How to perform a hard reset. How to make Hard Reset on Android OS - step-by-step instructions.

The words "hard reset" sound frightening and scratch your ear, like sound sandpaper. Indeed, this action is sometimes necessary in not the most pleasant circumstances. For example, your smartphone is so clogged with unnecessary applications, data and even viruses that its operation is difficult. Or due to an unsuccessful intervention in the system, it does not load in normal mode at all. Or you need to completely erase some data.

In the end, maybe you bought new smartphone  or a tablet, and they intend to sell or donate the old one. In this case, you also need to clear it of personal data and installed applicationsso that they do not fall into the hands of the new owner.

What Hard reset

Hard reset is a universal method for cleaning Android-smartphone from errors, ballast and garbage. And sometimes this is the only way to download Android on the device in general.

System Reset

In modern versions of Android, a general reset can be done through the system menu. For this you will need:

  •   Open Settings
  •   Enter the General tab
  •   Find the "Device Management" section
  •   Find the item “Backup and reset” and tap on it
  •   Select “Reset Settings” (usually at the bottom)
  •   If your device has a memory card and you also need to clear it, check the box “Clear SD card”. Note: if backup copies of contacts, correspondence, photos and other valuable data are stored on the card, it is better to remove it before the procedure begins.
  •   Click on the item “Reset phone settings” (usually it is at the very bottom)

During the reset process, the smartphone or tablet will reboot. This time, the reboot will last longer than usual. And when the device turns on, the system will prompt you to configure it as new.

Before resetting, be sure to save all important data. As a rule, system information (contacts, correspondence, calendar, selected Internet pages, places on the map) is already stored in your google account. And other services (WhatsApp, Viber, Skype, etc.) have their own cloud storage. But it is better to play it safe and check the safety of information in advance. .


System Bypass Reset

In especially difficult cases, when the smartphone does not boot at all in normal mode, you can make a hard reset using the recovery menu (the so-called recovery). To do this, you need a smartphone using a special key combination. Some alternative android version  or special applications allow you to reboot into Recovery directly from the system.

Usually, to boot into Recovery, just turn off the device, then hold down the power button at the same time as one of the volume buttons. For different models of smartphones or tablets, the combinations are different. So, for HTC, this is power plus a decrease in volume, for LG - about the same, only the power button must be released after the logo appears and pressed again. We recommend finding the exact instructions for your model.

Going into the recovery menu, you must erase the data (Wipe menu item). Sometimes a full reset is called Factory Hard Reset.

After the procedure, your device will lose all personal data. If you wanted this, then congratulations: the hard reset has done its job! If your task was to return the device to working condition, then the data will have to be restored manually or from backups.

It is often recommended to do a hard reset before installation. new version  Android or custom firmware. Then it is worth writing the firmware image not to the internal memory of the device, but to the OTG-carrier (connected external flash drive). So deleting old data will be more reliable. Modern Android devices support OTG even at the recovery menu level.


Reset via computer

A rather exotic way to hard reset, which is used when the keys or touchscreen do not work on the smartphone for some reason.

Android Debug Bridge (ADB) must be installed on your computer, and ADB mode must be activated on your smartphone or tablet. Then the procedure will look like this in the general case:

  •   Connect the smartphone to the computer with a USB cable
  •   Run the command prompt on the computer with cmd
  •   Dial in command line  adb reboot recovery
  •   Perform hard reset (wipe) on the smartphone by selecting the desired item with the keys or touch

Hard reset procedure may vary for different smartphones. We recommend clarifying the nuances for your device. However, in general, the scheme remains as described above.

If you need to hold a smartphone and simultaneously erase user data from the device’s memory, you can perform a reset in one of several proven ways. Consider the detailed procedure using the Sony Xperia model as an example.

This is an android smartphone with a relatively high level of technical equipment, so it is very functional and user friendly. However, if you download unverified applications, change the firmware yourself, try to hack the device’s software or load it with other unbearable tasks, you can damage the “core” firmware. To save the smartphone from the consequences of malicious processes and the use of unauthorized access, you can roll it back to the factory settings.

It will be advisable to carry out in case of improper installation or removal of programs that entailed a malfunction in the phone. This procedure  It will come in handy in that situation if you get the phone not from the storefront, but from your hands, that is, the former owners have already used it.

