How to Factory Reset an Android Phone When It's Locked

The 30-second test: which reset do you need?

Answer two questions before you press anything. First: is the phone in your hand right now? Second: is it still on and connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data?

• Phone in hand, no internet needed — use recovery mode (Method 1). It's the fastest and works offline.
• Phone lost, stolen, or across the house — erase it remotely with Google Find Hub (Method 2).
• It's a Samsung Galaxy — Samsung Find My Mobile (Method 3) gives you a second option.

Keeping the phone after the wipe? A freshly reset Android still makes a free Hisense TV remote — our in-browser Roku remote runs right in the phone's browser, with no app or account. Open the web remote, type your TV's IP address, and you're controlling it in about 30 seconds.

Before you reset: the Google lock that trips people up

Android has a security feature called Factory Reset Protection, or FRP. After any factory reset, the phone asks for the Google account that was signed in before the wipe. This is on purpose — it stops thieves from wiping and reselling a stolen phone.

So find that Google email and password before you start. If you don't know it, resetting the phone won't unlock it — you'll be stuck at the setup screen. Samsung phones add a second Samsung-account check on top. There's no honest software trick around FRP, and that's exactly the point of it.

Method 1: Factory reset from recovery mode

This works with no internet and no unlock code. The exact buttons vary a little by brand, but the flow is the same.

1. Power the phone off completely. If it's frozen, hold Power for about 20 seconds.
2. Hold Volume Up + Power at the same time. Let go when the logo or recovery menu appears. (Older Samsung: Volume Up + Bixby + Power. Some Motorola: Volume Down + Power.)
3. The touchscreen won't work here. Use Volume Down to move and Power to select.
4. Highlight Wipe data/factory reset and press Power.
5. Confirm Factory data reset (or "Yes, delete all user data").
6. When it finishes, choose Reboot system now.

When it won't work: if the buttons do nothing, a volume or power button may be physically broken — try Method 2 instead. And remember FRP: you'll still need the old Google login on the setup screen. If it's actually a Hisense Roku TV you're trying to reset, the steps are different — see our Roku TV reset guide.

Method 2: Erase it remotely with Google Find Hub

Use this when the phone is lost, stolen, or just out of reach. It only works if the phone is turned on, signed into a Google account, connected to the internet, and has Find My Device switched on — which it is by default on most phones.

1. On any computer or another phone, open google.com/android/find (now branded Google Find Hub).
2. Sign in with the same Google account that's on the locked phone.
3. Pick the phone from the device list at the top.
4. Choose Erase device and confirm.

When it won't work: if the phone is offline, the erase queues and only runs once it reconnects. Once you erase it, you can no longer see its location.

Most of these steps are the same whether your locked phone is a Pixel, a Samsung, or a Motorola. If your everyday device is an iPhone and you own a Hisense TV, the free HiRemote app turns it into a full Hisense remote over Wi-Fi — handy on the days the physical remote goes missing too.

Method 3: Wipe a Samsung with Find My Mobile

Samsung Galaxy phones have their own remote-wipe tool, separate from Google's. It helps when you have a Samsung account but can't remember your Google one.

1. Open findmymobile.samsung.com in any browser.
2. Sign in with the Samsung account linked to the phone.
3. Select the phone, then choose Erase data.
4. Confirm to wipe it back to factory settings.

When it won't work: the phone needs to be on, online, and have Remote controls turned on in Samsung account settings before it got locked.

Method 4: Reset from a computer with ADB

This is the honest long shot. It only works if you turned on USB debugging in Developer Options before the phone got locked — which most people never do.

1. Install the Android SDK Platform Tools on your PC or Mac.
2. Connect the phone with a USB cable.
3. Open a terminal and run adb reboot recovery.
4. From the recovery menu, follow Method 1 to wipe data.

When it won't work: if USB debugging was off, the computer won't authorize the connection. You can't turn it on from a locked screen, so go with recovery mode instead.

Compare the four reset methods

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you factory reset an Android phone without the password?

Yes. Boot into recovery mode by holding Volume Up + Power, then select Wipe data/factory reset. This erases the phone without needing the lock-screen PIN or password. Be aware it also deletes all your photos, apps, and files, and you'll still need the previous Google account to finish setup.

Will a factory reset remove the Google account lock?

No. A factory reset does not remove Factory Reset Protection. After the wipe, the phone asks for the Google account that was signed in before you reset it. This is a deliberate anti-theft feature, so track down that email and password before resetting.

How do I reset a locked Samsung phone?

Use Samsung Find My Mobile at findmymobile.samsung.com and choose Erase data, or boot into recovery mode. On most modern Galaxy phones you enter recovery by holding Volume Up + Power while the phone is plugged into a charger or PC. Both routes wipe everything.

What buttons factory reset an Android phone?

On most Android phones, hold Volume Up and Power together while the phone is off to reach recovery mode. Some Motorola models use Volume Down + Power, and older Samsungs added the Bixby button. From recovery, use the volume keys to select Wipe data/factory reset.

Can I reset my phone if I forgot my Google account?

You can reset it, but you may not get past setup afterward. Factory Reset Protection asks for the last Google account synced to the phone. If you've truly lost that login, use Google's account-recovery page first, or take proof of purchase to the manufacturer or your carrier.

Does a recovery-mode factory reset delete everything?

Yes. A recovery-mode factory reset erases all user data — photos, messages, apps, accounts, and settings — and returns the phone to how it left the factory. Anything not backed up to Google, Samsung Cloud, or your computer is gone for good, so back up first if you can still unlock it.

Related reset guides

Wiping a phone is only half the household. Here's how to reset the other screens you own:

• How to Factory Reset a Hisense TV Without the Remote
• How to Reset a Hisense TV (Soft Reset, Hard Reset, Factory Reset)
• How to Reset My Roku TV (Restart, Factory Reset, or No Remote)
• Hisense TV Reset Button by Model