You can relax your grasp on the keys when fresh alternatives show up on the screen.
Then, using the Volume Down key, scroll down the list of options until the reset option is highlighted; it is typically labeled “FACTORY RESET.” Then, using the Power key, confirm the selection.
- While the device is powered down, press and hold the Home key, then hit the Power key to turn it on.
Release the Home button, then press the Volume Up and Volume Down keys at the same time. This will bring up the Android Recovery screen on your phone.
Read also: How To Unlock Tecno Spark Go 2022 Without Password, Losing Nothing
When you reach the Android System Recovery screen, release all keys and navigate to the “wipe data/factory reset” option using the volume down key. Once highlighted, use the power key to select it.
Once the “Confirm deletion of all user data?” dialog box appears, click OK. By pressing the volume down key and then the power key, select “Yes—delete all user data.”
- Turn off the smartphone, then press and hold the Home key while simultaneously pushing and releasing the Power key (while still holding the Home key).
From the Android Recovery screen, press the search key.
With a tap, select Wipe data/factory reset and then click OK (located in the lower-left corner of the screen). Nota bene: if the screen is unresponsive, you can use the volume keys to scroll and the camera key to select.
Select Yes to delete all user data, then OK (again, lower left).
Select “immediately reboot the system” and click OK.
This is a popular method for doing a factory reset on Samsung’s most recent Galaxy devices, including the Galaxy S III, S4, S5, Galaxy Note, Note II, and Note 3.
Keep pressing and holding down on the Volume Up, Home, and Power keys at the same time as you turn off your phone or tablet.
Remove the power key when the phone vibrates (or the Galaxy Logo appears), but keep the Volume Up and Home keys pressed.
Continue to press the Volume up and Home keys at the same time until the “Android system recovery” screen comes up.
Use the Volume buttons to scroll to and highlight the “wipe data/factory reset” option, then select it with the Power key.
Once the factory reset is done, you can use the Volume and Power keys to highlight and choose “Reboot system instantly.” This will finish the hard reset and leave your phone clean.
Here is another method for resetting a Motorola Atrix running Android 2.2.
While the phone is turned off, press and hold the volume down button and then release it (note: if the first step does not work, try holding down both the power and volume down buttons).
A “Fastboot” screen should display; use the Volume down key to cycle through the options until you reach “Android Recovery,” at which point you can exit with the Volume up key.
Await the signal “triangle! /Android.” When it appears, tap on the screen’s bottom right corner (note: it may take a few attempts). A menu should be shown in a pop-up window.
Select “wipe data/factory reset,” followed by “OK.” There will be a second confirmation window displayed. If so, then that is OK.
After wiping the data, the option to “reboot the machine immediately” should appear, and is highlighted by default. Choose OK.
Nota bene: this method of resetting was widely used on Android 2.2 (Froyo) prior to tech geeks’ catching on and removing the need for the touch screen.
- This reset is for the Motorola Atrix, the same phone as the previous one, but with the 2.3 operating system.
Turn off the phone and press and hold the Volume Down and Power buttons simultaneously while powering up the cellphone.
A “Fastboot” screen should appear. When this occurs, use the volume down key to cycle through the various options until you reach “Android Recovery,” and then use the volume up key to boot into this mode.
Wait for the “triangle! /Android” screen to display. Once this occurs, press the volume up and volume down keys simultaneously. A recovery menu should be displayed.
Hold the volume down key down until the phrase “wipe data/factory reset” is highlighted, then hold the power button down. There will be a second confirmation screen. To confirm the option, tap the volume down key until the word “Yes” is underlined, then tap the power button.
Once complete, check that “immediately reboot system” is highlighted, and then press the power button.
This technique dispenses with the requirement for a touch screen. As a result, if your touch screen is inoperable, you will be unable to operate the phone or access your settings in order to execute a basic factory data reset. Now, with the 2.3, there is a glimmer of hope. To complete the reset, simply switch off the phone and follow these steps.
