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Factory reset
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
A factory reset, also known as hard reset or master reset, is a software restore of an electronic device to its original system state by erasing all data, settings, and applications that were previously stored on the device. This is often done to fix an issue with a device, but it could also be done to restore the device to its original settings.[1]
Since a factory reset entails deleting all information stored in the device, it is essentially the same concept as reformatting[1] a hard drive. Pre-installed applications and data on the card's storage card (such as a microSD card) will not be erased.[citation needed]
Factory resets can fix many chronic performance issues (such as freezing), but it does not remove the device's operating system.[2] Factory resets can also be used to prepare a device for sale, refurbishment, disposal, recycling, donation, or other transfers of ownership by removing personal data and settings associated with the previous owner.[3]
Examples
[edit]Factory resets can be achieved in a variety of ways depending on the electronic device. For some devices, this could be done by going into the device's Service Menu. Other devices may require a complete re-installation of the software. The following section lists a few common electronic devices and how they can be reset to factory settings.[citation needed]
Computer factory resets will restore the computer to its original operating system and delete all of the user data stored on the computer. Microsoft's Windows 8, Windows 10 and Windows 11, and Apple's macOS have options for this.[citation needed]
On Android devices, there is a factory data reset[4] option in Settings that will appear to erase all of the device's data and reset all of its settings. This method is typically used when the device has a technical problem that cannot be fixed using other methods, or when the owner wants to remove all their personal data before selling, giving away, returning, or disposing of the device. Factory Reset Protection (FRP) is a security feature implemented in Android devices starting from Android 5.1 Lollipop and later. Its purpose is to prevent unauthorized access to a device that has been lost, stolen, or reset to factory settings. If the user does not recall the Google account information, alternative methods such as FRP bypass[5] are utilized to unlock the Android device. After performing a study, Avast reported that the data is recoverable using forensics software that is fairly generic and publicly available.[6] On Samsung smartphones, a factory reset operation does not affect the Knox Flag. As such, it does not reset the device to its original factory settings and is not a way to return the device to a state compatible with the manufacturer's warranty. Data on the SIM card and the microSD card is not erased.[citation needed]
Other devices that can be restored to factory settings include televisions, GPS units, and tablet computers.[citation needed]
Many electronic devices have a menu with tools and settings called the service menu,[7] which commonly includes a tool that performs a factory reset. This tool is most common in devices with displays, such as television sets and computer monitors. These menus are usually accessed through a sequence of button presses.
Game cartridges, particularly ones designed for Nintendo handhelds that maintain save data, may feature a factory reset option that can instantly delete all of such data from the cartridge, initiated either by selecting a particular setting in an options menu[8] or by inputting a particular button combination during startup.[9][10][improper synthesis?]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "hard reset (factory reset; master reset)". whatis.techtarget.com. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
- ^ "Guide for Performing Factory Resets on Common Mobile Devices" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
- ^ "ACCC Report Revelations Of Scams And Cyber Crime Not Surprising". Tech Business News. 29 April 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
Whilst there exists the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF) and the Information Security Manual (ISM) which direct government and critical industry to use NAID AAA certified recyclers to destroy and sanitise data at end of life, there remains confusion over ownership of accountability.
- ^ "Reset your Android device to factory settings". Google. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Gsmneo Frp Herramientas y APKs: Eliminar Bloqueo FRP Android" (in Spanish). 2025-01-22. Retrieved 2025-08-03.
- ^ Jaromír Hořejší (9 July 2014). "Android Forensics, Part 1: How we recovered (supposedly) erased data".
- ^ "Service Menu Instructions" (MediaWiki).
- ^ Sonic Rush Instruction Booklet. SEGA. p. 15.
Delete Record: Delete all saved data on the Game Card.
- ^ Mario Kart: Super Circuit Instruction Booklet. Nintendo of America. p. 12.
To erase all of your saved data, hold the L Button, R Button, B Button and START when you turn the power ON, then choose "Yes" when the confirmation message appears.
- ^ "Elite Beat Agents Instruction Booklet" (PDF). Nintendo of America. p. 11. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
Deleting Saved Data: When you see [the opening logos], press and hold A + B + X + Y + L + R at the same time to delete saved data.
