How to Do a Factory Reset on Android (All Methods)

If your Android phone is locked, glitching, or about to change hands, a factory reset is the nuclear option that wipes everything clean. This guide covers every method—through Settings, recovery mode with buttons, and the locked-out scenario—so you know exactly what you’re getting into before you commit.

Erases all data?: Yes · Backup required?: Yes · Minimum battery charge: 70% · Post-reset Wi-Fi needed?: Yes · Methods available: 3 main

The table below summarizes the core specs and post-reset requirements for every Android factory reset method.

How to do a full factory reset on Android?

A full factory reset removes every app, photo, contact, and account you’ve added since you bought the phone, restoring it to the state it left the factory with (AirBeamTV). It’s the right call when you’re selling the phone, handing it to someone else, or troubleshooting a software problem that won’t resolve any other way. Two paths get you there: through the Settings menu (if you can still unlock the phone) or through recovery mode with buttons (if you can’t).

Via Settings menu

• Open Settings → System → Reset options
• Tap Erase all data (factory reset)
• Confirm with your PIN or password when prompted
• The phone restarts and wipes itself—this takes a few minutes

Charge the phone to at least 70% before you start, according to Google (Google Help). After the reset, you’ll need to connect to Wi-Fi or a mobile network to set the phone back up. If you have a Google account on the phone, FRP (Factory Reset Protection) will ask for those credentials after the wipe—keep them handy.

Preparation steps

• Back up photos, contacts, and app data to Google Drive or your computer
• Remove your Google account from the phone (Settings → Accounts) if you want to avoid FRP
• Write down any app passwords you can’t recover from a cloud backup
• Confirm the battery is at 70% or connect to a charger

The implication: skipping the backup step means losing irreplaceable photos and contacts—not just apps and settings.

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

When your phone is locked and you can’t get to Settings, recovery mode lets you bypass the lock screen entirely by resetting from the dedicated recovery partition (AirBeamTV). This works because recovery mode runs independently of the main Android system—it doesn’t need your PIN, pattern, or password to open.

Enter recovery mode

• Power off the phone completely (hold Power for 20–30 seconds if it won’t respond)
• Press and hold Power + Volume Up or Power + Volume Down for 10–15 seconds until the brand logo appears (Google Android Community)
• If you see “No command,” press Power + Volume Up briefly to access the recovery menu (YouTube)

Samsung devices follow a slightly different sequence: hold Volume Down + Power to power off, then release and immediately hold Volume Up + Power until the Samsung logo appears (YouTube Guide). On newer Samsung models, you may need Volume Up + Power + Bixby instead. If you’re unsure about your exact model, search “[your model] recovery mode” for the correct buttons (YouTube).

Select wipe data

• Use Volume buttons to scroll up or down through the menu
• Press Power to select “Wipe data/factory reset” (Back Market)
• Select “Yes — delete all user data” to confirm (EyeFi Forum)
• After the wipe, also tap “Wipe cache partition” on Samsung devices (YouTube Guide)
• Select “Reboot system now” to restart (AirBeamTV)

Does a factory reset delete everything?

A factory reset erases all user data added after purchase—every app you’ve installed, every photo you’ve taken, every account you’ve signed into (EyeFi Forum). It removes your lock screen credentials, resets all system settings to factory defaults, and deletes the data stored in internal storage. What it doesn’t touch is the firmware and the operating system itself—Android stays intact.

What gets erased

• All installed apps and their data
• Photos, videos, music, and downloads stored locally
• Google account and other signed-in accounts
• System settings and preferences
• Lock screen PIN, pattern, or password

What remains

• The Android OS and pre-installed system apps
• SD card data (if the card is not encrypted—some phones format this too)
• Any data synced to cloud accounts (if you sign back in)

The implication: wiping the device doesn’t guarantee the data is gone forensically—physical storage can sometimes be recovered with specialized tools.

How to do a factory reset on Android without password?

The button-based recovery method doesn’t require a password because it bypasses the regular Android system entirely—recovery mode is a separate boot partition that loads on its own (AirBeamTV). Since recovery mode never loads the lock screen, it has no way to check your PIN or pattern. That’s by design: it’s meant for exactly this situation.

Using recovery mode

• Force shut down the phone (Power held for 20–30 seconds)
• Enter recovery mode with Power + Volume Up (or Down on some models)
• Navigate to “Wipe data/factory reset” using volume buttons
• Confirm to erase—your old password is gone with everything else

Samsung specifics

• Samsung offers its own remote reset tool: Find My Mobile (EyeFi Forum)
• Sign into your Samsung account at findmymobile.samsung.com
• Select the locked device and choose “Erase data”
• This works over the web without touching the phone physically

Google’s own Find My Device service also supports remote erasure if you can log into the Google account that was on the phone (AirBeamTV). Both Samsung and Google options require internet access on the device—if the phone is completely offline, the physical button method is your only option.

How to factory reset phone when locked out?

Being locked out doesn’t mean the phone is broken—it’s just waiting for the right input. The button combination sequence forces the phone into recovery mode where you can issue the reset command directly (Google Help). Google recommends checking the buttons method when Settings isn’t accessible, which covers most locked-out scenarios.

Button combination

• Hold Power for 20–30 seconds to force shut down if the screen is frozen
• Wait a moment, then hold Power + Volume Down (or Up) for 10–15 seconds
• Release Power when the brand logo appears, keep holding volume
• If “No command” shows, press Power + Volume Up briefly

Shut down first

• Always power off completely before attempting the button combo
• Partial shutdowns can trigger the bootloader instead of recovery
• If the phone loops back to “No command,” repeat the shutdown and retry
• Some devices require selecting “Recovery Mode” from the bootloader menu first

The catch: button combinations vary by manufacturer and even by model year—Xiaomi and OnePlus devices typically use Power + Volume Down, while older Samsung models use Volume Down + Power first, then Volume Up + Power (YouTube). Search for your specific model if the standard sequences don’t work.

What experts and users say

“We recommend checking your phone’s manual or manufacturer’s support page for model-specific instructions.”

— Google Support (Official Android Help)

“This will erase all data and settings on the phone. Backup everything before you start.”

— AirBeamTV (Tech Guide Author)

For most users, the button method resolves a locked phone in under ten minutes—but the FRP lock that follows means the reset is just the first step if you’ve forgotten your Google credentials. Tools like Tenorshare 4uKey reportedly help with FRP bypass after the fact, though Google officially discourages third-party workarounds.

Related reading: Best Sleep Tracking Apps for Android

With factory resets erasing all data as noted in the meta, consult this Android phone backup guide first to protect your photos, apps, and files.

Frequently asked questions