How to reset Android settings to factory settings (i.e. delete all data from your phone, tablet)

Good afternoon!

No matter how “smart” the Android system is, moments still happen to it when you have to resort to resetting the settings (also called Hard Reset). For example, this often happens when there are problems with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, “overloading” of the phone’s memory, when inexplicable slowdowns and freezes appear, etc.

You may also encounter this problem if you suddenly decide to sell your phone (after all, you wouldn’t want a stranger to see your personal correspondence?!).

I would like to point out right away that in the process of resetting from the device memory All applications and games, all SMS messages and contacts, mail accounts, etc. will be deleted. In general, the phone/tablet will be completely with factory settings (approximately the same as it was when purchased).

Note! If you have an SD card installed, then all data on it will remain intact * (at least this was the case with the devices I worked with)! Those. It is the device memory that is cleared!

Therefore, if you have the necessary contacts, photos, videos and files, before resetting, save them to your PC hard drive or to cloud storage (for example).

Actually, now we can get closer to the point...

Method 1: through system settings

Perhaps this is the most obvious and simplest of all methods. Suitable in any case when you can safely enter the Android settings (I know that this is not always possible, so if you have a more global problem, see the following paragraphs of the article).

And so, you need to open the “Backup and reset” section in the Android settings. See example below.

Then click on the button "Reset your phone" . Please note that the system will also warn you that data from your Google account, all applications and data in them, music, photos, videos, etc. will be deleted.

Actually, there is nothing more to comment on this method...

Method 2: via Recovery mode (or Factory mode)

If your device is frozen, there is a problem with entering the settings menu - then in this case you can reset it through a special device. menu "Recovery mode/Factory mode".

To call it:

Method 3: Using Service Tags

If you know the special codes, you can quite seriously change the settings of the Android system. There are also codes for resetting the settings (i.e., returning the device to the factory state).

Note! The codes presented below may not be suitable for all devices (especially new ones, which are constantly being modified...). Therefore, all the codes below are presented for reference (I am not responsible for your device and software).

Entering the codes is quite simple. You must go into dialing mode and enter one of the following options:

  1. *2767*3855#
  2. *#*#7378423#*#*
  3. *#*#7780#*#

Entering the service code (Don’t “play” with the codes just like that - you can easily erase all the data...)

Method 4: how to delete data from your phone/tablet if it has been lost

Unfortunately, almost everyone has troubles in their life. One of these is the loss of a phone/tablet (I’m not even considering the reason now: whether it was stolen, or just dropped, or something else...). The main thing is that you don’t have it in your hands, but it contains quite a lot of confidential data (and which you would like to delete as soon as possible).

  1. In this case, you need to log into your account from your computer;
  2. Next install the application (direct link to Google Play) . I note that applications can be installed on a smartphone, even if you do not have one at hand.
  3. After which, going to the application website Find My Device, you can:
  • erase all data from the device;
  • call it;
  • or just block.

Computers love “cleanliness,” both on the hard drive and from dust on the hardware. If the second issue can be dealt with more simply - just clean it, then the first issue is not so easy. The main problem for novice users is the desire to install more “useful” programs and the inability to properly use the computer’s disk space, which leads to problems with its operation. When the situation is at its peak, users have no choice but to reset Windows to factory settings. Our article will describe in detail how to restore the system to its “out of the box” form for different versions, starting with Windows 7.

What is a Windows factory reset?

Let's start with the fact that factory settings are the PC configuration that was installed initially and is the main one for this piece of equipment. All changes that were made by the user during use “disturb” the factory settings and the computer is no longer considered new. Reset to settings “out of the box” - transition to the original state, i.e. getting rid of user settings in general, and, in some cases, even from files and other data that remained after it.

It is recommended to perform a reset only when it is really necessary. Please note that if you have previously reinstalled Windows, either yourself or using computer system wizards, you may not be able to return to factory settings. The whole point is that if you reinstall it incorrectly (stupidly from one disc on which a pirated copy of Windows is recorded), a special recovery partition disappears on the hard drive, on which a copy of the installation version is stored.

