How do you factory reset your phone?

Did you know that when you delete your files… they aren’t actually deleted?

Basically, unless the files have been overwritten, technically, the file is still on your drive. That is obviously a concerning thought, especially if you want to keep certain files or data private. On modern versions of Android and iOS, however, files are encrypted by default, so for most users, a full factory reset should be enough to protect you in most cases. 

Plus, a hard reset can also help when you encounter bugs on your phone, so you might want to factory reset for this reason as well.

The process is slightly different for different brands and versions, so here’s a quick guide for five major mobile brands, and how to perform factory resets on the latest software versions available.

Apple

First, we’d always advise you to back up your iPhone before performing a reset. You can factory reset your iPhone via two methods: one that requires a computer, and another method that doesn’t require a computer. 

It’s a lot easier if you do it on the iPhone. Head over to Settings > General > Reset, and tap Erase All Content and Settings. Then, enter your passcode or Apple ID password, and wait for the device to factory reset. 

If you can’t access this on your iPhone for some reason (like a bricked iPhone, etc.), you can perform the reset via your computer. On a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, open Finder—or if you’re on Mojave or earlier, or a Windows PC, open iTunes. 

Then, connect your device to your computer, and select your device when it appears on the computer. You’ll need to sign out of Apple’s Find My feature by going to Settings > [your name] > Find My > Find My iPhone. Finally, click “restore iPhone”, and you’re good to go. 

Or you can just search for “Erase all content and settings” within your Settings app.

Xiaomi

If you own a Redmi/ Xiaomi/ Poco—anything that runs on MIUI—this will work for you, provided you’re on MIUI 12. 

All you have to do is to head over to your Settings app > About phone > Factory reset > then tap on Erase all data. Then, enter your passcode (if you have one enabled) and a pop-up menu will appear. There’s a two-stage process to ensure that you don’t accidentally erase your data, which I think is a pretty good move.

Or, you can search for “Factory reset” in your Settings app.

Samsung

There are two ways you can hard reset your Samsung device. First, head over to Settings > General Management > Reset > Factory data reset. Then, tap Reset and Delete all. 

If that doesn’t work, or you don’t have access to the Settings app, you can also use the buttons on your phone to do a hard reset. First, turn off your phone. Then, press and hold the Power/Bixby key and Volume Up key. When the Android mascot appears, release the keys. The Android system recovery menu will appear, and then use the Volume Down key to select Wipe Data/Factory Reset and press the Power/Bixby key to proceed. Select yes, and once the factory reset completes, select Reboot System Now.

Or, you can search for “Reset” in your Settings app.

Oppo+Realme

Now, for Oppo, and ColorOS 11. To factory reset your Oppo phone, go to Settings > Additional settings > Backup and reset > Reset  to factory settings. 

Then, you’ll see five options for you to choose from. If you want  to completely wipe your data from your phone, make sure to click on Clear All Data. That way, all  of your private information including your photos and music will be completely erased. 

It’s also a very similar experience on Realme phones, since Realme UI is based on Color OS. Repeat this process, click on Erase all data, and you’re good to go. 

Or, again, you can search for “Erase” within your Settings app.

Honor/ Huawei

On Huawei, all you need to do is to go to your Settings > System > Reset > Reset phone. 

If you own an Honor smartphone, it’s also pretty straightforward.  Open Settings, go to System > Reset > Reset phone. This will delete all the data from your phone including your photos, system settings and everything that’s in your phone. 

Or, as usual, you can search for “Reset phone” within your Settings app.