Hard reset your Android phone or tablet when you forget the passcode or lock pattern

If you've ever had the situation where you are locked out of your Android Tablet or phone, then you already know that it can be a frustrating experience. Fortunately, if you have forgotten your passcode or lock pattern it's possible to perform a Hard Reset on your device, although you will have to start afresh. If you have run out of options and you're ready to follow the instructions below, make sure you have backed up any files from your device by connecting it to a PC and transferring any available files. (It's possible that not all of your files are available while your device is locked.) Once you're done, just read on below for the reset process.

1. 1
   Begin by powering down your Android device.

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2. 2
   While the device is powered off, hold down the "Volume up" button, along with the "Power" button until the menu "Android system recovery" is displayed on the screen.

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3. 3
   Use the volume buttons (or if your device has one, you can use the keyboard arrows) to scroll through the displayed menu until you select "Wipe data/Factory Reset".

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4. 4
   Use the Enter key, a finger press or the camera button to activate the Factory Reset.

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5. 5
   The device will now prompt you, asking if you really wish to delete all user data

   .

   Use the camera button, a finger press or the Enter key to confirm.

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6. 6
   Your device will now perform a full data wipe

   .

   When this has completed, a message will appear showing "Data wipe complete". Simply select "Reboot system now" to complete the process.

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7. 7
   You can now let your device boot up as normal

   .

   Upon this first reboot, you will need to go through the initial setup and re-download any updates and applications that you previously had installed on your device.

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• When you perform the reset, make sure that your device is fully charged or plugged into a power supply. If your device powers down during the process, you can encounter irreparable file system damage.
• It's a good idea to periodically backup your device in case you need to perform such a reset anytime in the future.
• If you're setting up a lock pattern or passcode after the reset, consider noting it somewhere safe in case it is forgotten in the future.
• Saving files to your SD card instead of the internal memory is a good practice that will prevent you from losing important data if you have to reset your device again, or even in a situation where the device becomes damaged or inoperable.

When I tried to press the buttons, it asks for an email address but the phone is not connected to the WiFi

That is only normal since that you are trying to reset the device and make sure that your phone is currently off before pressing the buttons as it may go back to the same screen where you need to unlock the screen again. Just ignore if it asks for an email since your phone is not connected to the internet, here are the steps on how you can reset the device properly:

1. Turn off the device completely

2. Press and hold any of the following:

Press and hold Volume Up + the power button.

Press and hold Volume Down + the power button.

Press and hold Volume Up and the home button + the power button.

Press and hold Volume Down and home button + the power button.

3. Once you have access to the recovery menu, highlight the wipe data and reset by using the volumes keys and select it using home or power key.

4. Select yes to start the reset and wait. After the reset, go back and select on reboot to restart the device and start configuring it.

Resetting an Alcatel One Touch Evo 7 tablet?

Hi. I have an Alcatel One Touch Evo 7, and I don't remember my pattern and my tablet got blocked. So I want to Factory Reset it, but I don't know how. Can you please tell me how to do it?

1. 1
   Switch off the tablet

   .

   If the tablet is turned on, you can turn it off by pressing and holding the power button.

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2. 2
   Press and hold power and volume up buttons for 5-10 seconds.

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3. 3
   Release the keys when the menu appears on the screen.

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4. 4
   Press volume up and down buttons to navigate to "Recovery".

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5. 5
   Press the power button to enter the recovery option.

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6. 6
   Press volume up and down buttons to navigate to "wipe data/factory reset".

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7. 7
   Press the power button to hard-reset the phone.

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8. 8
   Press volume up and down buttons to navigate to "Yes -- delete all user data".

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9. 9
   Press the power button to confirm the selection.

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10. 10
    Reboot the device by moving to "reboot system now" with volume up and down keys and selecting it with the power button.

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I have a droid one or two, I don't remember. How do I reset it?

I did the different codes but all of them just powered up my phone

First of all, if you can get into Droid 1 or 2, then

1. 1
   tap on the menu button;

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2. 2
   tap on "Settings";

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3. 3
   tap on "Touch Privacy";

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4. 4
   tap on "Touch Factory data reset";

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5. 5
   tap on "Touch Reset Phone";

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6. 6
   confirm the action by tapping on "Erase Everything".

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If you cannot get into the Droid 1 or 2, then

1. 1
   turn the device off (you can do it through the menu by pressing and holding the power button, then tap on "Power off");

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2. 2
   alternatively, take the battery out and put it back in;

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3. 3
   open the keyboard;

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4. 4
   press and hold the power button and the "X" key until the screen with an Android picture shows up;

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5. 5
   close the keyboard;

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6. 6
   press the volume up and down buttons;

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7. 7
   press the volume up and down buttons to navigate to "wipe data/factory reset";

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8. 8
   press the power button;

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9. 9
   press the volume up and down buttons to navigate to "Yes -- delete all user data";

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10. 10
    press the power button;

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11. 11
    press the volume up and down buttons to navigate to "reboot system now";

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12. 12
    press the power button.

