What a factory reset does and when you need one
A factory reset erases everything on your phone — all apps, photos, messages, contacts, and settings — and returns it to the state it was in when it left the manufacturer. The phone itself stays the same; the data on it does not. You might reset a phone before selling it, if it has become slow or buggy, if you forgot your password, or if you want to start fresh with a new account.
A factory reset is permanent and cannot be undone. Once you start the process, you cannot stop it partway through. Make sure you have backed up anything you want to keep before you begin — photos, contacts, messages, login information for apps. If you do not back up first, that data is gone.
The steps differ between iPhones and Android phones, and the exact menu names vary by manufacturer and Android version. This guide covers the most common paths on current devices.
Key Takeaways
- A factory reset wipes your phone completely and cannot be reversed, so back up your photos, contacts, and messages before you start.
- On an iPhone, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings and enter your Apple ID password when prompted.
- On Android, go to Settings > System > Reset Options > Erase All Data (Factory Reset) and confirm twice; the exact path varies by manufacturer.
- After a reset, your phone will ask you to sign in with an Apple ID or Google account before you can use it, so have that password ready.
- A reset takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on how much data was on the phone; do not turn off the phone or remove the battery during the process.
How to reset an iPhone
On an iPhone, the reset option is in the Settings app under General. Open Settings, tap General, then scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset. You will see Erase All Content and Settings — tap that option.
Your phone will ask for your Apple ID password. Enter it. This step exists because Apple requires your password to prevent someone else from erasing your phone remotely. If you do not remember your Apple ID password, you will need to reset it through Apple's website before you can complete the factory reset.
After you enter your password, the phone will ask you to confirm that you want to erase everything. Tap Erase again. The phone will then begin the reset process. You will see a progress bar. Do not turn off the phone, close the Settings app, or interrupt the process — let it run to completion. This usually takes 10 to 20 minutes.
When the reset is finished, your iPhone will restart and show the setup screen, the same one you saw when you first turned it on. You will need to sign in with an Apple ID to continue. If you want to use the phone with a different Apple ID, now is the time to enter it.
How to reset an Android phone
On Android, the reset option is usually in Settings under System or About Phone, but the exact path depends on your phone's manufacturer — Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, and others place it slightly differently. The most common path is Settings > System > Reset Options > Erase All Data (Factory Reset).
If you cannot find Reset Options, try Settings > About Phone and look for a Reset option there. You can also search for "reset" in the Settings search bar at the top of the Settings app, which will take you directly to the reset menu.
Once you find the reset option, tap Erase All Data or Factory Reset. Your phone will show a warning that all data will be deleted. Read it carefully. Tap Erase or Confirm to proceed. Some phones will ask you to enter your PIN or password as a security check — do this if prompted.
The phone will then begin the reset. You will see a progress bar or a spinning icon. Do not turn off the phone or remove the battery. The process usually takes 15 to 30 minutes. When it finishes, the phone will restart and show the setup screen. You will need to sign in with a Google account to continue.
Backing up your data before you reset
Before you reset, back up anything you want to keep. On an iPhone, the easiest way is to use iCloud. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and make sure the toggle for Photos is on (if you want to back up photos). Then go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and tap Back Up Now. This backs up your photos, messages, contacts, app data, and settings to Apple's servers. When you set up your phone after the reset, you can restore from this backup.
On Android, open Settings > Google > Manage Your Google Account > Backup. Make sure Backup is turned on. This backs up your contacts, calendar, Gmail, and some app data to your Google account. For photos, open Google Photos, tap your profile picture, go to Photos Settings > Backup and Sync, and make sure it is on. After the reset, when you sign in with your Google account, your backed-up data will restore automatically.
If you have apps you paid for or want to keep, write down their names before you reset. After the reset, you can read them again from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android) using the same account you used to buy them.
What happens after the reset is complete
After your phone restarts, it will ask you to set it up as if it were brand new. You will choose a language, connect to Wi-Fi, and then sign in with your Apple ID (iPhone) or Google account (Android). This is a required step — you cannot skip it.
If you backed up your data before the reset, you will see an option to restore from backup. On iPhone, you will see "Restore from iCloud Backup" or "Restore Manually." On Android, your contacts and calendar will restore automatically when you sign in with your Google account. Photos will restore if you had Google Photos backup turned on.
After you sign in and restore your backup, your phone will read and reinstall your apps. This can take 30 minutes to an hour depending on how many apps you had and your internet speed. Let the phone finish this process before you unplug it or turn it off.
Troubleshooting a reset that will not start
If you try to reset your phone and the option is grayed out or does not appear, the most common reason is that you do not have enough storage space free. A factory reset needs some free space to work. Delete large files, old videos, or apps you do not use, then try again.
If you forgot your Apple ID password on an iPhone, you cannot complete the reset without it. Go to iforgot.apple.com on a computer, enter your Apple ID email, and follow the steps to reset your password. Then try the factory reset again on your phone.
If your Android phone is frozen or will not turn on, you may need to force a restart first. Hold the power button and volume down button together for 10 to 15 seconds until you see the recovery menu. Use the volume buttons to navigate to Wipe Data / Factory Reset and press the power button to select it. This method works even if the phone is unresponsive.
When to reset versus when to try other fixes
A factory reset solves problems like forgotten passwords, persistent slowness, or apps that crash repeatedly. But it is not always the first step. If your phone is just slow, try restarting it first — hold the power button and slide to power off, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on. If an app keeps crashing, try uninstalling and reinstalling it.
If your phone is running out of storage, deleting old photos and videos may be faster than resetting. If you just want to remove an account, you can do that in Settings without erasing everything. Reserve a factory reset for situations where you have tried other fixes and they did not work, or when you are selling the phone and want to make sure no personal data remains on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I undo a factory reset?
No. A factory reset is permanent and cannot be reversed. If you backed up your data before the reset, you can restore it after the reset is complete. If you did not back up, the data is gone. This is why backing up before you reset is so important.
What if I forgot my Apple ID password and cannot reset my iPhone?
Go to iforgot.apple.com on a computer or another device, enter your Apple ID email address, and follow the prompts to reset your password. You can also call Apple Support at 1-800-MY-APPLE. Once you have reset your password, you can complete the factory reset on your phone.
Will a factory reset remove viruses or malware from my phone?
A factory reset will remove most malware because it erases everything on the phone. However, if malware is in your cloud account (iCloud or Google), it may return when you sign back in. After a reset, change your account password and review which apps have permission to access your account.
How long does a factory reset take?
A factory reset usually takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on how much data was on the phone and how fast your phone is. Do not turn off the phone or interrupt the process. After the reset, reinstalling your apps can take another 30 minutes to an hour.
Do I need Wi-Fi to reset my phone?
You do not need Wi-Fi to start the reset, but you will need it after the reset is complete to sign in with your Apple ID or Google account and restore your data. Make sure you are connected to Wi-Fi before you begin the setup process after the reset.