How to Reset Your Android Phone

Expert guide to reset your Android

Co-authored by Aydin Yildiz

Last Updated: January 19, 2023 Tested

This wikiHow teaches you how to reset your Android device to its factory settings using either a basic reset or if you're experiencing more serious issues, recovery mode.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Performing a Basic Reset

1
Open your device's Settings. It's often a gear-shaped icon (⚙️) or an icon containing a series of slider bars.
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.
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3
Tap Factory data 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.
5
Enter your screen lock passcode. 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 2

Method 2 of 2:

Performing a Recovery Reset

1
Power off your device.
2
Boot your phone in Recovery Mode. Press and hold the device-specific button combination while your phone is powered off. The buttons vary from device to device.^{[1]
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- Nexus devices - Volume Up, Volume Down, and Power
- Samsung devices - Volume Up, Home, and Power
- Moto X - Volume Down, Home, and Power
- Other devices generally use Volume Up and Power. Some devices with physical user interfaces may use the Power and Home buttons.
3
Scroll to Wipe data/factory reset. Use the volume buttons to scroll through the menu options.
4
Press the Power button. This selects the reset option.
5
Scroll to Yes. This confirms your selection.
6
Press the Power button. This starts the reset process and reformats your Android device to its factory settings.

Community Q&A

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.
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.
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.

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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