Don't know how to reset my device (Hard reset)

If you use Windows 8(.1) and your computer starts misbehaving, and if you want to delete all the data stored on it (pictures, videos, sounds) consider resetting Windows. By resetting it you will restore the factory settings and delete personal data.

To reset Windows 8(.1):

1. Move the mouse pointer to the top/bottom-right corner -> Click Settings  -> Select Change PC settings 
   

   

   
   
   
   
2. Select Update and recovery -> click on Recovery
   

   

   

   
   
   
3. Select Get Started under Remove everything and reinstall Windows
   

   

   
   
   
4. Click Next -> Click one of the two offered options -> Click Reset
   

   

   
   
   
   
   
   

Note: You'll have to wait for approximately an hour for the process to complete, and the computer will restart a few times. Bear in mind that the full cleaning of the computer will take longer than Just remove my files.

Also, don't interrupt the procedure. If you use a laptop, connect it to the AC adapter to avoid sudden shutdowns.

If you have exhausted every method to fix your mobile device, there is only one more thing left to do. A hard reset is a solution to every software-related problem. It wipes down everything and it brings the device to the state it was in when it left the factory. 

To hard-reset your device, follow the steps below:

1. Backup your device's data to any cloud storage service (e.g. to Google Drive);
2. Go to Settings;
3. Tap on General (management);
4. Tap on Reset and select the factory-reset option.
   

   

Note: As this process varies from one device manufacturer to another, on some devices, you need to follow the route below:

1. Go to Settings;
2. Scroll down to find Backup and (&) Reset;
3. Tap on Factory Data reset and tick the Erase internal storage checkbox to delete the personal files (photos, sounds, videos);
4. Tap on Reset phone:
5. Follow the on-screen instructions.

1. Power off the device. If you can't do that using the power button, just remove the battery and reinsert it after 10 seconds or keep holding down the Power (Sleep/Wake) button until the device turns off
   
   
2. Press and hold the Volume up button, the Home button and the Power (Sleep/Wake) button -> Once your device turns on and the Samsung logo appears, let go of the keys.  
   

   
   
   

3. Press the Volume up or Volume down key to navigate through the options -> highlight the Wipe data/factory reset then press the Power (Sleep/Wake) key to make the selection.
   

   

To reset your HTC device, follow the steps below:

1. Go to Settings -> Battery -> Uncheck Fastboot
   
2. Power off the device. If you can't do that using the power button, just remove the battery and reinsert it after 10 seconds or keep holding down the Power (Sleep/Wake) button until the device turns off
   
3. Press and hold the Volume down button and the Power (Sleep/Wake) button until the device turns on (begins to vibrate)
4. Let go of the Power (Sleep/Wake) button but keep holding the Volume down button to enter the Bootloader mode
5. Highlight Recovery using the Volume down button -> Press the Power (Sleep/Wake) button to confirm
6. Highlight wipe data/factory reset and press the Power (Sleep/Wake) button to select it

If you have exhausted every method to increase the speed of your mobile device and without success, there is only one more thing left to do. A hard reset is a solution to every software-related problem. It wipes everything down and it brings the device to the state it was in when it left the factory. 

To reset your device:

1. Go to Settings -> Tap on General -> Select Reset
   
      
   
   
   
2. Tap on Erase All Content and Settings -> Erase iPhone (iPad/iPod) -> Enter the password of the synchronized account -> Erase
   
   

   
   
   

Also, you can reset it via iTunes: 

Connect your device to your computer using the cable that came with it -> Select your iPhone, iPad, or iPod when it appears in iTunes -> In the Summary panel, click Restore iPhone... -> Click Restore again to confirm

1. Have iTunes running on your computer before you begin this procedure
   
   
2. Press and hold the Power (Sleep/Wake) button and move the slider to turn it off (or press and hold the power and home buttons at the same time for a few seconds if the touch screen is unresponsive)
   
   
3. Connect your device via the USB cable to the computer - Press and hold the Power (Sleep/Wake) button and the Home button at the same time and relese the Power (Sleep/Wake) button but keep holding the home button until you receive a notification on your computer
   
   
4. Once iTunes informs you that it has detected a device in recovery mode, click the Restore button and iTunes will restore the  device’s operating system.

Note: Connect your device to the charger when performing hard reset to avoid sudden shutdowns, which can inflict an irreversible damage to your device. If you use iTunes on a laptop, plug the laptop's AC adapter in an power outlet.

Also, if you cannot access the recovery mode menu, maybe the power ON/OFF button or the Home buton are not working properly (In this case, take it to a repair store).

