Factory resetting an Android Smartphone or tablet means to reset your android device to the stock settings, which will restore your phone to the factory state i.e. how it came out “fresh out of the box”.
There are may reasons why you would want to factory reset your Android phone or tablet. Like for example when your Android device is not working, it hangs a lot, freezes or when you have forgotten your screen lock password. At that moment, factory reset is very helpful to fix the problem.
So, if you want to factory reset your Android device, just follow any 1 of the three simple methods below. But before doing that, just make sure that you have created full backup of all your important files, documents, apps or contacts. As doing factory reset will completely delete all your phone’s data.
Backup and Factory Reset from Settings
This is a very simple step, you have to just find the backup and reset menu option which is provided in the settings panel. Different phone maker’s give different options for backup and reset menu. So, just go the Settings page on your Android device and search for backup or reset option. Tapping on the reset phone option will erase all data on your phone leaving the data present on memory card (if inserted).
If your Android device has a memory card inserted, a menu will prompt to format it as well. If you want you can do that too. On pressing the Reset phone option, your device will reboot in recovery mode where it will begin to wipe all the data present on the device. After that your phone will reboot and when it opens you will see it changed to factory settings.
How to Factory Reset Remotely, when your phone is lost?
This method is useful if you don’t have your phone near you or if you want to help your friend format his device. To do that, just visit Android Device Manager website on your computer. But to make this method work, you have to make sure that the Android Device Manager app is installed on your lost phone or tablet, or otherwise it will not work. (Download Android Device Manager App from here)
If it is installed, then you can visit the Android Device Manager website on your computer or smartphone, and then log in to the Gmail account which is associated with the phone.
Once successfully logged in, you will see options like ring, lock and erase. Just Tap on erase to reset your phone to factory settings remotely. And you are done.
How To Reset Your Phone When It Is Locked
If your phone is locked or you forgot your screen lock password, then you can factory rest your Android phone or tablet from the Recover menu. To do that just follow the below steps:
Step 1: Turn your Android phone or tablet Off
Step 2: Now Press and hold the Volume up button and the Power button. (Both at the same time until the device turns on)
Please note that these combinations might change, depending on your phone or tablet. So, if Volume up button doesn’t works, try pressing Volume Down + Power button or Home Button + Power Button.
Step 3: Now use the Volume down button to select “Recovery mode.” option.
Step 4: After that you will see an image of an Android robot with a red exclamation mark.
Step 5: Press and hold down the Power button along with Volume up button and then release it.
Step 6: Use the volume buttons again to navigate to “wipe data/factory reset” option.
Step 7: Then press the Power button to select that option.
Step 8: Now Scroll down to “Yes-erase all user date” and press the Power button again.
Wait a few minutes and it will completely delete all your phones data and will reset it.