Table of contents(15)+
- 01The 30-second test: which reset do you need?
- 02Method 1: Factory reset an Android phone from recovery mode
- 03Method 2: Erase an Android phone remotely with Find My Device
- 04Method 3: Factory reset a Samsung phone with Find My Mobile
- 05Method 4: Factory reset an iPhone with Recovery mode and a computer
- 06Method 5: Erase an iPhone remotely from iCloud
- 07Factory reset methods compared
- 08Frequently Asked Questions
- 09Can you factory reset a phone without the password?
- 10Does a factory reset remove the Google account from an Android phone?
- 11How do I factory reset an iPhone without the Apple ID password?
- 12Will a factory reset delete all my photos and data?
- 13Does a factory reset bypass FRP or Activation Lock?
- 14What if the volume or power buttons don't work?
- 15Related guides
I've reset a stack of locked phones — a Galaxy S21 a friend forgot the PIN on, an old Pixel 4a, and my sister's iPhone 12 after too many wrong passcode tries. The method changes with the brand. And one thing trips everyone up: the reset wipes the lock screen, but the Google or Apple account attached to the phone stays behind. Here's every route that actually works, plus where each one hits a wall.
Quick heads-up: this is about resetting a phone. If you meant your television, see how to factory reset a Hisense TV without the remote instead — the steps are completely different.
The 30-second test: which reset do you need?
Before you hold any buttons, figure out your situation. It saves you from wiping the phone the hard way when an easier route exists.
- Android + you remember the Google login → recovery mode or Find My Device (Methods 1–2).
- Samsung phone specifically → Find My Mobile is the cleanest option (Method 3).
- iPhone + you have a computer nearby → Recovery mode restore (Method 4).
- iPhone + no computer → erase it from iCloud (Method 5).
- You don't know the Google or Apple account → you can still wipe the phone, but it stays locked afterward. Read the FAQ before you start.
Wiping a phone gives you a clean slate — and a spare use for it. If that phone sits by a Hisense TV with a missing remote, the free HiRemote app turns it into a full Hisense remote over Wi-Fi. No account, no cables — you pick your model and pair in about 30 seconds. More on using your phone as a TV remote.
Method 1: Factory reset an Android phone from recovery mode
This is the go-to when you can't unlock the screen at all. It uses the hardware buttons, so it works even on a dead-locked phone.
- Power the phone off completely.
- Hold the button combo for your brand until the logo shows:
- Samsung Galaxy: Volume Up + Side (Power) button together.
- Google Pixel: Power + Volume Down, then tap Volume Down until you see "Recovery mode" and press Power.
- Most other brands: Volume Up + Power.
- Let go when the Android robot or the recovery menu appears.
- Use the Volume keys to highlight Wipe data/factory reset. Press Power to select.
- Confirm Factory data reset, wait for it to finish, then choose Reboot system now.
When it won't work: the wipe clears your lock screen, not your account. On the setup screen after, Android asks for the last Google account signed in. That's Factory Reset Protection (FRP). Without that email and password, the phone stays locked. Google's own reset guide has the exact button combos per model.
Method 2: Erase an Android phone remotely with Find My Device
If the phone is still online, you don't need to touch it. You can wipe it from any browser.
- On another phone or computer, open google.com/android/find (or the Find Hub app).
- Sign in with the Google account tied to the locked phone.
- Pick the device from the list at the top.
- Tap Factory reset device and confirm.
When it won't work: the phone must be powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data, and you still need the Google password. And like Method 1, FRP applies after the remote wipe — this erases data, it does not detach the account.
Method 3: Factory reset a Samsung phone with Find My Mobile
Samsung has its own remote-wipe tool that's often faster than Google's on Galaxy phones.
- Go to findmymobile.samsung.com on any device.
- Sign in with the Samsung account (not the Google one) linked to the phone.
- Select the phone, then choose Erase data and confirm.
When it won't work: this only works if you added a Samsung account and turned on Find My Mobile with remote controls before you got locked out. It needs the Samsung password, and the Google FRP lock still kicks in on the setup screen afterward.