This indicates that you cannot simply switch to factory settings - you will need the same distribution that was used initially, and not any other (even if the Windows versions are the same). Otherwise, you will not return the computer to its original form (in software terms) in any way. Therefore, treat reinstalling Windows more judiciously and seriously - if you use the services of wizards, ask them to reinstall Windows so that the recovery partition is not affected. If, nevertheless, the recovery partition was deleted, all you can do is install any convenient version of Windows using a clean installation method (with the removal of all data) and at least somehow create the appearance of a factory reset.

How to reset Windows 7 to factory settings

Unfortunately, the "seven" does not support a quick reset to factory settings, which is an obstacle to returning the computer to its original form without the use of additional knowledge. If you have the task of returning your computer to its original state, you can use the following options:

  1. Through V "Additional download options";
  2. Using your distribution that came with your PC or laptop.

If you are more inclined to the second option, then you just need to boot from the distribution and select system recovery there. Then everything will happen as usual.

In the case of the first option, you need to go to the menu "More download options". For most computers (laptops), this can be done by pressing the F8 key, which must be pressed immediately after the computer starts booting (without leaving standby or hibernation mode). When it is downloaded, you need to select "Troubleshooting your computer".

Next you will be taken to the window "System Recovery Options". It contains some features that can actually be used before loading the system as a whole. Among them, either a built-in reset or a proprietary one will be hidden. In this case, for example, we have the option of restoring the Toshiba laptop to factory settings.

You will need to go to this item and follow the prompts of the built-in utility so that you can restore the factory settings. Please note that all files on your hard drive that you have used/saved will be permanently deleted.

How to reset Windows 8|8.1 to factory settings

In the case of Windows 8, things are more favorable. The system interface allows for the use of a built-in factory reset program directly from the “Control Panel”, as well as from the “Advanced Boot Options”. Let's look at this in more detail to improve understanding.


How to reset Windows 10 to factory settings

The “top ten” still has the same recovery functionality as in Windows 8, but to get there you need to go a slightly different path.

It's no secret that when using Windows for a long time, the system begins to work slower, and even outright lag. This may be due to the clogging of system directories and the registry with “garbage”, the activity of viruses and many other factors. In this case, it makes sense to reset the system parameters to their original state. Let's see how to restore factory settings on Windows 7.

There are several methods for resetting Windows to factory settings. First of all, you need to decide how exactly you want to reset: return the original settings only to the operating system, or, in addition, completely clear the computer of all installed programs. In the latter case, all data from the PC will be completely deleted.

Method 1: "Control Panel"

You can reset Windows settings by running the tool required for this procedure via "Control Panel". Before activating this process, be sure to back up your system.

  1. Click "Start". Go to "Control Panel".

  2. In the block "System and safety" choose an option "Archiving computer data".

  3. In the window that appears, select the lowest item "Restore system parameters".

  4. Next, follow the inscription "Advanced Recovery Techniques".

  5. A window opens containing two parameters:
    • "Use a system image";
    • "Reinstall Windows" or .

    Select the last item. As you can see, it may have a different name on different PCs, depending on the parameters specified by the computer manufacturer. If your title is displayed “Return the computer to the state specified by the manufacturer”(most often this option occurs on laptops), then you just need to click on this inscription. If the user sees the item "Reinstall Windows", then before clicking on it, you need to insert the OS installation disk into the drive. It is worth noting that this must only be the copy of Windows that is currently installed on the computer.

  6. Whatever the name of the above item, after clicking on it, the computer restarts and the system is restored to factory settings. Don't be alarmed if your PC restarts several times. After completing the specified process, the system parameters will be reset to their original settings, and all installed programs will be removed. But if desired, you can still return the previous settings, since files deleted from the system will be transferred to a separate folder.

