How to factory reset phone

How to Factory Reset Your Phone in 2026 — Complete Step-by-Step Guide for Android and iPhone

By Bhavik Munjapara | TechBhavik.com | April 2026

Is your phone running slow, freezing constantly, showing strange errors, or are you planning to sell it? A factory reset is the most powerful solution to fix almost any smartphone problem. It wipes everything clean and gives your phone a fresh start — just like the day you bought it.

But factory resetting your phone without proper preparation can result in permanent loss of your photos, contacts, messages, and important data. That is why this complete guide covers everything you need to know — what a factory reset does, how to back up your data safely, and step by step instructions for every major Android brand and iPhone in 2026.

Whether you use a Samsung, Redmi, Realme, OnePlus, iPhone, or any other smartphone, this guide has you covered.

What is a Factory Reset?

A factory reset is a built-in function that completely erases all data from your phone and restores it to its original out-of-box condition. Everything you added after buying the phone — apps, photos, contacts, messages, accounts, settings, passwords — gets permanently deleted.

Think of it as pressing the ultimate undo button on your entire phone.

A factory reset is different from a simple restart. Restarting your phone just closes background processes and refreshes the system. A factory reset completely wipes all user data and reinstalls a fresh copy of the operating system.

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When Should You Factory Reset Your Phone?

Factory reset your phone when:

Your phone has become extremely slow and no other fix has worked Your phone is freezing or crashing frequently You have a persistent virus or malware that cannot be removed You are selling or giving away your phone to someone else You forgot your screen lock PIN or password Your phone is stuck in a boot loop and will not start normally Apps are constantly crashing and reinstalling does not help You want a completely fresh start with your phone

What Gets Deleted in a Factory Reset?

Before resetting, understand what you will lose:

Everything that gets deleted: All photos and videos stored on your phone All downloaded apps and their data All contacts stored on your phone memory All SMS messages and call history All saved WiFi passwords All accounts logged in on your phone All downloaded music and files All game progress and save data All custom settings and preferences

What does NOT get deleted: Data stored on your Google account (contacts, Gmail, Drive files) Data stored on your SIM card Data stored on your SD card (usually safe but remove it to be sure) Your phone number and carrier settings

Step 1 — Back Up Your Data Before Resetting (Very Important!)

Never factory reset your phone without backing up your data first. Here is how to do it properly.

Backup on Android:

Step 1 — Open Settings on your phone Step 2 — Tap Google or Accounts Step 3 — Tap Backup Step 4 — Make sure Back up to Google Drive is turned ON Step 5 — Tap Back Up Now Step 6 — Wait for backup to complete — this may take a few minutes Step 7 — Check that Photos, Contacts, App data, and SMS are all backed up

Additional backup steps: Open Google Photos and make sure all photos are backed up to Google Photos Export contacts to your Google account — Settings — Contacts — Export Note down all important passwords and WiFi passwords before resetting

Backup on iPhone:

Method 1 — iCloud Backup (Recommended): Step 1 — Connect to WiFi Step 2 — Open Settings — tap your name at top Step 3 — Tap iCloud — iCloud Backup Step 4 — Tap Back Up Now Step 5 — Wait for backup to complete Step 6 — Verify backup was successful by checking the date and time shown

Method 2 — Backup to Computer: Step 1 — Connect iPhone to your Mac or PC with a cable Step 2 — Open Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows) Step 3 — Click your iPhone name Step 4 — Click Back Up Now Step 5 — Wait for backup to complete

How to Factory Reset Android Phone — All Major Brands

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Method 1 — Factory Reset from Settings (Easiest and Recommended)

This method works on all Android phones when your phone is working normally.

Step 1 — Open Settings app Step 2 — Scroll down and tap General Management or System Step 3 — Tap Reset or Reset Options Step 4 — Tap Factory Data Reset or Erase All Data Step 5 — Read the warning carefully — it will show you what will be deleted Step 6 — Tap Reset or Delete All Step 7 — Enter your PIN, password, or fingerprint to confirm Step 8 — Tap Reset Device or Erase Everything Step 9 — Your phone will restart and begin the reset process Step 10 — Wait 5 to 15 minutes for the reset to complete Step 11 — Your phone will restart and show the setup screen — just like new!

How to Factory Reset Samsung Galaxy Phone

Samsung phones use a slightly different menu layout. Here is exactly where to find the reset option on Samsung Galaxy phones in 2026.

Step 1 — Open Settings Step 2 — Scroll down and tap General Management Step 3 — Tap Reset Step 4 — Tap Factory Data Reset Step 5 — Scroll down to review what will be deleted Step 6 — Tap Reset at the bottom Step 7 — Enter your Samsung account password or PIN if asked Step 8 — Tap Delete All to confirm Step 9 — Phone restarts and begins wiping — takes 5 to 10 minutes Step 10 — Setup screen appears when complete

Important Samsung note: If you have a Samsung account signed in, make sure you remember your Samsung account email and password. You may be asked to enter it after the reset.

