Resetting Honor to factory settings: what is deleted and what remains (and how to prepare)

Resetting your smartphone Honor to factory settings is a radical, but sometimes necessary step. It solves problems with a freezing interface, viruses, or preparing a device for sale. However, many users are afraid to click on the “Reset” button for fear of losing important data. So what exactly is erased from the phone and what remains untouched?

In this article we will analyze step-by-step reset process, list all types of data that will be deleted, and explain how protect personal information before the procedure. We will pay special attention to the nuances for different models Honor (from budget Honor 8X to flagships Honor Magic), and we will also tell you what to do if after a reset the phone does not turn on or requires the account of the previous owner.

If you plan to sell or give away your Honor, be sure to read to the section about safely deleting your Huawei/Honor account - this will protect you from blocking your device through FRP (Factory Reset Protection).

1. What is a “factory reset” and why do you need it?

A factory reset (or hard reset) is returning the smartphone to its “out of the box” state. The procedure removes all user data and settings, leaving only pre-installed applications and firmware. On Honor (as on other Android devices) this is implemented through the function Wipe Data/Factory Reset in the recovery menu.

The main reasons for resetting:

• 🔄 Slowdown: the phone lags, applications constantly crash, the memory is full of garbage.
• 🦠 Viruses or malwarethat cannot be removed using standard methods.
• 📦 Preparation for sale/transfer to another user.
• 🔧 Failures after updating (for example, after the transition on MagicOS 7.0 or EMUI 13).
• 🔒 Forgotten pattern key or PIN code (in this case, resetting is the only way to unlock).

It is important to understand that resetting is not a panacea. data-i="67">hardware. If the problem is related to hardware (for example, a broken screen or failed flash memory), then it will not help. Also, it does not delete data from SD cards (if it is installed) and does not reset settings SIM cards.

2. Full list of what is deleted during a reset

The reset procedure for Honor deletes all user information, but does not affect system files and pre-installed applications. Below is a detailed analysis.

2.1. Personal data and accounts

• 👤 Google, Huawei/Honor, social networks (Facebook, VK, Telegram, etc.) - you will have to log in again.
• 📧 Letters, contacts, calendarsaccounts, synchronized with accounts (if there was no backup).
• 🔐 Passwords Wi-Fisaved in settings.
• 💳 Bank card data in Google Pay, Huawei Pay or other payment systems.

2.2. Multimedia and files

• 📸 Photos and videos in the gallery (including screenshots and uploaded images).
• 🎵 Music and podcastsdownloaded to the phone memory.
• 📄 Documents (PDF, Word, Excel) and downloads from the browser.
• 🎮 Game saves (if they are not tied to the cloud).

2.3. Settings and applications

• ⚙️ All user settings: wallpaper, sounds, brightness, energy saving modes.
• 📱 Installed applications (including APK files downloaded manually).
• 📁 Cache and application data (for example, WhatsApp chat history, game progress).
• 🔔 Settings notifications and application permissions.

Exception: on some Honor models (for example, Honor 50 or Honor Magic 4) after the reset, a folder may remain DCIM/Thumbnails with photo thumbnails, but the original photos themselves will be deleted.

⚠️ Attention: If on yours Honor function is enabled Encrypted storage (for example, on Honor View 20 or newer), after the reset it will be impossible to decrypt the data - it will be deleted permanently.

3. What is NOT deleted during a reset

Despite the radical nature of the procedure, some data remains untouched:

• 📱 Pre-installed applications from Honor/Huawei (for example, AppGallery, Huawei Mobile Services).
• 📀 Files on the SD card (if it was not formatted as internal memory).
• 🔄 System updates (the phone will not roll back to the old version MagicOS/EMUI).
• 📡 IMEI and serial number (they are tied to the hardware parts).
• 🔋 Battery health data (charging cycles, wear).

Settings related to by your telecom operator are also not reset (for example, MMS configuration or APN), but they can be reset manually in the menu Settings → Mobile network → Access points (APN).

If you used mode for children or work profile on Honor, these settings will also be deleted, but the functions themselves will remain available after re-setting.

4 How to prepare for the reset: step-by-step guide

To avoid losing important data, follow these steps to reset:

Back up photos/videos|Export contacts and SMS|Record passwords for Wi-Fi and accounts|Delete Huawei/Honor account (if selling phone)|Check the battery charge (minimum 50%)-->

4.1. Data backup

Use built-in tools or third-party services:

• 🖥️ Google Account: synchronize contacts, calendars, notes and photos (via Google Photos).
• ☁️ Huawei Cloud: on Honor 5 GB of free cloud is available (check in Settings → Accounts → Cloud).
• 💾 Local copy: connect the phone to the PC and copy the files manually (folders DCIM, Downloads, Documents).
• 📱 Third-party applications: Titanium Backup (requires root) or Swift Backup for application backup.

4.2. Deleting accounts before selling

If you are transferring the phone to another person, be sure to:

1. Delete your account Google in Settings → Accounts → Google → Delete account.
2. Delete account Huawei/Honor in Settings → Accounts → Huawei ID → Sign Out.
3. Unlink the device from Find My Device (to Honor this Settings → Security → Find the device).

⚠️ Attention: If you do not delete the account Huawei/Honor before resetting, the new owner will not be able to activate the phone due to FRP locks! This applies to all models on MagicOS/EMUI.

4.3. Additional security measures

For complete cleaning:

• 🔄 Perform data encryption before resetting (in Settings → Security → Encryption), if you want to complicate recovery of deleted files.
• 📱 Remove screen protection (PIN, pattern) to avoid problems the first time you turn on reset.
• 🔋 Charge the phone for at least 50% —resetting may take up to 30 minutes, and discharging during the process will lead to errors.

5 How to reset on Honor: 3. method

Depending on the state of the phone, select one of the methods:

5.1. Through the settings menu (if the phone is working)

1. Open Settings → System → Reset.
2. Select Reset to factory settings.
3. Confirm the action (you may need to enter a PIN code).
4. Wait for the reboot (usually takes 5-15 minutes).

5.2. (if the phone does not turn on)

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Hold Volume up + Power (on some models Volume up + Volume down + Power).
3. In the recovery menu, select Wipe data/factory reset (control with volume buttons, confirmation - power button).
4. After resetting, select Reboot system now.

For models with MagicOS 7.0+: the path may differ on Honor 70 need to choose Factory Reset in the menu Emergency Mode.

fastboot erase userdata
fastboot erase cache
fastboot reboot