Are you willing to sell your smartphone because you want to buy a new one? Or your mobile is working slow, freezing, or not responding.
Or you may have forgotten your password. Well! No need to worry. If you have any of the reasons mentioned above, you have a great solution.
Factory reset on your Android is the option to resolve all the general management issues of the hardware stated above issues. By doing so, you can have your android on its default settings. Let’s discuss in detail how to perform a factory reset an Android device.
Reset your Android device to factory settings
If you want to erase all data from your android phone for any reason, you need to reset your factory settings. Factory reset is also called formatting or hard reset.
Remember factory reset will remove all your data, which cannot be undone. So for the safe side, if you want your data to be saved, you will need a backup. If you are doing a factory reset to fix any bug, we suggest you go for other solutions first.
You can do a factory reset by the settings app. If you cannot open the settings app, try to make a factory reset by using the power and volume buttons.
How to Hard Reset an Android Phone
If you can access the settings on your Android phone, you can go through the process. You can also perform the backup and factory reset.
This process will save all your data and then do the factory reset to fix any issue.
Let’s have a look at multiple ways of resetting android.
- Make sure the device is powered off
- Hard reset methods and procedures may differ
- Preparation for a hard reset on an Android phone
1. Make sure the device is powered off
Most of the hard resets require your android to be powered off. So, whenever you perform a hard factory reset, ensure the device is powered off, not just locked.
If your phone is not responding, you cannot switch it off through the power button. Then it would help if you took the battery out, waited for 10 seconds, put the battery in the phone again, and left the phone off.
The other thing you need to be careful of is that your phone should not be connected to a charger. If the charger is plugged in and your device is not completely off, reset will not work properly.
2. Hard reset methods and procedures may differ
A hard reset involves performing a series of key combinations which are just getting to. The key combination you are about to perform will depend on the model of the android device you are using. Also, the OS (operating system) is running on your phone.
For example, you may be able to perform a reset one way if it is running 2.2 (Froyo) OS. Then your phone is updated to 2.3 (gingerbread) OS.
But it does not work anymore because now you need a different method. You need a different method to upgrade your device to a 4.0 (ice cream sandwich) operating system. Also, a key combination to perform the same alternate reset. So be careful about it.
Sometimes you must perform a reset multiple times to let it work properly.
While doing a factory reset, you must remind yourself that it will remove all your data. Also, your content, applications, texts, ringtones, and images.
It will not erase anything in your memory card and SIM. Try hard to do a backup first. You might not be able to make a backup in an alternate reset.
3. Preparation for a hard reset on an Android phone
As a side note, for performing a hard reset, you know you need to power off your phone. You should also have a specific set of key combinations, etc.
The phone will power off itself then. After the factory reset, it will power on itself. This process will take a few minutes to reboot. 15 minutes in very rare cases, mostly in 4 to 5 minutes, and it will be completed.
When the factory reset is done, your phone is like a brand new phone as that time when you purchased it. So, you can set it up like you did the first time.
If you have a Pantech-manufactured cellphone, it would not have a hard reset option. The only way to do a factory reset is through settings.
Let’s start with the most common Hard Reset methods and go from there:
- When the phone is powered off, simultaneously press and hold the volume up and down buttons.
- Then press and hold the power button, and wait for the test screen options to appear. It usually takes 15 to 20 seconds to let go of the keys.
Press the volume down button and stop when the factory reset option appears. Now press the power button to select it.
- Switch off the phone completely. Press and hold power down key, then press and release the power key. Keep holding the volume down key for 15 to 20 seconds.
- Wait for the options to reveal, and let go of the key.
Go to the factory reset option. Keep pressing the volume down button, then press the power button to start the process.
- Power off the phone, press and hold the home button. While holding the home key, press the power button to switch on the mobile.
As the android recovery menu screen appears, release the home key. Then press the volume up and down key simultaneously.
As you are on the android recovery screen, press the volume down key. Then select factory reset by pressing the power button.
When you reach “wipe off all user data?” press the volume down key to find yes-delete all user data, press the power key, and select it.
- Power off your cellphone, press and hold the home key. Meanwhile, press the power key (do not release the home key).
Press the search key from the android recovery screen.
Select factory reset, and select ok in the lower left of the screen. If the screen is not responding, press the volume key to scroll and the camera key to select. Select yes-delete all user data, then hit ok.
Select reboot system now, tap ok.
- It is the common hard rest in Samsung Galaxy, especially Samsung Galaxy S3, S4, and S5, galaxy note 2, and note 3, etc. There might be slight differences in the case of sony, Huawei, or other brands.
Power off the device. Press and hold volume up, home key, and power button simultaneously. As the phone vibrates and you see the galaxy logo. Leave the power key, but keep holding the Home and Volume up keys.