If you are not an expert in such matters, it is best to pre-copy needed files  on a separate media (or get a flash card from a smartphone). This must be done, as all data in internal memory  Sony will not be saved after the settings are rolled back.

To eliminate the likelihood of a fatal failure in the firmware, before resetting, make sure that the smartphone is not less than half charged (or 100% better). It is not recommended to ignore any point of the proposed algorithm, so that as a result the smartphone does not turn into a useless "brick".

What is it needed for ?

Hard reset  - This is a complete deletion of absolutely all user data from the smartphone’s memory. That is, at the end of the procedure there will be no messages, no multimedia files, no contacts from the phone’s memory, no applications, no notes, etc. At the software level, the device returns to the state it was in when you first bought it.

Usually carried out in the following situations:

  • After the firmware version of the device has been updated or changed.
  • If there is a malfunction, a permanent freeze or other problem that could not be solved by other known methods.
  • Before selling the smartphone to another user for the second and subsequent times.
  • Your device may be susceptible to virus attacks if you have not previously installed one of the most common antivirus programs on your smartphone (Doctor Web, Kaspersky, etc.). Antivirus software can be either an analogue of computer programs or an independent mobile “defender”.


If you have to perform hard reset Sony for the first time, it will not be out of place, just in case, to make backup copies of user data. After all settings, applications and other important files are deleted, you will have to find and reinstall the programs you need for communication, work or entertainment on your own.

To avoid this, all android smartphones have a system option for recovery and backup. You only need to have an account on Google, where all necessary information  about user applications.

Before resetting the system (for more details on how to do this, see below), in the settings in the "Restore and Reset" menu, check the "Data backup" and "Auto restore" checkboxes and specify the Google account where the information will be copied.

It is advisable to indicate exactly the Google account that you used to register in the Google Play Market.

Note:  If you reset the settings in order to transfer the phone to another person, it is best to delete the Google account from the smartphone so that the system does not request data from it.

How to do hard reset sony: software methods

  • The most common option is rollback using the standard options menu.

To do this, go to the “Settings” menu, scroll down to the item “Backup and reset” (in later versions - “Restore and reset”).

Here you can check off the rollback methods: with the removal of user data or without it. If the memory is full and the smartphone is constantly buggy, it is better not to check the corresponding items and start a general reset, then “Reset phone settings”.

  • Another embodiment is using the service menu.

This method is useful only if the phone does not hang tight and responds to user commands.

Go to the call menu and in the input field dial * # * # 7378423 # * # *. This is the access code for the service menu.

The menu is not Russified. Select the very last line: "Customization settings".

A few more methods hard reset xperia

If you can’t turn on the smartphone at all, or when it is turned on, it hangs on the company logo and reboots again - you will have to use the hard reset xperia method described below. It can be useful even if you cannot remember the password for unlocking or the graphic key.

  1. Turn off the device. Without shutdown, you simply will not be able to enter Recovery mode.
  2. To access Recovery, simultaneously hold down the volume down button and turn on / off the smartphone. This combination is the most common and universal for all smartphones (tablets), and not just for the Sony line. Keep the keys pressed until Recovery mode starts.

  1. In cases when the sensor in the Recovery mode does not work, use the volume up and down buttons to move up or down the menu items, and the on / off button instead of the OK button.
  2. Find the wipe factory reset"(Full reset to the factory configuration), then" yes - delete all user data "(yes, delete all user data).

An option exclusively for Sony Xperia owners is rollback and recovery using the PC Companion program installed on the computer. Use the following algorithm:

  • Launch the program and select “Support Zone”.


  • Next, click “Software Update” and “Phone / Tablet Recovery”.



The whole further process (wait for the updates to download, install them and restart the device) is intuitive.

What should not be done to avoid a reset?

Do not allow potential malware and files to enter your phone. Third-party sites with applications that do not link to Play Market and suspicious emails can infect your device with viruses.

Too frequent downloading of various programs and games - the Play Store is full of free software, and some users mindlessly download almost every new product. However, even if you delete the application, some of the files from it will still remain on your device, which will gradually lead to its cluttering.

Attempting to use unlicensed software or hacked versions of applications can seriously harm the operating system. It is also dangerous to independently change the firmware by inexperienced users, which can destroy the "core" of the Android platform.

