How to factory reset Android device: 3 Simple ways

Are you planning to pass on your Android to someone else, dealing with a locked phone, or having performance issues? Irrespective of the situation, performing a factory reset on your Android phone can be a lifesaver.

In this blog, I’ll show how to factory reset an Android phone. Before you perform this action, let’s take a look at what happens afterward. This will help you understand the precautionary measures you should take.

What happens when you factory reset your Android phone?

Performing a factory reset on your Android device erases all data and settings, returning the device to its original state as if it were just taken out of the box. All third-party apps on your phone will also be uninstalled.

Since this is an extreme action, here are a few things you need to keep in mind before proceeding.

What you need to know before performing a factory reset on Android

Here is a list of things you need to take care of before delving into the device factory reset process.

1. Back up all data of the device

When you perform a factory reset on your device, it wipes all your data from the device. So ensure you back up all the essential files, photos, videos, or any other data you wish to retain.

For this, you can use cloud storage services, back up the data on your Google account, or transfer the data onto your computer.

2. Jot down the vital information

If there is any account detail, password, or application settings that you feel you’d need to re-enter after resetting your device, then write it down somewhere beforehand. This would save you from any hassle once your device is reset to the default.

3. Deactivate Factory Reset Protection (FRP)

You must deactivate FRP before reselling or giving your phone away. FRP, or Factory Reset Protection, is a security feature wherein you must enter the password of your Google ID associated with the device before and after you perform the reset.

This feature prevents anyone other than you from resetting your device. So, you need to deactivate it by going to Settings → Tap Passwords & accounts → Choose your primary account.

Then tap Remove account and confirm the action by selecting Remove account when prompted.

As your associated Google account will be removed, the Factory Reset Protection will also be disabled on your Android phone.

4. Ensure that your device is charged

It can take approximately a few minutes to even an hour to factory reset a device. Check that your device has an adequate battery life for the entire process. You wouldn’t want your device to die in the middle of the process, would you?

Once you are done with all prior preparations, follow the steps below:

How to perform factory reset on Android phone

Android lets you perform the reset in various ways. Here’s a list of all the methods you can choose from to factory reset your device easily.

Method 1: Using Settings

This method is ideal when your device is working and you can access settings.

1. Open your Android device’s Settings.
2. Go to the System section.
3. Scroll and tap Reset options.
   
   
4. Now tap Erase all data (factory reset).
5. Review your information and tap Erase all data.
   
   
6. Confirm your choice and enter your password or PIN.
7. Once the reset is complete, your device will restart.

Method 2: Via Recovery Mode

If your Android differs in UI and you’re struggling to find the correct reset settings, worry not. You can easily reset your system using Android’s safe mode or Android recovery mode.

1. Turn off your device.
2. Press and hold the Volume Down and Power button simultaneously.
3. Once the load screen appears, use the volume buttons to navigate the options until you come across recovery mode. To select, press the Power button once.
4. You’ll see a distressed bot with “no command” on your screen. Press and hold the Power button. While holding it, press the Volume Up button and release both buttons quickly.
5. You’ll see Android Recovery options on the screen. Using the Volume buttons, scroll to Wipe data/factory reset, and press the Power button.
6. This should start the process of Android factory reset. Once the reset is done, the Data wipe complete will be displayed at the bottom of the screen.
7. Using the Volume buttons, scroll to Reboot system now and press the Power button.

This process is handy if you’re wondering how to factory reset Android without a password or looking for options to factory reset Android with buttons. The method is also ideal when your device isn’t booting.

Method 3: Factory reset your Android phone remotely

You might have heard of Google’s Find My device feature. However, did you know it also allows you to wipe your Android phone remotely? In case you have lost your phone and are afraid that someone might hack into the device and get hold of your data, Find My device tool can be pretty helpful.

1. On the browser, go to Google Find My Device.
2. Sign in to your Google account with which you’re logged in to your device.
   • If there is more than one device, select the lost device from the top of the sidebar.
   • In case of a lost device with more than one user profile, sign in with the Google Account on the primary profile.
   • The lost device will get a notification.
3. On the map, you’ll get the approximate location of your device.
4. At the bottom of the sidebar, click Erase device.
   
   
5. You might be required to sign in again. Enter your credentials and press Next.
   
   
6. Once signed in, click Erase Device.
   
   
7. Click Erase to confirm your action.
   
   

Note: The Erase device feature permanently deletes all data on your device but may not delete those on the SD cards. Once the data is erased, Find my device won’t work on your phone.

Alternative solutions to try before factory resetting your device

Suppose you’re trying to improve the performance of your Android device. In that case, I wouldn’t recommend factory resetting as the first action. I’d rather ask you to try these workarounds to optimize the performance.

1. Close all apps running in the background

Running several apps simultaneously consumes system resources, resulting in decreased performance of your device and faster drainage of Android’s battery. One of the simple yet efficient ways to fix the issue is to close all running apps.

For this, access the recent app section and swipe each app away. Or click the clear all button if available.

2. Reboot the Android device

Rebooting the device is another efficient solution several users often overlook. It can work wonders in resolving numerous glitches and temporary issues. By rebooting your device, you give its operating system a fresh start, clear the RAM, and can often fix app crashes or system instability issues.

To reboot your Android, long-press the power button until the restart or reboot screen appears and tap the Restart / Reboot option.

3. Clear the cache of the Android

The cache stores relevant temporary files or data that your device needs to enhance performance. However, too much cache accumulated over time might also lead to performance issues. Clearing the cache will clear out old data and files, refreshing your system.

Go to the device’s Settings → Apps → Tap See all apps → Find the app with large cache data.

Next, select Storage & cache → Tap Clear cache. Similarly, delete all the unnecessary cached files.

Further, to improve your browsing experience, you should consider clearing the DNS cache on your Android device.

4. Free up space on the device

Insufficient storage can contribute to various problems, including slow performance and app crashes.

So, review your device’s storage usage in the settings and uninstall unnecessary apps or move files to an external storage device. You can also consider using the device’s built-in storage management tools to clear unnecessary files.

If these solutions have successfully fixed your Android phone, congratulations; you don’t have to erase all your data. However, if you’re unable to use your phone properly, you can proceed with the factory reset.

Wrapping Up…

Now that you’ve skimmed through all these methods, just a gentle reminder that you should keep factory resetting as a last resort. Ensure you have all your important data backed up safely before you finally opt to factory reset your device.

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