Thanks to this instruction, you will learn how to reset settings on Android using various methods: from simple to less obvious. Use any of the possible ones - in fact, the result is the same: getting a pristine mobile device in working condition.
- Lenovo a319, a328, a536, a1000
- LG p705, e615, d325
- Sony Xperia
- Xiaomi Redmi 3(s),
How to do a hard reset using stock Android settings
This is the easiest way to reset Android settings, and we recommend using it first.
Go to the device menu – Settings – General settings. If you don't have such a subsection, then go back. The main thing is that the “Archiving (Archiving) and Reset” or Confidentiality section is nearby. In different versions of Android there may be minor differences in the names of settings menu items.
Click on “Reset data” or “Reset device” and then “Delete everything” to confirm the reset.
After the reboot, you will have a clean and working mobile device at your disposal, just like after purchase.
How to reset settings using hardware buttons on your phone.
A complete reset and return to the factory version of Android is a magic wand for you if your phone (tablet) does not turn on. Why it doesn't turn on is no longer so important. So, how to reset the settings using the keys on the phone when it is turned off:
If your phone is working, turn it off
Simultaneously press and hold three buttons: “Power” + “Home” (center) + “Volume up”.
Next, you need to hold down three buttons on your phone: power button, home button (home, as a rule, is located on the front panel) and volume up. If there is no Home button, then try the option with the power and volume up button.
Release the Power button when the screen displays " Samsung Galaxy...". Hold the remaining buttons until Recovery appears (about 5-15 seconds).
As soon as the logo appears, release the Power button (only this, hold the other buttons). The recovery menu should appear. Read on to find out how to reset the settings through it.
Resetting settings via Recovery
Control in the menu in Recovery mode is carried out through the volume down button. Select “Wipe data/factory reset” and press the Power button to confirm.
We agree with the operation (select Yes – Delete all user data) and confirm again.
Reboot the phone. To do this, select “Reboot system now” from the menu.
Hard reset (or factory reset on Android) is an extreme measure to restore the phone’s original settings provided by the developers.
The factory settings installed in Android assume that the mobile device will work stably, predictably - everything as intended by the manufacturer. In case of any error or problems with your phones, you can roll back the settings to restore the operating system to its working state.
Why reset Android settings and in what cases is it needed?
There are many good reasons why a factory reset can make your device's life easier. Here are the most compelling reasons:
- Your Android is starting to slow down terribly or applications are glitching. Although Android works flawlessly, if you don’t screw it up, sometimes inexplicable conflicts and application errors arise when it is impossible to pinpoint the cause, and deleting unnecessary programs from the phone does not solve the problem.
- The phone simply stopped turning on correctly. In the process of experimentation or through inattention, you made a mistake that, alas, became fatal. In this case, there is nothing left to do but reset the tablet or smartphone through the Recovery menu or the phone’s hardware buttons. In this case, resetting Android is almost the only way to return the phone from a brick state to a functioning gadget.
- Problems unlocking your mobile device. However, we do not recommend resetting your phone if you cannot remember the pattern or password to log into your mobile device. Before doing this, we advise you to read the article on how to do this more competently: How to unlock your phone
- You want to reset your phone for sale. In fact, a factory reset will help kill two birds with one stone. First, you optimize the phone, returning it to as original a condition as possible. If you leave all applications, files, etc. on the phone, there is a risk that the mobile device will lose performance. The second point is that a hard reset deletes all files in internal memory, which means you protect yourself from transferring personal data to anyone else.
All these problems can be easily solved through a forced measure - namely, resetting to factory settings.
The recovery procedure is quite safe, although it is practically a last resort when solving problems. It should not be performed unless absolutely necessary.
In addition, before performing a hard reset, you need to know how to actually do it and take precautions. Which ones exactly - read on.
Necessary measures before performing a hard reset
There is a kind of checklist of necessary procedures that should be completed before starting the reset.
- Back up important files on your phone. To avoid confusion and unpredictability, it is worth keeping a copy of ALL important files on your computer in any case. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to recover data even without delay.
- Charge your phone to the maximum. Although some Android device models have built-in low battery protection, there are unfortunate exceptions. Make sure that the battery is fully charged - otherwise, it may happen that during the reset the battery will run out and you will turn the phone into a brick.
- For Android 5.1 and higher - remove the link to your Google account. This is new for relatively older versions of Android. You need to unlink your account before resetting so as not to enter data after resetting. The fact is that if you forget your login details, you will not be able to restore access to the phone (you will need all the documents and a trip to service center). This is done for security purposes to prevent attackers from taking over your phone using the factory reset feature.