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Freezing and incorrect work  Android smartphones and tablets are a very common problem. Many do not know what to do, and carry the gadget to the service center for repair. Meanwhile, in most cases this can be done with a simple data reset, or Hard Reset. As a result of these actions, all settings can be restored to the original factory settings. Along with this, all information that is on the phone will be deleted: contacts, messages, applications, etc.

Hard reset - what is it and why

This is the name for a factory reset. If the smartphone began to work with malfunctions, freezes, then it is recommended to perform this simple action. There are three ways to do this.

Remember: before you start performing a data reset, you must do backup  all the information that is on the tablet. For this purpose, you can use the Titanium program.

The first way is software

This method of resetting Android is carried out using the standard function available in the Android system itself. To do this:

  1. find “Settings”;
  2. select “Recovery, reset”;
  3. then select “Reset Settings”.

A warning appears on the screen that all data from the tablet will be deleted. A button will appear below that confirms the action.

Click the “Erase everything” button, thereby confirming the deletion of all available information. In new and old releases of Android, the reset position is somewhat different. Details on how to make them in a new and old version, can be read in the “Privacy” - “Data Reset” section.

Reset Android via code

In the input section, dial as follows: *2767*3855# . All the original Android data on the Chinese smartphone and tablet will be fully restored. No additional confirmation is required to reset via code.

How to reset Android settings if the smartphone does not turn on

If the smartphone does not respond to anything, you can apply the third method hard reset: - You should press three buttons at the same time: “Home”, “On”, “Reduce the volume”. This key combination should be held until the “Recovery Mode” position is displayed. We open this mode, select “Wipe” in it - this section just serves for a total reset. Confirm the selected action by pressing the “Home” button.

After a hard reset has been implemented, you can restore Android using a backup copy. When doing this, you must be extremely careful: it is possible that the problems arose accidentally, based on previous settings or in some of the installed applications.

In this case, it’s better not to risk your chinese tablet, and set it up as new through your Google account. Thanks to this, all the necessary information - messages, letters, contacts, are synchronized with a smartphone. Applications that will be erased after Android recovery can be installed again through PlayMarket.

How to hard reset if an alternative Android firmware is installed on the tablet

In this case, you should know that even with full reset  settings, additionally installed firmware are not deleted. Therefore, any changes in the program operating system  from the tablet will not be deleted. This must be considered if the gadget is being restored in order to make it return under warranty.

Reset and memory card


When performing a hard reset, you need to know that the contents of the memory card do not change. If it is necessary to delete information from it, the removal will have to be done manually. Moreover, if you delete through the “Dellete” button, the data is still subject to recovery, this method is not suitable for deleting confidential information.

Via recovery menu


One known method run hard  reset is an action through the recovery menu. This method is effective if the device cannot be loaded and the hard reset cannot be started via the settings. In this situation, proceed as follows:

  1. Turn off the tablet completely, including rebooting the battery by removing it and installing it again;
  2. Hold down the volume key, hold;
  3. Hold the “Home” key, hold;
  4. Hold down the power key, hold all of the above keys and wait for the start of the Android recovery mode;
  5. The recovery menu will appear in the window, from which we select “Wipe Data / Factory Reset”;
  6. We are waiting for a full recovery.

By computer


If the touchscreen or keys do not work on the Chinese smartphone, the settings can be reset via the computer. For such an action on the computer, you must install android programs  Debug Bridge (ADB), and on the phone activate ADB mode. In this case, proceed as follows:

  1. We connect the smartphone to the computer with a USB cable.
  2. On the computer using the cmd command, run the command prompt.
  3. We type in the command line a combination of adb reboot recovery.
  4. We perform a factory reset directly on the smartphone by selecting the desired item by touching or using the keys.

So, if you carefully study all the recovery methods, making a hard reset on a tablet or smartphone will not be difficult.

How to reset on Android?





When the smartphone starts to work slowly, launch applications for 10 minutes and does not open files for completely unknown reasons, it may be time to reset its settings to factory settings. This procedure returns the phone to the same state in which you removed it from the box after purchase. All your personal data, such as applications, accounts in various services, etc. will be erased. But the problems in the operation of the device will disappear.

To learn about how to reset on Android, read this article.

