Restoring a device to factory settings should wipe the right data, not leave you stuck at an account lock or a settings-only reset. The exact menu depends on whether you are using a phone, computer, console, streaming device, watch, or smart speaker. Start with the normal Settings path when you can, then use recovery or hardware buttons when the screen is unavailable.
1. Prepare before you erase anything
This fixes the two biggest reset mistakes: choosing a light reset and leaving account locks behind.
First, pick the full erase option, not a settings-only reset.
On PlayStation, Restore Default Settings changes visual, audio, and other settings but does not delete user or game data.
For an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch restored with a computer, turn off Find My first through Settings > [Your Name] > Find My > Find My [device].
For an Apple Watch you are selling or giving away, use the paired iPhone route because proper unpairing removes Activation Lock.
Erasing from the watch itself does not remove Activation Lock.
For Windows installation media or PlayStation Safe Mode reinstall files, use the official Microsoft or PlayStation download page.
For a work or school device, check with your administrator because managed devices can be remotely wiped or reset.
2. Erase an iPhone or iPad
On the device, open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset [device] > Erase All Content and Settings.
Next, tap Continue, choose whether to keep or delete the eSIM when prompted, enter the device passcode, then enter the Apple Account password.
To restore with a computer, first turn off Find My [device], then connect the device and select Restore [Device] in Finder, the Apple Devices app on Windows, or iTunes on Windows without Apple Devices or on macOS Mojave or earlier.
For a lost Apple device, open the Find My app, tap Devices, select the device, choose Erase This Device > Continue > Erase, enter your Apple Account password, then choose Erase again.
From the web, sign in at iCloud.com/find, select the device, choose Erase This Device, and follow the onscreen instructions.
Remote erase starts immediately when the device is online or when it next comes online.
3. Reset an Android phone or tablet
On most Android phones and tablets, open Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset) > Erase all data, enter your PIN, then choose Erase all data again.
Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets use Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset > Reset > Delete all, with the security lock and Samsung account password requested during the flow.
If Settings is unavailable, use the manufacturer’s Power and Volume recovery sequence; on Pixel, that recovery flow ends at Wipe data/factory reset > Factory data reset > Reboot system now.
For a lost Android device signed into the Google Account with Find Hub enabled and reachable, use android.com/find > Settings > Factory reset {device name}.
4. Reset a Windows PC or Chromebook
On Windows 11, go to Settings > System > Recovery and select Reset PC under Recovery options.
On Windows 10, go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery and select Get started under Reset this PC.
Either way, choose the reset options and follow the onscreen instructions.
When Windows cannot start normally, open Windows Recovery Environment and choose Troubleshoot > Reset this PC, then choose the reset options.
For a clean Windows reinstall, create installation media from Microsoft’s official Windows download page, boot the PC from it, choose language and keyboard settings, select Install Windows 11, accept I agree everything will be deleted including files, apps, and settings, then continue.
On a Chromebook, sign out, press and hold Ctrl + Alt + Shift + r, choose Restart, then Powerwash > Continue and finish setup.
After Powerwash, the account used during setup becomes the owner unless the Chromebook is managed.
From Chromebook Settings, use Settings > Advanced > Reset settings > Powerwash, then continue through the reset prompts.
5. Wipe a Mac with Erase All Content
On a Mac with Apple silicon or the Apple T2 Security Chip running macOS Ventura 13 or later, use Apple menu > System Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.
On macOS Monterey 12, use Apple menu > System Preferences > System Preferences menu > Erase All Content and Settings.
If that command is missing, your Mac is outside the documented Erase All Content and Settings requirements.
6. Wipe watches and wearable devices
This fixes watches, fitness trackers, and Vision Pro when they need their own erase flow.
For Apple Watch from the watch itself, open Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings, enter the passcode, choose whether to keep or remove the cellular plan, then tap Erase All.
For Apple Watch paired with iPhone, open the Apple Watch app and go to My Watch > General > Reset > Erase Apple Watch Content and Settings, confirm, then choose whether to keep or remove the cellular plan.
If you are selling or giving the watch away, unpair it instead through My Watch > All Watches > the info button next to the watch > Unpair Apple Watch, then enter your Apple Account password, because unpairing erases the watch and removes Activation Lock.
For Apple Watch without the passcode, put it on the charger, hold the side button until the power button appears, hold the Digital Crown until Erase all content and settings appears, then tap Reset > Reset.
For Wear OS 3, wake the watch and use Settings > General > Reset > Reset, then enter the PIN.
For Fitbit Sense or Versa, open Settings > About > Factory Reset on the device.
For Apple Vision Pro, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset Apple Vision Pro > Erase All Content and Settings, enter the requested passcode or Apple Account password, then confirm.
