How to factory reset your Android tablet

A factory reset restores your device’s default data and options and erases all other data in the process.

This method is usually used as a last resort if you cannot get your device to work any other way. It is often necessary if the device encounters a system glitch, malfunctions in recent updates, or starts acting strangely.

In this article, you will learn about two different methods to reset your Android tablet.

Back up your data before resetting your tablet

Performing a “factory reset” will erase the data on your device, so you will lose a lot of valuable information if you don’t back it up. You can toggle automatic backup on all recent versions of Android.

1. Gonna Settings.
2. Select the Backup Reset option of the Personal settings section.
3. Lever Back up my information.
   

This will automatically store everything in your Google Drive account. Later when you do a factory reset, you will be able to log in to your account and recover the data on your phone again.

Additionally, a regular factory reset should not erase the contents of an SD card, but to avoid any inconvenience, it would be best to remove it from the tablet before proceeding.

Factory reset your tablet using the settings app

Every Android device must have a Factory reset option in the Settings application. If your tablet is working properly, you should be able to manually navigate to the option.

Not all Android tablets are the same. But normally, you should follow these instructions:

1. As you have probably guessed, open the Settings app on your tablet.
2. Go to the Staff section and select Backup Reset.
3. Tap Factory data reset.
   
4. Confirm your command if prompted.

If you have done everything correctly, the tablet should reboot and start the erasing process. Wait for the system to finish. Once data deletion is finished, it will restart automatically.

Please note that not all versions of Android have the same interface. Sometimes the above mentioned steps may differ slightly from each other.

For example, instead of Staff factory reset section can be listed in Privacyand sometimes even in Storage menu. So, double check all possible options, the Factory reset it should be there by default.

Factory reset a tablet from recovery mode

In some cases, your Android tablet may malfunction so that you cannot access your Settings menu. The screen may freeze, the system may become unresponsive, or it may become too slow to open any application. If so, you will need to enter recovery mode before performing a factory reset.

To enter recovery mode, you will need to press and hold the designated hotkeys. However, not all Android devices follow the same process.

How to access recovery mode from different Android tablets

Depending on the manufacturer of your Android tablet, you will have to follow different steps to enter recovery mode. These are some possibilities:

1. Samsung tablet: Press Volume Up + Home + Power Button
2. LG: Press Volume down + power button. After the logo appears, press and hold Lower volume but let go Power button. Then press it again.
3. Motorola Moto Z/Droid: Press Volume Down + Power button. Keep holding the Lower volumebut let go Power button
4. HTC: Press Volume Down + Powerand after the screen changes, release the Power button while still holding Lower volume.
5. Google Nexus/Pixel, Sony Xperia, Asus Transformer: Press and hold Volume down + power button

If your phone is not listed, you will probably easily find the steps necessary to access recovery mode. Simply search for your device online.

Tablet manufacturers intentionally complicate access to this mode. The purpose of this is to prevent any accidental access to this mode, as it would be extremely easy to accidentally erase all data on the device.

Navigating the recovery mode menu

Once the tablet enters recovery mode, it should display an image of an Android avatar lying on its back with a red alert triangle above it. After that, you must follow these steps:

1. Browse the available options using the Turn up the volume and Lower volume keys.
2. Go to the wipe data / factory reset option and press the Power button.
   
3. Use the Volume up/down keys to select Yes delete all user data and press the Power button again.
   
4. Wait for the device to perform factory reset and reboot.

Android Tablet Troubleshooting

Most of the time, a factory reset should update your system. When you do this, your tablet should work as it did when you first bought it, at least at first. However, if it works fine only for a while and starts running slowly or strangely again, it is most likely a hardware problem. If you have an older device, recent system and app updates will slow it down a lot.

On the other hand, if you bought your device recently and it is still not working well after a factory reset, it may be a hardware problem. You should take it to a technical repair service so they can diagnose the problem more accurately.

Double Check Before Proceeding

A factory reset can cause major data loss, even if you think you’ve backed up everything you need. So before confirming the command, double check if you have saved all the data you need.

Also, if you think that recent app and system updates are slowing down your device, you should not download them all at once as they will only cause the same problem. Instead, try to get only the essentials until you upgrade to a better tablet.

How to backup your files? Do you use the cloud or external storage? Share your opinion in the comments below.