How to reset the system to factory settings. What is it for

Resetting the Android operating system to factory settings allows you to restore the normal operation of the device in case of frequent freezes, slowdowns, automatic shutdowns, reboots and other software failures. If you decide to perform this procedure, you need to know that it will delete the following information:

  • all programs installed on the device;
  • saved text and multimedia messages (SMS and MMS);
  • notes in a notebook;
  • data from the phone book;
  • saved passwords from existing accounts (for example, GMail, Skype, etc.).

In this case, the information located on the flash drive will not be affected. Therefore, before completely resetting the Android system, you should save your personal information in a safe place by copying it to a memory card or PC.

Methods to reset Android to factory settings

In the Android OS, resetting a phone or tablet to factory settings is provided by the developers, so no additional programs or devices are required to perform the reset.

There are three methods to restore default settings on Android:

  • through the standard gadget menu - recommended for use in cases where the device can be turned on and entered into its main menu;
  • using service combinations - used when, after turning on the phone, you only have access to the dialer (for example, you forgot your password to log in);
  • using the Recovery environment is the only option to return Android to factory settings when the device does not turn on or freezes at the company’s welcome logo.

Restoring initial settings through the gadget menu

If your phone or tablet starts to slow down or freeze periodically after turning it on, consider yourself very lucky, since you will have time to save all your personal data in a safe place (for example, on a flash drive or computer hard drive). To do this, before resetting, it is recommended to use the function of synchronizing your phone (tablet) with a PC.

Synchronization is a procedure that allows you to eliminate the difference between two operating systems (Windows and Android) and copy all important information from your device to your computer. Many programs have been developed to perform synchronization, among which MyPhoneExplorer is considered the most effective.

To copy important data (phone book, messages, notes, etc.) from your phone to your PC, you must:

After saving the information, you can safely reset the device to factory settings. To do this you need:

Some models of gadgets require the user to have root rights to change system data, including to start resetting. This allows you to protect the OS from accidental deletion of system files.

Using service combinations

Any operating system for mobile devices (Android, Windows Mobile, Symbian, etc.) has special digital-symbol combinations that can be used to return the device to factory settings.

To do this you need:

  1. Enter dialing mode.
  2. Enter one of the following combinations: *#*#7780#*#, *2767*3855# or *#*#7378423#*#*.

After this, the factory reset will automatically start.

Launching the Recovery procedure

If you cannot turn on the phone and, accordingly, use one of the above recovery methods, the built-in Recovery utility comes to the rescue. To run it you need:

  1. Turn off the problematic gadget completely, that is, wait until all the keys and the screen go out.
  2. Press and hold a certain key combination for several seconds. Different device manufacturers have different combinations:
  • For LG phones – volume down button + power key. When the welcome logo appears, you must release and press Power again;
  • For Samsung – return to main menu key + power + volume up button;
  • For Lenovo - power button + volume in the middle.

If you cannot restore Android after performing the above steps, you need to do the following.

Every Android smartphone has a recovery mode that allows you to erase all data from the internal memory of the smartphone and return it to factory settings. However, this method is not always effective.

If you were unable to perform a hard reset (aka factory reset) through Recovery mode, Google has provided a special command line utility, Android Debug Bridge, to access your mobile device and execute certain commands through your computer. So you can do a factory reset via your computer.

We would like to point out that ADB commands to reset settings via computer are intended for advanced users. But, if you read our instructions carefully, you should not have any problems.

Instructions: How to reset settings via computer?

Step 1

Go to the Android developers website and download the Android System Development Kit. Right-click on the ZIP archive and select "Extract All". Click the Browse button and select the C:\Program Files directory.

Step 2

Go to the folder where the files were extracted and press "F2" to rename it. Give the folder a simple name, such as "AndroidADT".

Step 3

Right-click on "My Computer" and select "Properties". Click on the "Advanced System Settings" option and in the "Advanced" window, click on the "Environment Variables" button.

