How to Reset Your Phone to Factory Settings

Edited 10 months ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

Factory ResetMobileSmartphoneDevice ManagementPhone SettingsAndroidAppleDevice ConfigurationPersonal InformationData ManagementUser InterfaceSecurity SettingsGoogleApple ServicesDevice CustomizationPerformance OptimizationDevice SecurityDevice ResetPersonalizationDevice Initialization

Resetting your phone to factory settings can be a great way to fix performance issues, remove unwanted files and apps, or prepare your device for a new user. This guide explains how you can reset your phone to factory settings in simple, easy-to-understand steps. It includes common methods that can be applied to most Android and iPhone devices.

Why reset your phone to factory settings?

Resetting your phone to factory settings can be beneficial for several reasons:

• Improve performance: If your phone has become slow or unresponsive, a factory reset can help improve its performance.
• Remove apps and files: All apps, files, and settings you added will be removed, leaving you with a new device.
• Troubleshooting: If your phone is having issues such as frequent crashes or errors, a factory reset may solve these problems.
• Sell or gift: If you're planning on selling or giving your phone to someone else, resetting it will ensure that all your personal data is erased.

Things to keep in mind

Before you reset your phone to factory settings, it is important to consider the following:

• Back up your data: Performing a factory reset will erase all data on your phone, including photos, messages, contacts, and apps. Be sure to back up your data to a cloud service or computer.
• Battery level: Make sure your phone is fully charged or connected to a power source, as the reset process can take some time and you don't want your phone to turn off during the process.
• Sign out: Sign out of any accounts you have on your device, such as Google or Apple ID, especially if you plan to transfer the phone to a new user.

How to back up your data?

Below are the steps to back up your data for both Android and iPhone:

Android backup steps

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Scroll down and tap System or About phone.
3. Tap Backup.
4. Toggle the option to backup to Google Drive.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the backup process.

iPhone backup steps

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap your Apple ID at the top of the screen.
3. Tap iCloud.
4. Scroll down and tap iCloud Backup.
5. Turn on iCloud Backup.
6. Tap Back up now to start the backup process.

How to reset your Android phone to factory settings

Follow these steps to reset your Android phone:

Step 1: Open Settings

Open the Settings app on your Android phone. This app usually has an icon that resembles a gear.

Step 2: Go to System

Scroll down the menu and tap System. On some devices, this may be under About phone or General Management.

Step 3: Access the Reset option

Tap Advanced to find more options if necessary. Then, tap Reset options.

Step 4: Choose Factory data reset

In the reset options menu, tap Erase all data (factory reset).

Step 5: Confirm the reset

Review the information on the screen. If you're sure you want to proceed, tap Reset phone.

Step 6: Enter the PIN or Password

If prompted, enter your PIN, password, or pattern to confirm action.

Step 7: Delete everything

Finally, tap Erase everything. Your phone will restart, and the reset process will begin. This process may take a few minutes.

How to reset your iPhone to factory settings

Follow these steps to reset your iPhone:

Step 1: Open Settings

Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Go to General

Tap General.

Step 3: Select Reset

Scroll down and tap Reset.

Step 4: Erase all content and settings

Tap Erase all content and settings.

Step 5: Enter the passcode

If prompted, enter your passcode to proceed.

Step 6: Confirm to erase iPhone

A warning message will appear, asking you to confirm. Tap Erase iPhone to confirm. Your iPhone will restart and begin the reset process, which may take a few minutes.

Perform a factory reset from the recovery mode

If your phone is not responding or you can't access the Settings app, you can still reset it using Recovery mode. Here's how you can do it for both Android and iPhone devices:

Android recovery mode

1. Turn off your Android phone.
2. Press and hold the Volume Up and Power buttons simultaneously until the device logo appears. Release the buttons when the logo appears.
3. Use the Volume buttons to navigate to Recovery Mode and press the Power button to select it.
4. Once in recovery mode, select Wipe data/factory reset using the Volume buttons and press the Power button to confirm.
5. Select Yes using the Volume buttons and press the Power button to start the reset process.
6. After the reset is complete, select Reboot system now to restart your phone.

iPhone recovery mode

To enter Recovery Mode on iPhone, the steps vary depending on the iPhone model:

For iPhone 8 or later:

1. Connect your iPhone to the computer using a USB cable.
2. Open iTunes on your computer (if not already open).
3. Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
4. Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
5. Press and hold the Side button until you see the Recovery Mode screen on your iPhone.

For iPhone 7 or 7 Plus:

1. Connect your iPhone to the computer using a USB cable.
2. Open iTunes on your computer (if not already open).
3. Press and hold the Volume Down and Side buttons until you see the Recovery Mode screen on your iPhone.

For iPhone 6s or earlier:

1. Connect your iPhone to the computer using a USB cable.
2. Open iTunes on your computer (if not already open).
3. Press and hold the Home and Top (or Side) buttons until you see the Recovery Mode screen on your iPhone.

Once you are in recovery mode:

1. iTunes will give you the option to restore or update your iPhone. Select Restore.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the restore process. This will reset your iPhone to factory settings.

What happens after a factory reset?

Once you have successfully reset your phone to factory settings, it will restart and look just like it did when you first bought it. Here are a few things you need to do:

• Initial setup: You'll need to go through the initial setup process, such as selecting your language, connecting to a Wi-Fi network, and signing in with your Google or Apple ID.
• Restore a backup: If you've backed up your data, you can restore it during the setup process. Follow the on-screen instructions to do so.
• Reinstall apps: You will need to reinstall all previously downloaded apps. Also make sure to check for updates.
• Reconfigure settings: All your custom settings will be reset to their defaults. You will need to reconfigure them as needed.

Conclusion

Resetting your phone to factory settings can be a useful step to take when troubleshooting problems, improving performance, or preparing your device for a new user. Always remember to back up your important data before performing a factory reset. Following the steps in this guide will help you reset safely without losing important information.

We hope this guide has been helpful in explaining how you can reset your phone to factory settings. If you encounter any difficulties during the process, refer to your device's user manual or contact the manufacturer's support team for further assistance.

  Share This Article

If you find anything wrong with the article content, you can request an update