How to Do a Google Phone Factory Reset
A factory reset is one of the most useful things you can do to your Pixel. It enables you to remove all of the current data from your phone and get it ready for another user.
This can be helpful if you are experiencing bugs that nothing else seems to fix, or if you are going to sell it. The process will erase everything on the device, so back it up beforehand if possible.
How to do a factory reset on your Google Pixel
A factory reset is a way to completely wipe your Pixel, so you can sell it or give it to someone else without worrying about their personal data. It’s also a good option for when your Pixel is acting up, or if you’re having problems with a bug that won’t go away with updates.
Before you factory reset your Pixel, make sure to back up all of your data somewhere. This can be on another phone, in a computer, or on the Google servers, depending on what you use your Pixel for. Once you have everything backed up, follow these steps to factory reset your Pixel:
1. Back up your data
One of the great things about factory resetting your Pixel is that Google does an excellent job of minimizing any damage done by making sure you can restore any data you had backed up to the cloud following the reset. But that only works if you actually have a backup to restore from.
If you don’t have a backup, everything that was saved on the phone will be erased during the factory reset. That includes pictures, videos, app information, music, and more. So if you plan on selling your Pixel or just giving it away, it’s important to back up your data before you proceed with the factory reset. This can be done by navigating to Settings. Then, tap Account and make sure that anything you want backed up is enabled.
2. Enter recovery mode
If you do a factory reset and then find that your phone is stuck in the Android system recovery screen, you can use third-party data recovery software to get back the information you lost. This method is more reliable than trying to manually boot the phone into the normal Android operating system.
When the phone reboots, it will show a little Android figure and a message that says “no command”. Press and hold the power button and the volume up button simultaneously to bypass this screen and go directly into the recovery mode menu.
From the Android recovery screen, select Wipe data/factory reset with the power button and confirm. This option will wipe all the settings and apps on your device, as well as erase any SIM cards that are in it.
3. Erase all data
A factory reset is a good way to wipe your Android device before giving it away or selling it. However, if the device is rooted, malware can sometimes stick around even after a full factory wipe. To prevent this, encrypt your data before doing the factory reset.
To do this, head into settings and tap the cog icon. Then, scroll down and select System. The next page will list the options you can choose from. The first option, Reset settings, will reset network, mobile and Bluetooth preferences. The second option, Reset app preferences, will restore defaults for apps. And the last option, Erase all data (factory reset), will delete everything on the phone.
You can also deactivate FRP (Factory Reset Protection). This is a security feature introduced in Android 5.0 Lollipop that prevents anyone from using your device if it’s been locked with a screen lock or password.
4. Restart
If you’re dealing with Pixel 6 problems, like apps that keep freezing or a persistent performance bug, sometimes the easiest fix is to restart your device. This process, also known as a soft or factory reset, wipes your phone clean of its settings, apps, and files. It’s a good idea to back up your Pixel before you do this, though, in case something goes wrong with the process.
To restart your Pixel in recovery mode, press and hold the power and volume down buttons simultaneously. When the Android recovery screen appears, use the volume down button to highlight “Wipe cache partition” and press the power button to select it. After wiping, reboot your device and you should see improved performance.
