How to Factory-Reset Your Phone Before You Sell It (2024)

FAQs

How to Factory-Reset Your Phone Before You Sell It? ›

Select each one in turn and tap Remove Account. Now you can wipe the Android phone, but this process is slightly different depending on who made your phone. On a Google Pixel, for example, go to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset) > Erase all data (you will need to enter your PIN).

Select each one in turn and tap Remove Account. Now you can wipe the Android phone, but this process is slightly different depending on who made your phone. On a Google Pixel, for example, go to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset) > Erase all data (you will need to enter your PIN).

Important: A factory reset erases all your data from your phone. If you're resetting to fix an issue, we recommend first trying other solutions. Learn how to troubleshoot Android issues.

Since the encryption key is tied to your password, the phone automatically resets the key after a factory reset. A savvy hacker can still dump the phone's storage, perform data forensics on it, and extract files. However, those files would still be encrypted, and reading them is next to impossible.

A simple factory reset won't ensure that everything is wiped out from your phone, so all your files could be easily recovered. Encrypted data means that even if the new owner of your device tries to restore all your data, they won't be able to access it. Go to “Settings, Security & location.”

Factory resetting doesn't do anything to your Google account. If you have a phone you were signed into with your Google account and then factory reset it, it will require you to sign back into your account to verify it's your device. Then you can do whatever you want with it.

The data on most Android phones is encrypted, which means that it can't be accessed following a factory reset. As such, you don't need to worry about another person accessing this information if you sell your Android phone.

Additionally, frequently resetting your phone can also cause wear and tear on the device, leading to a shorter lifespan for the device. It is recommended to only perform a factory reset when it is necessary and to make a backup of your data beforehand to avoid losing important information.

What You Can Expose if You Don't Wipe Your Phone. It's important to thoroughly wipe devices before selling, recycling, trading, or donating them. On a majority of devices, a factory reset isn't enough to keep your data safe.

Important: A factory reset erases all your data from your phone. If you're resetting to fix an issue, we recommend first trying other solutions. Find out how to troubleshoot Android issues. To restore your data after you reset your phone, you must enter security info.

What to do before factory reset? ›

Before you erase your Android device, make sure you back up all your data. With a service like Google One, you are able to back up app data, call history, contacts, settings, SMS messages, pictures, and videos to the cloud. You may want to first encrypt the data on your device.

You should always factory reset a phone before trading in or donating. This removes all your personal data, installed apps, and of course any security measures that might stop someone getting past the lock screen. It takes just a few seconds.

Navigate to and open Settings, and then tap General management. Swipe to and tap Reset, then tap Factory data reset, and then review the information. When you're ready, swipe to and tap Reset. If you have a security lock set, you will be asked to enter the credentials.

With law enforcement quality software available, can data be extracted from a factory reset Android mobile phone? My understanding is If the device is encrypted - unlikely to extract any usable data. If not encrypted - yes, fairly easily.

A complete factory reset will allow you to save your data and remove all links to the phone, including passwords, credit card information, paired devices and any other sensitive information. Here's everything you need to know about factory resetting iPhones and Androids.

A factory reset will delete your pictures and all the data such as contacts, text messages, videos, etc.

A factory restore erases the information and settings on your device. This includes removing any apps that were installed without your knowledge and resetting your privacy settings so you aren't sharing location with any people or apps. It also installs the latest version of the operating system.

Donate your phone. You should always factory reset a phone before trading in or donating. This removes all your personal data, installed apps, and of course any security measures that might stop someone getting past the lock screen. It takes just a few seconds.