Step 4

In the System Variables window, select the Path option and click the Edit button. When the window for editing system variables opens, scroll to the very end and write the path to the archive that you unpacked earlier (“;C:\Program Files\AndroidADT\sdk\platform-tools\”) (without quotes). Make sure you add a semicolon at the beginning of the path. Click "OK" to save your changes.

Step 5

Hover over the top right corner of the screen and click the Search button. Type “cmd” in the search field and click on the program icon in the search results to launch a command prompt window.

Step 6

Turn on your smartphone and connect it to the computer's USB port. Write "adb shell" and press "Enter". When ADB connects to the mobile device, write “--wipe_data” and press “Enter”. Your phone will reboot into recovery mode and automatically reset to factory settings.

Now you know how to reset settings via a computer.

In some situations, Android users want to erase all data from their smartphones or tablets and restore them to default. This article contains step-by-step instructions that will show you how to reset your Android and get an “empty” device.

Restoring a device to factory settings means that after this process the device returns to the state it was in immediately after purchase. This erases your Google account information, saved app settings, and files (photos, videos, and audio tracks) contained on internal or removable media.

The following four steps will help you erase all your sensitive data from Android and restore your gadget to factory settings.

Warning

Before you begin this process, you must back up all your personal data that you later want to transfer to a new device. Otherwise, your information will be lost forever. To back up your personal data to your computer, connect the device using a USB drive and save all data to a folder on your PC's hard drive. You can also transfer your personal information and application data to Google's servers, but this is a little more complicated.

Step-by-step instruction

Despite the fact that different platform distributions have differences, resetting settings on Android is similar, regardless of your software version.

1) To begin the process of deleting data on your smartphone or tablet, first tap the Menu key to open a range of available options on the screen.

3) In the “Privacy Settings” menu, click on the “Factory data reset” option, and on the next menu, choose whether you want to reset your Android and erase all data on the device, information on your external MicroSD memory card, or all media by filling in the appropriate boxes. Once you have made the desired selection, you must confirm it by pressing "Reset Phone".

4) You will be asked to confirm again that you are indeed ready to reset your device to factory settings. Click the "Remove All" button to complete the process. The device will perform a full reset on Android and after rebooting your tablet or smartphone, you will see that it is ready to work again.

Please note that the process of deleting all stored data may take 10 minutes or more to complete, depending on how much information is stored on the device and/or memory card.

Features of different versions

Speaking about how settings are reset on Android 40, you should take into account some menu features. In gadgets with this version of the operating system, returning to factory settings has its own section in the Settings menu. Go to the menu in the same way as mentioned in the previous steps and scroll down to the options about backup and data reset. Resetting settings on Android 41 occurs in a similar way.

Resetting an Android phone to factory settings is a procedure in which all data on the device is deleted. This process restores it to the condition it was in when it was purchased. The only thing that remains unchanged as a result is updating the operating system. This means that if you reset your Android device to factory defaults, you won't need to update the platform again.

What does it mean?

For what reason do users restore the factory settings of their Android (smartphone or tablet)?

In many ways, the reset process is similar to having your teeth professionally cleaned by a dentist. All contaminants are removed, leaving cleanliness. For this reason, a hard reset is an invaluable troubleshooting tool. However, there are several other reasons for taking such action. This is worth dwelling on in more detail.

Troubleshooting

The most common reason for resetting an Android phone to factory settings is the need to fix problems that you encounter with your smartphone that cannot be fixed. This could be anything from constant freezing to new apps appearing as default. For example, the Chrome browser stops working, becoming unbearably slow. Before you reset your Android phone to factory settings, first try rebooting it, checking your internet speed, and any other troubleshooting steps. Restoring to original settings is the option you turn to when all else fails.

Sale

Another common reason for a hard reset of a device is when it is sold or transferred to other hands. You probably don't want to hand over your smartphone or tablet without erasing all the data on it, and a factory reset is the best way to do it.

