When we talk about doing a hard reset on Android, we are about resetting, resetting, or restoring the device. If you have been immersed in the Android world for years, you are probably familiar with the first concept, but it is more likely that you have heard the others more times. Those who at some point have fiddled with their terminals by installing ROMs, updating to unofficial Android versions, or making any other modification that involves the use of recovery – one of the most important partitions of the system – will have carried out this process more than once. Others, on the other hand, maybe the first time they read it.
Whatever your case, it is convenient to know what it is and what it could serve to perform a hard reset on an Android mobile, in addition to understanding when it may be advisable or necessary to carry out this process. In this article, we clarify all the doubts regarding this advanced process, which can be as useful as risky.
How to do it, and what is the use of doing a hard reset
At the time, we already explained how to format an Android mobile step by step to make it totally clean. After all, performing a hard reset is just one way to format or reset an Android device and delete all its data. Or what is the same, restore or reset all your factory data, and leave the mobile or tablet as it came out of its box at the time of purchase.
Unlike other types of data “cleaning,” a hard reset resets the state of the device software to how it was initially, eliminating absolutely all the information stored by the user in the device’s storage – internally, of course. ; microSD card remains unchanged if present.
There are several different ways to perform a hard reset on Android. All of them, however, have the same outcome: all the data on the phone is permanently deleted, and it is only possible to recover it if you have previously created a complete backup of the information. Therefore, keep this in mind before following the steps that we are going to detail below.
How to reset an Android mobile from the settings
By default, Android offers the possibility of performing a hard reset without resorting to external tools or strange menus, all from the system settings. Depending on the software your device is running, the option could be located in one menu or another, but generally, these are the steps to follow to do so:
- Open the system settings app and look for the System section.
- Go to the “Recovery options” section and enter the “Erase all data” option.
- Follow the instructions indicated, and finally click on the “Reset phone” button.
After a few minutes, with several reboots of the device in between, all the data stored in the terminal will be deleted, and the phone will be immaculate and like new, perfect if you intend to sell it or give it to someone else.
How to reset an Android mobile from the recovery menu
There is another way to reset an Android device to its factory settings, which is usually carried out when the operating system does not start, or the option to delete all data is not accessible. To do this, you have to resort to the system’s recovery menu, which among its options includes performing a hard reset, as well as others designed to carry out more advanced Android processes. These are the cases to follow:
- Access the recovery menu of the device. To do this, with it off, hold down the power button and the volume down button –although it may vary depending on your device–.
- Move through the different options with the volume up or down keys. Find the option “Wipe Data,” “Factory Reset,” or similar, and accept by pressing the power button.
- Wait for the process to finish and restart the device.
By performing the hard reset in this way, the device will not restart automatically during the process, but we will have to do it once it is finished. However, the efficiency is the same as if it were done previously, and the only difference is that this solution is intended for those who cannot access the system settings for some reason.
When should you do a hard reset of your Android mobile
Now, why on earth would anyone want to delete every data stored on their phone? There are several reasons why doing a hard reset makes sense, and these are just a few of them:
- When selling or giving away the mobile: if you are going to stop using an Android device and intend to sell it or give it to a third party, this is a good way to ensure that the stored information is no longer available.
- After having “touched something you shouldn’t”: if you have installed a ROM full of errors, or a corrupt installation of a new version of the system has been carried out, performing a hard reset will allow you to “clean” the system of possible problems and start over. Zero.
- When changing ROMs: you have seen our guide to the best Android ROMs of 2019, and now you want to try one on your mobile. Good idea. However, you should know that before installing a new ROM, you should restore your device to factory settings to perform what is known as a “clean installation.”
- When your mobile works badly: it seems a lie, but even in the middle of 2019, formatting the mobile may become necessary from time to time when a mobile does not work as it should. Normally, this process solves all those software problems that have arisen over time and do not depend directly on bugs in the operating system itself.
Sharlene Meriel is an avid gamer with a knack for technology. He has been writing about the latest technologies for the past 5 years. His contribution in technology journalism has been noteworthy. He is also a day trader with interest in the Forex market.