After purchasing a new Android device, be it a tablet or a smartphone, everything works just fine, and there are simply no complaints about the gadget. This is due to two factors: the euphoria of a new acquisition, when you do not notice any errors; a really fast working system due to the fact that it is clean, free from many files and settings. But some time passes, the euphoria goes away, and at the same time the smartphone becomes clogged with software garbage, and it begins to work irritatingly slowly. Therefore, it will be useful to know how to reset the system on Android to its original state in order to again enjoy the fast, uninterrupted operation of the device.
How to demolish the system on Android: forgotten password?
It may also be necessary to reset the system if the user simply forgot the password, PIN, or pattern to unlock the device. Moreover, you don’t remember the access data for your Google account (and it’s even more difficult). You can, of course, in this case, contact a service center, but this will cost money and will take a lot of time, while demolishing the system on Android yourself is not difficult, and will take no more than five minutes of your time.
Also, resetting or demolishing the system is done when they intend to sell a smartphone or give it away. The mobile device, as it happens, has replaced people with a diary, a notepad for notes, a photo album and much more. That is, the device always contains a lot of personal information that is of no interest to other people, and security considerations do not allow leaving everything as it is. A reset helps delete all user data without the possibility of recovery, without affecting the system itself, or rather, the procedure will reinstall it.
Hard Reset or how to wipe the Android system
So, you have already decided that you will demolish the system, backup copies of all the necessary and not so necessary data have already been created for the subsequent restoration of what will be needed, the backups have been uploaded to cloud storage or uploaded to external drives. You already know how to reboot the Android system, and this does not help in solving problems. Let's begin the procedure of resetting the smartphone to its factory state. The first method is radical, hard, using engineering menu device or Recovery menu.
Reset via Recovery
You can enter the engineering system recovery mode only when the device is turned off. If your smartphone freezes and won’t turn off, you can remove the battery.
- Volume rocker + power button;
- Volume down rocker with power button;
- The home button is added to the previous combination;
- Hold the buttons until the display turns on, wait for the recovery menu to load;
- In this menu, look for the line with the words “factory reset”, move to it with the rocker, go to the power button;
- Next, we agree to delete all user data with a line with the words “Yes - delete all”;
- After all this, reboot the device using the “reboot system” line.
As soon as the system boots after reboot, you will be asked to set up a password and create accounts. This means that the procedure was successful and the smartphone system has returned to its factory state. And everything took a few minutes.
How to demolish an Android system without turning off your smartphone
An easier method, which is suitable for devices that work, the password is not forgotten, you just need to reset it. You need to go to the device settings, find the recovery section, then make a backup copy, then reset the system. That’s it, after clicking “reset”, the system will automatically rewrite everything again and automatically reboot the device.
Quite often there is a need to reset your Android phone. This procedure is quite simple. All you have to do is tap the screen of your smartphone a couple of times. Despite this, many users do not know how to reset Android settings to factory settings. If you belong to this category of people, then this article is for you. In it we will lift the veil of secrecy and tell you how to remove the settings.
A factory reset or Factory Reset is a process during which all information is deleted from a smartphone or tablet. The phone is cleared of photos, video files, audio recordings, etc. Since all user data is deleted from the smartphone, the device returns to its original form. That is, the phone will return to the state it had before purchase (i.e. factory state).
As a rule, restoring factory settings does not roll back the operating system. That is, Factory Reset does not affect the Android version. It is also worth noting that when resetting the settings, only those data that are on the internal memory of the device can be uninstalled. That is, the information from the SIM card or SD remains unharmed.
Why do you need to reset settings?
There are a number of reasons why people perform a factory reset. Here are the most common:
- Problems with the device. When using a gadget for a long time, cache, temporary files and other slag accumulate in the memory. Because of this, the system begins to constantly slow down. In this case, Factory Reset is a real lifesaver. By resetting the settings, you can solve most problems that relate to performance and correct operation of the device.
- There is no way to remove the screen lock. Many users set a pattern or password on their smartphone. This is a completely reasonable measure to protect your device from strangers. However, sometimes the combination for just slips out of your head. Resetting Android settings can solve this problem.
- Preparing the device for sale. Everything here is extremely simple. You don't want anyone to have access to your personal data. And it’s probably unpleasant for the buyer that the phone is full of unnecessary contacts and messages.
Preparation
Before performing a reset, you need to prepare. To do this, follow the following instructions:
- Check your phone carefully for information that is important to you. It's better to transfer all photos, videos and music to your computer. If you do not have access to a PC, then simply transfer valuable information to cloud storage.
- Make sure your phone is fully charged. Some smartphones, if the battery is low, will not allow you to activate the Factory Reset function. And this is the best possible outcome. If the phone does reset and the battery runs out during this procedure, this can lead to unexpected consequences, including the breakdown of the device.
