Factory reset helps to wipe off and delete personal data from your old phone so as to prevent the misuse of information by someone. Here is how you can do it.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Jul 13, 2021 13:34 IST
By India Today Web Desk: While you are planning to buy a new phone or setting it up, it is important that you give your old Android phone a proper factory reset before selling or trading it.
After you have done transferring and creating a backup of all your essential data like contacts, images, videos, personal chats, documents and other data to the new phone, make sure you log out of your personal accounts before resetting everything and then putting the device on a factory reset setting.
If you fail to properly log out and remove accounts and reset your phone, you might end up missing new incoming messages and factory-reset protection on Android phones can lock buyers out even after the device has been wiped.
How to sign out of all the accounts?
First of all, you should manually remove every account that you have signed in with, like WhatsApp, Twitter, MS Office, etc. For this, you can go to the 'Settings' and then on 'Accounts' and remove each account one by one. Then sign out of your Google account. This step will stop any new sync on your old phone. Now, it is time for the factory reset.
How to factory reset your android phone?
Before starting with this process, remove any MicroSD card and your SIM card from the device.
Step 1: Go to the 'Settings' of your device.
Step 2: Search for 'Reset' and then click on 'Factory Data Reset' from the searched items.
Step 3: Now, allow reset and let the phone complete the cleaning and wiping process and then restart.
Step 4: After this process is complete, the Android welcome screen will be displayed upon restart. This will enable the new user to sign in with their own credentials.
Point to note: The process is slightly different for different phones. For instance, on a Samsung Galaxy S21, the user has to go to Settings > General Management > Reset and then select 'Factory Data Reset' before scrolling to the bottom and tapping 'Reset' and 'Delete All'.
READ MORE: How to transfer Whatsapp Chat Backup from iPhone to Android: All you need to know
Published On:
Jul 13, 2021
FAQs
On most phones, you can factory reset your phone through the Settings app. Go to Settings >> General Management >> Reset >> Factory Data Reset, as shown in Figure 3.0 below. You may check your manufacturer's support site for device-specific instructions.
How do I securely wipe my Android phone before selling it? ›
How to wipe your Android
- Go to “Settings” > “System.”
- Tap “Reset Options.”
- Choose “Erase all data (factory reset).”
- Tap the “Reset phone.”
- Tap “Erase everything.” Your phone will be returned to the same state as when you purchased it.
In the hurry to sell your smartphone, don't forget to remove SIM card and microSD card, in any, from the device. Leaving it installed and performing a factory reset on your phone will erase all data from the card too. After backing up and securely transferring your data, perform a factory data reset on your smartphone.
Does factory reset remove all data permanently? ›
Important: A factory reset erases all your data from your phone. If you're resetting to fix an issue, we recommend first trying other solutions. Learn how to troubleshoot Android issues. To restore your data after you reset your phone, you must enter security info.
How do I permanently delete all data from my phone? ›
Restore Your Phone to Factory Settings. The most drastic way to permanently delete private files is to perform a factory reset. This will erase all the data on your phone, so it is best used prior to selling or recycling your device. You should back up any Android data you want to keep beforehand.
Can data be recovered after a factory reset? ›
To recover data after factory reset Android, navigate to the "Backup and Restore" section under "Settings." Now, look for the "Restore" option, and choose the backup file you created before resetting your Android phone. Select the file and restore all of your data.
Is it safe to sell a wiped phone? ›
The data on most Android phones is encrypted which means that it can't be accessed following a factory reset. As such, you don't need to worry about another person accessing this information if you sell your Android phone.
Does a factory reset remove Google Account? ›
It doesn't matter if you use an iPhone, Android phone, Blackberry, Huawei, or Librem; they all have a factory reset option. Remember to wipe any second-hand devices you buy as well to ensure it doesn't have any malware. Does a factory reset remove your Google account? No.
Should I remove SIM card before or after factory reset? ›
In Short. First of all, you should manually remove every account that you have signed in with. Then, remove any MicroSD card and your SIM card from the device. It is important that you give your old Android phone a proper factory reset before selling or trading it.
Does factory reset delete photos? ›
Doing a factory reset of your Android phone will make the phone look and operate exactly as it did when you bought it. That means that your contacts, photos, messages, and any installed apps will be deleted.
There are, however, a few ways to ensure your data is really erased forever.
- Encrypt your phone. Encrypting your Android device is the strongest way to prevent its data from being recovered. ...
- Overwrite it with throwaway data. ...
- Repeat.
No you cannot track after a device has been reset. For the tracking to work the location services have to be turned on which will be default to off after a reset. But you can make the device useless for the thief if you follow some simple steps.
Does factory reset erase deleted files? ›
While a reset will make your files, photos and other materials “disappear,” it doesn't remove the files themselves. Learn how to dispose of your old smart devices securely. It's tempting to turn in your old smartphone for the newer iPhone 11, but before you do, make sure you take sensitive data off your device.
How do I permanently delete all data from my Android phone? ›
A Factory data reset from the Settings menu will permanently delete all data, including files and downloaded apps.
- Go to Settings and select General management.
- Select Reset.
- Select Factory data reset.
- After confirming the Factory data reset details, tap Reset.
- Tap Delete all.
Solution 1: Permanently Delete Files by Setting Recycle Bin
- Step 1 Right-click on the Recycle Bin from your desktop.
- Step 2 Click on 'Properties' and then choose the drive for which you want to delete the data permanently.
- Step 3 After selecting the drive, mark the option called 'Don't move files to the Recycle Bin.
First, unlock your device and navigate to “Settings.” Now tap on “Cloud & Accounts” and then hit on the “Accounts” option. Look for your google account and select it. Click the three dots in the upper-right corner, then select “Remove account” (You may get a verification request).
What is the difference between wipe device and wipe account? ›
Wipe a device—If it's a company-owned or personal device that's lost or stolen. This option removes all work data and apps from the device. It also removes personal data and apps, unless it's an Android device with a work profile. Wipe an account—If it's a personal device and the user is leaving your organization.
Does a factory reset remove Google account? ›
It doesn't matter if you use an iPhone, Android phone, Blackberry, Huawei, or Librem; they all have a factory reset option. Remember to wipe any second-hand devices you buy as well to ensure it doesn't have any malware. Does a factory reset remove your Google account? No.
Does a factory reset remove Samsung account? ›
You can reset your phone to its default settings without erasing apps or data. This type of reset will not erase security or language settings, accounts, personal data, or settings for your downloaded apps.
Should I remove SIM before factory reset? ›
Step 1: Remove the SIM card and SD card.
Your SIM card connects you to the service provider, and your SD card contains photos and other bits of personal information. Remove them both before you sell your phone.
