Smartphone owners Honor i Huawei sooner or later are faced with the need to completely clean the device. This may be caused by the sale of a gadget, serious software errors, or the desire to start from scratch after many experiments with settings. This process is called Hard Reset or a hard reset, and it returns the operating system to the state in which the phone just left the assembly line.
It is worth understanding that the result of this operation is irreversible for local data. All your photos, contacts, messages and installed applications will be deleted without the possibility of recovery using standard methods. That is why, before starting any manipulations, it is critical to create a backup copy of information in a cloud storage or on a computer so as not to lose important files forever.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the available methods of returning to the factory state, including working through the settings menu, using physical buttons and entering the mode Recovery. We will also touch on the features of devices without Google services and explain how to bypass account locking if you have forgotten passwords.
Preparing the device for a full reset
Before starting the cleaning process, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps. This will help prevent your device from being blocked by Google or Huawei ID security mechanisms after a reboot. First of all, make sure that the battery charge is at least 50%, and ideally connect the smartphone to a power source, as the process may take time.
The second critical step is unlinking accounts. If your device has security enabled, when you turn it on after a reset, it will ask for the password for the last account you used. To avoid this, go to settings and log out of all profiles.
- 🔑 Log out of your Google account through the "Users and Accounts" menu.
- 📱 Remove the linked Huawei ID if it is used on the device.
- 🔒 Remove the screen lock (PIN code, pattern or fingerprint), if possible.
- 💾 Remove the SD memory card, if installed, so as not to accidentally format it.
⚠️ Attention: If you do not sign out of your Google account before resetting, after turning on the phone will require you to enter the password for this account. This is a standard anti-theft protection (FRP), and it will be extremely difficult to bypass it without the owner’s data.
☑️ Ready to reset
Reset via the Android settings menu
The easiest and safest way to return Honor to its original state is to use the built-in operating menu systems. This method is suitable if the screen works and the phone responds to touches. The interface may differ slightly depending on the shell version Magic UI or EMUI, but the logic of the actions is the same.
First, open the “Settings” application and scroll to the very bottom of the list. You are interested in a section that may be called “System”, “Advanced settings” or “General settings”. Depending on the model, the path to the reset function will vary, but the search keywords remain the same.
Look for “Reset” or “Backup and reset”. Here the system will offer several options, but what you need is “Reset phone” or “Reset all settings”. The system will once again warn about data loss and show a list of what will be deleted.
Before clicking the final “Reset” button, take a screenshot of the current important settings (for example, APN settings or mail settings) to quickly restore them after cleaning.
After confirming the action, the device will reboot and the data erasing process will begin. The screen may display a Android or Honorlogo, as well as a progress bar. Do not try to interrupt this process, even if it seems frozen - this is normal system behavior when deep cleaning memory partitions.
Hard Reset using physical buttons
If the smartphone does not turn on, is stuck on the logo or the screen does not respond to touches, the only option is to use the mode Recovery. This mode is entered by using a combination of physical buttons before loading the operating system. This is a universal method that works even when the touchscreen is completely inoperative.
To enter recovery mode, turn off the device completely. Make sure that it is not in standby mode, but rather turned off. Then hold down the key combination. On most models Honor this is the simultaneous holding of the power button and the volume up button (Top).
Keep the buttons pressed until the brand logo appears, after which you can release the power button while continuing to hold the volume. After a few seconds, the menu eRecovery or the standard recovery menu will open. Control here is carried out with the volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button.
| Model / Series | Button combination | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Honor 10, 20, View series | Volume Up + Power | Requires USB cable connection |
| Honor 8X, 9X, 10X | Volume Up + Power | Standard input |
| Old models (Honor 6, 7) | Volume Up + Volume Down + Power | Triple combination |
| Devices without buttons (rarely) | Connecting to PC + Utility | HiSuite software required |
In the Recovery menu, select your language (if available), then find the “Wipe data/factory reset” or “Erase data” option. The system may ask for confirmation by entering the word “yes” or selecting the appropriate option. After completing the procedure, select “Reboot system now” to reboot.
