How to factory reset an Android phone (Pixel, Motorola and more)

Resetting an Android phone wipes it clean and takes it back to the first setup screen. It is the last step for stubborn problems, and the first step before selling or handing a phone down. The process takes only minutes, but a few things done beforehand make the difference between a smooth fresh start and lost photos or a phone that nobody can set up. Read the checklist first, even if you are in a hurry. This guide covers Google Pixel, Motorola, OnePlus and most other Android phones. For Galaxy phones, see the separate Samsung factory reset guide.

Pixel reset options: pick the right one

• Reset Mobile Network Settings and Reset Bluetooth & Wi-Fi: for connection problems; your data stays.
• Reset app preferences: restores disabled apps, defaults and permissions; your data stays.
• Erase downloaded SIMs: removes eSIMs only.
• Erase all data (factory reset): removes everything.

The names vary a little by Android version, but all are in Settings › System › Reset options. Try a lighter option first if you are fixing a problem rather than selling the phone, because those keep all your apps, photos and accounts in place.

Before you reset

1. Back up with Google One: Settings › System › Backup › Back up now.
2. Make sure you know your Google account password. You need it after the reset.
3. Selling the phone? Remove your Google account in Settings › Passwords & accounts first.

During a Pixel reset, you may be asked whether to also erase downloaded SIMs. Keep your eSIM if you are keeping the phone. Erase it only after your line is active on another phone.

Erase it remotely with Find Hub

This is useful for a lost or stolen phone, or one you cannot unlock. After a remote reset, Find Hub can no longer locate the phone. For a forgotten PIN, see how to unlock an Android phone if you forgot the PIN first.

Check these backups before you erase

• Google backup: Settings › System › Backup shows when the last backup ran. Tap Back up now if it is old.
• Photos: open Google Photos and check that recent pictures show a cloud icon, not a crossed-out one.
• Chats: WhatsApp, Signal and similar apps have their own backups inside each app.
• Two-factor codes: set up your authenticator app on the new phone first, or turn on its cloud sync.
• Files in Downloads or Documents: copy them to Google Drive or a computer, since they are not included in the Google backup.

Will resetting fix my phone?

A reset clears software problems: years of leftover files, a misbehaving app, adware, broken settings and most crashes. It cannot fix hardware: a worn battery, cracked screen, failing charging port or weak signal at your home. If a problem comes back right after you restore everything, an app in your backup is likely the cause, so reset again and reinstall apps one at a time from the Play Store. For a slow phone, try the speed-up steps for Android before erasing anything.

OnePlus, Motorola and other recovery menus

On Motorola, turn the phone off, hold volume down and power until the bootloader menu appears, choose Recovery mode with the volume keys and power, then select Wipe data/factory reset. OnePlus phones open their recovery with volume down and power, then offer a language choice and a Format data or Wipe data option. Menus differ between models, so if a step does not match, use the reset in Settings, or the remote reset from Find Hub, which works the same on every Android phone.

Selling or trading in: checklist

Removing your Google account first means the buyer will not hit Factory Reset Protection, which otherwise asks for your password after the reset. Trade-in programs, including Google Store’s, check for this lock.

After the reset: set up again

Follow the setup screens, connect to Wi-Fi and sign in with your Google account. Choose Copy apps & data to restore from your Google backup, or from another phone with a cable. Your apps, contacts, call history, texts and settings return, and Google Photos brings back photos that were backed up. Apps keep downloading in the background, so leave the phone on Wi-Fi and charging for a while. See how to back up an Android phone for what each backup includes.

Resetting a child’s or parent’s phone

If a child’s phone is supervised with Google Family Link, the child’s Google account is still needed after the reset, and you will set up supervision again during setup. Keep that account’s password handy. For an older relative, write down their Google account email and password before you start, check their photos are backed up, and plan to stay with them through setup, since the phone asks several questions in a row. Reinstall the few apps they actually use rather than everything, which keeps the phone simpler and faster.

How long does it take?

The reset itself usually takes a few minutes. Setup takes about 10 to 15 minutes, and restoring apps and photos continues in the background for longer, depending on your internet speed and how much you have. Plan a reset for a time when you can leave the phone on Wi-Fi and charging afterwards.

Is the old data really gone?

Yes. Current Android phones encrypt their storage, and a factory reset throws away the encryption keys, so the old data cannot be recovered by a buyer or by recovery software. A standard reset from Settings is enough before selling. A microSD card is separate and may not be encrypted, so remove it or format it.

Reset stuck or will not start?

• Charge the phone to at least half before resetting, or keep it plugged in.
• Give a slow reset up to an hour on phones with a lot of storage before interrupting.
• If Settings freezes, use recovery mode with the buttons instead.
• If the phone belongs to a work or school account, management rules may block the reset; ask your IT administrator.