How to factory reset an Android phone

How to factory reset an Android phoneū

26 Apr 2020

Source: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central

There are a number of reasons why you might need to factory reset your Android phone. Maybe your phone is overloaded with apps and running slow, or you've downloaded a recent update and it's causing problems with your phone's functionality. Maybe you just want to reset it because you're selling your phone (you should always do this when selling an old device, by the way). Here's how to factory reset your Android phone through the phone settings or via the recovery mode.

How to factory reset your phone from the settings menu

Before we get started, know that a factory reset will erase all the data on your phone. If you haven't backed up your contacts, pictures, videos, documents, and anything else (preferably in the cloud), you should do so now. Not sure where to back up your data before a factory reset? Read our guide on how to do that first.

Given the variety of phones available on Android, I'll be using the Pixel 3a and Samsung's Galaxy A51 as the examples for this guide. The Pixel is a good baseline as the process is nearly identical on Android One devices from the likes of Nokia, Xiaomi, Motorola, and other companies like OnePlus that retain a "stock" user interface.

As for the Galaxy A51, the phone is running Samsung's One UI, and with the company being the largest manufacturer in the world of Android by some considerable margin, it makes sense to see how things differ. With that out of the way, let's get started.

The easiest way to factory reset your phone is through the settings menu. The location of the factory reset option might vary slightly based on the phone you're using, but once you've found the Backup and reset menu, you should be in the clear.

How to factory reset your Pixel/Android One phone

1. Tap the Settings icon from your home screen or app drawer.
2. Swipe up to scroll down to the bottom of the settings menu.
3. Tap System.
   Source: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central
4. Hit Reset options.
5. Select Erase all data (factory reset).
6. Swipe up to scroll down to the bottom of the page.
   Source: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central
7. Hit the Reset phone button.
8. Enter your device PIN and select Continue.
9. Select Erase everything.