How to factory reset your iPhone, Android, and what to know before you do
Few things are more exciting than getting a brand-new phone. Between discovering its cool features to testing out the camera and snapping that first pic, a new device is something we all look forward to. That is, until we have to decide what to do with the old one. Whether you choose to repurpose your current phone, sell it, or swap it out for your new device, it’s important to perform a factory reset and remove all your personal information.
At Asurion, our experts help millions of customers get the most out of their favorite tech, from setting up new phones to fixing broken or cracked screens. Here are their tips for resetting your device without losing your important data.
Why would you need to factory reset your phone?
In general, a factory reset should be your last resort. Unless you are getting rid of the device and want to wipe all its content, restoring a phone to its default settings will mean starting from scratch. While others may advise you to perform a factory reset if your phone is experiencing problems like freezing up, shutting off, or running slow, our experts only recommend this fix when you’ve tried everything else.
What happens when you factory reset your phone?
Knowing how to reset your phone to factory settings is just as important as understanding what it’s designed to do—which is delete nearly everything on your phone. A factory reset erases all your data, apps, and preferences. That includes the following:
What a factory reset deletes from your phone
Contacts
Photos and videos
Music
Passwords and files
Accounts
Messages
Anything else you have added to the phone
Wondering what’s left after a factory reset? Just your phone’s current software. That’s why it’s important to make sure you’re prepared to take such a big step.
What should I do before I reset my phone?
The first thing you should do before resetting your phone is back up your data. Transferring your information to a new device or uploading it to a service like iCloud, Google Drive, or one offered by your phone carrier will ensure you don’t lose everything during a factory reset.
But be warned: the back-up process can be time-consuming. And it’s best to save your files over a secure Wi-Fi connection, so you don’t use up a lot of cellular data during the transfer. However, once the backup is complete, you’ll be able to restore your settings and information on your damaged phone or when you get a new one.
Steps to take before you factory reset your iPhone, Android
Whether you have an iPhone or Android device, you’ll also want to make sure you know your login information before you reset your phone. This is important for many reasons. For iPhone users, your Apple ID and password will let you access data stored in iCloud across your devices. And a Google Account username and password is required to restore data after resetting an Android device. You can typically find both your Apple ID and Google Account in Settings.
Here are a few other ways to prepare for a factory reset:
Unpair or disconnect BluetoothÆ devices like your smartwatch or wireless headphones.
Sign out of all apps, services, and email accounts.
Turn off Find My iPhone, Find My Device or Find My Mobile.
Delete cards from your mobile wallet.
Remove SIM card or deactivate your eSIM.
Plug your phone into a power source and connect it to Wi-Fi.
After backing up your data and completing the checklist above, don’t forget to sign out of your phone, too. Although a factory reset removes all the information stored on the device, this will ensure no one can access your account after you get rid of it.
How to factory reset your iPhone
Still want to do a factory reset? There are a few different ways to do it, but the easiest way is through Settings. Here’s how to reset an iPhone:
Open Settings, then tap General > Reset.
Tap Erase All Content and Settings. You may have to enter your passcode or Apple ID and password to confirm your decision.
Tap Erase iPhone.
Your iPhone’s screen will go dark, and you may have to wait a few minutes for it to fully erase. When you see the device turn back on, the factory reset will be complete.
How to factory reset your iPhone without the passcode
Forgot your iPhone’s passcode? We’ve all been there. But if you enter the numbers incorrectly too many times, the device will be disabled, and you’ll be forced to do a factory reset just to access your phone. For iPhone X and later, Asurion experts recommend doing this:
If your iPhone is connected to a computer, disconnect it.
Press and hold one of the volume buttons and the Side button until you see the power off slider. Then drag the slider to the right and turn off your phone.
Connect your iPhone to a computer and hold the Side button. When you see the recovery mode screen, release the button.
Hopefully you backed up your phone before you got locked out. If so, you should be able to restore your data after you remove the passcode.
How to factory reset your Android phone
For an Android device, you can usually perform a factory reset in Settings, but it can take up to an hour to complete. Make sure your phone is plugged into power while resetting it.
From there, the steps are simple. Here’s how to reset a Samsung Galaxy phone:
Open Settings, then tap General management > Reset.
Tap Factory Data Reset > Reset > Delete all.
For other Android models, you can use Search to reset your phone to its original settings.
Open Settings, then search “Factory data reset”.
Tap Factory Data Reset in the results. Tap Reset or Reset Phone if prompted again, then enter your password or PIN to confirm your decision.
How to factory reset your Android phone when locked
If you can’t remember the PIN, password or pattern to unlock your phone, you may be forced to do a factory reset to erase it. Use our experts’ tips for resetting Samsung Galaxy S8 and newer phones:
Turn off the phone if it doesn’t require a PIN to do so. You may have to wait until it runs out of battery to turn off on its own.
Press and hold the Volume Up, Power and Bixby buttons simultaneously until your phone vibrates and the Samsung logo appears.
When the Recovery menu appears, press the Volume buttons to select “Delete all user data" or "Wipe data/factory reset”. Then press the Power button to make your selection.
Use the Volume buttons again to confirm “Yes” or “Factory data reset,” then press the Power button to select it.
Once your phone processes the factory reset, you may see the message “Data wipe complete” at the bottom of your screen. Press the Power button one last time to select the option “Reboot device”.
Your Samsung phone will reset and power back on automatically when it’s time to set it up.
Protect it now
For more than 25 years, Asurion has helped 300 million customers protect, connect, and enjoy the tech they love most. And smartphones are no exception. Your life is on your device, make sure it’s protected. Learn more about coverage and enroll in a phone insurance plan today.