Method 2: Restore Point

The second method involves using a system restore point. In this case, only system settings will be changed, and downloaded files and programs will remain intact. But the main problem is that if you want to reset the settings exactly to factory settings, then in order to do this, you need to create a restore point as soon as you purchased the laptop or installed the OS on the PC. But not all users do this.

  1. So, if you have a restore point created before you started using your computer, then go to the menu "Start". Choose "All programs".

  2. Next, go to the catalog "Standard".

  3. Go to the folder "Service".

  4. In the directory that appears, look for the position "System Restore" and click on it.

  5. The selected system utility is launched. The OS recovery window opens. Just click here "Further".

  6. Then a list of restore points opens. Be sure to check the box next to "Show other restore points". If there is more than one option, and you do not know which one to choose, although you are firmly convinced that you created the point with factory settings, then in this case, select the earliest date point. Its value is displayed in the column "Date and time". Having highlighted the appropriate item, press "Further".

  7. In the next window, all you have to do is confirm that you want to roll back the OS to the selected recovery point. If you are confident in your actions, then press "Ready".

  8. After this, the system reboots. It will probably happen several times. After completing the procedure, you will receive a functioning OS on your computer with factory settings.

As you can see, there are two options to reset the operating system to factory settings: by reinstalling the OS and returning the settings to a previously created restore point. In the first case, all installed programs will be removed, and in the second, only system parameters will be changed. Which method to use depends on a number of reasons. For example, if you did not create a restore point immediately after installing the OS, then you only have the option that was described in the first method of this guide. In addition, if you want to clean your computer from viruses, then only this method will do. If the user does not want to reinstall all the programs that are on the PC, then you need to use the second method.

You can reset your Chrome browser at any time to restore default settings. During installation, some programs and extensions change Chrome settings, such as the search engine, without your knowledge. Resetting your browser settings can quickly solve this problem. Saved bookmarks and passwords are not deleted.

However, some settings, such as fonts or accessibility features, will not be reset. To create a new profile, add a user.

What happens after the reset

The following Chrome profile settings will be changed on all devices signed in to Chrome:

  • Default search engine– Google will be installed. Learn more about setting your default search engine...
  • Home and start pages. Learn more about how to customize your home and start pages.
  • Quick access page. Learn more about how to set up a quick access page...
  • Pinned tabs. Learn more about how to pin tabs...
  • Content Settings, such as blocking pop-ups or using a microphone. Learn more about how to change your content settings.
  • Cookies and site data, for example, items in your cart in an online store. Learn more about cookies and site data...
  • Extensions and themes. Learn more about extensions and themes...

Problems resetting settings

The browser itself resets my settings

Some programs you install may change Chrome settings without your knowledge. For security purposes, the browser monitors such cases every time it is launched. If something goes wrong, Chrome automatically restores the settings to default.

Resetting the browser, or resetting the browser settings - changing the browser settings to the default settings. When using an Internet browser program, the settings of some parameters in the browser change, which have a negative impact on the operation of the program.

Browser settings change for various reasons: due to incorrect user actions, often third-party programs independently change browser settings without the user’s consent (replacing the start page, search engine, etc.), extensions and plugins are installed in the browser that change the application’s operating parameters etc. Because of this, errors occur in the browser and some functions are not performed.

Therefore, it makes sense to solve the problems that have arisen without using a radical solution: completely removing the browser from the computer and then installing it again. Many problems can be solved by resetting the browser settings (cleaning the browser), as a result of which the default settings will be restored.

I recommend using the restore settings feature first, because most problems are solved this way. I myself often use this function to restore browser functionality.

In browsers, the process of changing settings is different. For example, in the Google Chrome browser, extensions are disabled, and in the Mozilla Firefox browser, all extensions are removed. Therefore, read the warnings carefully in order to fully understand all the consequences of this step.