- If your smartphone or tablet has OS version 5.1 or higher, then before resetting the settings on Android you need to delete your Google account. The fact is that the company has a new policy regarding security issues. The system is designed to protect phones from theft and subsequent resale. The essence of the innovation is as follows: before turning on the smartphone after Factory Reset, you must enter the last user's data. Otherwise, the phone simply will not start. Access will only be available through the service center. And even then only if you have documents for the purchase.
How to perform a Factory Reset
How to reset Android to factory settings? There are several ways to do this:
- Use “Settings”;
- Activate the Recovery menu;
- Use the built-in reset button;
- Apply service code.
Each of the listed methods is suitable for a particular situation. For example, if you need to clean your gadget of debris, then it is better to reset the system through “Settings”. If you cannot turn on your phone, then you need to use Recovery. Let's consider each of the above methods in more detail.
Settings menu
The simplest way return to factory settings - start recovery through the standard “Settings” menu. However, you can use this method only when you have access to the system. To return all factory settings you just need to:
Recovery menu
Sometimes the phone is in such a state that it is not possible to use its system resources. For example, the device does not turn on or begins to freeze during startup. What to do in this case? The only way to reset system parameters is to use the so-called Recovery menu.
What is Recovery? In fact, this is a kind of analogue of BIOS in computers. Recovery is special software that is located outside the operating system. This software is installed on smartphones by default. Its main purpose is to diagnose hardware, create backup copies and restore the system. We are interested in the latter.
The first thing you need to do is enter the Recovery menu. You need to turn off your device (the buttons should go out). Then you need to press and hold a specific key combination for several seconds. Which one exactly? It all depends on the manufacturing company. The most common combination that is suitable for most smartphones: Volume Down + Power. That is, you need to simultaneously hold down the volume down button and the power button of the device.
On devices from LG you can often find the following combo: Power + Home + Volume Up. You must simultaneously hold down the phone activation, volume up and “Home” buttons (located under the screen). You must hold the keys until the company logo appears on the display. When this happens, release the button responsible for turning on the smartphone. Do not release the remaining keys for 10-15 seconds.
LG devices also have their own combination for calling the Recovery Menu: Power + Volume Down. Immediately you need to hold down the power button and volume down button. As soon as the LG logo appears on the screen, you need to release the keys and press “Power” again.
Working with Recovery Menu
After carrying out the above manipulations, you must go to the Recovery menu. You can navigate through it using the volume control buttons. To confirm the action, you must use the Power or Home button. If Recovery supports a sensor, then you can control the program using taps.
How to do it via Recovery full reset on Android? In the list provided, you need to find the Factory Reset option. On some devices this item may be called Clear eMMC. Click on it, after which the program will ask for confirmation - select the affirmative option yes. The program resets the system to its initial settings. After completing this procedure, you need to click on Reboot System Now to reboot the device.
Restoring branded settings through the Recovery Menu is a fairly simple task that even a child can handle. Difficulties may arise if the names of the items are different. However, these are minor things. The meaning of a particular item can be understood even with minimal knowledge in English. In general, the process of deleting user settings is the same for all devices that run on operating system Android.
Built-in reset button
Some manufacturers make a separate button on their gadgets, which is designed to reset user parameters. It is made in the form of a small hole in the body. To activate the reset, just hold down this key for a couple of seconds with some object.
Service code
You can demolish the system without even going to Settings. It is enough to activate the dialing panel and enter one of the service codes there. Here are just a few of them:
Whether the code will work or not depends on the manufacturer. If none of the above combinations worked, then try sending her to the “Emergency Call”.
Sooner or later, any user of a mobile gadget is faced with the need to reset settings on Android. Most often, settings are reset due to infections that infect the device and interfere with it normal operation, or unstable operation of the device itself. Also, resetting the settings is used before selling the device, so that personal data does not fall into the wrong hands.
Resetting settings (or Hard Reset) is a complete reset of the smartphone. All non-standard programs, all user data (including photos, videos, contact list) are deleted from the device, and Android itself returns to factory settings. Thus, after this procedure, you receive the device in the same condition as it was in at the time of purchase.
Factory reset has some features that need to be mentioned. Firstly, resetting the settings only affects the internal built-in memory of the device. If memory cards are connected to your device, the information on them will remain intact. This must be taken into account if you are planning to sell the device. Secondly, resetting the settings will not return your device to its original form if you installed custom firmware. All programs and files will be deleted from such a device, but the original firmware from the manufacturer will not be restored. Instead, you will receive a blank device with your custom firmware.
Since resetting the settings leads to the deletion of user data, you need to take care of their safety in advance. Before resetting, be sure to copy photos, videos and other important files stored on your smartphone to your computer.
