A factory reset erases everything on your phone and returns it to the state it left the factory
A factory reset removes all your personal data — text messages, photos, contacts, installed apps, browsing history, saved passwords, and any files you've stored on the device. It also removes your customizations: home screen layout, wallpapers, notification settings, and any accounts you've signed into. When the reset finishes, your phone looks and behaves exactly as it did the day you unboxed it, with only the manufacturer's pre-installed apps remaining.
The reset does not affect the phone's hardware or its core operating system files. It does not make the phone faster or slower in any permanent way, though a freshly reset phone may feel snappier because it has fewer apps running in the background. The reset also does not remove the phone's set up lock — if you set up a Google account on Android or an Apple ID on iPhone, you will still need those credentials to use the phone after the reset completes.
Key Takeaways
- A factory reset deletes all your personal files, messages, photos, and installed apps, but keeps the phone's operating system and hardware unchanged.
- You must sign back into your Google account (Android) or Apple ID (iPhone) after a reset, even if you did not create a new account.
- Backing up your data before a reset is the only way to recover photos, messages, or other files afterward — the reset cannot be undone.
- A factory reset does not remove malware or viruses; it only works if the malicious software is stored in your personal files rather than the system itself.
- Selling or giving away a phone requires a factory reset plus removing your account from the device, or the new owner will be locked out.
What data actually gets deleted
The reset removes everything you added to the phone after purchase. This includes photos and videos in your camera roll, text messages and call logs, contacts you entered manually, notes and reminders, email accounts and their stored messages, downloaded apps, browser bookmarks and history, saved WiFi passwords, and any files in the phone's storage. It also clears your keyboard dictionary — custom words you taught the phone to recognize.
Data stored in cloud accounts — Gmail, OneDrive, iCloud, Google Photos — remains in those accounts and is not affected by the reset. If you sign back into those accounts after the reset, you can read your photos and messages again. The reset only erases what lives on the phone itself.
Why the set up lock stays in place
Both Android and iPhone require you to sign into an account before you can use the phone. On Android, this is your Google account. On iPhone, it is your Apple ID. These accounts are tied to the phone's hardware, not to your personal files. A factory reset clears your files but does not disconnect the account from the device.
This means that after a reset, you must enter the same Google or Apple ID password to set up the phone again. If you have forgotten the password, you will need to recover it through Google or Apple's account recovery process before you can use the phone. This is a security feature designed to prevent theft — if someone steals your phone and resets it, they cannot use it without your account credentials.
How to back up before you reset
On Android: Open Settings, go to System, then System Update, and look for Backup. (The exact path varies by manufacturer.) You can back up to your Google account, which stores photos, contacts, app data, and settings in Google Drive. You can also use Samsung Cloud if you have a Samsung phone, or connect to a computer and copy files manually. Start the backup before you reset — it may take several minutes depending on how much data you have.
On iPhone: Go to Settings, tap your name at the top, then iCloud. Turn on iCloud Backup, then tap Back Up Now. This stores your photos, messages, app data, and settings in iCloud. You can also plug into a computer, open Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows), and create a local backup file. Both methods should complete before you reset.
After the reset, when you sign back into your account and choose to restore from backup, your photos, messages, and app data will return to the phone. Apps themselves must be reinstalled from the app store, but their settings and data will be restored.
Whether a factory reset removes malware
A factory reset removes malware that lives in your personal files or installed apps. If you downloaded a malicious app or visited a website that infected your phone's storage, the reset will delete it. However, if malware has infected the phone's system files or firmware, a factory reset may not remove it completely. This is rare on modern phones because the operating system is protected and difficult to compromise.
If you suspect your phone has malware, a factory reset is a reasonable step, but it is not a may provide cure. Before you reset, run a scan with Google Play Protect (Android) or check for suspicious apps in Settings. If the malware is in an app you installed, uninstalling that app may be enough. If you reset and the problems continue, the malware may be in the system itself, and you may need to contact the phone manufacturer or a repair service.
Steps to factory reset your phone
On Android: Open Settings, scroll to System or About Phone (depending on your manufacturer), find Reset or Factory Reset, and tap Erase All Data. The phone will ask you to confirm and may ask for your PIN or password. The reset takes five to fifteen minutes. When it finishes, the phone will restart and show the initial setup screen, as if it were new.
On iPhone: Open Settings, go to General, scroll to the bottom, and tap Transfer or Reset. Choose Erase All Content and Settings. You may be asked to enter your Apple ID password and disable Find My iPhone. The reset takes five to fifteen minutes. When it finishes, the phone will restart and show the setup screen.
Do not turn off the phone or disconnect it from power during the reset. If the reset is interrupted, the phone may become unusable. If you are resetting because the phone is frozen or unresponsive, try restarting it first. If it still does not respond, you may need to force a restart (hold the power and volume buttons together on most phones) before attempting a factory reset.
Preparing a phone for sale or transfer
If you are selling or giving away your phone, a factory reset alone is not enough. After the reset, you must also remove your account from the device. On Android, go to Settings, Accounts, select your Google account, and tap Remove Account. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name, scroll to the bottom, and tap Sign Out. This disconnects your account from the hardware so the new owner can set up their own account.
Without removing your account, the new owner will see the set up lock screen when they try to set up the phone. They will not be able to proceed without your account credentials. Removing the account takes less than a minute and is a necessary step before handing the phone to someone else. If you have already sold the phone and the new owner is locked out, they will need to contact you to remove the account remotely, or contact the manufacturer's support line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I undo a factory reset?
No. A factory reset cannot be reversed. Once it completes, your personal files are gone unless you backed them up beforehand. If you backed up to Google, iCloud, or another cloud service, you can restore from that backup after the reset. If you did not back up, the data is permanently lost.
Will a factory reset make my phone faster?
A newly reset phone may feel snappier because it has no background apps running and no accumulated clutter. However, this is temporary. As you reinstall apps and accumulate data, the phone will return to its normal speed. A factory reset does not improve the phone's hardware performance.
What if I forget my Google or Apple ID password after a reset?
You will not be able to set up the phone without it. Go to Google Account Recovery or Apple ID Recovery on a computer, enter your email address, and follow the steps to reset your password. This usually takes a few minutes. Once you have reset your password, you can enter it on the phone and complete the setup.
Do I need to remove my SIM card before a factory reset?
No. A factory reset does not affect your SIM card or your phone number. Your carrier information and phone number will remain the same. You can leave the SIM card in the phone during the reset.
Will a factory reset remove my banking or payment apps?
Yes. The reset removes all installed apps, including banking and payment apps. After the reset, you can reinstall them from the app store. Your account information will not be stored in the app itself — you will need to sign in again when you reinstall it. This is actually safer because it removes any stored login credentials from the phone.