How to Factory Reset Redmi and Xiaomi Phone

Redmi and Xiaomi phones run MIUI or HyperOS. The reset steps are as follows.

Step 1 — Open Settings Step 2 — Scroll down and tap About Phone Step 3 — Tap Factory Reset or scroll and find Additional Settings — Backup and Reset Step 4 — Tap Erase All Data (Factory Reset) Step 5 — Tap Reset Phone Step 6 — Enter your PIN or password Step 7 — Tap Erase All Data to confirm Step 8 — Phone restarts and wipes all data — takes 5 to 10 minutes

Alternative path on newer MIUI versions: Settings — System Apps — Phone Manager — Factory Reset

How to Factory Reset Realme Phone

Step 1 — Open Settings Step 2 — Tap Additional Settings Step 3 — Tap Back Up and Reset Step 4 — Tap Erase All Data (Factory Reset) Step 5 — Tap Reset Phone Step 6 — Enter your PIN Step 7 — Tap Erase Everything Step 8 — Wait for phone to restart and complete the reset

How to Factory Reset OnePlus Phone

Step 1 — Open Settings Step 2 — Tap System (or scroll to find Reset Options) Step 3 — Tap Reset Options Step 4 — Tap Erase All Data (Factory Reset) Step 5 — Tap Reset Phone Step 6 — Enter your PIN or password Step 7 — Tap Erase Everything Step 8 — Phone restarts and completes the reset in 5 to 10 minutes

How to Factory Reset Vivo Phone

Step 1 — Open Settings Step 2 — Scroll down and tap More Settings Step 3 — Tap Backup and Reset Step 4 — Tap Factory Reset Step 5 — Tap Reset Phone Step 6 — Enter your PIN Step 7 — Tap Reset to confirm Step 8 — Wait for phone to restart

Method 2 — Factory Reset Using Recovery Mode (When Phone Won’t Turn On)

Use this method only when your phone is completely frozen, stuck on the logo screen, or you cannot access the Settings app.

For most Android phones:

Step 1 — Turn off your phone completely Step 2 — Press and hold Volume Down + Power button together for 10 seconds Step 3 — Release when you see the Recovery Mode screen (black screen with text) Step 4 — Use Volume Down button to navigate to Wipe Data / Factory Reset Step 5 — Press Power button to select it Step 6 — Navigate to Yes and press Power button to confirm Step 7 — Wait for wipe to complete Step 8 — Select Reboot System Now Step 9 — Phone restarts fresh

Note: Button combinations vary by brand. Samsung: Volume Up + Power button Redmi: Volume Up + Power button Realme: Volume Down + Power button OnePlus: Volume Down + Power button

How to Factory Reset iPhone in 2026

Method 1 — Factory Reset from Settings (Easiest)

This is the recommended method for all iPhone models when your iPhone is working normally.

Step 1 — Open Settings app Step 2 — Tap your name at the top (Apple ID) Step 3 — Scroll down and tap Sign Out Step 4 — Enter your Apple ID password Step 5 — Tap Turn Off to disable Find My iPhone Step 6 — Go back to Settings Step 7 — Tap General Step 8 — Scroll to bottom — tap Transfer or Reset iPhone Step 9 — Tap Erase All Content and Settings Step 10 — Enter your iPhone passcode when asked Step 11 — Tap Erase iPhone to confirm Step 12 — Wait 5 to 15 minutes for reset to complete Step 13 — iPhone restarts and shows Hello screen

Works on: iPhone 8, iPhone X, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14, iPhone 15, iPhone 16, iPhone 17 (all models in 2026)

Method 2 — Factory Reset iPhone Using Computer

Use this method if your iPhone is disabled, frozen, or you forgot your passcode.

On Mac: Step 1 — Connect iPhone to Mac with USB cable Step 2 — Open Finder Step 3 — Click your iPhone name in the sidebar Step 4 — Click Restore iPhone Step 5 — Click Restore to confirm Step 6 — Mac downloads latest iOS and restores your iPhone

On Windows PC: Step 1 — Connect iPhone to PC with USB cable Step 2 — Open iTunes or Apple Devices app Step 3 — Click the iPhone icon Step 4 — Click Restore iPhone Step 5 — Click Restore to confirm Step 6 — iTunes downloads latest iOS and restores your iPhone

Method 3 — Factory Reset iPhone Remotely via iCloud

Use this if your iPhone is lost or you cannot physically access it.

Step 1 — Go to icloud.com on any browser Step 2 — Sign in with your Apple ID and password Step 3 — Click Find My (or Find iPhone) Step 4 — Select your iPhone from the device list Step 5 — Click Erase This Device Step 6 — Follow on-screen confirmation steps Step 7 — iPhone will erase remotely next time it connects to internet

What to Do After Factory Reset

After successfully resetting your phone, follow these steps to set it up properly.

