How to completely start a game again on Android: 5 proven methods

Are you tired of prolonged progress in a mobile game or do you want to go through the story from scratch? On Android, you can start the game again in several ways - from simply deleting data to fine-tuning accounts and cloud saves. But there are pitfalls here: some games tie progress to a Google Play account or social networks, while others store data in hidden folders that are not deleted using standard methods.

In this article we will look at all possible scenarios from a simple reset through the phone settings to working with root access (root). You will learn how to reset progress in Clash of Clans, Genshin Impact, Brawl Stars and other popular games without losing important purchases or achievements. And if the game stubbornly refuses to “forget” your old account, we will show you how to deceive the system using a second profile or an emulator.

We warn you right away: some methods can lead to account blocking or loss of purchasesif the game uses anti-cheat protection (for example, PUBG Mobile or Free Fire). Therefore, before experimenting, check whether your progress is tied to social networks or email.

1. The easiest way: deleting game data through Android settings

If the game does not synchronize with the cloud or social networks, you can reset progress in 30 seconds through standard phone settings. This method works for most offline games (Minecraft, Stardew Valley, Terraria) and some online projects without being linked to an account.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open Settings → Applications on your smartphone.
• 🔍 Find the game in the list (use search if there are many applications).
• 🗑️ Click Storage → Delete data (do not confuse with "Clear cache"!).
• ⚠️ Confirm the action - all local saves will be erased.

After that, start the game again. It should start with tutorials or the first level. If this does not happen, it means that the game is using cloud saves or linking to an account (see the next section).

The game is updated in the background|Close the game through "Recent Apps"|Turn off the Internet before deleting data|Check the game's administrator rights (in the security settings)-->

⚠️ Attention: On some smartphones (Xiaomi, Huawei, Samsung with the One UI shell) the path to the storage settings may differ. If you don't find the "Delete data" item, try: Settings → Applications → [Game name] → Memory → Memory management.

2. Reset via Google Play Games: cloud saves and achievements

Most modern online games (Clash Royale, Candy Crush Saga, Asphalt 9) automatically synchronize progress with servers Google Play Games. This means that simply deleting data from the phone will not help - the next time you start the game, it will pull up the saves from the cloud.

To reset progress in such games, you need to:

1. Open the application Google Play Games (if it is not there, install it from Play Market).
2. Go to Profile → Settings (gear) → Manage data and privacy.
3. Find section Delete game data and select the desired application.
4. Confirm deletion - this will erase all cloud saves and achievements.

Important: some games (for example Genshin Impact or Honkai: Star Rail) use own save serversthat are not associated with Google Play. In this case, you will have to delete your account in the game or through the developer’s website.

What happens if you delete game data from Google Play?

All achievements, experience points and progress in cloud games will be lost forever. However, purchases (if they are linked to a Google account) may remain, depending on the developer's policy. For example, in Clash of Clans purchases remain, but in Brawl Stars they are reset along with the account.

Game	Save type	Is it possible to reset progress?	Method
Clash of Clans	Cloud (Supercell ID)	Yes	Delete account in the game settings
Genshin Impact	Own servers (miHoYo)	Yes	Delete account via the Hoyoverse website
Minecraft	Local/cloud (Xbox Live)	Partially	Delete data + unlink Microsoft account
Brawl Stars	Cloud (Supercell ID)	Yes	Reset via Google Play Games
PUBG Mobile	Tencent Servers (Facebook/Google)	No	Prohibited by the rules (ban for multi-account)

3. Creating a second Google account or user profile

If the game is strictly linked to your Google account, but you don’t want to lose old progress, you can use a trick - create second profile an additional Google account on your phone. This method works for most games, except those that require linking to social networks (Facebook, VK, Apple ID).

How to do it:

• 🆔 Go to Settings → Accounts and synchronization → Add account → Google.
• 📧 Create a new account (or log into an existing backup).
• 🎮 Install the game again through this account.
• 🔄 When you first start the game, you will be prompted to create a new profile.

An alternative option is to use guest profile on Android (if your smartphone supports this function). To do this:

1. Open Settings → System → Multiple users (on some phones the path may differ).
2. Create a guest profile or an additional user.
3. Launch the game in a new profile - it will treat it as a “clean” device.

4. Using emulators for a “clean” start

Android emulators (BlueStacks, LDPlayer, MuMu Player) allow you to launch games on a PC from scratch without affecting your progress on the phone. This is an ideal option if you. want to:

• 🖥️ Test the game from scratch before completely resetting it on your smartphone.
• 🎯 Play on two accounts at the same time (for example, in Clash of Clans for donations between clans).
• 🛡️ Avoid blocking the main account during experiments.

Step-by-step guide:

1. Download and install the emulator (we recommend BlueStacks 5 for games or LDPlayer for productivity).
2. Launch the emulator and create a new Google account (do not use the main one!).
3. Install the game via Play Market in the emulator.
4. When you first launch the game, it will create a new profile.

The advantage of this method is that you can return the old progress on your phone at any time by simply deleting the emulator. However, some games (for example PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty: Mobile) block accounts for multi-accounting, so use this method with caution.

BlueStacks|LDPlayer|MuMu Player|NoxPlayer|I don’t use emulators-->

5. Radical methods: root access and editing game files

If all the previous methods did not work, and the game stubbornly restores old progress, the last option remains - manual deletion of save files through root access. This method is suitable for experienced users and requires an unlocked bootloader, as well as installed Magisk or SuperSU.