Resetting a phone at a friend's place and don't want to install anything? For a Hisense Roku TV, you can open the browser-based Roku remote and control the TV from any phone with no app. It runs over your local Wi-Fi and needs no signup — handy when you're on a phone that isn't yours.
Method 4: Factory reset an iPhone with Recovery mode and a computer
iPhones can't reset from buttons alone — you need a Mac or PC. This wipes the passcode and reinstalls iOS.
- Plug the iPhone into your computer with a cable.
- Open Finder (macOS Catalina or newer) or iTunes (Windows or older Mac).
- Force it into Recovery mode:
- iPhone 8 and later: press Volume Up, press Volume Down, then hold the Side button until the cable-and-computer icon appears.
- iPhone 7: hold Volume Down + Side together.
- iPhone 6s / SE (1st gen): hold Home + Side together.
- When your computer asks, choose Restore — not Update. It erases the phone and installs fresh iOS.
When it won't work: Activation Lock. After the restore, setup asks for the Apple ID and password that was on the phone. Without it you're stuck at the lock screen. If it's genuinely yours, Apple's forgot-passcode guide walks through the same steps and your recovery options.
Method 5: Erase an iPhone remotely from iCloud
No computer? If Find My is on, you can wipe the iPhone from the web.
- On another device, open icloud.com/find or the Find My app.
- Sign in with the Apple ID linked to the iPhone.
- Select the iPhone, tap Erase iPhone, and confirm.
There's also an on-device shortcut: on iOS 15.2 and later, after enough wrong passcodes the phone shows a Security Lockout screen. Tap Erase iPhone in the corner, then enter the Apple ID password to wipe it.
When it won't work: both routes need the Apple ID password, and Activation Lock still applies. Erasing removes the passcode, not the account tie.
Factory reset methods compared
| Method | Works on | Computer needed? | Account password needed? | Removes account lock? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Recovery mode | Any Android | No | After reset (FRP) | No |
| 2. Find My Device | Any Android (online) | No | Yes (Google) | No |
| 3. Find My Mobile | Samsung (set up first) | No | Yes (Samsung) | No |
| 4. Recovery mode restore | Any iPhone | Yes | After reset (Apple ID) | No |
| 5. iCloud erase | Any iPhone (Find My on) | No | Yes (Apple ID) | No |
Notice the last column: no method removes the account lock. That's by design — it's the anti-theft layer, and it's the honest ceiling on "resetting without a password."
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you factory reset a phone without the password?
Yes, you can factory reset most phones without the lock screen password. Android phones reset from recovery mode with the hardware buttons, or remotely through Find My Device. iPhones reset in Recovery mode with a computer, or from iCloud. The reset erases the passcode — but it does not remove the Google or Apple account tied to the phone.
Does a factory reset remove the Google account from an Android phone?
No, a factory reset does not remove the Google account. This is Factory Reset Protection (FRP). After the wipe, the setup screen asks for the last Google account that was signed in. Without that email and password, the phone stays locked. Sign out of the account before resetting whenever you can.
How do I factory reset an iPhone without the Apple ID password?
You can erase the passcode by restoring the iPhone in Recovery mode with a computer. But you can't fully use the phone without the Apple ID password. Activation Lock turns on with Find My, so setup demands the original Apple ID. If you don't own that account, contact Apple with proof of purchase.
Will a factory reset delete all my photos and data?
Yes, a factory reset erases everything on the phone — photos, apps, messages, and accounts. It returns the phone to how it left the factory. Anything not backed up to Google Photos, iCloud, or a computer is gone for good. If you're resetting your own phone, back it up first.
Does a factory reset bypass FRP or Activation Lock?
No, a factory reset does not bypass FRP or Activation Lock. Both are anti-theft features built to survive a wipe on purpose. The only real fix is the original account password, or proof of ownership sent to Google or Apple. Tools that promise to "bypass" these are often scams or malware — skip them.
What if the volume or power buttons don't work?
If the buttons are broken, use a remote wipe instead of recovery mode. Android phones erase from google.com/android/find, and iPhones from icloud.com/find, as long as the phone is online and you know the account password. This skips the button combo entirely and works from any browser.
