Before you start: what the reset will erase

A factory reset erases data on the device and uninstalls apps and their associated data. The exact scope may depend on the firmware and external storage. Do not confirm until you have identified the files and settings you want to keep.

Do not confuse this operation with reinstalling or flashing the manufacturer’s firmware. Firmware-recovery procedures are separate and depend on the model.

1. Back up important data

Google recommends backing up data before a factory reset. Copy the local files you want to keep to suitable storage, then check that the copy is readable. Do not assume every app will restore all its settings and data: restoration depends on factors including the app, Google account and Android version. Also consult the data-preparation guide to distinguish copied files from backups that can actually be restored.

• Identify documents, photos and other personal files you want to keep.
• Check data created by your apps separately.
• Keep the backup outside the console before proceeding.
• Do not delete the backup until restoration has been checked.

Do not infer what happens to an external card solely from the reset procedure. It may be treated differently depending on the model and method. Read the confirmation screen and your console’s documentation before deleting anything.

2. Check your Google account and screen lock

Before erasing the console, make sure you know its Google account, account password and screen-lock credentials. Google says this information may be required after the reset. Exact checks depend on the security configuration and Android version.

1. Identify the Google account currently configured on the console, if you use one.
2. Check that you can sign into that account with the intended password.
3. Keep the PIN, pattern or password needed to unlock the device available.

If you cannot find your login and screen-lock details, stop preparing for the reset. If you recently reset your Google account password, wait 24 hours before performing a factory reset, as Google recommends. These precautions help avoid starting an erasure without being able to complete setup.

3. Open the Android reset function

Google says that on most devices you can start a factory reset from the Settings app. Menu names and organisation can vary with the Android version and manufacturer. In Settings, look for a system or reset-options section, then select the function for erasing all data.

Do not select a network reset or a single-setting reset if your aim is to erase the entire console’s data. Check that the displayed screen covers erasing all device data.

RG405M is documented as running Android 12, and RG406H as running Android 13. These versions illustrate why menu paths and labels should not be presented as identical across the range.

4. Read the confirmation screen

1. Review the list of data and apps that will be deleted.
2. Check what the screen says about any external storage.
3. Confirm that your backup is complete and stored elsewhere.
4. Continue only if you accept losing the affected local data.

If the screen does not make clear what will be erased, do not guess. Record the model, Android version and displayed text, then consult the manufacturer’s documentation before confirming.

5. Confirm the factory reset

Before confirming, check that the battery is at least 70% charged and your backup is readable. If you recently reset your Google password, observe the 24-hour wait first. Then confirm the full erasure from the appropriate Android screen. Android may ask for your screen-lock credentials. Follow the console’s confirmations and let the procedure finish without selecting another operation.

If Settings is inaccessible, Google says a procedure using power and volume buttons may exist, but recommends checking the manufacturer’s documentation for model-specific instructions. Do not blindly apply a button combination to the devices listed here.

6. Check the result after restarting

After erasure, check that the console returns to Android’s initial setup wizard or the manufacturer’s own wizard. Have Wi-Fi available to connect when prompted, then use the Google account details checked before the operation.

• Follow the setup wizard displayed by the console.
• Sign back into Google if you use it.
• Do not immediately restore every app and setting if you are trying to assess the system after erasure.
• Then restore your data gradually and check that restored saves are readable.

If the reset does not solve the problem

If the fault remains after Android setup, do not automatically repeat the same reset. Consult model-specific documentation to distinguish an app problem from a manufacturer-firmware or hardware problem. A factory reset is not itself a flashing procedure or proof that flashing is necessary.

Checklist before final confirmation

• Important data has been copied and the copy is readable.
• I know the Google account used on the console, if one is configured.
• I know its password and the credentials required to unlock the device.
• The battery is sufficiently charged (Google recommends at least 70%), and I have Wi-Fi available for setup after erasure.
• I have read the screen explaining what will be erased.
• I understand the difference between resetting Android and reinstalling the manufacturer’s firmware.
• I know what I will check after the setup wizard returns.
• If my Google password was recently reset, I have waited 24 hours before this operation.