The operating system Android 7 Nougat, released by Google, has brought many innovations, but over time, even the most stable versions of the software may begin to work incorrectly. Users often encounter sudden freezes, interface slowdowns, or the appearance of intrusive advertising that cannot be removed using standard methods. In such situations, a radical but effective solution is to completely return the device to its factory state, known as Hard Reset.
The procedure for clearing memory and resetting configurations is necessary not only in the presence of technical failures, but also before transferring the gadget to the new owner. This ensures that your personal data, accounts and search history do not fall into the wrong hands. It is important to understand that all user data will be permanently deletedtherefore, before starting the procedure, you need to create a backup copy of important information on external media or in cloud storage.
There are several ways to perform this operation on devices with firmware versions 7.0 and 7.1. The specific method you choose depends on the current state of your smartphone: whether you can enter the settings menu or whether the device is locked and does not respond to touch input. Below we will look at each of the available options in detail, and also analyze the nuances specific to this version of the operating system.
Preparing the device for the reset procedure
Before taking active steps, it is critical to complete a number of preparatory steps. Ignoring this step may result in the loss of valuable photos, contacts and documents. First you need to synchronize the data with your Google account. To do this, go to the phone settings and make sure that the switches next to contacts, calendar and notes are active.
The next step is to transfer multimedia content. Photos, videos and downloaded files are best copied to a computer via a USB cable or uploaded to a cloud service such as Google Drive or Yandex.Disk. Don't forget to also export your contact list to a .vcffile format if you are not sure of full synchronization. It will only take a few minutes, but it will save your information.
Particular attention should be paid to the battery charge. The process of formatting internal memory requires energy, and if the phone turns off in the middle of the operation, it can damage system files and turn the device into a brick. Make sure the charge level is at least 60-70%. If the battery is old and discharges quickly, it is better to connect the device to a charger for the duration of the entire procedure.
☑️ Checklist before resetting
Reset via the system settings menu
The safest and easiest way to return your smartphone to its factory state is to use the standard operating system interface. This method is suitable for devices that turn on and allow you to navigate through menus, even if they are running slowly. In the version Android 7.0 the path to the desired option may differ slightly depending on the manufacturer's shell, but the general logic remains the same.
Open the main menu and find the gear icon indicating the settings section. Scroll down the list to the very bottom, where the “Backup and reset” or “System” item is usually located. In some shells, for example MIUI or EMUI, this section may be called “Advanced” and hidden inside the “About phone” tab. Your goal is to find an item containing the words “Reset” or “Reset.”
After selecting the appropriate section, the system will offer you several options. We are interested in the option "Reset settings"** or Factory data reset. When you press this button, the phone will show a detailed list of data that will be deleted: accounts, system settings, downloaded applications and files in the internal memory. Review this list carefully again.
If your phone asks for a PIN, pattern, or password when you try to reset, enter your current screen lock. Without this, confirmation of the operation is impossible.
To confirm the action, you will need to click the “Reset settings” or “Erase everything” button. The device may prompt you to enter your password again for security purposes. This will begin the cleaning process, which usually takes from 3 to 10 minutes. The screen may go dark and turn on several times - this is normal system behavior when formatting memory partitions.
Using Recovery mode for a full reset
If the smartphone is stuck on the screensaver, reboots endlessly, or the touch screen does not respond to touches, the only way out is to use the mode Recovery. This is a special diagnostic interface built into the device memory, regardless of the main operating system. Control here is carried out exclusively by physical volume and power buttons.
To get to this menu, you must completely turn off the device. Then you need to hold down a certain key combination. For most devices based on Android 7 this is to simultaneously hold the power button and the volume down button. On some models, for example from Samsung, you may also need to hold down the “Home” button. Hold the buttons until the manufacturer's logo or a menu with text in English appears.
In the menu that appears, navigate up and down using the volume keys, and select an item using the power button. You need to find the line wipe data/factory reset. Be extremely careful: selecting the item wipe cache partition will clear only temporary files, but will not delete your personal data, while factory reset will erase everything completely.
⚠️ Attention: In Recovery mode, the touch screen does not work. If you accidentally select the wrong item, use the volume buttons to return to the desired line before confirming with the power button.
After selecting the reset item, the system will ask for confirmation, usually asking you to select an option Yes or Confirm from the list. Agree with the action and the formatting process will begin. Upon completion, when a completion message appears at the bottom of the screen, select reboot system now to reboot the phone in normal mode.
What to do if Recovery does not open?
Some manufacturers hide the standard Recovery menu behind their shell. Try connecting your phone via USB to your computer before enabling the button combination. It can also help to hold the buttons a little longer than usual, until the device vibrates.
