How to Do a Factory Reset on Android: All Methods Guide

You’ve probably found yourself staring at a locked Android screen, or maybe your phone is acting up so badly that a fresh start seems like the only answer. This guide covers every method from the official Settings route to recovery mode resets and forced reboots, so you know exactly what to expect and what comes next.

Minimum battery charge: 70% (Google Support) ·
FRP active on: Android 5.1+ (Google Support) ·
Samsung reset keys: Volume Up + Power (Samsung Support)

Key facts at a glance:

Five reset methods, each with a different trade-off: settings reset preserves backup options but needs an unlocked phone; button-only works when locked but doesn’t bypass FRP; remote reset requires an online connection and prior setup; force reset is a last resort for unresponsive devices. Understanding the pattern helps you pick the right approach.

How to do a full factory reset on Android?

Step-by-step through Settings

1. Navigate to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset) (Google Support)
2. Phone must be charged to at least 70% and connected to Wi-Fi (Google Support)
3. After reset, you must sign in with the previous Google account if FRP is enabled (Google Support)
4. All user data is permanently deleted unless a cloud backup was made

Prerequisites: battery and backup

Before you start, charge your phone to at least 70% — the reset may fail if the battery dies mid-process. Connect to a reliable Wi-Fi network so that after the reset you can sign in and restore data from your Google account. Google Support notes that cloud services like Google Photos, Gmail and Drive sync separately and won’t be erased by a factory reset.

Post-reset setup and FRP

After the reset, the phone boots to the setup wizard. If FRP is enabled — it is on all Android devices running 5.1 or later, as Google Support explains — you must enter the Google account credentials that were previously on the device. Without them, the phone becomes a brick. Google Support calls this a theft-deterrent measure, but it also traps legitimate owners who forget their password.

“Charge your phone to at least 70%. Connect to Wi-Fi or mobile network. When the factory reset completes, you must be connected to sign in.”

— Google Support

The implication: knowing your Google account is critical for a successful reset.

How do I factory reset my Android with just the buttons?

Entering Recovery Mode on most Android devices

• Turn off the device, then press and hold specific hardware buttons (usually Volume Up + Power) to enter recovery mode (Google Support)
• Use volume buttons to navigate to Wipe data/factory reset and press Power to select
• Samsung devices typically use Volume Up + Power, but Bixby button may interfere (Samsung Support)
• Pixel devices require holding Volume Down + Power at startup

Samsung button combination (Volume Up + Power)

Samsung’s official support page says the key combination can vary by model. For most recent Galaxy phones (S21, S22, S23, S24 series), press and hold Volume Up + Power while the device is off. When the Samsung logo appears, release both buttons. Use the volume keys to scroll to “Wipe data/factory reset” and press Power to confirm.

Other manufacturers: Google Pixel, OnePlus, Xiaomi

Google Pixel devices use Volume Down + Power at startup to enter recovery (Google Support). OnePlus documents a recovery reset path involving holding Volume Down + Power and then selecting “Wipe data and cache” (OnePlus Support). Xiaomi’s support materials say Recovery Mode can be used to wipe data on locked devices when the screen lock is forgotten (Xiaomi Support). The pattern is universal: power off, press and hold the correct combo, navigate with volume, select with power. But the combo itself is brand-specific.

“If your device is running an older version of Android, navigate using Settings > Backup and Reset > Factory data reset.”

— Samsung Support

How to reset factory settings on Android without password?

Using recovery mode when locked out

If you cannot unlock the screen because you forgot the PIN or pattern, recovery mode is your only physical reset path. As Google Support explains, a factory reset from recovery does not reveal the existing password — it wipes the data entirely. This is a destructive method: everything on the phone’s internal storage is erased.

Using Find My Device (Google) option

Google’s Find My Device service can remotely erase a locked phone if it is signed into your Google account and has internet connectivity. Google Support notes this requires that the device is online and location services are on. After remote erase, the phone resets to factory state and will ask for the Google account during setup — the same FRP verification applies.