Also, before resetting, it is advisable to check which Google account is used to synchronize your contact list. To do this, open the Settings application and go to the Users and Accounts section. Here you can see your account login and check if contact synchronization is enabled. You also need to make sure that you remember the password for this account, since you will need to enter it again. If there are any problems with your account or synchronization, then it is advisable to make a backup copy of your contact list and copy it to your computer. This can be done using the Contacts application.
Another important thing to check before starting the reset is the battery level. The fact is that the process of resetting the settings takes quite a long time (up to 1 hour) and creates a significant load on the device. At the same time, it is important to prevent the smartphone from running out of power and turning off right during the reset. Therefore, before starting the procedure, be sure to charge the device’s battery to 100%.
As for resetting the settings itself, this procedure can be performed different ways. The easiest option is to use the “Reset” function in the smartphone settings. In this article we will show how this is done using the example of a Nexus smartphone with, as well as Samsung smartphone with TouchWiz shell. We will also demonstrate resetting settings via Recovery mode; this option is suitable in cases where the smartphone does not boot and you cannot enter the settings.
Resetting settings on a smartphone with pure Android 8.0
First, we’ll show you how to reset settings on a smartphone with pure Android 8.0. In this case, you need to open the “Settings” application, scroll through the list of sections to the very end and go to the “System” section.
In the “System” section, you again need to scroll to the bottom of the settings and select “Reset settings”.
As a result, you will see three options for resetting the settings:
- Reset Wi-Fi, mobile internet and Bluetooth settings. This reset option deletes only the settings of the network modules, while the remaining data remains intact.
- Reset application settings. Resetting application settings may result in the loss of some data, but is not a complete reset.
- Erase all data (factory reset). A complete factory reset, also known as a hard reset. Leads to complete removal all user data, applications and settings. Returns Android smartphone to the original state.
If you want to completely reset your smartphone, then here you need to select the last option.
After this, the reset process will begin. It may take some time, after completion the smartphone will boot and you can begin setting up the device for the first time.
Resetting settings on an Android smartphone from Samsung
Another example of resetting settings on Android. In this case, an Android smartphone from Samsung with the TouchWiz shell will be used as an example. In this case, you need to open the “Settings” application, go to the “ Accounts" and select " Backup and reset."
After this, a screen will appear warning you that all data will be deleted from the device memory. In order to reset settings on Android, you need to click on the “Reset device” button.
After this you need to wait for the process to complete. When the reset is complete, the smartphone will boot and prompt you to perform the initial setup of the device.
Resetting settings using Recovery mode
If your device does not boot, then you can reset Android to factory settings using recovery mode (or the so-called R ecovery mode).
Depending on the smartphone model, the process of entering recovery mode may vary significantly. But, usually, to do this you need to turn off the device, hold down certain keys and hold them pressed until the recovery mode loads.
For example, you could use one of these options:
- Press and hold the volume up key and the power key;
- Press and hold the volume down key and the power key;
- Press and hold both the volume keys and the power key;
- Press and hold the Home key, Volume Up key and Power key;
- Press and hold the Home key and the Power key;
After booting the device into recovery mode, you will see a small menu in which you will need to select the “Wipe data / factory reset” option and then confirm the actions by selecting “Yes - delete all user data”. To navigate through this menu, use the volume up and down keys, and the power key to confirm your selection.
To exit recovery mode and start the reset process, select “Reboot system now”.
It should be noted that recovery mode is not available on all devices. Sometimes it is simply not there, sometimes it is replaced by some other tool, for example, the engineering menu.
Why do you need a data reset?
Resetting device data (factory reset, hard reset, factory reset) is deleting all data from a smartphone or tablet: contacts, messages, downloaded applications, photos, music, mail settings, alarm clocks. After the reset, the smartphone or tablet returns to its factory state.
Typically, data reset is done in the following cases:
- Before selling or transferring the device to another person;
- If some problem occurs on the device that cannot be fixed by other means;
- After update software devices (firmware).
What to do before resetting your data
1. Copy important information from your device.
During the reset, the device memory will be cleared and all data will be deleted. If there is any important data, make a copy of it.
2. Remove your Google account from your device.
If you do not do this, then when you turn on the device after a reset, you will be asked for the account that was on the device before the reset. Without entering this account, you will not be able to turn on the device.
The first way to reset data is through the menu
The second way to reset data is using buttons
This method is used when a smartphone or tablet does not turn on or the screen is locked.
If your device doesn't turn on after resetting, you need a Google Account
If after resetting the device does not turn on (freezes)
Contact the Samsung service center; you will need to reinstall the firmware using the engineering method.