What to do if the Recovery menu is in Chinese?
If you see Chinese characters instead of English text, try selecting the item with the globe or gear icon to change the language. If there is no language, be guided by: usually the reset button is second or third in the list, and the reboot button is at the very bottom or at the top.
Features of resetting on Honor without Google services
Modern smartphones Honor, released after the introduction of sanctions, do not have pre-installed Google services. This makes adjustments to the preparation procedure. Here the central role is played by the account Huawei ID, which is deeply integrated into the device’s security system.
When such models are reset, the FRP (Factory Reset Protection) lock is tied specifically to the Huawei ID. If you forget your password, it will be more difficult to unlock your phone than with Google. Therefore, before resetting, be sure to remove the device from the list of trusted devices in your Huawei account.
It is also worth noting that on new models, the reset process may require confirmation by entering the screen unlock password. This is done so that an attacker who finds the phone cannot simply erase the data and sell it.
⚠️ Attention: On new devices without Google services, after a reset, you may need to connect to Wi-Fi to check the activation status. Make sure you know the password for your network or have the ability to share the Internet from another phone.
Solving typical problems after a reset
After completing the Hard Reset procedure, the device takes longer than usual to boot. This is because the system needs to recreate the file structure, check the integrity of system files, and optimize applications. The first boot may take from 5 to 15 minutes.
If the phone is stuck on the logo Honor or Android for more than 20 minutes, the reset process may have been incorrect or the system files have been damaged. In this case, you may need to flash the device via a computer using the utility HiSuite or eRecovery in update mode.
Another common problem is rapid battery drain and heating in the first hours after the reset. This is normal: background processes index files, check for updates, and set up synchronization. Let the device work in quiet mode for a couple of hours, connecting it to the charger.
- 🔄 If the reset is interrupted, try logging into Recovery again and performing the procedure again.
- 🔋 If you perform a cyclic reboot (bootloop), you may need a complete flashing via a PC.
- 📶 Problems with Wi-Fi after a reset are often solved by updating the date and time or resetting the network settings.
The first boot after a reset always lasts longer than usual - this is not a sign of a breakdown, but a normal process of optimizing the Android system.
Data recovery and initial setup
When the device finally boots up, you'll see a welcome screen, just like when you turn on a new phone for the first time. Select your language, connect to your Wi-Fi network, and begin the setup process. At this stage, the system will offer to restore data from the backup.
If you used Google or Huawei Cloud cloud services, select “Restore from cloud”. You will be asked to select a restore point by date. This is the fastest way to get your contacts, calendar, and application settings back.
To restore photos and heavy files, it is better to use a local backup or Google Photos cloud storage. Applications will start downloading automatically in the background, but you can also download them manually through the store AppGallery or Google Play.
What to do if the phone asks for a password from the old account?
This is FRP protection. You need to enter the username and password for the Google account or Huawei ID that was synchronized with the phone before the reset. If you have forgotten your data, try restoring access through google.com or cloud.huawei.com from your computer. Without this data, it will not be possible to unlock the device in a legal way.
Is it possible to interrupt the reset if it takes too long?
It is extremely undesirable. Interrupting writing data to the disk can damage the recovery partition and turn the phone into a brick. If the process lasts more than 40 minutes without changes, try holding the power button for 15 seconds to force a reboot, but this is a risk.
Will information be deleted from the SIM card during a Hard Reset?
No, a standard factory reset does not affect the data on the SIM card (contacts saved on the SIM card and tariff settings). However, contacts synced to the account may disappear from the phone memory, but will remain in the cloud.
Do I need to remove the SD card before resetting?
Yes, it is highly recommended. Although modern versions of Android ask for confirmation to format an external drive, the human factor has not been canceled. It is better to remove the memory card physically to avoid accidental loss of important documents or photos.