7. Factory reset a game console
On Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S, press the Xbox button and open Profile & system > Settings > System > Console info > Reset console, then choose whether to keep games and apps or remove everything.
When an Xbox cannot reach the Home screen, use the Xbox Startup Troubleshooter and choose the reset or factory default option; use the offline system update USB process when the console needs it.
On PS5, open Settings > System > System Software > Reset Options > Reset Your Console.
This deletes saved settings and information.
For a PS5 Safe Mode reinstall, turn off the console, hold the power button and release it after the second beep, connect a USB drive containing PS5UPDATE.PUP from PlayStation’s official page, then choose Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software).
For a PS4 Safe Mode reinstall, turn off the console, hold the power button for at least 7 seconds until two beeps, connect a USB drive containing PS4UPDATE.PUP from PlayStation’s official page, then choose Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software).
Use Reset Your Console or the Safe Mode reinstall option when you need a true PlayStation wipe.
8. Restore streaming and smart home devices
This fixes Roku, Fire TV, Kindle, Echo, Fire tablet, and smart home gear when they need a clean reset.
On a Roku TV, streaming player, or projector, go to Home > Settings > System > Advanced system settings > Factory reset, choose Factory reset everything on Roku TV, and follow the onscreen instructions.
For a Roku physical reset, keep the device powered on and hold the physical Reset button about 10 seconds until the status LED blinks rapidly; on Roku TV models without a reset button, hold Power + Find My Remote for 12 seconds.
Use Roku TV Recovery Mode only after other reset methods fail, because Roku labels it the most invasive reset method.
For paired Roku wireless audio, use Home > Settings > Remotes & devices > Speakers > Factory reset and enter the onscreen code, or hold the Reset button on each audio device for 10 seconds until the status LED goes dark and begins blinking.
For Roku Smart Home hardware resets, hold camera Setup for 10 seconds, hold base station pinhole Reset for 15 seconds, press doorbell Reset, hold chime Setup for 5 seconds, power a smart bulb off and on 3 times, hold the light strip controller side button for 10 seconds, hold indoor plug Power until the light flashes blue, or hold one outdoor plug Power button for 5 seconds; Roku Outdoor Camera SE cannot be factory reset and can only be restarted.
For Amazon Fire TV streaming devices, open Settings > My Fire TV > Reset to Factory Defaults; on Fire TV Smart TVs, use Device & Software > Reset to Factory Defaults.
When the Fire TV Smart TV menu is unavailable, hold Back + Right for 10 seconds and choose the onscreen factory reset option.
For an Amazon Fire tablet without Settings access, power it off, hold Power + Volume Down, release after the Amazon logo or about 5 seconds, choose Wipe data/factory reset with the Power button, and confirm.
This reset deregisters the tablet from the Amazon account.
For a Kindle E-reader, open Quick Actions or Menu > Settings or All Settings > Device Options, then choose Reset or Reset Device and confirm.
For Echo 3rd or 4th generation, hold Microphone off + Volume down for 20 seconds until the light ring turns off and on again; for Echo Show, say “Go to Settings” or open Settings and use Device Options > About this Device > Reset to Factory Defaults; for Fire TV Cube, hold Volume Down + Mute until the light flashes blue, about 40 seconds.
9. Ask admin before wiping managed devices
For a personal device, use a normal consumer path such as Settings > System > Recovery > Reset PC or Settings > General > Transfer or Reset [device] > Erase All Content and Settings.
Work and school devices can be wiped or reset through tools such as Microsoft Intune, Google Admin console, or Apple device management.
Some managed Windows resets keep the device enrolled and ready for reuse, so ask your organization before erasing one yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I restore to factory settings without opening Settings?
Yes. Use the recovery path your vendor documents, such as Windows Recovery Environment, Android recovery buttons, Chromebook Powerwash shortcut, Xbox Startup Troubleshooter, PlayStation Safe Mode, a Roku physical Reset button, or Amazon Fire tablet recovery mode.
Does PlayStation Restore Default Settings erase everything?
No. Restore Default Settings changes settings but does not erase user or game data. Use Reset Your Console on PS5 or the Safe Mode reinstall option for a full wipe.
Can I factory reset a lost phone remotely?
For Apple devices, use Find My or iCloud.com/find. For Android, use Find Hub or android.com/find when the device is signed in, Find Hub is enabled, and the device is reachable; Android location is unavailable after erase.
Why does my device ask for an old account after reset?
Some reset methods leave account protection in place. Apple Watch erase from the watch does not remove Activation Lock, and Samsung Galaxy recovery-button resets may require the prior Google account through Google Device Protection.