For Android phones: Step 1 — Select your language and region Step 2 — Connect to WiFi Step 3 — Sign in to your Google account Step 4 — Choose Restore from backup or Set up as new device Step 5 — If restoring — select the most recent backup Step 6 — Wait for apps and data to restore — this may take 15 to 30 minutes Step 7 — Set up fingerprint, face unlock, and PIN Step 8 — You are ready to use your phone!

For iPhone: Step 1 — Select your language Step 2 — Connect to WiFi Step 3 — Sign in with your Apple ID Step 4 — Choose Restore from iCloud Backup or Set Up as New iPhone Step 5 — If restoring — select most recent backup Step 6 — Wait for restore to complete — may take 20 to 40 minutes Step 7 — Set up Face ID or Touch ID and passcode Step 8 — Your iPhone is ready!

Common Factory Reset Problems and Solutions

Problem 1 — Phone asks for Google account after Android reset This is called FRP Lock (Factory Reset Protection). It is a security feature to prevent theft. You must enter the Google account that was previously signed in on the phone. If you have forgotten the password, go to accounts.google.com to recover it before resetting.

Problem 2 — iPhone stuck on Apple logo after reset Wait at least 15 minutes. If the Apple logo does not go away, force restart your iPhone by pressing Volume Up, then Volume Down, then holding Side button until Apple logo appears.

Problem 3 — Factory reset option is greyed out This usually means Screen Time restrictions are enabled on iPhone or a device administrator is installed on Android. Disable Screen Time in Settings or remove the device administrator app first.

Problem 4 — Phone forgot after reset but I have no backup Unfortunately, data deleted in a factory reset without a backup cannot be recovered through normal means. This is why backing up before resetting is absolutely critical.

Problem 5 — Reset is taking too long A normal factory reset takes 5 to 15 minutes on most phones. If it takes longer, wait up to 30 minutes before considering it stuck. Do not turn off the phone during the reset process.

Quick Reference — Factory Reset Steps by Brand

Samsung Galaxy: Settings — General Management — Reset — Factory Data Reset Redmi / Xiaomi: Settings — About Phone — Factory Reset Realme: Settings — Additional Settings — Back Up and Reset — Factory Reset OnePlus: Settings — System — Reset Options — Erase All Data Vivo: Settings — More Settings — Backup and Reset — Factory Reset iPhone: Settings — General — Transfer or Reset iPhone — Erase All Content

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Will factory reset remove viruses and malware from my phone? Yes, in almost all cases a factory reset completely removes viruses and malware from your phone. Since it wipes everything including all installed apps and files, the malicious software gets deleted along with everything else. After resetting, be careful about which apps you reinstall and only download from the official Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

Q2. How long does a factory reset take on Android? A factory reset on Android typically takes 5 to 15 minutes. However, if your phone has a lot of data stored or is an older model with slower internal storage, it can take up to 30 minutes. Always make sure your phone is charged to at least 50 percent before starting a factory reset.

Q3. Does factory reset delete everything on SD card? In most cases, a factory reset does not delete data on your SD card. However, some phones offer an option to also format the SD card during reset. To be safe, always remove your SD card before performing a factory reset.

Q4. Can I recover data after factory reset without backup? Unfortunately, recovering data after a factory reset without a backup is extremely difficult. Some professional data recovery services may be able to recover certain types of data, but there is no guarantee. This is why creating a backup before resetting is the most important step in this entire guide.

Q5. Will factory reset improve my phone speed? Yes, a factory reset almost always significantly improves phone speed. It removes all accumulated junk data, clears storage space, removes problematic apps, and gives the operating system a fresh start. Most users report their phones feeling like new after a factory reset.

Q6. Do I need to remove my SIM card before factory reset? You do not need to remove your SIM card before factory resetting your phone. The factory reset does not delete data from the SIM card. However, it is a good practice to note down important contacts stored on the SIM before resetting, just to be safe.

Q7. What is the difference between soft reset and factory reset? A soft reset is simply restarting your phone — it fixes minor glitches and temporary slowdowns without deleting any data. A factory reset completely wipes all user data and restores the phone to its original out-of-box state. Always try a soft reset first before performing a factory reset.

Final Verdict

A factory reset is one of the most powerful tools available to smartphone users — it can fix almost any software problem, improve performance dramatically, and prepare your phone for a new owner securely.

The most important thing to remember is to always back up your data before resetting. Whether you use Google Drive backup on Android or iCloud backup on iPhone, taking 5 minutes to create a backup can save you hours of regret after the reset.

Follow the step by step instructions for your specific phone brand in this guide and your factory reset will go smoothly every time.

Have questions about factory resetting your specific phone model? Leave a comment below or contact us at contact@techbhavik.com

— Bhavik Munjapara, TechBhavik.com

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