Prepare for rollback

You need to understand that it is impossible to restore the factory settings without data loss, therefore, before resetting to any device, we recommend that you perform backup  all data available on the phone to an alternative medium. Otherwise, you risk losing them irrevocably.

  • to save the data that you have stored on MicroSD cardinserted into the device, you just need to remove it from the phone;
  • if you stored important data directly in the memory of the smartphone itself, then you will first need to connect the phone to the computer using a usb cable, wait until the devices are synchronized, and then copy all the necessary files to a separate folder on the computer;
  • if you don’t have at your fingertips any device on which you can copy the necessary files, you can use the virtual storage specially designed for such purposes google data  Drive, the app for which is available on Google Play.

Now we will go directly to the procedure for performing a device rollback.

First method

The algorithm for resetting the tablet or smartphone to the factory settings is identical:

  1. Go to the phone menu and open Settings.
  2. Find Recovery and Reset.
  3. Click on Reset Settings.
  4. At the same time, you can also clear the phone’s memory by checking the corresponding item (relevant for smartphones). So you can simultaneously delete all your photos, audio and video recordings and other materials that you have ever downloaded to your phone.
  5. Confirm the action by clicking on the Reset phone button (or just “reset the settings” for the tablet).

As you can see, there is nothing complicated about this. Now let's move on to the second way to roll back to the factory settings of the device.

Second method

Hard reset is a forced reset of the device if the operating system is completely out of order and the tablet / smartphone refuses to turn on. Using a specific key combination, the device can be started in Recovery mode and rolled back using it.

In other words, if the first method is not suitable for you, then it's time to move on to plan B.

  1. Turn off the phone. If the smartphone freezes, just remove the back cover, pull out the battery and after a few seconds insert it back.
  2. Hold the key combination that the manufacturer has programmed to perform a factory reset. For different models and manufacturers, this key combination is different. How hard reset is made specifically on your phone model, you can search in the instructions for it or on the Internet. The most commonly used combinations: volume up button + menu + lock / power button; volume decrease + lock / enable; menu + lock / shutdown.

These keyboard shortcuts must be clamped and held until Recovery mode starts.

  1. After you manage to find the required key combination, a menu will open in front of you. You need to navigate it using the volume buttons. Select wipe data / factory reset by pressing the lock / shutdown button or the context menu call button. Then use the same button to confirm the selected action.
  2. After the reset process is complete, reboot the phone by selecting Reboot System.
  3. Wait until the phone turns on already with the factory settings.

If you want to resort to such a thing as a hard reset Android tablet, then the algorithm of actions will not differ much from resetting settings on a smartphone:

  1. If the tablet refuses to turn on, then hold down two buttons at the same time: Home / on (depending on the model of the device) and the volume control button (depending on the model, you need to clamp either increase or decrease the volume).
  2. Keep the buttons pressed until the operating system logo appears on the screen. After that, release the buttons and wait until the tablet enters Recovery mode.
  3. You will see a menu. Select "wipe data / factory reset" with the volume control and confirm with the Home / Power button.

Third method

In some phone models, factory settings can be reset by entering engineering, or as they are also called, secret codes. They are used by developers and testers. softwareto save time on simple operations.

To reset using this code, try the following combinations:

  • *# * # 7780 # * # *;
  • *2767 * 3855 #;
  • *#*#7378423#*#*.

It does not turn on or slows down very much, since it is possible to reset to factory settings. How to make a "hard reset", you can find out below.

Why do hard reset?

Hard reset is a special reboot during which all settings are reset to the factory settings, and absolutely all information (even personal) is deleted. After it, the phone is crystal clear, as immediately after purchase. This function is also called hardware reset, reset to factory settings, as well as a hard reset.

It is worth noting that, before making a “hard reset” on “Android”, you need to create a backup copy of all data from the phone’s internal memory, because you won’t be able to restore it.

Whoever thinks that this function is useless and even harmful is very wrong. Hardware reset  It is used only if the phone cannot be restored with ordinary applications and cleanings. It should be done if:

  • The phone began to think and load for a very long time due to the large load of RAM.
  • Due to the multiple installation and reinstallation of different applications, as a result of which a huge amount of unnecessary information has accumulated.
  • After obtaining root rights, an important component of the operating system was removed, because of which the smartphone began to work incorrectly.
  • Due to some kind of malfunction, the phone began to work incorrectly (constantly rebooting, turning itself off or not turning on at all).