Wait until the Android system recovery screen appears. Use the volume button to scroll and find the factory reset option, then press the power key to select.
Once the factory reset is finished, use the volume and power keys. Find and select the reboot system now using the two keys. Now hard reset is complete, and your phone will work more efficiently.
- A reset is available for Motorola Atrix, which is still running 2.2 OS.
Press and hold the volume down button when the phone is switched off. Then press and release the power button.
Press the volume down key as the fast boot screen pops up. Press the volume down key and find the factory reset option, then press the volume up key.
Once the android or triangle appears, tap the bottom right corner of the screen.
A setup screen pops up. Tap erase or wipe data/factory reset and then hit Ok. For further confirmation, it appears on the screen. Tap yes and the Ok.
Reboot the system now will appear as the data is cleared. Press ok.
Why You Might Want to Factory Reset Your Android Phone
Sometimes, you may face problems on your android phone that you can’t figure out. It isn’t very pleasant to search through apps and programs but cannot find the solution. You might get no idea why your device is freezing or not responding.
If the problem does not disappear, activating the factory reset can be a way. It will turn your device to its original state.
Resetting your device will not harm it. You should know some reasons when you go for a factory reset.
- One fundamental reason will be if you want to sell your device or give it to someone else. You would never want to let your data be on your phone.
- Suppose your phone is continuously freezing. To restore settings and configuration, a factory reset would be the option. It will fix your device’s issues.
- Sometimes, you do reset for minor issues. First, find out if any app or service is creating the problem, so try to remove that instead of going for a reset.
- If your device is running slow, try to remove apps, and restart it, which may fix the issue.
- A similar service is available on finding my phone. But it is in the café you lost your device, or it is stolen.
Basic file deletion and factory reset are not enough
Many people factory reset or wipe out their data before selling their phone. But many of us are unaware that a factory reset does not wipe out all your data and can be recovered.
For this security, the following are the four steps one can take to delete all data permanently.
Encrypt your data
Encryption keeps your data in your device in unreadable or scramble format. If someone tries to reach your data, they will not find it.
Anyone trying to get you encrypted data will need any password or PIN. Or lock screen pattern to decrypt it, which they don’t have.
Back up your data
Back up your data before a factory reset is important. It saves all your important work information and many other things.
You have a backup to Google drive turned on. All your devices, apps, data, pictures, texts, call history, and contacts would be saved there. Connect to wi-fi and backup your data there. Or else you will need a manual backup.
Overwrite with junk data
If you want your data not accessible to anyone, you should overwrite it with junk data. No one can recover your old data, even if they are highly skilled.
You can do this by loading large files until the storage is filled, then erase these files. Or you can use the particular app from the Play store. These apps use special techniques which can permanently shred data. Once done, go for a factory reset process.
Remove your accounts, SIM, and memory card.
Before factory reset, ensure all your configured accounts are removed. Depending on your model, a factory reset will not remove the account from the device. To remove a Google account on most devices:
- Open settings menu
- Tap on accounts
- Select Gmail account
- Tap on remove account
Then next, remove the memory card and SIM card. Make sure your phone is powered off while removing these.
Conclusion
There can be any reason a person chooses to hide a device to factory reset. But make sure you follow the correct instructions to factory reset android. The method would be different in the case of a tablet, PC, or laptop.
Sometimes you don’t back up your data and lose everything important on the device.
Do not just rely on factory reset as it can now be recovered. Give this article a thorough read to guide yourself all about factory reset. Hopefully, it will be helpful for you.
FAQs
How Do You Factory Reset An Android That’s Locked?
The best way to unlock your phone is to use an android lock. It will unlock your phone without losing data. You can manually reset your phone when it is locked by the following method:
– Press the power and volume down button until the fast boot menu screen appears.
– Scroll by the volume up and down button to select the recovery mode option.
– Now, press the power button and select recovery mode.
– Then press the power button and the volume up button for a few seconds.
– Now, highlight the yes by volume button and select it by the power button.
– Now, your phone will reboot automatically once the reset is finished.
What Does A Hard Reset Do?
A hard reset removes all data and content from your phone. It turns your phone to its original factory settings. Smartphone manufacturers recommend backing up your data before a hard reset.
Does A Factory Reset Delete Everything?
No, it will not delete data of your SD card and SIM and the data you have backed up on google drive. Apart from that, everything on your phone would be deleted on factory reset.
How Do I Reboot My Samsung Phone?
If your Samsung phone is frozen or unresponsive, it may need a soft reset, or you need to force it to restart.
To reboot the Samsung phone, press and hold power and volume down keys together. It may restart in 7 seconds.
If it is still frozen after rebooting it, then try these steps:
– Use the device maintenance menu to check malware
– Create memory space
– Check for software updates
– Check if your device is in safe mode
– Perform a factory data reset