1. Power off the device. If you can't do that using the power button, just remove the battery and reinsert it after 10 seconds
    
2. Press and hold the Volume down (-) and Power buttons at the same time until you feel a vibration (about 10–15 seconds)
   
   
3. When you feel the vibration, release the buttons, and then immediately press and hold the Volume down (-) button until you see a large exclamation mark
   
   
4. Once the exclamation mark appears, press the following four buttons in this order:
   
   Volume up (+) button -> Volume down (-) button -> Power button -> Volume down (-) button

If you want to delete all the personal data in your computer and start from scratch, consider reinstalling your operating system.

To learn how to reinstall the operating system, check out the don't know how to (re-)install the operating system solutions.

Windows 10 offers an easy way for you to reset your computer, without having to reinstall it manually (From the DVD).

To reset Windows 10:

1. Go to the Start menu -> Settings.
   
   

   
   
   

2. Select Update and Recovery/Security (depends on the Windows version).
   
   

   
   
   

3. Select Recovery (if you clicked on Update & security) -> Click Get started under Reset this PC.
   
   

   
   
   

4. Select Remove everything.
   
   

   
   
   

5. Choose whether to fully clean your drive or not.
     * Bear in mind that Removing files and cleaning the drive will take much more time than the option Just remove my files.
   
   

   
   
   

6. Click Reset to start the procedure.
   
   

   

Note: you may notice the option Restore factory settings on some computers. If you select it, will reinstall any applications your computer manufacturer installed on your computer.

Do not interrupt the process to prevent data loss. If you use a laptop, connect it to its AC Adapter.

1. Turn on your computer and press and hold the Command and R keys (let them go after 30 seconds, when the apple logo appears)
   

   
   
   

2. Select Disk Utility -> Continue
   

   
   
   

3. Select the main volume -> (click Unmount) -> Select Erase
   

   
   
   

4. Click Erase... to delete the partition -> Click Erase to confirm -> Click the red button in the top-left corner
   

   
   
   

5. Click Reinstall OS X -> Continue -> Follow the instructions that follow
   

   

If you are unable to reset your mobile device via Settings the only thing that remains is to reset it from the recovery mode. 

To access the recovery mode and reset the device follow these steps: 

1. Power off the device. If you can't do that using the power button, just remove the battery and reinsert it after 10 seconds.
   
   
2. Press and hold the Volume (+) up and the Power (Sleep/Wake) buttons -> Once your device turns on, let go of the buttons. 
   * If you use a Samsung device, press the Power (Sleep/Wake), Volume (+) up and Home button.
   
   
3. Press the Volume up or Volume down key to navigate through the options -> highlight the Wipe data/factory reset then press the Power (Sleep/Wake) key to make the selection
   

   

1. Power off the device. If you can't do that using the power button, just remove the battery and reinsert it after 10 seconds, or keep holding the Power (Sleep/Wake) button until it powers off 
   
   
2. Press and hold the Sym button (it’s located on the keyboard) and the Power (Sleep/Wake) button simultaneously.
    *If an exclamation mark within a triangle appears, press the Home key to enter the Recovery menu
   
   
3. Highlight the Wipe data/factory reset option by using the Volume up and Volume down buttons -> Press the Return key (on the keyboard) to select it 
   
   
4. Highlight Yes - delete all user data and then press the Power (Sleep/Wake) button to confirm 
   
   
5. Once it is done select reboot system now and press the Power (Sleep/Wake) button to confirm and reboot your device

The System Restore feature ‘rewinds' your Windows to a certain restore point in the past when your computer was working properly, without affecting your documents. 

To restore your computer:

1. Go to the start menu -> Type sysdm.cpl -> Click sysdm.cpl
   
   
   
   
2. Select the System Protection tab -> Click the Windows 10 C: drive -> Select System Restore
   

   

   
   
   
3. Click Next
   

   

   
   
   
4. Select Choose a different restore point -> Click Next
   

   

   
   
   
5. Select Show more restore points -> Choose a restore point (from the yellow part of the window) -> Scan for affected programs (optional)
   

   

   Click Close once you see the list of affected programs
   

   

   
   
   
6. Click Next
   

   

   
   
   
7. Click on Finish
   

   

   
   
   

Note: In order for this feature to work you need a restore point from the period when your computer was working properly. If you didn't create one, (usually they are created automatically) this solution won't work for you.  Check out the other solutions.

The System Restore feature ‘rewinds' your Windows to a certain restore point in the past when your computer was working properly, without affecting your documents. 

To restore your computer:

1. Go to the start menu -> Type System restore
   

   

   
   
   
2. Click Next
   

   

   
   
   
3. Select a restore point 
   

   

   
   
   *You can also check the Show more restore points box to see all the restore points stored on the system.
   