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I can't get into my Galaxy Fame?

I've entered the wrong passcode in and I don't know my backup pin or Google email. I've tried turning it off and holding keys but there are no reset buttons showing

The problem is that Galaxy Fame requires you to press and hold an extra button to enter that menu. Here is how:

1. 1
   charge your phone at maximum capacity;

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2. 2
   turn off the device if it is still turned on by pressing and holding the power button;

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3. 3
   press and hold the volume up, home, and power buttons until the recovery menu appears;

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4. 4
   select "Wipe Data/Factory Reset";

   • you can navigate the menu items with volume down and up buttons;

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5. 5
   press the power buttons;

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6. 6
   select "Yes delete all user data";

   • you can navigate the menu items with volume down and up buttons;

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7. 7
   press the power button.

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What do I do if I pressed and held volume up and power button and my tablet still didn't reset?

I forgot my slide combination for the Android tablet and must perform a factory reset.

Some Android phones have different button combinations. Press and hold the following combinations:

• volume up + power button;
• volume down + power button;
• volume up + home button + power button;
• volume down + home button + power button;
• volume up + volume down + power button;
• home + power;
• volume up + camera.

See more questions like this: There is no command prompt when I try to Factory Reset, there is just a picture of a lying Android with an open hatch

I don't know how to restore my tablet?

I want to restore my tablet clearing everything in it

You should first try to find the menu item for wiping all of the data. Generally, tablets keep the menu item in "Settings", "Privacy". Look for "Factory data reset". You can also dial a device-specific USSD code.

If you cannot get into the tablet, first turn it off by either pressing and holding the power button and selecting an option to turn off the device or by removing and putting back the battery. Wait at least for 10 seconds. Then, attempt to press and hold the following combinations: volume up + power button; volume down + power button; volume up + home button + power button; volume down + home button + power button; volume up + volume down + power button; home + power buttons; volume up + camera.

Some devices will show you the Android logotype and wait for a key combination like volume down (or up) + power button. Other devices will demand that you release the volume button only.

If your device turns on by mistake when you are pressing the hard reset key combinations, you will have to turn it off again.

I tried the first step and it didn't work. Can you help me?

My tablet is locked and it stays on a screen to log into my Google account, but I don't have WiFi and I don't remember my Google account username. I tried the first step to hold down the power button and volume button but nothing happened. I don't know what else to do.

Some devices like Nexus may require you to press and hold the volume up, volume down, and power buttons. Motorola Droid would even omit the volume key and just wait until you press and hold home and power buttons. Some devices that have dedicated camera buttons ask for the volume up and camera buttons pressed and held. Galaxy devices ask for volume up, home, and power buttons. If none of the above work, try holding and pressing: volume up and power buttons; volume down and power buttons, or volume down, home, and power buttons.

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Online keyboard has disappeared from Proscan PLT7050 (B-512-8GB)?

Online keyboard has disappeared from Proscan PLT7050 (B-512-8GB) User manual is unhelpful, It won't let me press the keyboard button in settings, Do I have to reset? I have no external keyboard

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I mistakenly deleted my build.prop on my QMV7B and I can't boot it any longer. Can you help me?

I have deleted build.prop on my tablet

You will have to hard-reset your device.

1. 1
   Power down the device.

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2. 2
   Press and hold the volume-up and power buttons until you see "Ellipsis" on the screen.

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3. 3
   Use the volume down to highlight items and the volume up to confirm selection.

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4. 4
   Select "wipe data/factory reset".

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5. 5
   Select "Yes -- delete all user data".

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6. 6
   Select "reboot system now".

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I get to the part were mine says fast boot and then it gets stuck why?

I'm having trouble with my Google play store app and one of the solutions was to. Shut down and reboot the system but it keeps freezing up on me. I can't reboot my system at all without it freezing up on me. I have tried: Enabled my Google play store app, shutting down my device, and clearing all the caches. I think it was caused by: I don't exactly know... I was using it yesterday and it was working completely fine...

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See more questions like this: Stuck on Android recovery page after following the steps?

The reset does not want to work it doesn't come up?

The green Android guy is laying dead and nothing is coming on the screen to go to settings to even do a reset. I cannot do a factory reset the Android is dead and nothing is coming up for options to rest. I have tried: Everything pressing power button and power up. Then power button down and pressing both up and down buttons. I think it was caused by: I do not no what the problem is ,it doesn't want to work with the commands

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See more questions like this: I still cannot get this to work? What do you recommend me to do now?

Why doesn't it work I've followed the directions closely?