In this article I will talk about how to reset Google Chrome, Yandex Browser, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge. In browsers that have multiple profiles, the settings will be reset in the active profile in which this function is running.

How to reset Google Chrome browser settings

In the Google Chrome browser, as a result of resetting the browser settings, the settings of the browser profile in which the settings were reset will be reset. Go to Settings and Control Google Chrome. In the context menu, click on “Settings”. In the Settings window, click on the Show advanced settings link.

On the page you will see a “Reset Settings” button, which serves to restore the Google Chrome browser settings to default. Next, click on the “Reset settings” button.

As a result of resetting the Chrome browser settings, the home page settings, quick access page settings will be reset, the default search engine (Google) will be installed, pinned sites will be unpinned, cookies and other temporary files will be deleted, and extensions in the browser will be disabled.

How to reset Yandex Browser settings

You can reset the Yandex browser settings in a manner similar to the Google Chrome browser. To do this, go to “Yandex Browser Settings”. In the context menu that opens, click on the “Settings” item. Then click on the “Show advanced settings” button.

In the "Reset settings" option, click on the "Reset settings" button to restore the original settings in the browser.

In the “Reset settings” window, click on the “Reset” button.

Next, Yandexm Browser will be reset. All changes will return to their original values: pinned tabs will be unpinned, extensions will be disabled, temporary files, cache, cookies will be deleted, the default search engine (Yandex) will be enabled.

How to reset Mozilla Firefox browser settings

In the Mozilla Firefox browser, open the menu, click on the “Open Help menu” button (question mark icon). In the context menu, click on the “Problem Solving Information” item.

On the page that opens, you will see the “Customize Firefox” section with the “Clean Firefox...” button.

As a result of cleaning, the following will be removed from the Firefox browser: extensions, added search engines, changed browser settings, themes, security certificates, plugin settings, etc.

The following parameters will be saved: bookmarks, history, passwords, cookies, information for autofilling forms.

The “Cleaning up Firefox” window will inform you that after resetting the Firefox browser, the browser settings will be set to default. Click on the "Clean up Firefox" button.

How to reset Opera browser settings

The Opera browser does not have a separate functionality for resetting browser settings. You can change your browser settings in Opera settings. Therefore, resetting the Opera browser settings using a standard tool is impossible. The only possible option is to manually delete the profile, as well as the browser cache.

To perform these steps, disable the Opera browser.

The user profile in the Opera browser and the browser cache are located in the following path:

C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Opera Software\Opera Stable C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Opera Software\Opera Stable

Navigate to this path in Explorer, and then delete the contents of these folders.

After launch, Opera will re-create a new profile with default browser settings.

How to reset Internet Explorer browser settings

In the Internet Explorer browser window, click on the “Tools” button. In the Internet Options window, open the Advanced tab. Here you will see the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” option. Reset Internet Explorer browser settings to default values ​​when the browser is not working.

Click on the “Reset...” button.

Resetting Internet Explorer involves restoring the following settings to their default settings:

  • toolbars and add-ons
  • Enable default browser settings: privacy options, security options, advanced options, customize tabbed browsing, pop-up options

Additionally, you can delete personal settings. To do this, check the “Delete personal settings” option.

In this case, search services, accelerators, default home page, temporary files, history, cookies, passwords, web form data, tracking protection, ActiveX filtering and Do Not Track will be restored.

To start the process of restoring default settings, click on the “Reset” button.

For the changes to take effect, restart your computer.

How to reset Edge browser settings

Go to your Microsoft Edge browser settings. In the context menu, click on “Options”. Next, find the “Clear browsing data” option, and then click on the “Choose what you want to clear” button.

By default, some settings are selected. Click on the "More" button to select additional options.

Select the required items and click on the “Clear” button.

Conclusions of the article

To restore your browser settings to default, reset (clean) your browser. In this way, you can solve many problems that arise in the operation of the application. Browser settings for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Yandex Browser, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge will return to their original settings.

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