Deleting a Google account before resetting
Starting with version Android 5.1 Lollipop and continuing through Android 7 Nougat, the FRP (Factory Reset Protection) anti-theft system is in effect. Its essence is that after resetting the settings, the phone will require you to enter the login and password for the Google account that was synchronized with the device before cleaning.
If you plan to sell your smartphone or send it for repair, a forgotten account will become a serious problem for the new owner. Without knowing the password, the device will remain locked and it will be impossible to use it. Therefore, if the phone is functioning normally, it is strongly recommended to delete the account manually before starting the reset procedure.
To do this, go to the menu Settings → Accounts (or “Users and accounts”). Select your Gmail email address from the list. Click on the three dots in the corner of the screen or the “More” button to bring up the context menu and select the “Delete account” option. Confirm the action by entering the screen unlock password.
| Action | Result after reset | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Account deleted manually | The phone turns on as new, the password request does not appear | Ideal for selling the device |
| The account remains in the system | Requires entering the old Google password when setting up for the first time | Suitable only for personal use use |
| Changing the password before resetting | The system may require you to wait 24 hours before logging in | It is not recommended to do this immediately before sale |
Deleting a Google account before resetting the settings is the only way to guarantee avoiding FRP blocking when transferring the device to another face.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
Despite the simplicity of the procedure, users sometimes encounter unforeseen difficulties. One of the common problems on Android 7 is getting stuck on the manufacturer's logo after a reset. This may indicate a damaged system partition or a cache conflict. In this case, re-entering Recovery mode and running the command wipe cache partition often helps solve the problem.
Another situation is that the phone requires a password for an account that you allegedly deleted or forgot. This is the FRP protection mechanism. If you do not remember your login information, restoring access may be difficult and will require you to contact a service center with proof of purchase of the device. Never buy used phones that are sold with the words “forgot your password” or “requires a Google account.”
There is also a problem when, after a reset, the touch screen stops responding to touches in certain areas. This is rarely due to a software glitch, more often it coincides with a physical breakdown of the digitizer. However, in rare cases, calibrating the screen through the engineering menu or resetting using the Recovery method helps.
⚠️ Attention: If after resetting the phone does not see the SIM card or does not connect to Wi-Fi, check whether the device is blocked by the telecom operator for non-payment or whether it is on the black list of lost phones.
Initial setup after recovery
After the formatting and reboot process is successfully completed, you will see a welcome screen similar to what you saw when you first purchased the phone. The system will prompt you to select a language, connect to a Wi-Fi network and accept the terms of the license agreement. At this stage, it is important to act carefully so as not to restore old configuration errors.
When connected to the Internet, the system will offer to restore data from a backup copy. If you created a backup before the reset, you can select it to restore contacts and application settings. However, if the reason for the reset was viruses or serious software glitches, it is better to set up the phone as new, installing applications manually only from a trusted store Google Play.
Be sure to check for security updates immediately after setup. Go to Settings → About phone → System update. Developers could release patches for Android 7.1, closing vulnerabilities that were present in the original version. This will increase stability and protect your data in the future.
Is it possible to interrupt a factory reset if the phone is frozen?
It is highly undesirable to interrupt the formatting process, as this may damage the file system. If the phone is frozen and does not respond to buttons for more than 15 minutes, you can try a forced reboot by long pressing the power button (10-20 seconds). However, there is a risk that the system will have to be reflashed via a computer.
Will information be deleted from the SD memory card during a reset?
During a standard reset through the settings menu, the files on the memory card are usually saved. However, if you selected the “Format SD card as internal memory” option during the setup process, then the data on it will be encrypted and lost upon reset. It is always better to remove the memory card before starting the procedure.
What is FRP Lock and how to bypass it?
FRP (Factory Reset Protection) is an anti-theft protection. It is impossible to bypass it in legal ways without an account password. There are workarounds for system vulnerabilities, but they are covered by security updates and require technical skills. For an ordinary user, the only way is to remember the password or contact the seller.
How long does it take to completely reset Android 7?
Usually the process takes from 5 to 15 minutes depending on the amount of internal memory and the speed of the device's processor. If the procedure lasts more than 30 minutes and the progress bar does not move, a failure has most likely occurred and intervention through Recovery mode is required.
Will root access disappear after a factory reset?
Yes, a full factory reset (Factory Reset) removes superuser (su) binaries and associated applications such as SuperSU or Magisk. However, the unlocked state of the bootloader itself is usually preserved, and root access can be obtained again after installing the appropriate software.