When your phone gets sluggish, randomly crashing, or simply doesn’t work right, you may need to do a hard reset on it. A hard reset, also called a factory reset or master reset, will delete all data on your device and restore it back to its default settings. It’s a useful tool to have in your arsenal, but should only be used as an extreme measure when you believe that your phone has a virus or severely malfunctions.
How to do a hard reset on your phone
There are many different methods of doing a hard reset on your iPhone, depending on the model of the device and your iOS version. If you’re not sure which method to use, it’s best to check your manual for more information.
How to do a hard factory reset on an Android smartphone
A hard factory reset, or a “hard” reset, wipes the entire software of an Android phone, erasing all personal and business data stored in its internal memory. This process is done through the phone’s boot-loader screen, and each manufacturer has its own set of key combinations that can be used to enter recovery mode and perform this procedure.
How to do a hard phone reset on an Apple iPad or iPhone
For Apple users, a hard reset can be performed using the home button and sleep/wake button simultaneously until the iPhone logo appears. For older models, you can press and hold the home and sleep/wake buttons until you hear a series of beeps.
How to do a soft reset on an iPhone
A soft reset is a simpler version of a hard reset and it won’t delete any data from your device. It could fix some system issues such as iCloud backup stuck or close apps that are running in the background.
How to do a hard restart on an iPhone
A soft restart is a more basic method of doing a hard reset and it won’t remove any data from your device. It can be used to fix some issues that a hard reset couldn’t, such as a stuck iCloud backup or closing shady applications in the background.
How to do an Android phone reset
The most common way to do a hard reset on an Android phone is through the phone’s recovery mode. This is typically located at the bottom of the Android screen, near the battery and volume controls.
If you can’t access the recovery mode, or it doesn’t appear on your screen, you can try to access the settings menu in your device’s menu. Once you’re there, press and hold the power and volume up buttons to enter recovery mode.
How to do a hard wipe on an Android tablet
To do a hard wipe on an Android tablet, you need to first turn off the tablet. After that, you need to press and hold both the power and volume up keys together until the Android logo appears on your screen.