How To Factory Reset Droid Phone

Manufacturing plant reset settings (Prototype credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

Regardless of what phone you're using — whether information technology's one of the best Android phones you can buy today or an older phone — there are several reasons why you might demand to factory reset your phone. Maybe your phone is overloaded with apps and running irksome, you lot've downloaded a recent update and it's causing bug, or you just want to reset your phone before selling information technology. Here'south how to reset your Android phone through the phone settings or via the recovery fashion.

Before we get started, know that a factory reset volition erase all the data on your phone. If y'all haven't backed up your contacts, pictures, videos, documents, and anything else (preferably in the deject), you lot should do then now. Not sure where to back up your data before a mill reset? Read our guide on how to do that first.

Given the multifariousness of phones available on Android, I'll exist using the Pixel 4a and Samsung'due south Galaxy A51 equally the examples for this guide. The Pixel is a good baseline as the process is virtually identical on Android 1 devices from the likes of Nokia, Xiaomi, Motorola, and other companies like OnePlus that retain a "stock" user interface.

As for the Galaxy A51, the phone is running Samsung's One UI, and with the company existence the largest manufacturer in the globe of Android by some considerable margin, it makes sense to see how things differ. With that out of the way, let's become started.

The easiest mode to factory reset your phone is through the settings menu. The location of the factory reset pick might vary slightly based on the phone yous're using, only in one case you lot've found the Backup and reset menu, y'all should be in the articulate.

How to factory reset most Android phones Pixel, OnePlus, Motorola, Nokia, etc.

Tap the Settings icon from your dwelling house screen or app drawer.
Swipe upwardly to scroll down to the bottom of the settings carte.
Tap System.

How to factory reset Oreo — Source: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central (Image credit: Source: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

Hit Reset options.
Select Erase all data (factory reset).
Swipe upward to scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Hit the Reset phone button.
Enter your device PIN and select Continue.
Select Erase everything.

Your device will reboot and y'all can go through the initial setup as if it were a new phone.

How to mill reset your Samsung phone

Tap the Settings icon from your dwelling screen or app drawer.
Swipe up to whorl downwardly to the bottom of the page.
Tap the Full general management tab.

How to factory reset Samsung — Source: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Key (Image credit: Source: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

Hit Reset.
Striking Factory information reset.
Scroll down to the lesser of the page.

Hit the blueish Reset button.
Enter your device PIN and tap Next.
Tap Delete all.

Your phone will reboot and you'll have to go through the setup process again before you're able to restore your data.

How to factory reset your phone via recovery mode

Recovery mode factory reset Samsung — Source: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Fundamental (Image credit: Source: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Key)

If your telephone is running into issues with an update or if in that location'south a malfunction that's preventing the device from booting up, you'll exist able to factory reset by heading into recovery manner. At a high level, you'll be able to enter recovery mode by pressing down on the volume up and power buttons simultaneously.

The process varies slightly based on the device you're using, as nosotros'll come across afterward. Before we proceed to reset via recovery, you lot'll need to know about a security mode called Factory Reset Protection.

Google rolled out Factory Reset Protection (FRP) a few years ago, and the feature is at present standard on all phones running Lollipop and above. Essentially, FRP ensures that someone tin can't only manufacturing plant reset your lost or stolen phone and set it up as new past booting into recovery mode. The fashion requires you to sign into a Google account associated with the device after a factory reset. If you fail, you won't be able to proceed with the setup.

Based on what I've encountered, FRP kicks in when you reset a device via the recovery way and isn't an issue when you're resetting via the settings. If you lot're interested in knowing more about the feature and how it works, you should take a look at this splendid article on the subject area:

And then if you're looking to sell your device and are considering a manufacturing plant reset, a improve option would be to go through the aforementioned settings page. If you're unable to boot into your device and demand a way of resetting data, and then yous tin turn to recovery style. Now that you sympathise the risks, here's how to reset your telephone via recovery mode.

How to factory reset via recovery manner on a Pixel/Android One phone

If your phone is on, ability it off.
Concur down the Power and Volume downwards buttons. Instead of booting upwardly normally, you'll run across "Start" in an pointer pointed at the power button. Hither yous use the Volume buttons to ringlet and the Power button to select an option.
Printing the Volume downward button until you lot've highlighted Recovery way.
Press the Power Button to first recovery mode.
When your phone reloads, you should see a screen that says "No command" with an Android robot in distress. Press and hold the ability and volume up buttons together to load the recovery mode.
Using the Volume buttons to scroll through the menu, highlight Wipe data/manufacturing plant reset.
Printing the Power button to select.
Highlight and select Yes to confirm the reset.
Once the reset is complete, you will be bounced back to the same recovery mode carte du jour. Press the Power push button to select Reboot arrangement at present.

Your phone will ability on and be reset to its mill settings. Your phone will reboot and you'll have to go through the setup process once again before you're able to restore your data.

How to mill reset via recovery mode on a Samsung telephone

If your phone is on, power it off.
Hold down the Power and Book up buttons simultaneously. You lot should encounter the Samsung logo followed by an "Installing system update" screen.
After a few seconds, you should see a "No command" message flashing on the screen. Await 10 to 15 seconds at this screen and the device will enter recovery mode.
Use the Volume buttons to gyre through the bill of fare and the ability button to make a option.
Highlight Wipe data/factory reset.
Press the Power push to select.
Highlight and select Yeah to ostend the reset.
In one case the reset is consummate, you will exist bounced back to the same recovery mode menu. Press the Ability button to select Reboot system now.

Your phone will power on and be reset to its factory settings. The next fourth dimension you plow the phone on, you volition go through the initial setup process as if it were a brand new phone. In one case set up up, you can go about restoring your data from wherever you had it backed up.

Every bit mentioned earlier, if y'all're resetting your phone via recovery manner, Mill Reset Protection kicks in if y'all haven't already removed your Google accounts from the device. And then if yous're selling your device, make sure you lot remove your Google accounts and lock screen security earlier you do a difficult reset through the recovery mode.

The best value

Google Pixel 4a

The best mid-range parcel
If you're looking for an Android telephone that delivers the best value, the Pixel 4a should be at the top of your listing. The phone has an incredible camera that puts flagships to shame, you get a compact design, decent internals, and it will get three years of Android updates.

Harish Jonnalagadda is a Senior Editor overseeing Asia at Android Fundamental. He leads the site's coverage of Chinese phone brands, contributing to reviews, features, and buying guides. He also writes almost storage servers, audio products, and the semiconductor industry. Contact him on Twitter at @chunkynerd.