Following is a guide on how to do a hard reset on a Sharp Android phone.
If you want to turn on your device while it’s turned off, press both the Sym button on your keyboard and the Power button at the same time.
Once the Android boot screen appears, pick the Wipe data/factory reset option using the volume buttons. Then, pick up the object by pressing the Return key (on the keyboard).
To confirm, scroll down to “Yes” – completely delete all user data and press the Power key.
Following that, select Instantly reboot the system and then press the Power key to confirm and reboot your handset.
Important Note: If simultaneously hitting the Sym button and the Power key does not immediately take you to the Android system recovery screen on some Sharp models (such as the Sharp FX Plus ADS1), you may need to perform an additional step.
If this hard reset key combination displays a screen with an exclamation point inside a triangle, press the Home key to access your Sharp Android system recovery options.
- This is a common way of doing a hard reset on an LG Android smartphone. In this case, if you need to do a hard reset on an LG Optimus, this is the first combination of hard reset keys to try.
Press and hold the Volume Down button after turning off the LG phone. Continue to hold the Volume Down button while pressing and holding the Home button. Press and hold the Power button at the same time as you press and hold the Volume Down and Home buttons.
Continue hitting these three keys simultaneously until the LG logo appears.
Release all keys once you see the LG logo. This will finish the reset process on many LG phones. You will be asked to “Select your language,” and you can go on with setting up your smartphone as normal.
To get to a fast boot screen or screen with more options, use the Volume Down key to scroll to and highlight “wipe data/factory reset.” Then, press the Menu key to make your choice.
A confirmation screen may appear, which you can scroll to and highlight using the Volume Down key. Yes—delete all user data before selecting the option using the Menu key.
If the option to reboot the system now is provided, hit the menu key to select it. The hard reset is complete once the phone reboots, which may take a few moments.
Although this method of hard-resetting an Android smartphone is less often utilized, the following key combination can be used to reset certain cell phones, like the Samsung Gio (GT-S5660).
Turn off the phone by pressing the power button or by taking out the battery and then putting it back in. When possible, you can also do this.
While the phone is turned off, press and hold the Home and Power keys simultaneously (the Home key is frequently the large button at the phone’s bottom center beneath the display/touch screen).
When the phone turns on and the logo appears, you can let go of the power button but keep pressing the home button until the Android system recovery screen appears. Once it appears, you may release your grip on the key (s).
To select the “wipe data/factory reset” option, highlight it with the volume keys and then select it with the home key. Again, scroll down using the volume keys until the option “Yes—delete all user data” is highlighted, and then press the Home key to choose it.
When the system recovery screen opens, verify that “reboot system immediately” is highlighted and confirm the option by pressing the Home key. Restarting the phone completes the hard reset.
- Another uncommon method of conducting a hard reset, but identical to approach #2. This process can be used to conduct a hard reset for T-Prism Mobile and Prism II cellphones, as well as the Huawei Fusion from AT & T (U8652).
Press and hold the Volume Up and Power keys at the same time until the Android system recovery screen comes up, then turn off the phone and do this again.
Select the “wipe data/factory reset” option using the Volume Down key followed by the Power button.
Use the Volume Down key to highlight “Yes — delete all user data,” then press the power key to perform the reset.
Following the reset, the phone may enter the Android system’s recovery mode. If it does, hit the Volume Down button to highlight “reboot system now” and then press the Power key to confirm the action.
The phone will restart, indicating that the hard reset has been completed.
Now that you know how to perform a hard reset on an Android smartphone, you’ll be prepared the next time your touch screen stops responding, your phone freezes, your phone powers off, you forget your password, or you’re unable to perform a reset through the settings.
If you are aware of any key combinations that I have missed, please leave them in the comments section below so I can add them to the list.
Don’t forget to check out some of our other popular posts and to turn off your phone every couple of days and to be judicious about the programs you download to keep your device healthy and efficient. I hope you enjoyed the article and that you have a nice day. Make the most of your phone!