   **Click the Scan for affected programs first, which will show you what programs have been installed after the restore point was created
   

   

   
   
   
4. Wait for the process to complete
   
   

Note: Do not interrupt the process to avoid irreversible software damages and data loss. If you use a laptop, connect it to the AC adapter before you start restoring Windows.

1. In the App list (swipe left) tap on Settings -> About
   

   

   
   
   
2. Tap on reset your phone -> tap on yes -> tap on yes again to confirm
   

   

1. Power off the device. If you can't do that using the Power (Sleep/Wake) button, just remove the battery and reinsert it after 10 seconds or keep holding down the Power (Sleep/Wake) button until the device turns off
   
   
2. Press and hold the Volume down and the Power (Sleep/Wake) buttons -> Once your device turns on, let go of the buttons
   
   
3. Press the Volume up or Volume down buttons to highlight Recovery mode -> Press the Power (Sleep/Wake) button to select it
   
   
4. The white Google logo and the Android robot will appear, followed by the No command line 
   
   
5. Press and hold the Power (Sleep/Wake) button along with the Volume up button for around five seconds, and then let go of the Volume up button, but keep pressing the Power (Sleep/Wake) button.
   
   
6. Press the Volume up or Volume down button to navigate through the options -> Highlight the Wipe data/factory reset then press the Power (Sleep/Wake) button to select it and reset the device
   

   

1. Power off the device. If you can't do that using the power button, just remove the battery and reinsert it after 10 seconds, or keep holding the Power (Sleep/Wake) button until it powers off.
   
   
2. Press and hold the Volume down and the Power (Sleep/Wake) buttons -> Once your device turns on, let go of the buttons
   
   
3. Once the "Fastboot" screen pops up, press the Volume down button highlight Android Recovery -> press the Volume up button
   
   
4. Once the triangle!/Android icon pops up, tap on the bottom-right corner of the screen (it may take a few attempts to enter the menu)
   
   
5. Tap on wipe data/factory reset -> tap OK. Another confirmation screen will appear. Tap Yes and then OK
   
   
6. After the data is cleared the reboot system now option should appear and it should be highlighted -> tap OK to reboot the device

1. Power off the device. If you can't do that using the Power (Sleep/Wake) button, just remove the battery and reinsert it after 10 seconds or keep holding down the Power (Sleep/Wake) button until the device turns off
   
   
2. Press and hold the Volume down button, then the Home button and while holding both the Volume down and Home buttons, press and hold the Power (Sleep/Wake) button
   
   * On some LG devices, press the Volume down button and the Power (Sleep/Wake) button
   
   
3. Once the LG logo appears, release the buttons
   
   
4. Select your language and proceed with setting up your device
   
   

Note: If you are taken to a fastboot screen or a screen with additional options, use the Volume up or Volume down buttons to highlight the wipe data/factory reset option and press the Menu button to select it.

If a confirmation screen appears, press the Volume up or Volume down button to highlight Yes -- delete all user data and press the Menu key to select it.

Highlight reboot system now (if available) and press the Menu button to select it. The phone will reboot, and after a couple of minutes the hard reset will be complete.

1. Power off the device. If you can't do that using the Power (Sleep/Wake) button, just remove the battery and reinsert it after 10 seconds or keep holding down the Power (Sleep/Wake) button until the device turns off 
   
   
2. Press and hold the Home button and the Power (Sleep/Wake) button at the same time
   
   
3. Release the Power (Sleep/Wake) button when the Samsung logo appears but keep holding the Home button until the Android system recover screen appears
   
   
4. Release the Home button once the recovery screen appears
   
   
5. Use the Volume up and Volume down buttons to highlight the wipe data/factory reset option, and then press the Home button to select it
   
   
6. Highlight Yes—delete all user data option using the Volume up and Volume down buttons and press the Home button to select it
   
   
7. Highlight reboot system now and press the Home button to select it

1. Power off the device. If you can't do that using the Power (Sleep/Wake) button, just remove the battery and reinsert it after 10 seconds or keep holding down the Power (Sleep/Wake) button until the device turns off
   
   
2. Press and hold the Volume up button and the Power (Sleep/Wake) button until the Android system recovery screen appears
   
   
3. Use the Volume up or Volume down buttons to highlight the wipe data/factory reset option and then press the Power (Sleep/Wake) button to confirm 
   
   
4. Highlight Yes -- delete all user data using the Volume up or Volume down button and press the Power (Sleep/Wake) button to confirm
   
   
5. If the Android system recovery screen reappears, press the Volume up or Volume down button to highlight reboot system now and press the Power (Sleep/Wake) button to confirm