Samsung Find My Mobile for Samsung users

Samsung offers its own remote reset via Find My Mobile (Samsung Support). It requires that the phone is registered to your Samsung account and that remote controls are enabled. It works even if the phone is locked, but it still triggers FRP. The trade-off: Find My Mobile can also back up data before erasing, something Google’s free service does not provide.

Bypassing FRP after reset

After any factory reset — whether via Settings, recovery mode, or remote — FRP will lock the device to the previous Google account. Google Support is clear: there is no official bypass. Third-party tools like iMobie claim to remove FRP (iMobie), but these are Tier 3 sources and may not work on the latest Android versions.

Does a factory reset delete everything?

What is erased: data, apps, accounts

• Factory reset removes all user data: contacts, messages, photos, apps, accounts, and personal settings (Google Support)
• Accounts (Google, Samsung, social media) are wiped
• Photos, videos and files stored locally on internal storage are deleted

What remains: system software, carrier settings

The operating system and pre-installed apps remain intact — that’s the factory image. Carrier-specific bloatware and system apps are preserved. Google Support describes the process as resetting to “exactly how it was when you first purchased the phone.”

Recovery of deleted data: possibility and tools

Data is not securely wiped unless you enable encryption before the reset. iMobie notes that forensic tools can recover fragments. To prevent this, Android’s “Factory reset” does not overwrite the storage, so data recovery software may work — but only if the device is encrypted (Android 6.0+ default).

Difference between factory reset and hard reset

In the Android world, “factory reset” and “hard reset” are often used interchangeably. A hard reset — performed via recovery mode — is functionally the same as a factory reset from Settings. Google Support uses the same terms for both paths. The only difference is the method, not the outcome.

“When you do a factory reset on an Android device, it resets everything to exactly how it was when you first purchased the phone.”

— ZDNet (reported, no direct link available)

The pattern is clear: factory reset is total, irreversible for on-device data, but cloud data survives. The trade-off: you lose the local convenience of saved logins and files in exchange for a clean slate.

How do I force a phone to factory reset?

When phone is frozen or unresponsive

A force reset usually refers to using hardware button combinations to enter recovery mode when the device is stuck on a frozen app or black screen. Google’s official guidance recommends a forced reboot first: press and hold Power + Volume Down for 10–15 seconds until the device restarts (Google Support). If that doesn’t work, you proceed to recovery mode.

Samsung: power button + volume down

Samsung Support recommends a “soft reset” using Power + Volume Down for 10–20 seconds to force a reboot. However, this does not trigger a factory reset — it simply restarts the phone. To actually reset a frozen Samsung device, you still need to enter recovery mode (Volume Up + Power after the soft reboot).

Emergency reset: power button 5 times

Pressing the power button 5 times on some Android versions triggers an Emergency SOS call, not a reset. This is a safety feature, not a factory reset shortcut. Google Support does not list any power-button-multi-press reset function. Be wary of forum posts claiming otherwise.

“Be careful of what code you input, as *#*#947322243#*#* will instantly reboot your device in preparation for a factory data wipe.”

— Android Stack Exchange user (community)

The catch: a force reset is not a one-button magic. It’s a multi-step recovery-mode entry after a forced reboot. If the phone is completely dead (no charge, hardware failure), no button combination will work.

The takeaway: force reset is a last resort that carries the same FRP risk as other methods.

What’s Next

For anyone considering a factory reset, the immediate consequence is the FRP lock. If you plan to sell or give away the phone, you must remove the Google account before resetting — or leave the device signed in. For a personal fresh start, back up everything to the cloud first, then proceed with confidence. For the locked phone owner, recovery mode is the only path, but it comes with the risk of a bricked device if you’ve forgotten your Google credentials.

For a detailed walkthrough that covers every possible scenario, check out this comprehensive guide on resetting Android phones from a regional tech publication.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading: Galaxy S23 Ultra to Buy in Ireland · Samsung S25 Ultra Price Ireland