Factory reset
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
A factory reset, also known as a hard reset or master reset, is a software process that restores an electronic device—such as a smartphone, tablet, computer, or other consumer electronics—to its original manufacturer settings by erasing all user-installed applications, personal data, and custom configurations from the device's storage.[1][2]
This procedure is commonly used to resolve persistent software issues, prepare a device for resale or transfer by removing sensitive information, or simply to return the device to a clean, out-of-the-box state without affecting the underlying operating system firmware.[1][3]
On mobile platforms like iOS and Android, a factory reset erases all user data and settings, though forensic analysis may reveal residual traces in some cases.[1][4]
For Windows PCs, the equivalent "Reset this PC" feature reinstalls the operating system while removing personal files, apps, and settings, with options to either keep files or fully remove everything for a complete wipe.[2]
For macOS computers with Apple Silicon or T2 security chip running macOS Monterey or later, the "Erase All Content and Settings" feature provides a secure wipe by erasing all data, signing out of accounts, removing Apple ID associations, and reinstalling a fresh macOS, leveraging hardware encryption so that a single erase pass is sufficient.[5]
Users are strongly advised to back up important data beforehand, as the process is irreversible and renders erased information inaccessible through normal means.[1]
Definition and Purpose
Definition
A factory reset is the process of returning a computer, phone, or other electronic device to its original settings as configured by the manufacturer upon initial sale, thereby erasing all modifications, saved data, and user-added content.[6] This restoration eliminates personalized elements such as accounts, preferences, and files, effectively simulating the device's out-of-the-box condition. Key characteristics of a factory reset include the complete removal of user-installed applications and associated data, the reversion of hardware settings like network configurations and display options to their default parameters, and the restoration of the currently installed operating system to its default configuration.[2][7] These actions ensure that no traces of user activity remain accessible through normal means, though forensic analysis may recover residual traces in some cases, and underlying system files may be preserved in a recovery partition to facilitate the reset.[4] The term "factory reset" originated in the 1970s, with its earliest documented use appearing in technical literature around 1978, coinciding with the rise of early personal computers where such operations were needed to revert systems to their shipped factory state.[8]Common Uses
Factory resets are commonly employed for troubleshooting persistent software issues on electronic devices, such as glitches, slowdowns, or unresponsive behavior that simpler fixes like restarting or updating cannot resolve. For instance, when a device experiences performance degradation due to accumulated errors or conflicting applications, a factory reset restores the system to its original state, eliminating problematic configurations. For iPhones, a factory reset can also serve as a last resort for issues such as system data exceeding 50 GB without a clear reason or persistent passcode policies; users should first back up photos and contacts manually to iCloud or a computer, then navigate to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. To clear unnecessary system data while preserving personal information, subsequently restore from the backup; however, to fix persistent issues like passcode policies without reintroducing them, set up the iPhone as new without restoring or transferring data.[9][10][11][12] Additionally, it serves as a method to address malware infections by erasing infected files and settings, though users should avoid restoring from backups that may reintroduce the threat.[13] Another primary use is preparing devices for resale, transfer, or recycling, where the erasure of all personal data, apps, and settings ensures user privacy and prevents unauthorized access to sensitive information by the new owner. This process is recommended before handing over smartphones, tablets, or computers to wipe accounts, photos, and other content completely.[11][2] Inherent to this is the complete removal of user data, aligning with the core purpose of returning the device to its initial configuration.[1] In enterprise environments, factory resets are utilized for compliance and security purposes, such as enforcing organizational policies by wiping devices that violate standards or responding to security breaches like data leaks. Administrators often deploy remote wipes via management tools to reset corporate devices, removing all organizational and personal data to mitigate risks and restore compliance.[14] This is particularly vital after incidents requiring policy resets to prevent further exposure.[15] Specific scenarios prompting a factory reset include recovering from failed software updates that leave the device unstable or booting into error states, as well as addressing issues from other system instabilities. In these cases, the reset clears corrupted files from botched updates, allowing the device to function normally again.[16] For Apple devices, it is also used if tampering is suspected, ensuring no malicious changes persist.[17]Technical Mechanisms
Process Overview
