3 Easy Ways to Reset an Android Phone to Factory Settings

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An in-depth guide to performing a factory reset on Android smartphones

Co-authored by Aydin Yildiz and Rain Kengly

Last Updated: February 19, 2024 Fact Checked

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Factory Resetting Android 5.0 and Newer

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Factory Resetting Older Androids

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Using Recovery Mode

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Video

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Q&A

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Warnings

Factory resetting an Android phone will delete all your data, including your contacts, photos, apps, and more. If you don't want to delete everything, you must back up your device before proceeding. A hard reset can be helpful if you're giving the phone away or if you want to start with a clean device. This wikiHow will show you how to reset your Android device to its default settings using factory reset and recovery mode.

Things You Should Know

On newer devices, go to "Settings" → "Backup and reset" → "Erase all data (factory reset)" → "Erase data" → "Erase data".
On older devices, go to "Settings" → "Backup & reset" → "Factory data reset" → "Reset Phone". Enter your passcode and tap "Erase everything".
Always backup your device before factory resetting. All data will be permanently erased.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Factory Resetting Android 5.0 and Newer

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1
Open the Settings app
. This is the gear icon.
- A factory reset will erase all your data from your phone. It's recommended to back up your device before proceeding.^{[1]
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2
Tap Backup and reset. On newer versions of Android, you may need to tap Additional settings first.
- On Samsung Galaxy devices, tap General Management, and then Reset.
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A pop-up menu will open.
Again, this will reset all your data on your device. This includes apps, photos, contacts, and SD card files.
5
Tap Erase data again. This will confirm your decision.
- Your phone will begin to reset. This process can take up to 10 minutes, depending on the amount of data in your device.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Factory Resetting Older Androids

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1
Open the Settings app
. This is the gear icon.
- Use this method if you have an Android older than version 5.0. If needed, you can check your Android version.
2
Scroll down and tap Backup & reset. It's in either the Personal or Privacy section of the menu, depending on device and Android version.
- If you are on a Samsung Galaxy device, instead tap General Management and then tap Reset.
It's at the bottom of the menu.
4
Tap Reset Phone. Once the reset process is complete, your phone will be formatted as it was when it left the factory.
- If you are on a Samsung Galaxy device, instead tap Reset.
If your phone has a screen lock enabled, you will be asked to enter your phone's pattern, PIN, or passcode.
6
Tap Erase everything to confirm. This will immediately erase all of the phone's data and reboots to the factory default settings and configuration. The process can take several minutes.
- If you are on a Samsung Galaxy device, instead tap Delete All.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using Recovery Mode

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1
Power off your device. Use the power button or Accessibility menu to turn off your device.
- A factory reset will erase all your data from your phone. To reset without losing data, make sure to back up your device.
2
Boot your phone in Recovery Mode. With your device powered off, press and hold the device-specific button combination. The buttons will vary from device to device.
- Most devices use Volume Up and Power. Some devices with physical user interfaces may use the Power and Home buttons.
- Samsung devices: Hold Volume Up, Home, and Power at the same time.
- Google Pixel: Hold Volume Down and Power at the same time. When you see the Android logo, press and hold the Power key, and then press the Volume Up key once.
Use the Volume buttons to scroll up and down, and use the Power button to confirm.
4
Select Wipe data. Use the Volume buttons to scroll up and down, and use the Power button to confirm.
- On some devices, this will look like Wipe data/factory reset. If you see this, select it. Then, select Yes to confirm your selection.
This is the factory reset option.
Use the keypad to enter the code on the screen.
7
Tap Format. You'll see a confirmation prompt.
- The device will begin erasing the data.

Community Q&A

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Question

What can I do if my phone will not turn on?

Community Answer

If it's stuck on the logo screen, then it could be that your phone is soft-bricked. To restore your phone, search for your model online, then flash stock firmware.

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Question

I only want to save my photos. How can I save them and do a factory reset?

Community Answer

If your phone has an SD card slot, you can copy your photos to an SD card. Data on an SD card is not touched during a factory reset. If you can't use an SD card, you can always plug your phone into your computer and transfer your photos to it over USB. Finally, there's cloud storage. If you upload all your photos to Google Photos, Facebook, or Dropbox before doing a factory reset, they will be safely stored online for later download.

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Question

How can I use the software of my Android phone if it is corrupted?

Community Answer

You can't, you can't use corrupted software. Re-download the software or find alternatives.

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Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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Warnings

Backup your data before resetting the device.

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Different Android OS-based devices have slight user interface design differences.

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