I've done everything it ask but the Android emoji keeps popping up and underneath it says no command. The Android emoji keeps popping without the recovery page but instead it says no command nothing else pops up

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My granddaughter accidentally tried to use her brothers Android ZTE text and talk only but he can't use it now as it asks for a pin, before he just swiped some dots?

Uh on, I think I did this wrong. sorry. I don't have an Android and don't know how to help my ten year old grandson get his phone to work. It turns on but now asks for a pin. He used to just swipe some dots and he could call or text. . . How do I fix this?. Thank you. Do you have to do a factory reset to get into your phone. I have tried: Nothing, I don't know what to do. I don't have or know how to use an Android. I think it was caused by: My granddaughter thought she had to push numbers I guess. I have no clue. I just was charging his phone for him. Now it wants his pin but he just used to swipe numbers

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How to get front and rear icon back on nextbook ares 10a tablet?

I have a tablet -nextbook ares 10a tablet and, the front/rear icon is missing on the camera How do I get it back. I don't know How to get the front/rear Icon back on the tablet again. I have tried: I had tried resetting it and, then, I had tried everything to reset it but nothing worked then, I had called the company who makes the tablet and, they had told Me but, I don't know what I'm doing wrong and, that is because, I had tried different things and, nothing seems to work. I need help please. I think it was caused by: I don't know but, I had tried to put it on a different charger. and, that is because, the cable that it had came with had broken. 2. changing the settings too many different times.

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Yes I'm I'm pressing the up key followed by the power key I followed stp 1 1st ...still not working?

I'm pressing the up key while holding the p volume and is still not working.

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Is the device supposed to power on first or is it just supposed to show the rest screen?

I tried using this step but it just keeps powering on I wanted to know if I am just supposed to keep holding or if I am doing something wrong. So I am trying to rest my tablet because one of the buttons of it are not working so I was trying to follow these steps but when I try to do step number 2 it just powers it on. I have tried: 1. and I have tried 2 but it just keeps powering it on. I think it was caused by: Honestly I don't know it might be the type of tablet I have it is a gpad

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See more questions like this: I followed steps didn't work horse right back to rca screen with dogs and it will not power off?

I entered a swipe pattern on my Samsung Galaxy tablet yesterday and have forgotten it already?

I have looked at your steps but the tablet does not allow me to power down without entering the swipe key. Very frustrating. The device will not power down without entering the swipe pattern. (it seemed a good idea at the time).

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See more questions like this: How to hard reset Samsung Galaxy tab I f I can't turn off without putting in forgotten passcode?

When I finish resetting, it prompt me to enter my previous Google account which I forgot?

I'm trying to factory rest my Samsung Galaxy Tab2. When I finish resetting, it prompt me to enter my previous Google account which I forgot. It keeps asking me to enter my previous Google account after resetting. I have tried: I tried hard reset and went through the process of switching it off, though keeps requesting of my Google account. I want to get rid of it completely by erasing everything. I think it was caused by: I was trying to change the password and forgot, I tried hard reset and went through the process of switching it off, though keeps requesting of my Google account. I want to get rid of it completely by erasing everything

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Google won't let you back in after a factory reset-even though I am certain my password for my Google account is correct. They have allowed me to reset it a dozen times or more, it never works, but on all my other devices it works. I have read where lots of people have the same problem. Google should not do this to anyone. I have verified my account to them, so is there any way I can get back into my tablet? I have a fair amount of money tied up in the tablet, and now I can't use it?

Did a complete factory wipe data and reinstall---but-google sign in on Google email says password is wrong, even though Google had allowed me to reset it several times. The tablet is an rca maven pro.

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How do do a complete factory reset and start fresh?

I am holding down the power button and the volume up button at the same time but nothing is showing on the screen , holding for 15-20 seconds and still nothing. When I do step 2 , holding down volume up button and power Kelly at the same time , something is supose to pop up on the screen , but when I do it , both buttons for 15,20 seconds nothing is showing up

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See more questions like this: OK I reset my tablet in the way you said but my lock is not brakened..how to remove my lock?

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Why doesn't the up/ down button move the highlight cursor?

Hello, when I press the volume up button, the screen changes and goes black

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Tryin to reset my ASUS tablet, fortgot my password?

Initiate step one, holding volume up and start button. it takes me to a green screen with Android logo. nothing else. Not sure other than I do not get to the factory menu as explained

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I have this phone I can't turn off,rest phone or emergency mode without the pin?

All I know is that I have no SIM card and my version is 9.5. I don't have the right phone for these steps I think this is a Galaxy 7s?

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Wht do I do help to get the green thing off with the red tringle?

How do you get the thing on the screen to prees the thing because when I do it goes to the green thing with a red tranigle in it please help

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How do I d unlock my tablet don't remember putting a passcode in?

My qlink scepter 8 tablet is locked. Don't know passcode to unlock it.Tried almost everything.

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If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

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