Of course, after the "hard reset" is made, you need to configure everything, download, download and install on a new one. But, in turn, the phone will work as it should, and will not slow down (at least until a lot of different things are loaded into it again).

How to make a hard reset?

There are several ways to reset your phone to factory settings:

  • through settings (soft reset);
  • via Android system  recovery (it is also called the engineering menu);
  • through a special service utility from an official developer (in the case when the phone does not turn on, but Android system recovery  not included or not provided at all).

Now let's see how to make a hard reset by each of these methods.

Software Reset

First of all, you need to save all the data from the phone. You can do this in different ways: create a backup and save it to a USB flash drive, connect to a PC and reset data using special utilities, sync with your Google account, and so on. It is also advisable to discard all information from the flash drive and format it. This must be done, because when data is reset, the key to decrypt the data is deleted. If, after making a “hard reset” on “Android”, inserting a memory card, the phone will simply create a new one file system  on it, ignoring the old file tree. Physically, the data will remain there, but access to it will no longer be.

Now we do the following: we go to the “Settings” of the phone, then to the “Personal data” item (depending on the firmware version, this item may be called “Accounts” or “Restore and reset”). Click on "Factory data reset".


Then - “Reset devices” and “Delete all”. Done.

Reset via Android system recovery

This method is resorted to if the phone does not turn on or is constantly rebooting. Turn off the phone. Recovery mode is activated by pressing the power button, volume buttons and menu. How to make a hard reset using a combination of buttons? It all depends on the manufacturer:

  • Sony - we charge the phone to the maximum (the light is green), disconnect from charging and press the button in a small hole with a paper clip. After the screen goes blank, you need to hold the power button for a few seconds and press the volume increase several times.


  • Samsung - we simultaneously clamp on, volume up and the menu. Using the volume buttons, we move to “wipe data / factory reset”, then “Yes - delete all data” and “Reboot now”.


  • Nokia - hold power, volume down and the camera.
  • HTC - hold both volumes, briefly press the power. When “Warnings” appears, press the volume up.
  • ASUS - holds the volume down and for three seconds - power, hold the volume. In the menu, select “Enter recovery mode" Further, the algorithm is the same as making a “hard reset” on “Samsung”.
  • Alcatel - hold the volume up and power. Next - as in Samsung.
  • Acer - hold the volume up and power. Further - as in ASUS.

Reset Sony device

Sony Xperia devices have one problem: due to some malfunction or error in the system, when you turn on Bluetooth, the phone starts to restart without interruption. At the same time, you can turn it off only by disconnecting the battery. And, since it was not possible to make a “hard reset” on Sony via Recovery mode for some reason, you can use the special utility PC Companion from the manufacturer. It must be on the computer if the phone has been connected to a PC at least once.


We proceed as follows. Launch PC Companion. Click “Start” in the Support Zone section. In the column “Update phone software” we also click on “Start”. In the window that appears, click on the highlighted inscription “restore phone”. From the list, select your model, and then follow simple instructions.

But there is one nuance: the smartphone must be in the database of this program with the downloaded drivers, otherwise, before making a “hard reset”, the program will ask you to perform several actions on the device for identification (lower / lower the curtain, etc.). Of course, this will not work if it is turned off.

Hard reset - the procedure is extremely responsible, so it’s worth taking a couple of tips:

  1. Before making a “hard reset” on your tablet or phone, you need to create a backup copy of all data (contacts, SMS, accounts, wi-Fi passwords  And so on). There are plenty of ways and tools for this (if the device is turned on at all).
  2. It will be useful to backup files from a flash drive. At least because in the settings the clear memory card button is located under the disconnect button. And, inadvertently confusing, you can lose important data.
  3. You should not install applications from unsafe sources on your smartphone in order to avoid problems with the system.
  4. Use root privileges more carefully, if granted. You should not delete something in which there is no full confidence, and allow different applications to use these rights.
  5. If suddenly for some reason it was not possible to reset to the factory settings, you can fix the phone by flashing the “Android”. Contrary to popular belief, this is quite simple. It will take only sensible instructions, hands and a bright mind.