How to Factory Reset Android with buttons without home button?
A factory reset is the process of restoring an Android device back to its original manufacturer settings and erasing all user data. This is done by accessing the recovery menu and performing a full wipe of the system, cache, and user data partitions. Factory resetting an Android device can help fix software issues, remove malware, bypass screen locks, and wipe the device before selling or gifting it. It should be used with caution as all apps and personal content will be deleted.
When to Factory Reset
There are a few key times when you may want to factory reset your Android device:
When switching users – If you are passing your device on to a new user, you’ll want to wipe it and remove any personal data. A factory reset returns the device to its out-of-the-box state so the new user can start fresh.
Troubleshooting – If you’re experiencing bugs, glitches, or other issues with your device, a factory reset can often fix software problems by restoring the original software. This should be done as a last resort after trying other troubleshooting steps.
Before selling – Performing a factory reset is an important step before selling or trading in your Android device. It securely wipes all your personal data, accounts, and settings from the device.
Factory resetting is also recommended if you simply want to start over with a clean slate on your device. However, keep in mind it should not be used to bypass a device lock screen or passcode.
Back Up Data
It is crucial to back up your data before factory resetting your Android device. A factory reset will wipe all data, settings, and installed apps from the device, returning it to its out-of-the-box state. Once reset, there is no way to recover any data or settings that were on the device previously.
To avoid losing personal files, photos, contacts, and other important information, be sure to back up your data first. You can back up to your Google account, to an external SD card if your device has one, or to a computer using a USB connection. Backing up to Google Drive or another cloud storage service is also an option.
According to this Quora post, at minimum you should back up your contacts, photos, music, documents, app data, SMS text messages, call logs, settings, bookmarks, and WiFi passwords before resetting your Android. Take the time to fully back up any and all data you want to keep.
Backing up beforehand ensures you can restore your data and personal content after the factory reset is complete. It protects you from permanently losing anything important during the reset process.
Enter Recovery Mode
To enter recovery mode on an Android device without a home button, you will need to use a combination of hardware buttons:
- Turn off your device completely.
- Press and hold the Power button.
- While still holding the Power button, press and release the Volume Up button.
- Keep holding the Power button until you see the recovery mode screen.
This key combination varies slightly by device model, but pressing Power + Volume Up will work on most Android phones without a home button to access recovery mode. On Samsung Galaxy devices, you may need to press Power + Bixby + Volume Up.
Once you see the Android recovery screen, you know you have successfully entered recovery mode and can proceed with the factory reset process.
Source: https://xdaforums.com/t/cant-access-recovery-mode-no-home-button.3578393/
Wipe Data and Cache
Once you enter recovery mode on your Android device, you will need to select the option to wipe data/factory reset. The steps may vary slightly depending on your specific device, but generally you will use the volume buttons to navigate and the power button to select options.
On most devices, use the volume down button to highlight ‘wipe data/factory reset’ and press the power button to select it. You may need to scroll down to see this option. A confirmation message will appear – select ‘Yes’ to confirm the data wipe.
According to Wired, for Samsung devices in recovery mode, use the volume up button to scroll to ‘wipe data’ and power button to select. Choose ‘factory data reset’ on next screen.
The device will now erase all user data and settings, essentially resetting it to factory default state. Be patient as this process can take several minutes to complete depending on storage size.
Confirm Reset
Before performing the factory reset, your Android device will give you a final warning and chance to back out. This is your last opportunity to stop the reset process if you change your mind. The device will clearly say that all user data will be erased if you proceed.
For example, on a Google Pixel device, you will see a screen that says “Erase all data?” with two options: “Cancel” or “Erase all data” 1. You must tap “Erase all data” to confirm the factory reset.
Some devices may even ask you to enter your PIN, pattern, or password at this stage, as a final precaution. This ensures that you fully intend to reset the device and aren’t just randomly tapping through screens.
It’s crucial to pause at the confirmation and double check that you really want to proceed. Once you confirm the reset, there is no way to recover your data.
Reboot Device
After initiating the factory reset, your Android device will need to restart in order to finalize the reset process. At this point, you should let the device reboot on its own without interrupting it. The length of the reboot will vary depending on the specific Android device.
During the reboot, the device will go through the startup process and boot into the initial setup wizard. This is normal. Do not try to skip any steps during the initial setup after the reset. You will likely need to reconnect to WiFi and re-add your Google account at this stage.
Once the device has fully restarted and you have progressed through the setup, the factory reset will be complete. Going through these steps allows the device to wipe all user data, reset system settings to default, and clear any previous Google account associations [1]. This process is important for fully finalizing the reset.
Some tips during reboot:
- Keep the device connected to power during reboot
- Do not interrupt or turn off device mid-reboot
- Expect process to take 5+ minutes
With patience during the reboot and setup, you will have a fresh Android device after the factory reset.
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtLXxdEzAIo
Reset Google Account
A factory reset does not automatically remove the Google account that was previously synced with the device. The reset essentially wipes the user data and settings from the device, but the Google account details remain registered with it.
After the reset, when you try to set up the device again, you will be prompted to sign in with the Google account that was previously associated with it. This verification process is a security measure implemented by Google.
If you no longer have access to the old Google account, you will be locked out of the device. To use the device again, you will need to remove the old Google account association.
Some options to remove the previous Google account from your Android device include:[1]
- Using Android Device Manager to remotely reset the device again
- Flashing a custom ROM to bypass the Google verification
- Using specialized third-party tools to unlink the old Google account
If you forgot the Google account details, you can try account recovery options or contact Google support to regain access.
Removing the old Google account properly is important for being able to set up and use your device again after a factory reset.
Re-configure Device
After resetting your Android device to factory settings, you will need to re-configure the device before you can start using it again. This involves going through the initial device setup prompts and personalizing the device to your preferences.
When you first turn your Android device back on after a factory reset, you will be greeted by a “Welcome” screen. Tap on the “Start” button to begin setting up the device. If you inserted a SIM card, it will guide you through setting up a cellular plan. Otherwise, tap “Skip”.
You will then need to select the language and input method, connect to a WiFi network, set the date and time, and add your Google Account. Logging into your Google Account will automatically pull your email, contacts, calendar info, and other data stored in the cloud.
Next, the setup will have you customize options like screen lock, Google services, fingerprint sensor, and more. You can also choose to restore apps from the Google Play store at this point. Take your time to re-configure the device settings to your liking.
Once the setup is complete, your device will be ready to use again. You can proceed to re-download apps, transfer local data from a backup, and personalize the home screens. With all your accounts and preferences configured, your Android should now feel just like new.
Restore Backed Up Data
After factory resetting your Android device, you’ll likely want to restore your data from an earlier backup. There are a few ways to do this depending on where your backup is stored:
If you backed up to your Google Account using Google Drive, you can restore during the device setup process after resetting. When prompted to copy apps and data, select Restore from this backup. Then select the backup you want to restore from the list (source: Back up or restore data on your Android device).
You can also restore from Google Drive after completing setup. Open Settings > System > Backup > Backup and restore. Then select the backup to restore and tap Restore. Google backups contains app data, WiFi passwords, call history, contacts etc. (source: How to restore an Android phone from a Google backup).
For local backups created with a third party app, open that app after factory reset and follow the prompts to restore your backup. This will retrieve your locally stored data.
When restoring from backup, be patient as it can take time for all your apps and data to be copied back to your device. Once finished, you should see your Android device returned to its pre-reset state.