Where to look for save files:

• 📁 /data/data/[game package]/shared_prefs/ - settings and part of the progress are stored here.
• 📁 /data/data/[game package]/files/ — local saves (for example, for Minecraft PE).
• 📁 /sdcard/Android/obb/[game package]/ — additional files (maps, textures).

How to remove:

1. Install a file manager with root access (Root Explorer, FX File Explorer).
2. Go to the specified paths and delete all files associated with the game.
3. Reboot your phone and start the game again.

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect editing of system files can lead to data loss or device damage. If you are not sure of your actions, use other methods. Also remember that root access will void the warranty on most smartphones.

For some games (for example, The Sims Mobile or Kim Kardashian: Hollywood) saves are stored in encrypted files. In this case, the application GameGuardian or Lucky Patcherwill help, but their use can be regarded as cheating.

6. Features of resetting in popular games

Each game has its own nuances of resetting progress. Let's consider the most popular cases:

Clash of Clans, Brawl Stars, Clash Royale (Supercell):

• Use Supercell ID for synchronization.
• To reset progress, you need unlink your account in the game settings and create a new one.
• Purchases remain linked to Google Play, but game progress is reset.

Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail (miHoYo):

• Saves are linked to email or account Hoyoverse.
• Resetting is possible only through official website (section "Account Management").
• Deleting an account takes up to 30 days (cooling period).

PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty: Mobile (Tencent):

• Resetting an account prohibited by the rules —a ban is given for multi-accounting.
• The only legal way — create a new account through another Facebook or Google.
• Using emulators or VPNs to bypass restrictions leads to blocking.

Minecraft (Mojang):

• Version Bedrock Edition linked to account Microsoft/Xbox Live.
• To reset the world, you need to delete it manually in the game menu or through the file manager (/games/com.mojang/minecraftWorlds/).
• To completely reset progress, unlink your Microsoft account in the settings.

7. How to save purchases when resetting progress

Many games allow you to save purchases (skins, characters, currency) even after resetting your account. To do this you need to:

1. Link the game to a social network (Facebook, VK, Twitter) or email.
2. Make a backup copy of purchases (in some games there is an option Export Purchases).
3. Delete game data (see section 1 or 2).
4. Upon a new start, restore purchases through Restore Purchases (usually in the game store).

Examples of games where this works:

• 🎨 Among Us — skins and pets are saved when linked to an account.
• ⚔️ Shadow Fight 3 — purchases remain if the game is linked to Facebook.
• 🏎️ Asphalt 9 — cars and currency are saved when synchronized with Google Play Games.

⚠️ Attention: In games with loot boxes (for example, FIFA Mobile or NBA Live) purchases can be tied to a specific game account. In this case, resetting your progress will lead to the loss of all purchased items.

8. how to avoid them

When trying to start the game again, users often encounter typical problems. Here are the most common ones:

Error 1: The game restores progress after deleting data.

• 🔹 Reason: Cloud synchronization via Google Play or social networks.
• 🔹 Solution: Turn off the Internet before deleting data or unlink accounts in the game settings.

Error 2: The "Delete data" button is inactive.

• 🔹 Reason: Game runs in the background or has administrator rights.
• 🔹 Solution: Close the game through "Recent applications" and check the rights in Settings → Security → Device administrators.

Error 3: New account is blocked for "multi-accounting."

• 🔹 Cause: The game has detected that both accounts are being used from the same IP or device.
• 🔹 Solution: Use another device, emulator or VPN (but this may break the rules of the game).

Error 4: After the reset, the game requires the old account.

• 🔹 Reason: There is data about the previous authorization in the cache or game files.
• 🔹 Solution: Clear the game cache (Settings → Applications → [Game] → Clear cache) or use root access to completely delete the files.

💡

If the game uses anti-cheat protection (for example, BattlEye v Call of Duty: Mobile), any manipulation of files saves may result in a ban. In such cases, the only safe way is to create a new account on another device.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to reset progress in the game without losing purchases?

Yes, in most games, purchases are tied to your Google Play account or social networks. To save them:

1. Link the game to Facebook/Google/VK.
2. Delete local game data (see section 1).
3. When starting again, restore purchases via Restore Purchases.

Exception - games with loot boxes (for example, FIFA Mobile), where purchases can be tied to game progress.

What to do if the game requires confirmation of the old account after a reset?

This means that the game files still contain data about the previous authorization. Try:

• Clear game cache (Settings → Applications → [Game] → Clear cache).
• Delete the save folder via root access (see section 5).
• Use another device or emulator to create a new account.

If all else fails, contact game support with a request to unlink the old account.

Can I start the game again on the same account? Google?

Depends on the game:

• 🔹 Yes: In games without cloud saves (for example, Plants vs. Zombies 2 without linking to Facebook).
• 🔹 No: In games with server saves (Clash of Clans, Genshin Impact). Here you need to create a new account.

Try to delete the game data (section 1) and turn off the Internet when you first start - sometimes this deceives the system.

How to reset progress in Genshin Impact without loss account?

In Genshin Impact progress is strictly tied to the account Hoyoverse. The only ways are:

1. Create a new Hoyoverse account (a different email will be required).
2. Use the server for new players (but this breaks the rules).
3. Contact support with a request to reset the progress (it is unlikely that they will agree).

Purchases (prima, characters) are tied to the account and are not transferred to the new profile.

Why does the game load old progress again after resetting?

This happens due to automatic synchronization s:

• 🔸 Google Play Games — disable synchronization in the game settings.
• 🔸 Social networks — unlink Facebook/VK in the account menu.
• 🔸 Cloud game — delete saves via the web version (for example, for Clash of Clans this Supercell website).

Before resetting, turn off the Internet on the device so that the game does not have time to load old data.