How to Factory Reset an Android Phone Safely (Pixel, Samsung and Recovery Mode)

To factory reset an Android phone, first back up your data and make sure you know your Google account password. Then go to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset) on a Pixel, or Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset on a Samsung Galaxy. The reset can’t be undone, so the preparation steps below matter more than the reset itself.

Step 1: Back up what you want to keep

A factory reset erases apps, photos, messages and settings from the phone’s internal storage.

1. Google backup: Go to Settings > System > Backup (on some phones, Settings > Google > Backup) and tap Back up now. This saves app data, call history, contacts, device settings and SMS to your Google account.
2. Photos and videos: In Google Photos, confirm backup is on and finished (tap your profile picture to check). Samsung users can also use Samsung Cloud or Smart Switch to a computer.
3. Chats: Messaging apps such as WhatsApp have their own backup. In WhatsApp, go to Settings > Chats > Chat backup and back up to Google Drive.
4. Two-factor authentication codes: If you use an authenticator app, export or sync your accounts before resetting. Losing them can lock you out of other services.
5. Files and downloads: Copy anything in the Downloads or Documents folders to a computer or cloud storage.

Step 2: Understand Factory Reset Protection (FRP)

Factory Reset Protection is an anti-theft feature. If a phone is reset without the owner’s permission (for example, through recovery mode), it will ask for the Google account that was previously on the phone before it can be set up again.

• Resetting your own phone to keep it: make sure you know your Google account email and password. You’ll need them after the reset if you reset through recovery mode.
• Selling or giving the phone away: reset it from Settings while you’re signed in. On current Android versions this is treated as an authorized reset. For extra certainty, remove your Google account first in Settings > Passwords, passkeys & accounts (name varies) and, on Samsung, sign out of your Samsung account.
• Bought a used phone that’s locked? Contact the seller to remove their account, or the carrier or manufacturer with proof of purchase. Don’t try to bypass FRP; the tools that claim to do it are often malware and the lock exists to stop stolen phones being reused.

Step 3: Prepare the phone

• Charge to at least 50–70% or keep it plugged in. A reset can take up to an hour on some devices.
• Remove the microSD card if you want to keep its data (a factory reset normally doesn’t erase it, but removing it avoids accidents).
• Have Wi-Fi available for setup afterwards.

How to factory reset a Google Pixel

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap System > Reset options.
3. Tap Erase all data (factory reset).
4. Review the list of what will be erased and tap Erase all data.
5. Enter your PIN, pattern or password when asked, and confirm.

Google’s official steps are on its Pixel help page.

How to factory reset a Samsung Galaxy

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap General management > Reset.
3. Tap Factory data reset.
4. Scroll down and tap Reset, then enter your PIN or password.
5. Tap Delete all. If a Samsung account is signed in, you’ll need its password to continue.

Menu names can vary slightly by model and One UI version. If you can’t find it, type ‘reset’ into the search bar at the top of Settings.

Other Android brands

Motorola, OnePlus and others usually follow the Pixel layout: Settings > System > Reset options. Searching Settings for ‘factory reset’ works on almost every phone.

Reset options compared

If you’re troubleshooting, try the lighter resets first.

How to reset using recovery mode

Use recovery mode only if you can’t get into Settings, for example if the phone won’t boot properly or you’ve forgotten your screen lock. You will need the phone’s previous Google account details afterwards because of FRP.

Pixel

1. Turn the phone off.
2. Hold Volume Down + Power until the bootloader screen appears.
3. Use the volume buttons to select Recovery mode and press Power.
4. When you see ‘No command’, hold Power and tap Volume Up once, then release.
5. Select Wipe data/factory reset, confirm, then choose Reboot system now.

Samsung Galaxy

1. Turn the phone off and connect it to a computer or charger with a USB cable (required on many recent models).
2. Hold Volume Up + Side button until the Samsung logo appears, then release.
3. Use the volume keys to choose Wipe data/factory reset and press the Side button.
4. Confirm with Factory data reset, then select Reboot system now.

Button combinations vary between models; check your manufacturer’s support site if these don’t work.

After the reset

Set up the phone, sign in with your Google account and choose to restore from your backup. Apps reinstall from the Play Store automatically, and your photos reappear once Google Photos syncs. Log back into apps that don’t use Google backup.

Bottom line

Back up, confirm you know your Google password, then reset from Settings rather than recovery mode whenever you can. If you’re passing the phone on, sign out of your Google and Samsung accounts first so the next owner isn’t blocked by Factory Reset Protection.

FAQ

Does a factory reset remove viruses?

It removes almost all malware stored on the phone. Avoid restoring suspicious apps from your backup afterwards.

Does a factory reset erase the SD card?

Usually not. Removable microSD cards are typically left alone unless you choose to format them separately.

How long does a factory reset take?

Usually a few minutes, but it can take up to an hour on some devices. Keep the phone charging and don’t interrupt it.

Is my data recoverable after a reset?

Modern Android phones encrypt storage by default, so a factory reset makes the old data practically unreadable. That’s why it’s the right step before selling a phone.