How to Factory Reset Your Computer or Phone
Step-by-step instructions for factory resetting Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android, and Chromebook devices
A factory reset wipes your device back to the state it was in when you first took it out of the box. All your apps, files, accounts, and settings get erased. It is the nuclear option, and sometimes it is exactly what you need.
Common reasons to factory reset:
- Selling or giving away your device — you do not want someone else getting your files and accounts
- Persistent problems that no amount of troubleshooting fixes — malware, crashes, slowdowns that survived every other fix
- Fresh start — sometimes a clean slate is the best way to deal with years of accumulated junk
Do these things first, regardless of your device. Skipping this section is how people lose years of photos.
- Back up everything you want to keep. Cloud storage, external drive, whatever works. If you are not sure, see our backup guide.
- Sign out of your accounts. iCloud, Google, Microsoft, Dropbox, Spotify, Adobe — anything tied to a limited number of device activations. On Mac, also sign out of iMessage and deauthorize iTunes/Music.
- Deauthorize apps with device limits. Some software (Adobe, Microsoft Office, Slack) limits the number of devices. Deauthorize this one before wiping it.
- Save your passwords. If they are only in your browser and not in a password manager, export them first. See saved passwords in browsers.
- Note your Wi-Fi password. You will need it again after the reset.
- Make sure you know your Apple ID / Google / Microsoft account password. You will need it to set the device back up, and you will not have access to your password manager during setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a factory reset remove viruses and malware?▾
In most cases, yes. A factory reset erases the operating system and all installed software, which removes the vast majority of malware. However, some rare types of malware can survive a reset by hiding in firmware or recovery partitions. If you are dealing with a serious infection, a clean install from external media (USB drive) is the safest option.
How long does a factory reset take?▾
It depends on the device. Phones usually take 5-15 minutes. Computers take 20-60 minutes, sometimes longer if you choose cloud download on Windows or need to reinstall macOS over the internet. Chromebooks are the fastest — a Powerwash typically takes under 5 minutes.
Can I undo a factory reset?▾
No. Once the reset is complete, your data is gone. This is why backing up before you reset is so important. If you skipped the backup and already reset, data recovery software can sometimes retrieve files from hard drives (not SSDs), but it is not reliable and not guaranteed.
Is "Reset this PC" on Windows the same as a clean install?▾
They are similar but not identical. Reset this PC uses a recovery image and can sometimes carry over driver issues or corruption. A truly clean install from a USB drive with a fresh Windows ISO is more thorough. For most people, Reset this PC is plenty good enough. A clean install from USB is the fallback if Reset this PC does not solve the problem.
Do I need to deactivate Windows before resetting?▾
No. Windows activation is tied to your hardware (or your Microsoft account if you linked it). After resetting, Windows should reactivate automatically once it connects to the internet. You do not need to enter a product key again on the same hardware.
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