A factory reset typically begins with the user accessing a dedicated recovery mode or settings menu on the device, often through a combination of hardware buttons or software navigation, followed by confirmation of the action to prevent accidental initiation. This triggers the underlying process of wiping user data and restoring the original operating system configuration, which generally takes between 10 and 60 minutes depending on the device's hardware and the extent of data erasure required.[1][18] The procedure frequently relies on built-in firmware, such as BIOS/UEFI on personal computers or the bootloader on mobile devices, to execute the reset even if the main operating system is corrupted or unresponsive, ensuring the process can proceed independently of the affected software environment.[19] In terms of storage structure, most devices maintain a dedicated factory image partition or recovery section that holds the pristine operating system files; during the reset, this image is used to overwrite user-modifiable partitions, such as the /data partition in Android systems or the C: drive in Windows installations, effectively erasing personal files, applications, and custom settings while preserving the core system integrity.[20][21] Following the restoration, the device automatically performs integrity checks on the reinstalled system files during the boot sequence to verify that no corruption has occurred, leveraging mechanisms like cryptographic verification to confirm the authenticity and wholeness of the restored components before allowing full operation.[22]Data Handling
During a factory reset, a wide range of user data is permanently erased to return the device to its original configuration. This includes personal files such as photos, documents, and videos; installed applications along with their associated data; customized settings like Wi-Fi networks, wallpapers, and preferences; temporary caches; and diagnostic logs generated during use. System files, however, are not deleted but instead restored from a pre-embedded backup image or recovery partition that contains the original operating system and essential software components.[17][1][5] Certain elements persist through the reset process, as they are either integral to the hardware or not stored locally on the device. Built-in firmware, which governs low-level hardware operations, remains intact and is reloaded from the factory image during restoration. Hardware calibrations, such as those for displays, batteries, or sensors performed at manufacturing, are typically preserved since they are embedded in non-volatile memory outside the user data partitions. Data synchronized to cloud services, like contacts or emails stored remotely rather than on the device, is unaffected and can be re-downloaded post-reset.[23][24] Encryption plays a critical role in ensuring the permanence of data erasure on modern devices. Most contemporary smartphones and computers employ full-disk encryption or per-file encryption schemes, where a factory reset wipes the cryptographic keys tied to user data partitions. Without these keys, even if raw data remnants exist on the storage medium, they become computationally infeasible to decrypt and recover, effectively rendering the information irrecoverable absent external backups. This mechanism is standard on platforms like iOS, macOS, and Android, where encryption is enabled by default. On modern Macs with SSDs using hardware encryption or FileVault (often enabled by default), features such as "Erase All Content and Settings" (available on Macs with Apple Silicon or T2 security chip running macOS Monterey or later) or erasing via Disk Utility in Recovery Mode securely delete the encryption keys, making data irrecoverable and rendering multi-pass overwrites unnecessary—a single erase pass is sufficient due to the hardware encryption.[12][25][26][27] To mitigate the risk of irreversible loss, backing up data before initiating a factory reset is essential. Users should export critical information using manufacturer-provided tools, such as iCloud for Apple devices, which automatically syncs photos, messages, and app data to secure servers, or Google Account backups for Android, which preserve contacts, call history, and settings via Google Drive integration. These methods ensure that eligible data can be selectively restored after the reset, though not all local files (e.g., unsynced media) may be recoverable without manual intervention.[28][29]Implementation by Device Type
Mobile Devices
A factory reset on mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, restores the operating system to its original manufacturer state by erasing user data, apps, and settings. This process is particularly relevant for Android and iOS platforms, which dominate the mobile ecosystem. On Android devices, users can initiate a factory reset through the settings menu by navigating to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset), which prompts confirmation and begins the erasure process.[1] Alternatively, if the device is unresponsive, recovery mode can be accessed by pressing a combination of buttons, such as Volume Down + Power on many models, allowing selection of the wipe data/factory reset option from the menu.[30] During an Android factory reset, the /data partition, which stores user files, apps, and configurations, is wiped clean, while the /system partition containing the core operating system remains intact to preserve the installed firmware.[31] This ensures the device boots with the current Android version and any manufacturer customizations, but all personal content is removed. For devices with custom ROMs—modified versions of Android installed by advanced users—the reset similarly targets user data without altering the custom system partition, enabling enthusiasts to maintain non-stock software post-reset.[32] In contrast, iOS devices follow a more integrated reset procedure tied to Apple's ecosystem for enhanced security. For preparing an iPhone for transfer or giveaway, users should first back up data if needed, then sign out of iCloud (via Settings > [your name] > Sign Out), which turns off Find My and requires the Apple ID password if Activation Lock is enabled, and finally select Erase All Content and Settings via Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone. Importantly, erasing an old iPhone using "Erase All Content and Settings" does not affect data on a new iPhone or other devices signed into the same Apple ID. The operation erases content only from the device itself, and content is not deleted from iCloud; any data transferred to the new iPhone via Quick Start, iCloud backup, or a computer remains intact, and iCloud-synced data across devices is unaffected unless manually removed from iCloud.