Gadget setup

The question of how to return to factory settings on Android is also relevant if you purchased a used smartphone or tablet, even if the device is already cleaned and ready for use. Unless you received the device from a close friend or family member, you should not assume that the operating system is in a completely clean state. In modern gadgets you can enter data about your payment cards and personal documents, so it is important to ensure security.

How to return to factory settings on Android?

Remember that this procedure will destroy all data on your tablet or smartphone. For this reason, it is important to back up the saved data from the device. From Android Marshmallow (6.x) onwards, your gadget should be set to automatically fall back to Google cloud storage. You can also download an app like Ultimate Backup, which is designed to manually back up your device.

How to reset settings on Android? First, go to the Settings app.

Scroll down and tap Backup & Reset under Privacy. The "Back up my data" option at the top should be set to "On". If the setting is “Off,” switch it.

Before you reset your Android, prepare your device. You need to connect it to a power source and make sure the phone is connected to a Wi-Fi network for backup. It's better to leave it like that overnight. Charge the device for at least a few hours.

Once this time has passed, click "Restore Factory Data" at the bottom of the screen to erase all data and return the gadget to like new condition. You will need to confirm your choice on the next screen.

What to do next?

How to return to factory settings on Android by completing the previous step? Your device should reboot. At this time, an indicator may appear on the screen indicating the process of deleting information. Upon completion, the operating system will restart and boot in the form in which it was configured when it was first turned on out of the box. The whole process will only take a few minutes.

If your Android device freezes or doesn't boot properly

How to return an Android phone to factory settings if it is frozen? This is where things get a little more complicated. You can perform a hardware reset by going into Android recovery mode, but unfortunately, how you can enter it depends on the brand and model of your device. This is usually triggered by holding down a specific set of keys on the device. Most devices require you to hold down the Volume Down and Power buttons, but some gadgets have completely different configurations.

Hard reset methods and procedures may vary

The procedure for resetting a device to factory settings usually involves pressing several keys. The combination of buttons you need to press will depend on the specific make and model of your phone, as well as what version of Android OS the device is currently running. For example, when using a platform distribution up to 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) OS, you may need one method; when updating the device to more modern OS versions, you may need a completely different one. Therefore, it is important to be careful. You may also need to try resetting your device a few times for it to work correctly.

Button commands to reset the phone

Why are there so many different ways to access Recovery Mode? This is not meant to confuse you. Manufacturers just want to make it difficult for users to accidentally trigger a hard reset. Since this recovery mode erases all data, it is best to put some effort into activating it rather than clicking it accidentally. Sometimes the factory settings password “Android” is also used, without entering which you will not be able to launch this action.

When you access recovery mode, use the volume keys to select the desired command. In this case, this may be the menu item “erase” or “delete” data. It may be called and “reset settings”. The exact wording may vary depending on the device manufacturer. Most devices use the power button as the Enter key, so press it after making your selection. It may take a few minutes for the reset process to complete.

Make sure your device is turned off

In most cases, performing a hard reset requires the gadget to be turned off completely. So make sure you turn off your device and don't just lock it. If your device is seriously frozen and you can't turn it off using the power button, you may need to remove the battery, count to ten, and then reinsert it.

Also, make sure that the device is not connected to a charger. Otherwise, the reset will not work.

What's important to remember?

Before you reset your Android to factory settings, be sure to consider a few facts. Remember that a hard reset is permanent and cannot be undone. It will delete all personal data and downloaded content on your phone. However, this process will not affect the contents of your memory card or anything else stored on the SIM card. Such content may include pictures, ringtones, texts, etc.

Resetting your device to factory settings usually fixes software errors, removes viruses, and so on. For this reason, try to back up your device regularly, not just when necessary. It often happens that when you need to perform a factory reset, you will no longer be able to perform a backup because the device's memory is already damaged.