Of course, it’s equally important to wipe a device to regain access, in cases where the software has had an issue. Smartphones are expensive and that investment is lost if some small glitch has rendered the device useless. Well, that’s exactly what this guide hopes to address. While there are simply too many OEMs and Android variations to promise it will solve your problem, it should address just those issues for most.
Here’s how to reset your phone if it won’t boot up
Now, there’s nothing to be done, necessarily, if your smartphone or tablet won’t even load up its start screen. If your Android is bricked, finding a “how” to perform a reset is likely out of the question. At least that’s the case in most instances. So, at that point, it’s a good idea to call or otherwise contact the manufacturer. Conversely, maybe you can get the phone to turn on. Or at least get it past the initial boot screen. But it isn’t working properly and/or won’t stay functional for long enough to get to the reset menu. In that case, this method for how to reset your Android phone could prove useful. Although it’s worth noting that, as with any other full reset method, this will wipe any and all data on the device too. And, of course, that you’ll need to reset your Android with the second method on this guide for a lost device.
Here’s what to do if you’ve lost your Android device and need to factory reset it
Now, this method for securing your device is fairly straightforward. But it can, in some cases, require that you’ve got an app installed on the Android device that’s been lost, in order to initiate a reset. Namely, if that’s via a third-party app of some kind. It will, unfortunately, also require that the phone is on. This is, in part, why this method only works for missing smartphones or tablets rather than those that can’t turn on. For this example, we’ll make use of Find My Device, as opposed to third-party software. As that’s the method that will be most prevalent among users. If you’re using a third-party antivirus or other security software that comes with a device-wiping feature, access that account and follow those instructions instead.