[33] For devices using eSIM, users should choose the option to erase the device and the eSIM profile, as the carrier may deactivate the eSIM after transfer but the profile could remain stored; this ensures privacy by removing personal data and prepares the device for a new user.[33] This factory reset process erases all user data, apps, and settings, including Screen Time restrictions and parental controls. To address persistent passcode policies, such as those enforced by Screen Time, users should first back up photos and contacts manually to iCloud or a computer, then perform the erase, and subsequently set up the device as a new iPhone without restoring or transferring data from a backup; this prevents reintroduction of the policies.[11] Users are advised to back up their data beforehand if they wish to retain it. If Find My is enabled, the Apple ID password is required for reactivation after the erase due to Activation Lock.[11][34] As a last resort for addressing high system data, such as when it exceeds 50 GB without a clear reason, users should first back up to iCloud or a computer, perform the erase via the described settings path, and then restore from the backup to clear unnecessary system data while preserving personal information.[35] If the iPhone is connected to a computer, the reset can be performed using Finder on macOS or iTunes on Windows by selecting Restore iPhone, which erases the device and reinstalls the latest iOS version.[36] For a locked or unresponsive iPhone, users should first back up data if possible, turn off Find My iPhone if accessible, and update the computer and iTunes or Apple Devices app. Connect the iPhone via USB to the computer, open Finder (on macOS Catalina or later), the Apple Devices app (on Windows), or iTunes. Put the iPhone into recovery mode by quickly pressing and releasing Volume Up, then Volume Down, and holding the Side button until the recovery screen appears (for iPhone 8 and later models); or hold the Top (or Side) button and Volume Down button simultaneously until the recovery screen appears (for iPhone 7); or hold the Home button and Top (or Side) button until the recovery screen appears (for iPhone 6s or earlier). Select the iPhone in the software, click Restore, sign out of Find My if prompted, and confirm to erase all content and install the latest iOS. The device will restart as new. For errors, troubleshoot via Apple's support site.[36][37] Unlike Android, iOS does not support custom ROM installations due to its closed architecture, and resets are inherently linked to the user's Apple ID to prevent unauthorized access, enforcing compliance with Apple's security protocols. These platform differences highlight Android's flexibility for customization versus iOS's emphasis on seamless, secure integration within a single-vendor environment. A factory reset on either platform typically takes 5-15 minutes, depending on the device model and data volume, after which the mobile device restarts in its initial setup state, prompting users to configure language, Wi-Fi, and account sign-in as if unboxing a new unit.[18]Computers
In personal computers, factory reset processes vary by operating system and hardware configuration, aiming to restore the system to its original state by removing user data, applications, and settings while reinstalling the base OS. For Windows-based PCs, the primary method involves the built-in Reset this PC feature, which enables resetting without external installation media by using local files or downloading from the cloud. This feature is accessible via Settings > System > Recovery (in Windows 11) or Settings > Update & Security > Recovery (in Windows 10), or from the Windows Recovery Environment by selecting Troubleshoot > Reset this PC. To initiate the process from Settings, users open the Settings app, navigate to the appropriate Recovery section, select Reset PC, choose between "Keep my files" (which removes apps and settings but retains personal files, not a full factory reset) or "Remove everything" (which fully erases all data and reinstalls Windows, akin to a clean installation), select the reinstallation method (Cloud download requiring internet or Local reinstall), and confirm to start the reset. Users can enable "Restore preinstalled apps" or "Clean data" for additional customizations or security. For the "Keep my files" option from the recovery environment, this preserves personal files while removing apps, drivers, and settings; users should reinstall programs afterward. When the 'Clean the drive' option is selected with 'Remove everything,' it removes files and cleans the drive, making data recovery more difficult, though it does not meet government or industry standards for secure data erasure.[2] On macOS systems, the recommended and most secure method for a factory reset on compatible Macs is the "Erase All Content and Settings" feature, available on Macs with Apple silicon or the T2 security chip running macOS Monterey or later. This feature erases all user data, signs out of accounts, removes Apple ID associations, and reinstalls a fresh copy of macOS. Due to hardware encryption on SSDs, a single erase is sufficient for secure data wiping, with no need for multi-pass overwrites.[5] To use "Erase All Content and Settings":- Back up any data you want to keep.
- Go to Apple menu > System Settings > General > Transfer or Reset.
- Select "Erase All Content and Settings."
- Enter your admin password and Apple ID credentials if prompted.
- Confirm and let the process complete (Mac restarts to setup assistant).